Committee of Public Accounts to examine 2020 Appropriation Account and chapters from C&AG’s 2020 Report with Department of Social Protection

The meeting in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be joined by the C&AG, Seamus McCarthy, and will be split into two sessions.

The morning session, from 9.30am-12.30pm, will be with officials from the Department led by the Secretary General, John McKeon, and will examine:

• Appropriation Account 2020 – Vote 37 Social Protection;
• The Social Insurance Fund (SIF);
• C&AG Report 2020 – Chapter 9: Regularity of social welfare payments;
• C&AG Report 2020 – Chapter 10: Management of social welfare appeals;
• C&AG Report 2020 – Chapter 11: Controls over the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment.

During the afternoon session, the Committee will consider the Minutes of its meeting of 2 December 2021, Accounts and Statements, Correspondence, its Work Programme and any other business.

PAC Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “The Social Insurance Fund consists of PRSI contributions collected from employees, employers and the self-employed, which are used to fund social insurance payments. The main social insurance benefits paid by the Fund relate to retirement, illness, incapacity, unemployment, maternity, and bereavement. PRSI contributions are collected by the Revenue Commissioners and paid into the Fund.

“Areas the Committee would like to examine include the recovery of benefits overpayments, controls over benefits, matters arising from internal audit reports, and non-compliant procurement. Members will also examine the relevant chapters from the C&AG’s 2020 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services covering the regularity of social welfare payments, management of social welfare appeals and controls over the pandemic unemployment payment. The Committee looks forward to discussing these and related matters with Mr McKeon and his colleagues.”

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

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.