Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if cases of non-compliance with the capital investment framework were reported to his Department in 2007; the Departments and the projects involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23564/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Compliance with the capital investment framework is of course a matter in the first instance for implementing Departments and Agencies in respect of their capital expenditure. Under the conditions of sanction for capital expenditure issued by my Department, Departments are required to put in place a system of annual spot-checks of projects to ensure compliance with the VFM requirements and to report the findings of these spot-checks annually to my Department. This may be included as part of a Department's annual report on their capital investment programme.

These reports are reviewed by the Central Expenditure Evaluation Unit (CEEU) in my Department who report on issues arising. The focus of these reviews in this first full year of operation of the CEEU has been on the systems in place in Departments for undertaking spot checks. As a result of these reports my Department is following up a number of issues with some Departments in assessing compliance with the guidelines with a view to ensuring that enhanced procedures are implemented in future years. A small number of Departments have yet to submit a report on their spot checks and this is being followed up with the Departments in question.