Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2015
109. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Taoiseach the amount of funding allocated by his Department to organisations not audited directly by the Comptroller and Auditor General; if he will list those organisations, and the amount of funding allocated to each in the past five years; the process in place to ensure that value for money is achieved and that the funding allocated is audited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38678/15]
View answerI am interpreting the term "organisation" to mean "bodies under the aegis of my Department". The National Economic and Social Development Office is the only body under the aegis of my Department that receives a grant and they are audited directly by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
My Department also allocates grant funding under the Communicating Europe Initiative and the Local Diaspora Engagement Fund.
The Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI) aims to support projects that will help improve the quality and accessibility of public information on European issues and promote an understanding and awareness of the European Union. The annual CEI grants scheme is open to voluntary organisations, educational bodies and civil society groups.
The Local Diaspora Engagement Fund provides funding to local and community groups based in Ireland to promote local diaspora engagement in line with the objectives of the Global Irish: Ireland’s Diaspora Policy published by Government earlier this year.
The process of making the grant comes within the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General's annual audit of my Department and all grantees are paid in accordance with Circular 13/2014 - "Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds".
