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Committee of Public Accounts to examine 2019 Financial Statements with the Higher Education Authority

30 Jun 2021, 15:10

The Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) will meet tomorrow, Thursday, 1 July, to examine the 2019 Financial Statements of the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

The meeting at 9.30am will be broadcast from Committee Room 3 of Leinster House and will hear from the Comptroller and Auditor General, Seamus McCarthy, followed by representatives of the HEA led by Alan Wall, Chief Executive Officer, and officials from Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.   

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “The HEA is the statutory funding authority for universities, technological universities, institutes of technology and a number of other colleges. In 2019 it provided funding of €1.4 billion to such institutions for the higher education of approximately 236,000 students, as well as the advancement of research, and engagement with industry and society by the higher education sector.

“In our role as the watchdog of the public finances, the Committee looks forward to discussing with Mr Wall and his colleagues how this money is spent and the oversight role played by the HEA. Among the issues Members would like to examine are COVID-19 supports and the provision of additional college places during the pandemic, the HEA’s role in the purchase of the former Dunnes Stores in Limerick by UL, the development of new Technological Universities around the country, and recurring deficits in a number of third-level institutions.”

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas.ie.

PAC is a standing committee of Dáil Éireann which focuses on ensuring public services are run efficiently and achieve value for money.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

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robert.kennedy-cochrane@oireachtas.ie
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