Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1973 > Committee of Public Accounts > Interim and Final Report - Appropriation Accounts 1969 - 1970

APPENDIX 11.

TRANSPORT AND POWER: SAVINGS ON SUBHEAD FOR POST OFFICE SERVICES

An Cléireach,

An Coiste um Chuntais Phoiblí.

Arising out of the proceedings of the Committee on 22nd July, 1971 I undertook to furnish notes on the saving of £23,000 which occurred on Subhead B2—Post Office Services in 1969-70.

I have since looked further into the position and I find that payments amounting to £27,000 appropriate to the Subhead for 1969-70 did not in fact mature until 1970-71. If these payments had been made in 1969-70 the result would have been an excess of £4,000 instead of the saving of £23,000 actually shown on the Subhead.

I have also looked at the two previous years 1967-68 and 1968-69 but I have not found any evidence of a similar problem in those years. There was therefore no reason to anticipate the problem for 1969-70.

I should add that the Appropriation Account for 1970-71 showed a saving of £20,137 on Subhead B2, part of which was due to the fact that certain claims did not mature for payment within the year. The matter has been discussed with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and has now been practically cleared up. This is borne out by the fact that the saving on Subhead B2 in 1970-71 has been offset by an excess in 1971-72.

Department of Transport and Power.

20th July, 1972.