28 Ean 2015, 18:18
Accounts of the National Library and National Gallery to also be examined
28 January 2015
Officials from the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht will be appearing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to consider 2013 expenditure in the Department.
The transfer of €8.6m to the fixed asset register in relation to airstrips; the €2m spent on the turf compensation scheme, and the spending on the 2014 Limerick City of Culture will be examined.
Separately, the expenditure in the National Gallery of Ireland and the National Library of Ireland will be scrutinised.
The following officials will be appearing before the PAC:
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Joe Hamill – Secretary General
- Niall Ó’Donnchú – Assistant Secretary
- Feargal O’Coigligh – Assistant secretary
- Máire Killoran – Director of Irish
- Conor Falvey – Principal Officer
National Gallery of Ireland
- Sean Rainbird – Director and Accounting Officer
- Gerry D’Arcy – Head of Administration
- Vivienne Lynch – Finance Manager
National Library of Ireland
- Catherine Fahy – Acting Director
- Mary Neville – Head of Finance
- Colette O’Flaherty – Head of Archival Collections
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Dermot Quigley – Principal Officer
Committee Chairman, John McGuinness TD, says: “The PAC will tomorrow examine how the €250m of taxpayers’ money received by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in 2013 was spent. Committee Members will wish to ascertain the rationale for the transferring of €8.6 million to the fixed asset register in relation to airstrips. We will wish to examine the procurement process behind this expenditure to ensure value for money was obtained and to explore what is now intended for these airstrips.”
The Committee is also expected to examine costs associated with the Turf Compensation Scheme. Deputy McGuinness continues: “€2 million was spent in 2013 on the Turf Compensation Scheme and a further €18 million has been committed for future years. Members will be keen to get an up-to-date position in relation to this scheme and an idea of the average payment per recipient. We will also be seeking assurances that the State now fully compliant with EU regulations surrounding the protection of these raised bogs in special areas of conservation.\"
Other items for consideration tomorrow include the Department’s oversight role in relation to board appointments, funding for the Limerick City of Culture 2014 and C&AG recommendations to change the accounting protocols for dealing with National Gallery resources.
Deputy McGuinness says that Exchequer funding to the National Library of Ireland (NLI) will also be considered: “We look forward to engaging with Department Officials on ongoing funding issues at the NLI, including how the operating deficits of €485,000 in 2012 and €912,000 in 2011 are being reduced. PAC Members will wish to assess the value of heritage assets that have been stolen from the NLI, the progress towards their recovery and the systems being put in place to safeguard against future thefts.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Thursday 29 January in Committee Room 1, LH 2000 at 10 am. Public proceedings can be viewed online here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies:
Áine Collins, Fine Gael
Paul J. Connaughton, Fine Gael
Joe Costello, Labour Party
John Deasy, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Seán Fleming, Fianna Fáil
Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Féin
John McGuinness, Fianna Fáil (Chairman)
Gabrielle McFadden, Fine Gael
Derek Nolan, Labour Party
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John Perry, Fine Gael
Shane Ross, Independent