Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following the circulation of the 2011 Estimates for Public Services this week, if he will explain the reason the spend on the Secret Service is due to increase by €419,000 in 2011 in comparison to 2010; if the Secret Service will be accounted for in the comprehensive review of expenditure; and if the Secret Service has been subject to a value for money audit. [20343/11]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will explain the purpose of the Secret Service; the reason its budget increased by 72% in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20680/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 53 together.

The 2011 Estimate for the Secret Service Vote is €1m, which is the same as the 2010 Estimate. It is not the practice to divulge information or explanations relating to expenditure or how the estimate is arrived at for this Vote. As regards reporting mechanisms, the Appropriation Account of the Vote for the Secret Service is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General in accordance with section 3 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993. The C & AG is furnished with certificates from the responsible Ministers which support the expenditure shown in the account. On the basis of these certificates, the C & AG expresses an opinion in the annual published Appropriation Accounts that the account properly presents the expenditure of the Vote for the particular year concerned. This arrangement has been accepted by the Committee of Public Accounts of the Dáil.