John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 319: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is a dedicated auditing unit in his Department assessing and monitoring the day-to-day spend of his Department with particular reference to major projects; if so, the number of staff involved; if the staff have accountancy qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26844/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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A dedicated internal audit unit has been in place in my Department since the mid-1990s. The internal audit unit provides an assurance to the accounting officer on the internal control systems and the extent to which these systems contribute to the achievement of policy and business objectives in the most economic, efficient and effective way. The unit also has specific audit responsibilities to the European Commission in relation to some Structural Funds expenditure, in particular the European Social Fund.

In March 2004, the Secretary General of my Department, as Accounting Officer, signed a statement on internal financial control in respect of the 2003 appropriation account, acknowledging responsibility for ensuring that an effective system of internal financial controls is in place, maintained and operated by the Department. This statement was informed by the work of the internal audit unit, the audit committee, the managers who have responsibility for the development and maintenance of the controls systems, comments made by the Comptroller and Auditor General and, where relevant, the work of other audit bodies, for example, EU auditors in the case of Structural Funds expenditure.

The ongoing assessment and monitoring of expenditure referred to by the Deputy is primarily the responsibility of line management. Subsequent review, by internal audit, of the adequacy of the controls in place is undertaken in accordance with the annual audit plan.

The internal audit unit has a staffing complement of nine, including two work-job sharing posts. The unit is headed by a professional accountant and two of the other posts are at professional accountant level. The remaining members of the unit have a broad range of experience and backgrounds and have all received extensive training in internal audit. The adequacy of the expertise and resources available to the internal audit unit is kept under review by the audit committee.