Written answers

Tuesday, 2 November 2004

Department of Foreign Affairs

Departmental Staff

9:00 pm

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs 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. [26842/04]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for Vote 28, Foreign Affairs, and Vote 29, International Co-operation. For each Vote, a dedicated audit unit has been established namely. These are the inspection and audit unit for foreign affairs and the evaluation and audit unit in Development Co-operation Ireland for international co-operation. The inspection and internal audit unit consists of three staff and has an appropriately qualified internal auditor. The evaluation and audit unit in Development Co-operation Ireland has six staff including two internal auditors, both of whom have accountancy qualifications. In addition, the work of the internal auditors at headquarters is supported by internal auditors with appropriate qualifications who are based at our embassies in three of Development Co-operation Ireland's programme countries. These are Ethiopia, Lesotho and Tanzania.

It is the responsibility of the audit units to provide assurance to senior management as to the adequacy of the Department's internal control systems. The role of assessing and monitoring the day-to-day spend of the Department, including spending on major projects, however falls to the relevant line manager in conjunction with the finance units responsible for each Vote. The finance units, in addition to being staffed by officers at management and clerical levels, also employ professionally qualified accountants. While most staff in the finance units do not have accountancy qualifications, they receive the necessary training to enable them perform their duties in a satisfactory manner.

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