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From MaltaMedia.com Government & Politics
The Annual Audit Report also found that the social security department’s SABS computerized system does not incorporate a nominal bank account that can be reconciled to the bank statement. Furthermore it was noted that the department does not keep a list of unpresented cheques for each reconciliation period. From reasonableness test carried out to verify the correctness of unpresented cheques as at end of 2005, which amounted in total to Lm 1.34 million, it resulted that over 20% of the list consisted of payments issued prior to year 2004. The NAO said that an ageing
analysis of the total population benefiting from Invalidity
Pensions for the year under review showed that 3% are under forty
years of age and 16% are under fifty years of age, representing 322 and 1,526
beneficiaries respectively. It noted that medical reassessments are not made in
instances where a beneficiary is granted invalidity pension indefinitely.
On the other hand, a considerable
number of Local Councils were found to have registered various weaknesses with
respect to the accounting of the Local Enforcement System (LES). It was also observed that Joint Committees’
financial statements were not submitted in time to coincide with the audit of the
Local Councils. At a selected Joint Committee for the year ended 31 March 2005
tribunal pending payments in respect of the pooling period stood at Lm 504,335,
reflecting an increase of 40% over the previous year. Bad debts provision was
estimated at Lm 136,515, reflecting an increase of 60% over 2004.
An audit at the Public Registry showed that no arrears of revenue were being reported by the Department. The Traffic Regulation Ordinance was also among those departments which registered shortcomings with the NAO. It was found that 1,736 motor vehicles with pending fines or penalties as at March 2006 had their license renewed. The Annual Audit Report also showed that the Gozo Education Office (GEO)
Salaries Section has weakened control because most payments cannot be verified
by the Section since source documents are located at the Registry of the Malta
Education Division or at the Treasury.
In a special report on the main themes and key issues emerging from the implementation of e-government, NAO discussed the need for more attention to be given to the leadership and ownership of e-government initiatives and projects and the development of strategies that encourage the public to interact electronically among other issues. Finally, the Office carried out a preliminary survey
at the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA), focusing on the
Authority’s work relating to the construction industry. The NAO said that the
lack of human resources available renders the Authority a reactive rather than
a pro-active institution in all aspects of its activities.
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Shortcomings were identified in the public registry, the social
security department and in local councils. Further shortcomings were also noted
in the regards of invalidity pensions, the
Traffic Regulation Ordinance and arrears of revenue reported by Ministries and
Departments to the NAO.