The Norwegian Directorate of Health is among those who distribute the most money from the state. Last year they distributed NOK 1.5 billion. How the money is used is largely based on trust, the directorate has stated to news. The only requirement is to submit a single annual report. Now the Norwegian Directorate of Health is receiving criticism from the National Audit Office. – They have not had good enough control, says expedition manager Tora Jarlsby to news. For two years, the National Audit Office has investigated whether state subsidies are used correctly. The initiative was launched by the Storting. The findings were recently published as part of the National Audit Office’s annual report for 2021. – Previous audits have also shown that it is not sufficiently checked that the subsidy is used for the purpose. Unfortunately, this investigation has also found the same, says Jarlsby. Most of the organizations use the money in the right way. But the National Audit Office still found several serious errors. Several breaches of rules The National Audit Office also criticizes the Directorate for Children and Families (Bufdir), the Directorate for Labor and Welfare (AVdir) and the Directorate for Integration and Diversity (IMDi). According to the report, there is a risk that the wrong use of money will be approved. This is partly due to the fact that the directorates have a great many reports they have to read. “There is therefore also insufficient control over whether the funds are used according to the purpose, or whether the purpose has been achieved,” says the report. Several other discoveries were also made: Someone had bought new equipment with the government money that should have actually gone to something else. This came out clearly in the accounts, but it was not dealt with. Some had transferred the money from the state to equity. It also received no reactions, even though it is against the regulations. The report shall act as a recommendation to the directorates. The National Audit Office expects them to address weaknesses in the grant schemes. – It is simply unclear what to achieve with the schemes, and very unclear how to assess the extent to which it contributes to a result, says Jarlsby. The National Audit Office’s conclusion: The schemes that were examined were from 2019 and 2020. In total, this was a subsidy of NOK 3 billion. This was distributed by these directorates: Among 2,800 applications for grants, 50 random samples were taken. In 27 places, there was good follow-up and control of the grants. In as many as 18 places, it was only partially documented that the money had gone to the intended purpose. Five of the grants, that is 10 per cent, had little or no documentation of completed activity. The conclusion of the National Audit Office in four points: Most organizations use the funds in line with the individual allocation decision. The ministries do not set precise targets and clear criteria for target achievement for all the schemes. The ministries do not ensure that they receive sufficient information about the schemes’ overall target achievement. The grant manager (most often the directorate) does not prepare sufficiently targeted reporting requirements. Source: The National Audit Office’s report. – Must ensure that the money arrives Minister of Health and Care Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) acknowledges that there is a need for improvements. – I am glad that the National Audit Office has taken a closer look at state grants to organizations to ensure that the purpose of the grant is taken care of in an appropriate way, writes Kjerkol in his reply. Jarlsby is happy that the minister is following up on the findings. – The Directorate of Health must ensure that the money arrives. They must also ensure that you know what to use the money for, she tells news. Minister of Health and Care Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap). Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen / news – May be too strict The Directorate of Health replies that it is demanding to assess whether the money is being used in the right way. – We see that we need to further develop methods and systematics in the assessments, and provide better training and guidance to our grant managers. But we do not want to increase the reporting burden for the grant recipients, says department director Elise Husum. She also believes that wording in the regulations can in some cases be too strict, such as when it comes to the purchase of equipment. – In the pandemic year 2020, many people used savings on travel to buy equipment for digital interaction. It appears to be a sensible reprioritisation. Something that the directorate has become more aware of in recent years is government grants that are used to build up equity. – This is a relationship we have paid attention to in recent years, which can be difficult from an accounting point of view. Following the investigation Following news’s revelations about Andreas Hus in the autumn, the Norwegian Directorate of Health has received three new notifications about incorrect spending of money by other organisations. Normally, one notice is received per year. In addition, they have also stepped up the controls this autumn. Twelve recipients have been visited. Among them is the Association for Child Palliation (FFB). Picture from when the Directorate of Health inspected Andreas Hus in November. The investigation report is expected on 16 January. Photo: John-André Samuelsen / news Since the end of October, the association has been under scrutiny for how they have used the 90 million they have received for Andreas Hus. The National Audit Office has previously stated to news that they will follow up on what emerges in the report. It is expected to arrive on January 16.
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The state distributes billions of dollars without good enough control – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
