Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I do not accept that Civil Defence transactions are overwhelmingly carried out in cash. Funding for Civil Defence operations is shared on a 70/30 basis between my Department and local authorities by way of an annual grant to each authority. The grant covers all allowable administration and running costs for Civil Defence in each local authority. This grant and all other transactions in relation to Civil Defence are dealt with through my Department's financial management system and are carried out in line with public financial procedures.

Civil Defence operations at local level are carried out under the control of the relevant local authority. The annual grant to each local authority is issued following a detailed examination of certified financial returns on the previous year’s expenditure. This includes confirmation by the local authority that a control environment is in place to ensure accountability for all income, expenditure, donations or gifts in relation to the operation of Civil Defence.

Separately, the external auditor for Local Government includes the Civil Defence grants as part of its annual audit agenda.