Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Department is committed to the ongoing management of projects in accordance with the public spending code and relevant grant circulars. Measures are in place to ensure that staff are appropriately trained and supported in the appraisal and oversight of grant aided projects as part of the Department's annual quality assurance process. The Department intends to hold further training sessions, accompanied by guidance material, prior to the end of 2017. The Department will ensure that particular care is exercised in the appraisal and oversight of projects in accordance with the provisions of the public spending code. This will include further staff training on the early establishment of performance metrics, to be used as a signal for action during the implementation phase. It will also include the need for regular management reports to be provided around the recommendation that where projects do not progress as expected, or where serious shortcomings are identified with the project sponsor, then early action needs to be taken. That is in place now in the Department, and rightly so.