Official Travel

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Questions (692)

Derek Nolan

Question:

692. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he is confident that all overseas travel undertaken by staff in State agencies is necessary; if the agencies ensure a robust business case is submitted before travel is sanctioned; if the agencies ensure the objective of the travel cannot be achieved through other means; if, on their return, the staff have to submit a report on the work carried out while they were on agency business overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36039/13]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

As the Deputy will be aware, it is the responsibility of each independent statutory agency to manage their day-to-day affairs, including expenditure incurred on travel and subsistence. In keeping with all Government Departments, it is incumbent on such bodies to comply with relevant Department of Finance and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines and procedures in this regard. My Department routinely provides each of the bodies funded from its Vote Group with copies of all relevant guidelines and procedures.

It should be noted that it is a requirement that the Chair of each such body annually confirms to my Department its compliance with these guidelines in its Annual Report. Additionally, it should also be noted that many of these bodies are subject to annual audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and their accounts are placed before the Houses of the Oireachtas.