Public Accounts Committee

Minutes of proceedings, Thursday 30 April 2026

Public Accounts Committee, minutes of proceedings Thursday 30 April 2026.pdf (154.35 kb)

Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Present:                

Stephen Dunne, MLA

Gareth Wilson, MLA

David Honeyford, MLA

Colm Gildernew, MLA

Jemma Dolan, MLA

Jon Burrows, MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference: 

Daniel McCrossan, MLA (Chairperson)

Apologies:           

Tom Buchanan, MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

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 2.09pm.

1. Apologies

Apologies were noted from Tom Buchanan, MLA and Cathal Boylan, MLA.

2. Draft minutes

Agreed: Members agreed the draft minutes of the meeting on 23 April 2026.

Jemma Dolan, MLA, joined the meeting at 2.12 pm.

3. Declaration of Interests

Colm Gildernew, MLA declared an interest as Chair of the Committee for Communities and in respect of his Private Members Bill on Homlessness.

Stephen Dunne, MLA declared an interest as APS to the Minister for Communities.

4. Chairperson’s Business

5. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

6. Correspondence

7. Homelessness in Northern Ireland: Memorandum of Reply

The following witnesses and officials joined the meeting at 2.14 pm.

Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General;

Members considered the MOR on Homelessness in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: Members agreed to invite the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Communities to attend a closed session to provide further clarification on the commercially sensitive information referenced in the MOR.

Agreed: Members agreed to seek further written clarification on a number of recommendations and to request a further MOR update in six months

The meeting moved into closed session at 4.24 pm.

8. Inquiry into Major IT Projects in Northern Ireland: Consideration of Case Studies

The following witnesses and officials joined the meeting at 4.24 pm.

Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General;

Suzanne Jones, Director, Northern Ireland Audit Office;

Suzanne Murphy, Audit Manager, Northern Ireland Audit Office

Members considered the evidence provided during the evidence session on 23 April 2026 and the evidence provided in writing in respect of the case study projects.

Agreed: Members agreed to seek further written information from the Department of Finance and The Executive Office following the evidence heard on 23 April 2026.

Agreed: Members agreed to seek further information from the Department of Health on the Encompass project.

Witnesses left the meeting at 4.38 pm.

9. Draft Forward Work Programme

The Clerk briefed members on the forward work programme.

Agreed: Members agreed the draft forward work programme.

10. Any Other Business

Agreed: Members agreed that the meeting pack for 7 May 2026 would be issued on Tuesday 5 May, to allow for the bank holiday.”

11. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will take place in the Senate Chamber on Thursday 7 May 2026 at 2.00pm.

The meeting was adjourned at 2.47 pm.

Daniel McCrossan

Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee

7 May 2026