§ MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether local government auditors in Ireland are paid by fees or salaries, and whether they receive an allowance for expenses; and will he state the total amount of fees or salaries, and also the amount of expenses; whether there is a levy made by the Local Government Board on each of the public bodies in Ireland whose accounts are audited; and, if so, on what principle the levy is made; and what is the total amount collected in this manner in a single year.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Auditors are paid salaries, with allowances for travelling and subsistence. The expenditure in the financial year ended 31st March, 1902, was £7,873 on salaries, and £2,745 under the other two heads. The salaries and expenses of these officers are paid direct from the Vote for the Local Government Board. The Board is required by 35 and 36 Vic, cap. 69, to assess such fees for the audit of the accounts of local bodies as will partly recoup the Treasury for the amount of their salaries and expenses. In fixing the amount of the charge, regard is had to the amount of the funds involved and the time involved in the audit. The sum collected from local bodies in the year mentioned was £4,779.