asked the Minister for Justice if he is satisfied, having regard to the reservations expressed by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the accounts of the Legal Aid Board for 1981, with the board's arrangements for financial control.
55.
Written Answers. - Legal Aid Board.
54.
asked the Minister for Justice the reason the annual report of the Legal Aid board for 1983 has not yet been published.
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 55 together.
The Comptroller and Auditor General indicated that the system of internal control in operation during 1981 relating to the assessment of contributions payable by persons legally advised or aided by the board was inadequate. As indicated in their annual report 1982 the board has since taken steps to resolve the matter. These steps were taken in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General and I have no reason to believe that they are inadequate.
With regard to the report for 1983, the practice has been for the board to include in each of its annual reports to date a draft account for the year under review together with the actual audited account for the previous year. The current position is that the 1982 account is with the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit. As soon as the audit is completed the board will present the 1983 report to me (as provided for under the scheme of civil legal aid and advice) so that it can be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and published.