PAC to focus on accounts of Department of Justice and Equality

Chairman of the Committee John McGuinness said: “Chapter 9 of the C&AG report examines expenditure of €3.3 million which was spent on a proposed new State Pathology Office, which in 2012 was ultimately ‘indefinitely deferred’. The project was undertaken jointly by the Department and Dublin City Council and it was planned that the new premises would accommodate both the State Pathology Service and the Dublin Coroner’s Office.

“The project could not progress to completion due to delays relating to planning, procurement and finally the building contractor going into receivership. By that time, the Department did not have sufficient funds at their disposal to undertake a new tendering competition. The partially constructed complex on the site was subsequently demolished in 2013 due to health and safety concerns.

“The Committee will be keen to probe the Department on the planning objection which was lodged by the Department of the Environment and delayed the project by a year and whether this could have been foreseeable with a more robust risk assessment. Another delay in the project was also encountered, which was due to the incorrect form of contract being used in the initial tender competition. The Committee may wish to discuss how the correct form of contract was overlooked in the first tender competition. The Committee may also wish to establish exactly how much of the expenditure written off, could have provided value if a new contractor had been appointed.

“The Committee will be interested in the new, scaled down, replacement project which is planned for the former Whitehall Garda Station.”

The Department of Justice and Equality has responsibility for a considerable number of functions, including immigration and asylum, the Legal Aid Board, probation services, equality, integration and disability, charities regulation, commissions, including the Morris Tribunal, GSOC, the State Pathologist and the Insolvency Service.

Deputy McGuinness said: “Immigration and asylum is an area in which a number of issues arise. The Committee may wish to discuss direct provision accommodation for asylum seekers, numbers in the system, costs and inspections conducted by the Department to ensure that accommodation is adequate. The Committee may also wish to discuss target times for processing asylum and citizenship applications and improvements made recently in this area.

“The Personal Insolvency Service was established in 2013 and members may wish to enquire into the demand for this service and associated costs. The Morris Tribunal concluded its work in 2008 but there were still third party legal fees outstanding at the end of 2012. An update on these could be requested.

“How cost reductions have been achieved at the Legal Aid Board is another interesting area and finally the new Charities Regulator will come within the Department’s remit. Members may wish to inquire into the current status of the establishment, costs and staffing requirements.”

This meeting will start in Committee Room 1 at 10am on Thursday, 13th March 2014.

Committee proceedings can be followed live here here. 

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

Media enquiries to:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
 
Committee of Public Accounts Membership
 
John McGuinness (Chairman)
Kieran O’Donnell (Vice Chairman)
Paul J Connaughton,
John Deasy,
Áine Collins
Gerald Nash,
Simon Harris,
Robert Dowds,
Mary Lou McDonald,
Sean Fleming,
Eoghan Murphy,
Derek Nolan,
Shane Ross.