Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 December 2007
165 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the statutory bodies for which he has ministerial responsibility, but for which he is not accountable to Dáil Éireann for daily operational activities. [33076/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister, I have overall responsibility for the formulation of national policy in the areas of Arts, Sport and Tourism and, through my Department, for monitoring its implementation. The statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department which have responsibility for the execution of policy are listed in my Department's Statement of Strategy 2005-2007 and Annual Reports which are available on my Department's website. In accordance with long established practice, I do not answer Parliamentary questions relating to the day to day activities of the agencies in question.
Exchequer funding for these bodies is provided through the voted expenditure of my Department as set out in the Book of Estimates each year and I attend at the meeting of the Select Committee at which the Estimates are considered. Each statutory agency is responsible for complying with normal financial procedures in relation to the disbursement of funds allocated to it.
All the funds discharged through my Department's Vote are monitored and controlled in accordance with public financial procedures established by the Department of Finance. The accounts of my Department and the State agencies under its aegis are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and together with his report are laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
In addition, the Secretary General of my Department and the chief executives of the State bodies under its aegis are subject to examination by the Public Accounts Committee.
