Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 January 2019
54. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount of annual funding provided to an organisation (details supplied); the reporting requirements in respect of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3226/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department made an annual grant payment of €900,000 to the organisation referred to in 2018. This was an increase from €869,000 per year in the years from 2012 to 2017 and was agreed as part of a phased increase following receipt and examination of a detailed business case submitted by the organisation. The annual grant had been reduced from €951,000 to €869,000 in 2012 due to the prevailing difficult economic climate at that time.
The conditions for the provision of an annual grant are set out in a Memorandum of Understanding between my Department and the organisation. The annual grant is paid in quarterly instalments and each year my Department receives a report from the organisation which sets out full details of how the previous year’s grant was utilised and details of how it is planned to be used in the current year. My officials also request and receive the annual consolidated financial statements of the organisation. The annual consolidated financial statements are published on the organisation's website and are subject to audit by an independent external firm of auditors whose report is also published.
In addition, the organisation is required to comply with the Department of Public Expenditure Circular 13/2014: "Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds".
