John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The first item on our agenda is the minutes of our meeting on 27 March 2013. Are these minutes agreed to? Agreed.

Item No. 2 is matters arising. Our last meeting was with the director of the Local Government Audit Service who gave an outline of the work of his office. A common thread appeared in our examination of bodies that receive Exchequer funding which is not subsequently audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. That common threat relates to the need for greater accountability for this funding, whether it is given to the CIE for school transport, a voluntary hospital or to local authorities for the provision of specific services. It may be appropriate that we draw up a short report on these issues and report to the Dáil with recommendations. I ask the clerk to examine the issue with a view to drawing up an outline of a report that the committee can work on. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 3 is correspondence from Accounting Officers received since our meeting on 21 March 2013. Correspondence dated 22 March 2013 from Mr. Robert Watt, Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, providing information requested at the meeting of 7 March 2013. This is to be noted and published.

No. 3A.2 is correspondence dated 28 March 2013 from Ms Niamh O'Donoghue, Secretary General, Department of Social Protection, providing information requested at the meeting of 14 March 2013. This is to be noted and published. There is one issue where data have not been supplied that relates to the number of people in receipt of a welfare payment who do not attend for interview as part of the work activation process. The committee will examine the issue of labour market activation measures when it examines Chapter 17 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report with the Department of Education and Skills. We will also bring in FÁS to discuss the issue and it may be appropriate if the Department of Social Protection was already represented at the meeting.

No. 3A.3 is correspondence dated 8 April 2013 from Mr. John Moran, Secretary General, Department of Finance, regarding the provision of information requested at the meeting of 21 February 2013. This is to be noted and published. The correspondence relates to the level of cash retained in bank accounts by public bodies. We will follow up on the issue with the Accounting Office at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The matter was specifically raised by Deputy Harris.

No. 3A.4 is correspondence dated 12 April 2013 from Mr. Brian Purcell, Secretary General, Department of Justice and Equality, regarding the provision of information requested at the meeting of 21 March 2013. This is to be noted and published.