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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Public accounts and State spending

Summary

Deputy Howlin raised likely findings of the Committee of Public Accounts on overspending and procurement failures across public bodies, especially the HSE. The Tánaiste said the Government took financial management seriously and would act once it had the report, not just briefings and leaks.

The upcoming report of the Committee of Public Accounts will highlight again the Government's mismanagement of precious State financial resources. The report is set to highlight overspending in areas such as An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive, the direct provision system and a range of other public agencies across the board. For example, in the case of the HSE alone, it will note an alarming level of non-compliance in the procurement of goods and services, often from private agencies. The estimated cost is €506 million or 23% of total expenditure. As I do not have time to instance all of the examples, my question is general. Does the Government take the issue of financial management seriously and what will it do about these matters?

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Simon Coveney The Tánaiste Fine Gael

We take the issue of financial management very seriously, but we have not yet had sight of the report. We are effectively relying on briefings and leaks. When the Government receives the detail of the report, it will act on it, as appropriate.

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