Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. They will be glad to hear that despite their loitering outside the door, they will be taking a break soon enough because of divisions in the Dáil. The Department has been given a clear audit opinion although there are a few queries that I would like to highlight. As the Chairman mentioned, I am Chair of the Committee on Children and Youth Affairs, so much of this is known to me, given that I took over the role in July 2016. Deputy Cassells has covered much of the ground relating to Pobal. I have raised issues about Pobal in the past with regard to its role, the integration into the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and why it is an advantageous arrangement to use it in the first instance. That being said, Deputy Cassells has covered overpayments and recoupments but Dr. Lynch may wish to make an observation with regard to my comment.

With regard to a disclosure by the Accounting Officer about an internal financial control issue relating to education and training boards, ETBs, I appreciate that somebody pressed a button and inadvertently transferred five times the value of what should have been passed across to an ETB. I appreciate that it was caught and returned but the process and manner in which €2.47 million was paid in error instead of €600,000 is a bit alarming, to say the least. I appreciate that it was caught and the improvements that were made to ensure that it does not happen again. Will Dr. Lynch refer to those improvements?

Dr. Lynch mentioned the Department's building, which is a fine facility.

Is the Department renting or leasing it? I have asked this question before. If the Department is renting or leasing, does it result in more value for taxpayers' money than an outright purchase?

I have a question for Mr. Smyth on an issue that dates back a few years and that I have raised in the past. It relates to petty cash. Has there been a conclusion, be it a prosecution or otherwise, in terms of the petty cash that was highlighted in the audit?