20 December 2011
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service: An Organisational Assessment and Review of Departmental Oversight
Fire and rescue services in Northern Ireland are provided by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS), an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (the Department). With an annual budget of approximately £80 million, NIFRS accounts for less than two per cent of the overall Departmental budget of approximately £4.3 billion. Today Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) issued a report which focuses on an Organisational Assessment of NIFRS and a review of the Department’s oversight of NIFRS. More
13 December 2011
Northern Ireland Tourist Board – Review of the Signature Projects
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General, today issued a report to the Assembly on the
implementation of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s (NITB) Signature Projects. Mr Donnelly said: ‘The
Signature Projects represent the best way forward for tourism in Northern Ireland and have the potential
to achieve international standout and increase visitor numbers. Substantial progress has been made,
although there have been delays and no Signature Projects have yet been completed.’ More
6 December 2011
General Report on the Health and Social Care Sector
The health and social care (HSC) sector in Northern Ireland spends more than £4 billion each year. Today Kieran Donnelly Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), issued a report which focuses on the results of the 2009-10 and 2010-11 financial audits of HSC bodies in Northern Ireland. It notes the following: More
29 November 2011
DETI: The Bioscience and Technology Institute
Mr Kieran Donnelly, the Comptroller and Auditor General, today issued his report to the Assembly on ‘The Bioscience and Technology Institute’ (BTI). The report examines the reasons behind the failure of this major innovation project. More
22 November 2011
Report to the Assembly by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland
Mr Kieran Donnelly, the Comptroller and Auditor General, today issued his report to the Assembly on the Transfer of Former Military and Security Sites to the Northern Ireland Executive. Mr Donnelly said: “Although these sites were transferred free of charge, one of the conditions attached to their transfer was that the Executive had to meet the cost of making the sites ready for use. My report records that up to 31 March 2011 this has cost the Executive just under £48 million, primarily on the Maze/Long Kesh, Crumlin Road Gaol and Ebrington sites.” More
25 October 2011
Financial Auditing and Reporting Report to the Northern Ireland Assembly by the Comptroller and Auditor General 2011
Kieran Donnelly, the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland and Head of the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO), today reported the results of financial audit work undertaken primarily on the 2010-11 accounts of government departments and other public sector bodies. The report covers a range of topics and issues. It does not include the results of his examination of the accounts of bodies within the health and social care sector. A separate report on this sector will be published on 6 December 2011. More
1 July 2011
The use of locum doctors by Northern Ireland Hospitals
A report published today by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Kieran Donnelly, examines the effectiveness of management arrangements over the use of locum doctors in Northern Ireland hospitals. Locums are doctors of any grade or specialty who provide temporary staffing cover at any time and they play an important role in ensuring hospitals can maintain services through adequate staffing and the provision of good patient care around the clock. In recent years the demand for locum doctors has risen due to workforce issues such as increased difficulty in filling vacancies through changes in immigration law and the impact of European legislation governing working hours. More
29 June 2011
Managing Criminal Legal Aid
Mr Kieran Donnelly, the Comptroller and Auditor General, today issued his report to the Assembly on Managing Criminal Legal Aid in Northern Ireland. Mr Donnelly said: “Since 2003 the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission has spent £340 million on criminal legal aid. With such sums of money involved, it is important that the current framework for managing criminal legal aid ensures value for money for the taxpayer and proper accountability. At present, that is not the case. Considerable scope remains to improve efficiency, and achieve cost savings, but progress will depend on the Department of Justice, Court Service, the Commission and professional bodies working together to achieve this”. More
15 June 2011
The Use of External Consultants by Northern Ireland Departments Follow-up Report
Aggregate spending on external consultants is significant. Over the period 2005-06 to 2009-10, Northern Ireland departments (including agencies, NDPBs and health trusts) have spent £144 million on external consultancy services. Expenditure peaked in 2006-07 at £42 million but subsequently fell to £19.5 million in 2009-10. More
25 May 2011
Continuous improvement arrangements in the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Mr Kieran Donnelly, the Comptroller and Auditor General, today issued his report to the Assembly on Continuous improvement arrangements in the Northern Ireland Policing Board. Mr Donnelly said: ‘An effective partnership between the Policing Board and the PSNI is key to achieving continuous improvement in policing. While this is important to everyone in our society, it cannot be achieved by good will alone. Instead, it needs sustained effort, supported by arrangements that meet the needs of both partners.’ More
16 March 2011
Promoting Good Nutrition through Healthy School Meals
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General, today issued his report to the Assembly on “Promoting Good Nutrition through Healthy School Meals ”. Mr Donnelly said: “A balanced diet is essential for children and young people if they are going to develop and grow into healthy adults. School provides an ideal opportunity to convey positive messages about healthy eating. In this regard, therefore, I commend the hard work of school employing authorities and school catering staff in bringing about significant improvements in the quality and nutritional value of school meals. However, whilst considerable steps have been taken, further improvements must be made to ensure that all schools comply with the compulsory nutritional standards and that children are encouraged to make healthy eating choices.” More
9 March 2011
Reducing Water Pollution From Agricultural Sources
The Farm Nutrient Management Scheme (FNMS) provided 60% capital support, up to a maximum grant of £51,000, to farmers for investment in slurry and manure storage facilities. It was a key support measure to help farmers improve water quality and comply with the 1991 EC Nitrates Directive. This requires farmers to observe rules to reduce and prevent nitrate pollution, including measures on storing manure and periods when spreading manure to land is prohibited. More
2 March 2011
Safeguarding Northern Ireland's Listed Buildings
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General, today issued his report to the Assembly on ‘Safeguarding Northern Ireland’s Listed Buildings’. Mr Donnelly said: “The Environment Agency plays a crucial role in protecting Northern Ireland’s rich built heritage. It undertakes survey work to identify structures that merit statutory protection and it pays grant to owners to repair and restore them." More
23 February 2011
Uptake of Benefits by Pensioners
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General, today issued his report to the Assembly on the “Uptake of Benefits by Pensioners‘’. Mr Donnelly said “Around 1 in 5 Northern Ireland pensioners live in poverty. For many, benefits are a significant part of their income and maximising benefit uptake can therefore contribute to tackling poverty." More
16 February 2011
National Fraud Initiative 2008-09
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), today issued a report on the first application of his new powers1 in relation to the National Fraud Initiative (NFI). More
26 January 2011
Compensation Recovery Unit - Maximising the Recovery of Social Security Benifits and Health Service Costs from Compensators
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General, today issued his report to the Assembly on ‘Compensation Recovery Unit – Maximising the Recovery of Social Security Benefits and Health Service Costs from Compensators’. More