Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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348. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the sanctions his Department gave in order to open public bank accounts in the name of An Garda Síochána in each of the years 1997 to 2011; the locations of the accounts that were opened; the purpose of the accounts that were opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28659/17]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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349. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public bank accounts sanctioned for opening by An Garda Síochána prior to the commencement of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 by his Department in each of the years 1990 to 13 July 2006; the locations and purposes for the accounts that were given approval to be opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28700/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.

It will be necessary for Government Departments and Offices to open bank accounts with the commercial banks from time to time to facilitate payments made or receipts received arising from the performance of their statutory roles and responsibilities. These accounts are deemed to be public bank accounts within the meaning of Section 18 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1866, since they will contain public moneys, either as a result of voted moneys being deposited in them in order to make payments, or receipts being lodged for transfer to the Central Fund.  The opening of a public bank account required the prior written sanction of the Minister for Finance up to establishment of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in July 2011. 

The schedule attached to this reply sets out the details of public bank accounts opened in the name of An Garda Síochána and sanctioned by the Minister for Finance during the period 1992 to 2011.  The schedule is split into those public bank accounts sanctioned prior to the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Commencement) (No.2) Order 2006, i.e. 14^thJuly 2006, and those public bank accounts sanctioned after this commencement date.

My Department is consulting with the National Achieves regarding files currently held in storage off-site containing records regarding the details of public bank accounts sanctioned by the Minister for Finance for the years 1990 to 1992.The information will be provided to the Deputy directly once it becomes available.

Public Bank Accounts for An Garda Síochána Sanctioned 14th July 2006 - 31st December 2011

Public Bank Accounts for An Garda Síochána Sanctioned 1992 to 13th July 2006

A public bank account was sanctioned in the period 1992 to 2011, the details of which have not been included above for Garda security reasons.