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Thursday 1 June 2023 Dublin: 15°C

# Public Accounts Committee

Last month
May 2023
# Covid-19
Over 100 faulty ventilators ordered by HSE in March 2020 still in storage amid legal dispute
The HSE is currently seeking to recoup €22.3 million for faulty and undelivered ventilators.
This year
2023
# PAC
‘Real arms race’ between cyber attackers and defending Irish health system, Committee hears
PAC heard that 32,000 letters had been issued in recent weeks topeople affected by the HSE cyber attack.
# nursing home charges
Public Accounts Committee to probe whether Government hid information about nursing home charges
The committee is meeting this afternoon to discuss the strategy.
Last year
2022
# National Lottery
Lottery regulator defends the operator's spending of €122m in unclaimed prizes on advertising
The National Lottery regulator said she believes that this was the state’s intention when the licensing was agreed.
# Public Accounts Committee
Irish greyhound racing industry is closer to a breeding industry, PAC hears
Greyhound Racing Ireland spoke at the Public Accounts Committee today as its financial statements were examined.
# Public Accounts Committee
Public Accounts Committee to examine financial statements of An Bord Pleanála
The planning body received €19.2 million in Exchequer funding in 2020 and recorded a net deficit of €2.6 million the same year.
# RTÉ
RTÉ must reduce reliance on state funding, says Public Accounts Committee
The committee has expressed concern at delays in the publication of a report from the Future of Media Commission.
# Delays
Nearly fivefold increase in the number of complaints to the Passport Office this year
Complaints relate to the long delays as well as citizenship issues.
# Public Accounts Committee
Inflation to increase National Children’s Hospital costs by €51 million
Members of the board of the Children’s Hospital appeared before the Public Accounts Committee today.
# Healthcare system
Public Accounts Committee will not consider leaked details of Department of Health meeting
The Sunday Business Post first reported details of a recorded meeting between Department of Health officials in January.
# direct provision
Public Accounts Committee 'not satisfied' with reliance on hotels for direct provision
The PAC has made a number of recommendations on the system.
All time
# Bam
Contractor at National Children’s Hospital submits 906 claims worth €446 million
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is spending €15 million fighting the claims.
# Schools
PAC calls for review of temporary school accommodation after €56 million spend in two years
A report has found that the longest arrangement for temporary schools accommodation dates back over 20 years to 2000.
# PAC
Children's hospital contractor seeking extra claims totalling more than €300 million
Six of the claims are more than €40 million, the committee was told.
# Make no mistake
NAMA miscalculation caused €10 million loss to taxpayers
The Committee of Public Accounts has found that several errors by NAMA in the sale of its Project Nantes loans potentially lost taxpayers up to €29 million.
# printer-gate
'A mess from start to finish': PAC says someone must be held responsible for Oireachtas printer controversy
The overall cost of the project is €1.8 million, the committee heard today.
# printer-gate
Oireachtas printer: Requirements 'neither understood nor examined' at critical stages, report finds
The printer – which is yet to be operational – has caused controversy after it emerged it cost just over €800,000.
# cost overruns
Some contractor claims for new children's hospital not under board's control, committee to hear
The fact some measures of the project remain uncosted is ‘laughable’ says Labour’s Alan Kelly.
# Controversy
Old Oireachtas printers not eco-friendly, case for new controversial printer argued
The purchase of the printer is due to be discussed by the Public Accounts Committee later this week.
# off the presses
This is the model of printing press that's causing all the hassle for the Oireachtas
Structural works were needed at Leinster House to ensure the printer fit correctly in the building.
# Wages
'Gross mismanagement': NTA paying agency workers twice what it pays its own permanent staff
The average wage an agency worker is paid is nearly €140,000.
# Finances
PAC 'concerned' that OPW building maintenance spending jumped from expected €9m to €39.4m
This follows the publication of the 2018 annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) today.
# Rehab
Ceann Comhairle apologises to Angela Kerins over PAC treatment
In March the Supreme Court ruled the PAC acted unlawfully in its questioning of the former Rehab CEO.
# PAC
HSE 'made eejits of' Government by appointing PwC to review National Children's Hospital costs
The firm was found to have ‘high level’ input into a decision to continue with constructing the project last year.
# PAC
Commissioner says €22m for 'parading time' is drain on garda overtime budget
The Garda Commissioner is appearing before the Oireachtas Public Accounts committee for the first time today.
# From the top
Uefa 'aware' of decision to withdraw State funding from the FAI
Sport Ireland announced on Tuesday that they were to cease providing grants to Irish football.
# statement
'We’ve about 50 clubs back - it’s not positive': Leinster clubs voice their concerns over FAI board
Leinster Senior League chairman David Moran has called on the FAI to restore the public’s confidence in the organisation.
# PAC
Over €100k paid out in compensation to two families of prisoners who died from self-inflicted injuries
That’s according to documents provided to the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
# Angela Kerins
Supreme Court finds PAC acted 'significantly' outside remit in questioning of former Rehab CEO Angela Kerins
Angela Kerins had sought damages from the PAC following a 2014 hearing. The case has been adjourned until April.
# finance audit
Kildare/Wicklow Education and Training Board boss 'co-operating' with gardaí after Naas office raid
The raid followed on from the publication of the C&AG audit of the financial statements of the organisation.
# Prison Service
'Mind-boggling': Department can't say whether payments to firm were for surveillance of prison staff
The prison service paid two private security companies over a two-year period.
# National Children's Hospital
National Children's Hospital Project 'highly unlikely’ to come in under €2 billion
The Secretary General of the HSE is unable to confirm that the cost will be below €2 billion
# Whistleblower
Investigation into claims of 'unauthorised surveillance' in Irish prisons to finish in February
The examination of claims by a prison officer was ordered by the Justice Minister in November.
# buying vs rent
State spent over €1m renting Brussels embassy last year, as PAC questions value-for-money
Committee concerned about State renting buildings long-term rather than buying.
# Unemployment
Private companies getting €3,718 for every jobseeker that makes it through the State's Jobpath scheme
How much the companies got paid per person has been shrouded in secrecy since the roll out of the programme.
# High Court
Harris on the defensive after judge criticises doctor recruitment process
“I note that the interview panel described the respondent as ‘eager to work and learn’. But learn at whose expense?” the judge said.
# high worth individuals
New report shows that 83 of Ireland's wealthiest people pay lower rate of income tax than average worker
The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee said people would be “shocked” by the report.
# THE PAC
'A cynical political attack': Ministers hit out at questioning over €317,000 President's allowance
Questions surrounding the payment were raised at the Public Accounts Committee yesterday.
# Public Accounts Committee
Explainer: Why examining presidential expenses could be a problem
A number of people have argued that the move by the PAC is unconstitutional.
# aras 2018
Poll: Should there be an Áras costs inquiry before the presidential election?
The total breakdown of Áras costs isn’t publicly available; but some have said that the timing of an inquiry is “politically motivated”.