The Department of Agriculture’s 2017 accounts are to be scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) at a meeting that will be held tomorrow, Thursday 20 June.
The PAC focuses on ensuring public services are run efficiently and achieve value for money.
Officials from the Department will outline how it’s 2017 budget of €1.4bn was spent across four key areas - animal and plant health and animal welfare, farm supports and controls, policy and strategy and the seafood sector.
In addition to this, the Department oversaw the distribution of €1.2bn in EU expenditure, the bulk of which was in the form of direct payments to farmers.
State bodies
Funding provided by the Department to the agricultural state bodies Teagasc, Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund will also be examined.
Chair of the PAC, Fianna Fáil’s Seán Fleming said: “The Committee will be keen to learn more about how it exercises its oversight role for the agencies to which it provides public monies and how it ensures value for money for the taxpayer.”
The meeting will take place at 9am tomorrow.
Public Accounts Committee recommends changes to Teagasc funding