Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1976 > Committee of Public Accounts > Report - Appropriation Accounts 1973 - 1974

APPENDIX 10.

FORMAT OF ESTIMATES

12 Eanáir, 1976.

An Cléireach,

An Coiste um Chuntais Phoiblí.

I am directed by the Minister for Finance to refer to my minute of 19 February 1974 in which it was proposed to omit the increase/decrease columns from Part II of the Estimates Volume during the transition period following the changeover of the financial year to a calendar year basis.

As the transition period has now ended the question arises whether it is necessary to include these increase/decrease columns in future Estimates Volumes. The Minister has reviewed the position in the light of experience of the last two years and considers that a two-column rather than a fourcolumn presentation in Part II of the Estimates Volume makes for easier reading and greater clarity as well as being less costly to print. He proposes, therefore, to omit the increase/decrease columns from the Estimate Volumes for 1976 and future years.

This proposal will not, of course, affect the existing format of the annual Appropriation Accounts which will continue to show the increase/decrease in expenditure as compared with grant.

The Minister trusts that his proposal will be acceptable to the Committee.

C. H. MURRAY,

Department of Finance.

22 Eanáir, 1976.

Mr. C. H. Murray,

Accounting Officer,

Department of Finance.

The Committee of Public Accounts at its meeting today agreed to the proposal contained in your letter of 12th January, 1976 to omit the increase/ decrease columns from the Estimates Volumes for 1976 and future years.

F. GEOGHEGAN,

Cléireach an Choiste,

An Coiste um Chuntais Phoiblí.