Last week (29-31.5.2023) the Knesset State Control Committee discussed two of the reports published by the State Comptroller, Matanyahu Englman, in the previous year – and another report published in 2016.
The first discussion (29.5.2023) dealt with the report published by Comptroller Englman in November 2022, where he examined loans and sources of credit of various bodies. Tzachi Saad, Head of the National Economic and Infrastructure Audit Division, presented to the Knesset members the background to conducting the audit, alongside the Head of Department C in the Division, Ehud Langerman, and the Audit Director, Shira Lumer, who wrote the report: "We are presently living in an environment of high interest, rising inflation and also in the context of searching for sources of finance for local authorities, which is a current topic nowadays. There is certainly what to see in the findings raised by this report".
Lumer set out in detail the findings of the report, which showed that most of the government entities are not adopting other financing solutions apart from taking out loans from the banks: "In the coming years the local authorities must repay fifteen billion shekels, a rather significant sum. 82% of the loans approved by the Ministry of Interior were taken out from just four banks out of fifteen banks. There is no doubt that finding other financing options can lead to a reduction in the financing costs".
Saad added that "At the end of the day, what is needed is the correct and optimal use of the various sources of credit, and what we recommend at the bottom line is joint thinking by the various bodies to find additional financing alternatives, to locate and open the bureaucratic blocks that we indicate – in order to bring about a more correct, effective and cheaper use of the sources of finance for these entities".
An additional discussion was held the same day on the subject of the Government's handling of inaction among youth in Arab society, which was opened by Liora Shimoni, Director of the Social and Welfare Audit Division. She was joined in the discussion by the Deputy Director of O Department, Michal Lilach-Mevorach, and the Audit Directors, Dr. Hodaya Lampert and Dr. Guy Elad.
Shimoni stressed in her review that in the audit work on the report, which was published about a month ago, "We used significant methodological tools which I do not think are surpassed anywhere in the world". Afterwards Elad presented the findings, which raised that the rate of Arab youth who are not employed, studying or undergoing professional training reaches about 29%: "The potential five-year damage to the economy as a result of this totals about 5 billion shekels".
Lampert noted that "The educational system has the possibility of providing these young people with equal opportunities and tools so that they will not be inactive as adults. One of the most significant tools is the knowledge of the Hebrew language. We have examined the level of Hebrew taught in the schools and the quality of the teaching. We found that about 50% of the Hebrew teachers in Arab education do not have the appropriate training for teaching Hebrew, and that 96% of the candidates for teaching Hebrew have not undergone a proficiency test in the Hebrew language".
Two days later (31.5.2023) the committee reconvened to discuss the State Comptroller's report on the matter of the fight against road traffic accidents and the functioning of the National Road Safety Authority (RALBAD), which was published in November 2016. "I do not allow the Comptroller's reports to gather dust", said Committee Chairman MK Mickey Levy, "and today I want to see what has changed during the seven years since the report was published, both in the RALBAD's activity in light of the Comptroller's recommendations and at the Ministry of Transport".
Tzachi Saad, Head of the National Economic and Infrastructure Audit Division, who attended the discussion with the Audit Director Sammy Kahoonay, said that "We welcome the holding of this discussion on a matter which is important to all Israeli residents". Saad presented both the findings of the report and the findings of two later reports, the follow-up report on the matter of intercity road maintenance (October 2021) and a report which examined the safety of heavy vehicles (October 2020).
"The issue of road traffic accidents has been on the Government agenda for many years now, but the figures show that the various actions taken during the past decade have been unsuccessful in reducing the number of fatalities and injuries in accidents", said Saad. He noted that in recent years the Office of the State Comptroller has prepared many reports dealing with the matter, and he revealed to the Committee members that "The Office is presently preparing an extensive report on the matter of road safety which examines the following issues: data collection and analysis on road traffic accidents, the activity of the Government bodies spearheading the fight against road traffic accidents, the handling of the human element, the infrastructure element and the vehicle element".
