Public Accounts Committee
Minutes of Proceedings - 16 October 2025
Public Accounts Committee - 16 October 2025.pdf (155.24 kb)
Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Daniel McCrossan, MLA (Chairperson)
Diane Forsythe, MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Stephen Dunne, MLA
Tom Buchanan, MLA
Colm Gildernew MLA
Pádraig Delargy, MLA
David Honeyford, MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Jon Burrows, MLA
Apologies:
Cathal Boylan, MLA
In Attendance:
Lucia Wilson (Committee Clerk)
Kirsten McClelland (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Karen Barry (Clerical Supervisor)
Yannie Mahood (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened in public session at 2.08 pm.
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from, Cathal Boylan, MLA.
2. Draft minutes
Agreed: Members agreed the draft minutes of the meeting on 9 October 2025.
3. Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson reminded members of the requirement to register their interests under Standing Order 69(5).
Stephen Dunne, MLA declared an interest as APS to the Communities Minister and a member of the Infrastructure Committee.
Daniel McCrossan, MLA declared an interest due to the A5 being within his constituency area.
Tom Buchanan, MLA declared an interest due to the A5 being within his constituency area.
Colm Gildernew, MLA declared an interest due to the A5 being within his constituency area, and in respect of bringing forward a Private Members Bill relating to Homelessness.
Pádraig Delargy, MLA declared an interest due to contaminated land referred to in correspondence being within his constituency area.
4. Chairperson's Business
The Chairperson placed on record his thanks to the Clerking Team for the work that went into the release of the report on Managing the Schools' Estate and thanked the NIAO, Officials and witnesses for their input into the inquiry.
5. Matters Arising
Agreed: Members agreed a draft letter to the Department of Health regarding the recently published NIAO report on Restricted Procedures.
6. Correspondence
Members noted correspondence from Cllr Ruairi McHugh, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council regarding contaminated land in the Council Area.
Agreed: Members agreed to respond to Cllr McHugh to advise that the reports on Waste Crime and Waste Management remain under consideration for inclusion in the Committee's Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: Members agreed to consider correspondence from the C&AG to the Chair and Dennis McMahon, Accounting Officer, Department of Infrastructure in relation to matters concerning the A5 at agenda item 9.
7. Memorandum of Reply
The following officials joined the meeting at 2.16pm.
Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General;
Members considered correspondence providing updates to the memorandum of reply in respect of the reports into Public Procurement in Northern Ireland and the Major Capital Projects: Follow Up Report.
Agreed: Members agreed to write to Neil Gibson, Accounting Officer for the Department of Finance to seek further information on a number of areas and to request his attendance at Committee in respect of the issues raised.
The meeting moved into closed session at 2.26 pm.
8. Homelessness in Northern Ireland: Draft Terms of Reference
The following officials joined the meeting at 2.26pm.
Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General;
Members considered a draft terms of reference for the inquiry into Homelessness in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: Members agreed to defer a decision on the draft Terms of Reference until 23 October 2025.
Members noted a written briefing from Homeless Connect.
Agreed: Members agreed to share the briefing with NIAO and consider it for inclusion in evidence to the inquiry.
9. A5 Case Study
The following officials joined the meeting at 2.42pm.
Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General.
Members received a briefing from the C&AG on the A5 Case Study and a Ministerial Direction which has been issued in respect of the A5.
Agreed: Members agreed to note correspondence from the C&AG to the Chair and Dennis McMahon, Accounting Officer, Department for Infrastructure.
Agreed: Members agreed to invite to the Treasury Officer of Accounts to attend the Committee to discuss issues regarding MoR and Ministerial Directions.
Agreed: Members agreed to receive a further briefing from the C&AG on 23 October 2025 on the A5 case study and a Ministerial Direction relating to the A5.
10. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: Members agreed the draft forward work programme to December 2025.
Agreed: Members confirmed availability to record a video for the Committee on Thursday 23 October subject to final approval of a script.
Agreed: Members agreed to seek further availability from the Department of Health to attend in respect of the inquiry into Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: Members agreed to consider options for the launch of the report into Access to General Practice in Northern Ireland.
11. Any Other Business
12. Date, Time, and Place of the next meeting
The next meeting will take place in the Senate Chamber on Thursday 26 October 2025 at 2.00 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.27 pm.
Daniel McCrossan
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
23 October 2025
