2 May 2012, 17:00
Costs arising from the Moriarty Tribunal, the funding and operation of the National Economic and Social Development Office, expenditure on allowances and overtime and a change in Departmental functions will be among the key issues to be dealt with by the PAC when it meets with the Secretary General at the Department of the Taoiseach tomorrow, 3rd May.
Chairman of the Committee, John McGuinness said: “The main issue for the Committee relates to the overall cost of the Tribunal. Expenditure on the Tribunal in 2011 was €1.6 million and in 2012 a provision of €650,000 has been made. The C&AG in his report in Dec 2008 estimated that the direct cost of the Moriarty Tribunal will be in the region of €48 to €49 million and third party costs could be between €43 and €64 million. The Committee will want to establish where we are at present in relation to costs and what solid estimates have been made.”
Outside of salaries, the biggest item of expenditure is a grant-in-aid to the National Economic and Social Development Office of which the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) is a constituent body.
Deputy McGuinness said: “The work of the NESC is very important but there must be question marks over its effectiveness and the question that arises is how can this body be made more relevant to today’s society and economy and how can its work assist joined up thinking by Government Departments.”
The Committee will also examine what steps are being taken to reduce the amount being paid in allowances, while the change in departmental functions with the Department of the Taoiseach being given an enhanced role in European Affairs will also be considered.
The key issue the Committee will raise with Director General of the Central Statistics Office, Gerry O’Hanlon is the installation of a major IT system in the CSO.
Deputy McGuinness said: “In a nutshell, it overran its budget and it is not doing all that was envisaged for it. As with many IT projects, the process is as much about changing work practices as it is with upgrading equipment. While the system is working, it could be delivering more. The C&AG found that its full potential has not been exploited as not all staff are using the system. Among the issues we will want to know is what is being done to secure the on-going buy-in from users, will the CSO ever see a full return for its investment and how this system compares with what counterpart statistics offices have in other countries.”
This meeting will take place at 10am tomorrow, Thursday, 3rd May in Committee Room 1, Leinster House 2000.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI
Ends
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
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F: +3531 618 4551
Committee of Public Accounts
Membership
John McGuinness (Chairman)
Kieran O’Donnell (Vice Chairman)
Paul J Connaughton,
John Deasy,
Paschal Donohoe,
Anne Ferris,
Simon Harris,
Michael McCarthy,
Mary Lou McDonald,
Sean Fleming,
Eoghan Murphy,
Derek Nolan,
Shane Ross