Committee of Public Accounts to examine Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’s 2021 Appropriation Account, including expenditure on Direct Provision and emergency accommodation

The meeting at 9.30am in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Seamus McCarthy, and officials from the Department led by the Secretary General and Accounting Officer to the Committee of Public Accounts, Mr Kevin McCarthy.

Areas the Committee will examine include the Department’s 2021 Appropriation Account,  Guardian ad litem service - follow up report from the C&AG’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2021, and Direct Provision expenditure and emergency accommodation.

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

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is responsible for policy and provision of services for children, young people and families, as well as refugee resettlement and services for international protection applicants.

 “The Department’s expenditure in 2021 was €1.8 billion, including €888 million on the children and family support programme and €200 million on accommodation for people who have come to Ireland seeking international protection.

“There are currently nearly 16,500 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) system, including just under 3,500 children. DCEDIY is also leading the emergency response for providing accommodation and services to the 54,600 Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in Ireland since March 2022 under the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) scheme.

“As well as examining expenditure in the Department’s 2021 accounts, key questions for the Committee include the capacity of the system to cope with current and future demand for emergency accommodation, what steps the Department is taking to increase capacity, and when this will become available. Members also have questions around the use of temporary accommodation currently provided to individuals seeking asylum, as well as expenditure on the BOTP programme.

“The Committee also wishes to examine the C&AG’s follow up report from 2021 on provision of Guardians ad litems, independent people appointed by the court to ensure the best interests and the views of children are heard in public family law proceedings. Between 2014 and 2021, expenditure on the GAL service totalled €117 million. A previous report by the C&AG from 2016 made three recommendations which have yet to be implemented.

“Members look forward to examining these issues and related matters with Mr McCarthy and his colleagues.”

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.