Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 6

Written Answers - County Enterprise Boards.

John McGuinness

Question:

104 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 3 November 1998, her Department will consider allowing each county enterprise board to appoint its own local auditor to create greater efficiency in the system and to avoid penalty charges for late returns; and if her Department will allow enterprise boards to deduct these penalties from departmental fees where a penalty has been applied for late returns and where the fault lies with her Department. [23793/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Treacy)

In the course of my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 120 on 17 November 1998, I stated that in accordance with regulations made under the Comptroller and Auditor Generals Act of 1993, the 35 city and county enterprise boards are required to have their annual accounts audited by the Comptroller and auditor General, C&AG. I then went on to explain that in order to expedite the annual audit, the C&AG does now, in some instances, contract this work to local auditors.

The filing of annual returns is the responsibility of each enterprise board. My Department has no function in the matter.