Move to look at Údarás spend denied

THE DEPARTMENT of Finance has rejected a request from the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Údarás na Gaeltachta travel expenses.

Secretary general of the department Kevin Cardiff declined to provide a note stating he was satisfied all trips carried out by Údarás na Gaeltachta personnel adhered to public service travel guidelines.

“It is important to say in relation to this matter that it would not be either feasible or appropriate for the Department of Finance to undertake an exercise of this kind in relation to an individual State body,” Mr Cardiff said in a letter to the committee.

Committee chairman Bernard Allen of Fine Gael claimed travel expenses relating to Údarás na Gaeltachta outlined in some media reports were “reading like a mini-Fás”, at a meeting of the committee earlier last month.

Údarás na Gaeltachta strongly disputed what it called “misinformation on travel by Údarás executives”. It has insisted its expenditure on travel complies fully with department guidelines.