Local authority spending may be the next area to come under the scrutiny of the Dail Committee on Public Accounts (PAC). Deputy Michael Finucane is due to replace outgoing chairman Jim Mitchell, now deputy leader of Fine Gael, at the end of next week and one of the first items on his agenda will be an investigation of how the estimated £2 billion given to the local authorities by the Department of the Environment in 2001 is being spent - and if there are any irregularities.
By definition, the chair of the PAC goes to the opposition and Finucane was given the high profile job, instead of a front-bench portfolio, when his close ally, Michael Noonan, became leader of FG last month. Finucane says that, as suggested in the Democratic Revolution produced for the party by John Bruton and Mitchell last year, he would like to see the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) extended to local authorities around the country. He has already had lengthy discussions with the CAG, John Purcell, on this and other audit findings by his office which might merit Dail scrutiny via the PAC.
Several areas which were on Mitchell's agenda may also come before the PAC shortly. These include overseas development aid - not how it is dispersed by DFA, but how it is eventually spent. It will reach £800 million per annum in a few years, says Mitchell, and some of it may be going towards wars. The £0.5 billion of courts funds for which there is no accountability, the use of the court poor box, and tax evasion in the construction industry, may also be examined.
This weekend, Mitchell and his committee are putting the finishing touches to their final DIRT report. It should be ready for the printers by Monday and presented to the Oireachtas at the end of next week. It summarises the recommendations from the first report, details what action has or has not been taken and makes further proposals.