Departmental Administration.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2004

Wednesday, 2 June 2004

Questions (210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215)

John Bruton

Question:

203 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he has had a risk assessment carried out on possible consequential risks to the effectiveness of services provided by each department or agency under his aegis which is to relocate under the Government’s decentralisation programme; if not, the reason therefor; and if so, if the risk assessment will be published, furnished to the Comptroller and Auditor General and accessible under the Freedom of Information Act 1997. [16851/04]

John Bruton

Question:

204 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if the Secretary General of his Department has provided him with advice in pursuance of the Secretary General’s responsibility as Accounting Officer under public finance procedures as set out in table 2 of the Mullarkey report; and if not, if he has requested such advice from the Secretary General. [16866/04]

John Bruton

Question:

205 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the work completed by the audit committee in his Department in examining the implementation of his Department’s risk management strategy in accordance with paragraph 6.51 of the Mullarkey report. [16881/04]

John Bruton

Question:

206 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the annual report of his Department will contain a risk assessment of decentralisation, as it affects his Department or agencies under its aegis, dealing with strategic, operational, financial and reputational risks as set out in paragraph 6.31 of the Mullarkey report. [16896/04]

John Bruton

Question:

207 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if the audit committee of his Department will consider a risk assessment with regard to strategic, operational, financial and reputational risks of the implementation of the Government’s decentralisation proposals as they affect his Department or its agencies; and if not, the reason therefor, in view of the recommendation of the Mullarkey Committee that such risk assessment be carried out. [16911/04]

John Bruton

Question:

208 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if the Secretary General of his Department has tendered advice to him in pursuance of his personal responsibility as Secretary General under public financial procedures for economy and efficiency in the administration of his Department on the impact in the short or long-term on the economy and the efficiency of administration of his Department or its agencies arising from the Government’s proposals for decentralisation. [16969/04]

Written answers

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 to 208, inclusive, together.

Risk assessment and mitigation measures associated with the decentralisation programme will be outlined in decentralisation implementation plans being drawn up by my Department and each of its organisations included in the decentralisation programme. These issues will also be taken into account in the overall risk assessment programme being developed in my Department. In developing that programme, a preliminary assessment to identify the main risks facing my Department was carried out by senior managers under the coaching and direction of risk management consultants. Building on this work a firm of consultants is at present engaged in the task of helping my Department to draw up a formal risk management strategy to address the full range of issues faced by the Department including strategic, operational, financial and reputational risks. The audit committee will be consulted on the development of this strategy.

With regard to the issue of public financial procedures generally, I assure the Deputy that I am aware of the requirement in the public financial procedures for accounting officers to ensure that all relevant financial considerations are taken fully into account, and where necessary brought to my attention, in relation to the preparation and implementation of policy proposals relating to expenditure or income. All these issues are regularly addressed in my Department. The decentralisation implementation plans will provide further input into the consideration of financial and other aspects of that programme. These plans will be kept under review and further developed as the programme progresses and additional information becomes available.