Comptroller and Auditor General
Introduction
The Irish Constitution states that a Comptroller and Auditor General must be nominated by Dáil Eireann and appointed by the President. The main function of the Comptroller and Auditor General is to carry out an audit every year of the State's accounts. They then submit an annual report of the audit to Dáil Eireann. The purpose of the audit is to provide independent assurance that public funds are being well managed and used legally.
The Comptroller and Auditor General is also the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) for Ireland. Supreme Audit Institutions in Ireland and abroad are linked through a number of regional and international bodies:
Nomination
The Comptroller and Auditor General is nominated by Dáil Eireann and appointed by the Irish President. You can read further information on the current Comptroller and Auditor General.
The Comptroller and Auditor General cannot be a member of the Oireachtas (the Irish Houses of Parliament).
Roles and duties
The Comptroller and Auditor General is responsible for auditing the accounts of many state departments and organisations, including:
- Central government
- Funds administered by government departments
- State revenue collection
- Non-commercial state sponsored bodies
- Universities and other third level educational institutions
- Health bodies and agencies
- Educational training boards
You can see an overview of government expenditure on whereyourmoneygoes.gov.ie, a website of the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer.
Where to apply