Committee of Public Accounts to examine 2020 Appropriation Accounts for Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The meeting at 9.30am in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy and officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

During the afternoon session, beginning at 1.30pm, the Committee will consider correspondence and other business of the Committee.

PAC Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is responsible for the provision of a range of key services in respect of children and young people. Three such areas represent 95 per cent of the Department’s €1.7 billion spending allocation in 2020, with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, accounting for 50 per cent, early years programmes and schemes accounting for 35 per cent, and international protection accommodation accounting for 10 per cent of the overall allocation.

“Specific areas of interest for the Committee at this meeting include Direct Provision accommodation for international protection seekers, and procurement matters, including the awarding of a catering contract to provide meals for Ukrainian refugees. Other areas of interest cover Tusla, including the Department’s oversight of its spending, controls over the early years childcare programme, and youth justice including the Oberstown Child Detention Campus. The Committee looks forward to discussing all these issues and related matters with Mr McCarthy 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. Further information on the role and remit of the Committee can be found here.

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