Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 3

Written Answers. - State Agencies.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

17 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the degree to which Bord Fáilte and other bodies under the aegis of his Department are accountable to him in relation to expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11760/99]

(Dr. McDaid): As Minister, I have overall responsibility for the formulation of national policy in the areas of tourism, sport and recreation and, through my Department, for monitoring its implementation. The execution of policy is a matter for the statutory state agencies under the remit of my Department. These include Bord Fáilte Éireann, CERT and Shannon Development in respect of tourism development in the mid-west region. Exchequer funding for these bodies is provided through the Vote of my Department as set out in the Book of Estimates and approved by the Dáil each year.

All the funds discharged through my Department's Vote are monitored and controlled in accordance with the principles of Government accounting practices and procedures set out in public financial procedures prepared by the Department of Finance. In addition, the accounts of my Department and the state agencies under its aegis are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and together with his report thereon are laid before each House of the Oireachtas. In addition, the Secretary General of my Department and the chief executives of the state bodies under its aegis are subject as the Accounting Officers for expenditure by their respective organisations to examination by the Committee of Public Accounts.

These financial management controls and procedures provide full accountability and transparency in expenditure by the state agencies.