Committee of Public Accounts to examine 2021 Appropriation Account and chapters from C&AG’s 2021 Report with Department of Social Protection

Appropriation Account 2021: Vote 37 Social Protection

• Social Insurance Fund 2021;

C&AG Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2021:

• Chapter 10: Regularity of social welfare payments;
• Chapter 11: The recovery of benefit and assistance payments following compensation awards; and
• Chapter 14: Classification of workers for PRSI purposes.

During the afternoon session, beginning at 12.40pm, the Committee will consider correspondence and other business of the Committee.

PAC Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “The Department of Social Protection is tasked with administering the State’s social welfare system and oversees the provision of income supports and other social services. 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, which had a deficit of €3 billion in 2021. The main reason for this deficit was due to the continued payment of Covid-19 supports through the Fund.

“Areas the Committee would like to examine include the €8.6 billion expenditure on temporary Covid-19 related schemes, the impact of the cyber-attack in May 2021 on the Illness Benefit scheme, the recovery of benefits overpayments, controls over benefits, non-compliant procurement, and the classification of workers for PRSI purposes. 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. 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.