Joe Higgins
Ceist:291 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will supply copies of the local government audit reports for Wicklow County Council for the years 1992 to 1998. [22226/99]
Written Answers. - Local Government Audit.
I am arranging to have local government audit reports in respect of Wicklow County Council for the years 1992 to 1996 sent to the Deputy. Audit reports for 1997 and 1998 are not yet available, as work on these reports is not complete.
Joe Higgins
Ceist:292 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the numbers and qualifications of those directly employed by his Department in respect of the local government audit service; the other auditors, if any, employed; and the total cost of the service to the Exchequer. [22227/99]
The number of auditors directly employed by my Department in the local government audit service is as follows: one inspector of audits; three principal auditors; 22.5 auditors, one job-sharing. All are certified as qualified by the Civil Service Commission having regard to the regulations for the competitions from which they were recruited and further particulars in relation to qualifications will be forwarded to the Deputy.
The total cost to the Exchequer in 1998 for the local government audit service was £1.290 million. In the same year my Department received £1.120 million in audit fees from local authorities.
An officer is currently on secondment from a local authority to carry out audits on EU Cohesion funded water and sewerage schemes for the Department.
The Department also has an internal audit function which is staffed by one assistant principal officer, one higher executive officer, one executive officer and one auditor, job sharing.