Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is what the agency representatives have said. When they are before the committee next year we will check it out. We will send it back to the two organisations and to the other committee, because it is under the policy area of that committee.

Item 152C is a letter from an individual referring to a freedom of information request that was sent to the Committee of Public Accounts. However, neither the clerk nor the Oireachtas freedom of information officer has any record of having received same. The clerk has informed the individual. The person restates and expands on some issues relating to the awarding of Aosdána grants. I propose that we write to the Arts Council seeking a response and enclose a copy of the correspondence received. Is that agreed? Agreed. This topic was mentioned at a previous meeting in July. We will follow it up.

Item 153C is an e-mail from Mr. John Mulcahy, a former NAMA board member, clarifying the extent of his knowledge of Project Eagle. Mr. Mulcahy will be at our meeting next week. We have agreed to note and publish that.

Let us move on to reports, statements and accounts received. The list is coming up on the screen. Item 4(1) relates to the Beaumont Hospital board. It has a clear audit report. As for Aontacht Pobal Teoranta, a HSE subsidiary to promote integration of persons with disability, the Comptroller and Auditor General states that the director's report is closed and that the company is to be wound up. The assets and liabilities will be transferred to the HSE. The organisation only had an annual turnover of €1,200 in 2015. Effectively, it has been closed at this stage.

The next item relates to the Rent Tribunal for the period from 1 January 2015 to 7 January 2016. The Rent Tribunal was dissolved on 7 January 2016. The functions were transferred to the Residential Tenancies Board. Next, the Institute of Public Administration has a clear report. The Law Reform Commission has a clear report as well.

Next is the Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau. The bureau handles complaints from consumers relating to financial services providers. A note in the accounts discloses that legislation enacted in 2013 provides for changes in the pension funding arrangements of the bureau. Pending the resolution of discussions with the Department of Finance in respect of implementation of legislation, the financial statements disclose that accrued pension liability only by way of a note. We have come across the issue of pensions in numerous public bodies.

The Cork Education and Training Board has a clear audit report. The last item relates to the Food Safety Promotion Board. This is a North-South body. Note 16 of the financial statements disclosed that non-effective expenditure totalling €152,000 had been incurred by the board. This relates to rent associated with space at its headquarters in Cork that has been unoccupied since December 2013 while a subletting agreement for the space expired. A total of €76,000 of this expenditure relates to 2015. The Comptroller and Auditor General might wish to make a quick comment.