Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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209. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he has taken to ensure that grant aided organisations are spending their moneys appropriately in view of the revelations regarding a charity (details supplied) in 2016; if his attention has been drawn to concerns in relation to organisations funded by his Department; if so, the action he has taken; if his Department has issued new procedures regarding the use of credit cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46094/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) is the only State agency funded by my Department.  The DDMBA issues no credit cards to staff or board members.  No concerns have been brought to my attention in relation to this body. 

In relation to credit card expenditure, my Department has not issued new procedures relating to credit cards expenditure in response to revelations relating to the charity Console.

Departmental guidelines and oversight procedures already in place have proven effective in ensuring that all charges incurred on departmental credit cards are business related.

Each officer who holds an official credit card is required to certify that all charges incurred are correct and are of an official nature. The officer is required to provide a hard-copy of this statement alongside all receipts for expenses incurred to my Department’s Financial Management Unit when the statement is presented for processing.

In relation to the general Departmental cards, certification must also be provided to ensure that the appropriate approval within the section has been obtained in relation to all expenditure.

I am satisfied that the current oversight and controls exercised by my Department in relation to payments on credit cards are appropriately clear and that the above procedures are effectively enforced.