PAC raps ‘sloppy’ grants practice

THE State’s financial watchdog yesterday publicly reprimanded a Government department for the way it allocated €10 million worth of grants.

Gaeltacht, Community and Rural Affairs department chiefs were criticised by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for not following “legally correct way of channelling” money procedures.

The money was paid into a suspense account to pay expenses of the rural social scheme in 2004 and 2005.

CAG director of audit Fergus Glovey told the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) the e10m should have been paid into the central fund.

Gaeltacht Department secretary general Gerry Kearney said the money had been allocated in that way on the advice of the Finance Department.

The practice has now been changed and the CAG accepted that the money had gone to the people it was intended for.

Green TD and PAC member Dan Boyle said it was a “sloppy” way to do business.

“This was a faulty way of transferring money, but the Finance Department also have to take the blame. They both got their wrists slapped and I hope they have learned from that.

“It’s not a very impressive way for Government to do its bookkeeping,” he said.

Mr Kearney told the committee procedures were now fully in line with the CAG recommendations.