Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

NOAC does not have the powers or the functions to do detailed audits. The Minister of State knows that the local government auditing service in the Department constantly raises the issue. We see it all over the 31 local authorities’ reports. There is always one line from the chief executives stating they note the concerns of the local government audit service and will endeavour to improve. That is not good enough anymore.

There is a need to have proper accountability of the governance and stewardship of our local authorities by chief executives who are handsomely paid. Clearly, they are not held to account by the Oireachtas for the funding they receive from it. It is a disgrace that local authorities have outstanding sections 48 and 49 levies, as well as many other funds which are not collected. It would not be tolerated in the private sector and it should not be tolerated in local government.

I would prefer if the Minister of State did not reinvent the wheel and create another layer of bureaucracy. He should, instead, empower local government auditors to pursue these levies. One local authority published its local government audit report for 2017 less than a month ago. At its council meeting, it allowed six to nine minutes to discuss the report which flagged major concerns by the local government auditing service. Nothing was done about it because it was put at the end of its agenda. I wrote to that local authority today and enclosed the full local government audit report. I told it that it should convene a special meeting to grill and cross-examine its chief executive. That is the sort of stewardship we need.

I do not doubt the Minister of State's commitment to that. However, I will use any opportunity to keep raising this issue.