Emergency accommodation cannot be a blank cheque for poor financial oversight
Emergency accommodation cannot be a blank cheque for poor financial oversight - The Labour Party
- Labour TD says PAC report raises serious questions over billions in public expenditure
Labour TD for Cork North Central and member of the Public Accounts Committee, Eoghan Kenny, has called for greater accountability in the management of public expenditure following the publication of the Committee’s report on international protection and Ukrainian accommodation spending.
The report examines €2.3 billion in expenditure during 2024 and identifies significant shortcomings in procurement, financial oversight and contract management.
Deputy Kenny said:
“Today’s report raises serious questions about how billions of euro of taxpayers’ money have been managed.
“€13.5 million in European funding had to be returned because of procurement shortcomings. Of 161 accommodation centres examined, 97 were flagged for potential overpayments. And only half of the accommodation properties sampled had signed contracts.
“These are deeply concerning findings that demand accountability.
“Let me be absolutely clear. This is not about the people who came to Ireland seeking safety or fleeing war. It is about the State’s responsibility to ensure that public money is properly spent.
“An emergency is not a blank cheque. The extraordinary pressures facing the State do not remove the obligation to maintain proper contracts, financial controls and oversight.
“The report also highlights the significant difference in accommodation costs. In 2025, commercial accommodation averaged €71 per person per night, compared with €40 for State-owned accommodation, excluding ancillary costs.
“We need a sustainable approach that reduces reliance on expensive commercial providers and ensures better value for the taxpayer.
“Fundamental questions remain about the full extent of historical overpayments, how much public money has been recovered and whether further sums are owed to the State.
“The Public Accounts Committee has made 13 recommendations. The Department must now demonstrate that these are being implemented and that the weaknesses identified are being addressed.
“Protecting vulnerable people and protecting taxpayers’ money are not competing responsibilities. The State has a duty to do both.”