Committee of Public Accounts to resume examination of 2022 appropriation accounts with Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The meeting in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Seamus McCarthy, and officials from the Department, led by Kevin McCarthy, the Secretary General and Accounting Officer to the Committee.

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’s remit is to enhance the lives of children, young people, adults, families and communities, recognising diversity and promoting equality of opportunity. DCEDIY is also leading the emergency response for providing accommodation and services to Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in Ireland since March 2022

“Three areas of the Vote represent 98 per cent of the Department’s total allocation of €2.7 billion in 2022: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, accounts for 35 per cent of the overall allocation; early years programmes and schemes account for 30 per cent; and international protection accommodation accounts for 33 per cent.

“Key Issues for the Committee are the delivery of essential services to children and families, funding and staffing of Tusla, the International Protection Accommodation Services, provision and monitoring of short-term emergency accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP), staffing resource management and increased invoice processing. The Committee looks forward to examining the Department’s 2022 Appropriation Account and related matters with the Secretary General 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.