Vol. 558 No. 1
463 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his Department's annual accounts are currently done on a full accrual accounting system; and if not, if there is a timescale for the implementation of such an accounting system. [23364/02]
In common with all Departments, my Department is statutorily required, to prepare an account which is referred to as the appropriation account. The appropriation account must provide details of actual payments made and receipts brought to account, and it is, therefore, prepared principally on a cash basis. Certain additional information is provided as follows: information on closing accruals showing the net position at year end in relation to accrued expenses, accrued income, deferred income and prepayments; an operating cost statement; a statement of assets and liabilities with explanatory notes regarding capital assets, assets under development, and net liability to the Exchequer; a global figure for commitments likely to materialise in the following year on grant and procurement subheads; and a table showing legally enforceable multi-annual capital commitments.
