Committee of Public Accounts to examine 2021 Appropriation Account and C&AG report with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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, Graham Doyle, and will examine:

Appropriation Account 2021 – Vote 34 (Housing, Local Government and Heritage);

Local Government Fund Account 2021 (resumed);

Accounts of the Public Services 2021: Chapter 6 - Central Government funding of local authorities (resumed).

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

PAC Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has responsibility for delivery of housing, strategic planning, management of water resources and water services, Ireland’s heritage, and local government. In 2021 the Department had net expenditure of €5.1billion.

“The Committee is interested in examining a number of areas of that expenditure, including capital expenditure underspend from 2020 to 2022, performance indicators for capital expenditure and the impact of construction inflation on expenditure on social and affordable housing and the new cost rental model of housing; and spending on the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

“Further areas for examination are the Covid-19 rates waivers and Local Property Tax (LPT), and funding from central government for local government. In 2021 this amounted to €5.8bn, with some €2.8bn of this allocated to housing and regeneration programmes. The Committee is also interested in examining the governance framework and departmental oversight of the local government sector.   

“The Committee looks forward to examining the accounts, reports and related matters with Mr Doyle and his colleagues as we examine whether the taxpayer is receiving value for money in the delivery of these critical public services.”

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.