Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 4 July 2013

Public Accounts Committee

2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 17 - European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
FÁS Financial Statements 2012
National Training Fund

11:20 am

Mr. Paul O'Toole:

There are different views on this. The accounting policy of historic cost and accumulating depreciation is the correct one. We do not have a revaluation policy on an ongoing basis because there is no simple basis for that and there are accounting criteria in this regard. What it prompts is a need to look at whether the universal, one-size-fits-all depreciation charge of buildings over 50 years is appropriate in all cases going forward. That is the issue, as distinct from an inappropriate accounting policy.