Seán Doherty
Ceist:179 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the name of the auditing officer for the peace and reconciliation fund; and if he will make a full statement regarding the operation of the fund. [10790/98]
Written Answers. - Peace and Reconciliation Programme.
The auditing function relating to the Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland is the responsibility of the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland and the Department of Finance in Ireland respectively. The programme is also subject to audit by the European Court of Auditors and relevant directorates of the European Commission. The Court of Auditors carries out its inspections in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General.
This process is facilitated by the fact that neither managing Department is responsible for administering the various measures of the programme, with the exception of the technical assistance measure which provides the financial support for the programme's administration and the European Investment Bank's interest rate subsidy scheme. Funding for the measures is provided, where the Border counties element of the programme is concerned, through the Vote of the Department of Finance, under subhead P for 1998, and as such is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Apart from its ongoing management responsibilities, the Department of Finance is responsible for completion of quarterly fraud and irregularity reports which are returned to the European Commission. In this the Department is assisted by the independent audits commissioned by the various implementing bodies concerned.