Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Údarás na Gaeltachta is a non-commercial State body which comes under the aegis of my Department and is governed by the legislative provisions of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Acts 1979 to 1999, in addition to national and European regulations and guidelines, including the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. Accordingly, while my Department holds responsibility for the body in regard to corporate governance matters, it has no function in the micro-management of its day-to-day administration.

As the Deputy is aware, Exchequer funding is provided to Údarás na Gaeltachta annually through my Department's Vote and, as part of the formal notification process, my Department sets out appropriate guidelines and conditions in regard to the various programmes of expenditure with a view to ensuring good practice for both the body and the various stakeholders. The expenditure programmes and processes are, of course, subject to formal scrutiny and audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General on an annual basis.

In fulfilment of its statutory obligations, Údarás na Gaeltachta publishes its report and accounts annually and these are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. In addition, arising from the code of practice for the governance of State bodies, the chairman provides a report each year to me in my role as Minister in regard to the performance and compliance of the body in the particular year. As part of this report, the chairman is required to confirm that all appropriate procedures for financial reporting, internal audit, procurement and disposal of assets are being carried out by the body and that the codes of business conduct for directors and employees, the guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure proposals and the code of practice generally have been adhered to. An internal audit function is also in place in the body.

Moreover, as a result of particular issues which came to light during my tenure as Minister — I cite for instance, the sale of holiday homes in Eanach Mheáin and payment of a grant to a company outside the Gaeltacht boundary, both of which have already been debated extensively in this House — I can say that procurement practices and processes have been improved to ensure good practice. For example, following scrutiny of the procedures adopted in the case of disposal of assets in Eanach Mheáin, my Department acted to highlight the need for board decisions and the underlying processes to be fair and transparent both in legal and administrative terms. I can also confirm that, in accordance with its governance role, my officials hold meetings with Údarás executives on a regular basis to monitor and review progress and to discuss relevant issues.

Having regard to the foregoing I am satisfied as to the general arrangements in place for the award of contracts.

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