Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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40. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to recent revelations as to the way in which public money may have been misspent and the way in which there may have been a lack of governance in this spending in some third level institutions, the new measures he is planning to put in place to ensure proper oversight of expenditure across all public bodies and institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26273/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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All Government Departments and public bodies in receipt of public funding must comply, as appropriate, with the relevant requirements of the Public Spending Code. The Public Spending Code sets out the value for money rules and guidance for spending in all public bodies at all stages in the expenditure life cycle – before, during and after spending. The Public Spending Code applies to both capital and current expenditure. The Code outlines what is required of public service managers at different points of the expenditure life cycle and offers advice on how to fulfil those requirements. 

In addition to the financial reporting requirements, principles and procedures established in legislation and set out in Public Financial Procedures, new and updated requirements for the management of grant funding provided from public money issued in the form of a DPER Circular 13/2014 – Management and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds.  This circular outlines the public financial management principles, procedures, and additional reporting requirements to be followed in the management of grant funding provided from public money. The fundamental principle is that there should be transparency and accountability in the management of public money, in line with economy, efficiency and effectiveness. The provisions of the circular apply to the movement of funds from a Vote to an outside body, and to any/all onward movements of that funding. The objective is to ensure that all Exchequer funds, regardless of the method of distribution, are accounted for and properly managed. 

The Accounting Officer has a key role in the system of accountability for public moneys.  The Role and Responsibilities of Accounting Officers are set out in the Memorandum for Accounting Officers issued by my Department. The document outlines the system of accountability for public moneys and describes the key elements.  It sets out the duties and responsibilities of Accounting Officers in that system and describes the systems and functions that should be in place to support Accounting Officers in carrying out their duties. This document is given to all Accounting Officers on their appointment along with other relevant guidance material such as the Public Financial Procedures.

I am satisfied that a detailed and comprehensive governance framework for public expenditure has been put in place by my Department to ensure that there is economical, efficient and effective use of public funds in line with the purpose to which they are allocated.  It is, of course, a matter for each Department and public body concerned to ensure that there are appropriate oversight arrangements and structures in place to ensure that this framework is fully implemented in all cases and where any misspending takes place, financial reporting, internal controls and audit systems to ensure as much as possible that these are detected and are addressed.