Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider repealing the Public Accounts and Charges Act 1891 to facilitate a move by him to a modern European system of resource accounting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36667/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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While there is no common European system of resource accounting, there is a trend internationally towards accrual accounting in the public sector. In the Irish Public Sector, a mix of accounting bases is currently in use. Accrual accounting is already the norm in the commercial sector and has been introduced in much of the non-commercial public sector outside the civil service.

The Programme for Government includes a provision that requires Public Sector Bodies to publish balance sheets and to move to accruals accounting. Planning for the introduction of accrual accounting in central government is underway and this will include any necessary legislative changes. Initial work on the delivery of this provision has commenced with the Appropriation Accounts 2011 for Government Departments and Offices where each departmental account will include a balance sheet.