Mr. Seamus McCarthy:

I want to point out to members that three of the sets of accounts relate to periods of account ending in 2019. These are the accounts for Dundalk Institute of Technology, the Private Security Authority and Údarás na Gaeltachta. A number of these are late in being presented. Following the committee's procedure, it will probably want to follow up and get explanations on these.

With regard to Dundalk Institute of Technology, the code of governance for institutes of technology requires a review by the institute's governing authority of the system of control in the period of account. This usually has to be carried out at or near the end of the year, and up to three months after the end of the period of account is allowed. In Dundalk's case this was not carried out until six months after the end of the financial period.

With regard to Údarás na Gaeltachta, I draw attention to a disclosure in the statement on internal control of weaknesses in the management and control of a capital project where the budget was €1.2 million for refurbishment of an industrial property but it ended up costing €3.5 million. The board of Údarás na Gaeltachta has put in place further measures to improve the controls over capital projects as a result.

The accounts of the National Assets Management Agency are for 2020. The turnover in the year was €274 million and there is a clear audit opinion.