Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 5 November 2020

Public Accounts Committee

2019 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Office of Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2019
Chapter 17 - Ireland Apple Escrow Fund

11:30 am

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Secretary General for his presentation. I want to touch on a few issues concerning the Exchequer financial outturns.

Irish Water received €96 million in 2015, €184 million in 2016, €270 million in 2017 and nothing in 2018. In 2019, Irish Water received €758 million by way of a capital contribution. Please outline the difference between a capital contribution and a capital grant. I understand that no shares were issued to the State in respect of the funding and that it was in relation to the domestic debt of Irish Water. What is the scenario in terms of non-domestic debt? Is there not a structure in place for the State to fund Irish Water? What is the reason for the variation in contributions?

The dividends amount received from State bodies has decreased from €551 million in 2016 to €262 million in 2019. Why? What is the prognosis for dividends from State companies for the next number of years?

Finally, in terms of the value of State shareholdings, I understood that a public sector balance sheet was to be produced. Where are we with that?

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