Written answers

Thursday, 9 October 2014

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Value for Money Reviews

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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18. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to provide to the Comptroller and Auditor General additional powers needed to carry out value-for-money audits of State programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38164/14]

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Programme for Government committed to giving the Comptroller and Auditor General extra powers to carry out value-for-money (VFM) audits of State programmes. This commitment for enhanced powers for the Comptroller and Auditor General is being progressed as part of the wider public service reform agenda. 

Any consideration of the role of the Comptroller and Auditor General must take account of initiatives for the management and reporting of public expenditure. This includes, for example, as part of the annual estimates process, the introduction and development of performance budgeting;  developments at EU level regarding the introduction of common standards for the accounts of public bodies; and, as part of a joint initiative with the Department of Finance, in which the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is participating, consideration of enhanced fiscal transparency measures. Other related and significant developments include civil service accountability and performance.

The strengthening of accountability systems requires a clear sighted examination of the forms and structures of accountability that best support the broader agenda of public service reform and its core objective of high quality and more efficient provision of public services. This wider accountability framework includes the work of the Comptroller and Auditor General in terms of both financial auditing and value for money reports.

The Programme for Government commitments and associated reform proposals, including those relating to the Comptroller and Auditor General,  focus on enhancing  performance and accountability arrangements so that the public service can be empowered to be more effective and to demonstrate that well informed choices are being made as to how public money is spent.

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