Committee of Public Accounts to examine 2021 accounts for Rural and Community Development

The meeting at 9.30am in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Seamus McCarthy, representatives from the Department of Rural and Community Development and officials from Pobal to examine:

• Appropriation Account 2021 – Vote 42: Rural and Community Development;
• Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2021 – Chapter 6: Central Government funding of Local Authorities.  

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 Rural and Community Development (DRCD) brought together key areas of policy and provision for rural communities and, since 2020, the Islands.

“Expenditure on the Rural Development programme is largely capital in nature, with programmes such as the LEADER programme, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Town and Village Renewal, the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme, and the Local Improvement Scheme providing capital support for rural development. The Islands function has also been integrated under the Rural Development Programme.

“The Community Development programme area involves current expenditure and includes schemes such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, the Community Services Programme, the Scheme to Support National Organisation, and the Senior Alerts Scheme.

“Areas of interest for the Committee include the expenditure across these programmes, which has grown from €136million in 2017 to €344m in 2021, the Department’s funding of local authorities, spending on rural regeneration and development schemes including large scale capital projects in rural areas, and an update on proposals to replace the Benefacts database which had its funding terminated in March 2022.

“Members are particularly interested in spending on the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme, including where an audit identified that Mayo County Council claimed the full committed grant funding. No work or only part of the agreed work was done, contrary to the conditions set for the scheme.

“The Committee looks forward to discussing these and related matters with the Department officials led by the Secretary General, Mrs Mary Hurley, who is the accountable person to PAC, and officials from Pobal.”

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.