Written answers
Friday, 16 September 2016
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Departmental Expenditure
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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887. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set out the number of credit cards issued to Ministers and officials working in his Department; the amount spent on credit cards by his Department in 2014 and in 2015; the amount of bank interest paid on credit cards in 2014 and 2015; the controls in place to monitor the issuing of and the expenditure on these cards; the controls in place in each agency to monitor expenditure on personally held credit card bills that are subsequently used to recoup work related expenses; if these controls are being reviewed in view of recent events in agencies funded by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24747/16]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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888. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set down in tabular form the number of credit cards issued to staff working in each State agency funded by his Department; the number of cards per funded agency; the amount spent by credit card in 2014 and 2015 by each agency; the amount of bank interest paid on credit cards in 2014 and 2015; the controls in place to monitor the issuing of and the expenditure on these cards; the controls in place in each agency to monitor expenditure on personally held credit card bills that are subsequently used to recoup work related expenses; if these controls are being reviewed in view of recent events in agencies funded by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24762/16]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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889. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set down in tabular form the number of credit cards issued to staff working in any third party agency funded by his Department; the number of cards per funded agency; the amount spent by credit card in 2014 and 2015 by each agency; the controls in place to monitor the issuing of and the expenditure on these cards; the controls in place in each agency to monitor expenditure on credit card bills that are subsequently used to recoup work-related expenses; whether these controls are being reviewed in view of recent events in agencies funded by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24777/16]
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 887 to 889, inclusive, together.
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Description | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|
Number of credit cards | 6 | 6 |
Amount spent on credit cards | €35,784 | €29,925 |
Amount of bank interest paid | €83.30 | €0.00 |
Members of staff who hold an official credit card receive a copy of their monthly statement and are required to certify that all charges incurred are correct and official in nature. They must certify that the appropriate approval had been obtained for the expenditure in cases where approval is required by a senior officer, the statement should be countersigned by the relevant senior officer and include receipts, in all cases. In the event that a receipt cannot be provided, the staff member is required to provide a detailed explanation of the charge. A hard copy of the statement, certified as being in order for payment, must be returned before that payment can be made.
The guidelines also cover personal purchases made by an individual officer. Payment must be made with the monthly statement together with an explanation regarding the use of the card for the purchase. Significant use of a departmental credit card for personal reasons would result in its withdrawal.
Credit card expenditure is subject to audit by the Internal Audit Unit and the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) to ensure that correct procedures are being followed in relation to the issue and use of Departmental credit cards.
The Office of Public Works
Description | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|
Number of credit cards | 50 | 77 |
Amount spent on credit cards | €180,057 | €467,267 |
Amount of bank interest paid | €0.00 | €0.00 |
Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)
Description | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|
Number of credit cards | 3 | 3* |
Amount spent on credit cards | £8,556 | £12,346 |
Amount of bank interest paid | £0.00 | £0.00 |
The Chief Executive Officer must approve the issue of any additional cards (no new cards issued in last 8 years). Expenditure is subject to all normal checks and controls applied by the Finance Team (normally in advance), who monitor usage, inspect receipts and procurement applied etc. These cards are used predominantly for advance purchase of flights/hotel accommodation for all staff (not just for the cardholders). These cards are not generally used for other expenses by the cardholders. All expenditure claimed as work related expenses are subject to 100% checking by finance team prior to payment, regardless of how the individual has funded the payment. Controls in this area are reviewed on a regular basis, and amended as necessary. Auditors also regularly consider this area.
Public Appointments Service (PAS)
Description | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|
Number of credit cards | 2 | 2 |
Amount spent on credit cards | €18,000 | €24,000 |
Amount of bank interest paid | €0.00 | €0.00 |
The State Laboratory
Description | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|
Number of credit cards | 1 | 1 |
Amount spent on credit cards | €3,056 | €3,087 |
Amount of bank interest paid | €0.00 | €0.00 |
The Office of the Ombudsman
Description | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|
Number of credit cards | 1 | 1 |
Amount spent on credit cards | €9,453 | €7,184 |
Amount of bank interest paid | €0.00 | €0.00 |
The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) do not hold any credit cards.
There are no third party agencies funded by my Department.
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