6 Feb 2013, 15:42
The Committee of Public Accounts will consider the financial statements of the National Roads Authority and expenditure by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport when it meets with Fred Barry, chief executive of the National Roads Authority and the Secretary General of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, tomorrow, 7th February, 2103.
Committee Chairman John McGuinness TD said: “The NRA will be before the Committee on Thursday along with the Department of Transport. One of the key issues for the Committee will be how they are managing with their decreased funding and the shift in their activities from construction to maintenance. It has been reported that they will have a shortfall of €100m in 2013 and at the end of 2011; they had an operating deficit of €8.4m. Traffic guarantee payments on PPP projects are a key issue as is the collection of tolls. The NRA should be able to update the Committee on the VAT on tolls issue also.
“The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s Appropriation Account for 2011 is due to be examined by the Committee tomorrow. One of the key issues for the Department is the oversight in place over public transport and CIE. The transfer in of the tourism function in April 2011 is also important and the Committee will be interested in getting an update on the integration of this function and it will be a chance to consider strategies from the Department to increase tourism numbers. It is also important to note that three of the eight port companies were unprofitable in 2011 and since this falls with the Department’s remit, oversight of these could be examined.”
This meeting starts at 10am on Thursday, 7th February, in Committee Room 1, LH 2000.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee of Public Accounts Membership
John McGuinness (Chairman)
Kieran O’Donnell (Vice Chairman)
Paul J Connaughton,
John Deasy,
Paschal Donohoe,
Gerald Nash,
Simon Harris,
Michael McCarthy,
Mary Lou McDonald,
Sean Fleming,
Eoghan Murphy,
Derek Nolan,
Shane Ross