John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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251. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the funding allocated by his Department to organisations not audited directly by the Comptroller and Auditor General; the names of these organisations; the funding allocated to each over the past five years; the process in place to ensure that value for money is achieved and that the funding allocated is audited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38669/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, including protecting the environment, providing necessary housing supports and fostering community and rural development in partnership with local government and other local development bodies. In order to deliver on this broad business agenda, my Department allocates significant resources to a wide range of organisations, including local authorities, as well as dedicated agencies, non-statutory bodies and individuals in accordance with the public spending code. The bulk of the Department’s expenditure on approved schemes is recouped to local authorities, which are subject to independent audit by the Local Government Audit Service (LGAS) under the Local Government Act 2001, as amended.

Agencies under the aegis of the Department, apart from Irish Water, the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) and the Housing Finance Agency, are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Housing Finance Agency is subject to independent audit. Irish Water is also subject to independent audit and is accountable through its Board to the Commission for Energy Regulation. The LGMA is subject to audit by the Local Government Audit Service.

In relation to local development bodies funded by my Department to deliver programmes such as LEADER and the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the disbursement of funding is subject to the public spending code, national operating rules and a robust independent audit and inspection regime, which examines, inter alia, value for money issues.

If the Deputy wishes to put down a more specific question concerning funding for a specific purpose or body from my Department, I will endeavour to provide the information sought.