Most issues flagged by NAO addressed

The National Audit Office this evening presented the Speaker of the House with a report on follow-up audits carried out on a number of audits undertaken over the past few years

A follow-up audit on a several past audits by the NAO has found that most recommendations made to various government entities had started to be addressed
A follow-up audit on a several past audits by the NAO has found that most recommendations made to various government entities had started to be addressed

Most of the recommendations made to government entities by the National Audit Office had been addressed, or had been considered, according to the NAO.

A number of issues, however, remained pending, it said.

The NAO this evening presented the Speaker with a report outlining the findings of a number of follow-up audit of several audits carried out by the NAO in recent years.

“Starting from this year, the National Audit Office (NAO) has decided to effectively monitor, on a regular basis, the level of implementation of the various recommendations put forward in past NAO reports,” said Auditor General Charles Deguara.

He added that the practice would ensure that shortcomings and issues identified in past audits were being “duly addressed by management according to the established timeframes.”

“Such implementation provides added value in evaluating whether taxpayers’ money is being used wisely and within the prevailing financial rules and regulations.”

The report considers audits falling under the Performance (Value for Money), Financial Compliance and Special Audit and Investigations categories.

A follow-up was carried out on the following audits:

Financial and Compliance Audit Section

  • Gozo Channel (Operations) Ltd.
  • Rehabilitation Hospital Karin Grech – Personal Emoluments
  • Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change
  • Police Department – Personal Emoluments
  • St. Vincent de Paul Residence
  • Welfare Committee

Performance Audit Section

  • Housing Authority’s Procurement of Repair Works on Residential Units
  • Physical Education and Sports in State Primary and Secondary Schools
  • The management of Elective Surgery Waiting Lists
  • The Provision of Residential long-term care for the elderly through contractual agreements with the private sector

Special Audits and Investigation Section

  • An analysis of the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund