Committee of Public Accounts to examine 2020 Appropriation Account and C&AG report with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The meeting in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be joined by the C&AG, Seamus McCarthy, and will be split into two sessions.

The morning session, from 9.30am-12.30pm, will be with officials from the Department led by the Secretary General, Graham Doyle, and will examine:

• Appropriation Account 2020 – Vote 34 (Housing, Local Government and Heritage);
• Accounts of the Public Services 2020 Chapter 3: Central Government funding of Local Authorities;
• Accounts of the Public Services 2020 Chapter 8: Oversight of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP); and
• Local Government Fund Account 2020.

During the afternoon session, beginning at 1.30pm, the Committee will consider the minutes of recent meetings, correspondence and other business of the Committee.

PAC Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has responsibility for delivery of housing, strategic planning, management of water resources and water services, Ireland’s heritage, and local government. In 2020 the Department had net expenditure of €5.2billion.

“The Committee is interesting in examining a number of areas of that expenditure, particularly in relation to major capital projects for delivery of new housing, public-private partnerships, retrofitting schemes for energy efficient homes, the Rental Assistance Scheme (RAS) and emergency accommodation. Also of interest to the Committee is oversight of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), including the cost, governance and control of HAP.

“Further areas for examination are the Covid-19 rates waivers and Local Property Tax (LPT), funding from central government for local government, the subvention for Irish Water, and a fine paid in 2020 to the European Commission arising from a judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in November 2019, which relates to Derrybrien Wind Farm in Co Galway.

“The Committee welcomes this opportunity to meet with the Department and looks forward to examining the accounts, reports and related matters with Mr Doyle and his colleagues as we examine whether the taxpayer is receiving value for money in the delivery of these critical public services.”

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

PAC is a standing committee of Dáil Éireann which focuses on ensuring public services are run efficiently and achieve value for money. Further information on the role and remit of the Committee can be found here.

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