Public Accounts Committee to seek answers from Department of the Taoiseach on the Strategic Communications Unit (SCU)

Officials from the Department of the Taoiseach will be before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) tomorrow to discuss the Strategic Communications Unit (SCU). Representatives from RTE will also appear in a separate session. The meeting will start at 9am in Committee Room 3, Leinster House.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

• Matters relating to The Strategic Communications Unit – Appropriation Account 2016, Vote 2, Dept of An Taoiseach
Officials from Dept. of Taoiseach

• Business of the Committee

• Matters relating to RTE - Arising from Appropriation Account 2016 Vote 29: Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Representatives from RTÉ

Speaking in advance of the meeting, PAC Chair, Seán Fleming TD, said today, “Tomorrow the Public Accounts Committee will discuss the case for the establishment of the Government's since disbanded Strategic Communications Unit (SCU). The Committee wants to establish the facts around the Unit’s establishment. We will be asking the Department to account for the spending of public money by the SCU.”
“In relation to our engagement with RTÉ, the Committee has concerns over RTÉ’s use of the funds collected from the license fees. RTÉ is funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. Over 40% of the Department’s funding goes to RTÉ, so it is important for the Committee to satisfy itself that that value for money is being provided.”

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