Follow-up audits of the ACA

05.02.2021 – More than two-thirds of the recommendations have been implemented

Today, the Austrian Court of Audit (ACA) published three follow-up reports: "Ticket Sales System of the Austrian Federal Railways Passenger Transport Company (ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG)", "ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH" and "Apartments Administered by the Federal Ministry of Defence". The audits show that the ACA has an impact: 70 per cent of the assessed recommendations were implemented either fully or partly.

The Austrian Federal Railways improved the ticket shops

The follow-up audit of the report “Ticket Sales System of the Austrian Federal Railways Passenger Transport Company (ÖBB Personenverkehr AG)” showed that the ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG had improved the operating logic of the ÖBB ticket shop. The security of non-cash payment transactions had been increased. Consequently, write-offs on payments made with credit cards fell from EUR 1.16 million in 2016 to EUR 0.44 million in 2019.

The Government Programme 2020 to 2024 envisages for the area climate protection/transport & infrastructure to harmonize the tariff systems or to create a joint booking procedure. However, a simplification of the tariff structures in the Austrian public transport sector could not yet be implemented thoroughly. The ACA therefore reiterated its recommendation to the Federal Ministry of Transport to pursue, in the medium term, a simplification of the tariff structures in the Austrian public transport sector.

Of three assessed recommendations, the Federal Ministry of Transport had implemented two fully and one partly. The ÖBB-Holding AG had implemented the assessed recommendation. Of ten assessed recommendations, the ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG had implemented eight fully, one partly and one not at all.

The new management of the ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH should implement the unaddressed recommendation

Among the tasks of the ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH within the Federal Theatre Group (Bundestheaterkonzern) are the provision of stage sets, costumes and other theatre props, ticket sales, storage and transport services and the maintenance of stage equipment. In its preceding report, the ACA had recommended to the ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH and the Bundestheater-Holding GmbH to evaluate the price structure and determine the prices for the individual services by taking advantage of cost reduction potentials. The prices should be reviewed regularly and adjusted if necessary. In the follow-up report, the auditors note that the ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH failed to change the price structure. The Bundestheater-Holding GmbH, in return, implemented the recommendation partly. The holding company identified cost-cutting potential – especially in the areas of ticket sales and information technology. Furthermore, the holding company commissioned the new management of ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH to carry out an evaluation of the price structure.

Of six assessed recommendations, the ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH had implemented three fully, one partly and two not at all. Of the two assessed recommendations, the Bundestheater-Holding GmbH had implemented both partly.

The ACA still sees potential for improvement as regards the housing management of the Federal Ministry of Defence

In end-2019, the Federal Ministry of Defence administered 1,770 apartments. The follow-up audit report "Apartments Administered by the Federal Ministry of Defence" highlights that numerous organizational unites of the ministry are still responsible for the housing management. The conclusion of rental agreements, for example, is carried out by two organizational units and the allocation of apartments via official decisions by three. The ACA upholds its recommendation to the Federal Ministry of Defence to streamline the governance and modus operandi for housing management and to pool responsibilities in as few unites as possible.   

Of twelve assessed recommendations, the Federal Ministry of Defence had implemented four fully. Eight recommendations had remained unaddressed. The Federal Ministry and the foundation “Vereinigte Altösterreichische Militärstiftungen” had implemented one assessed recommendation each.

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Report: Ticket Sales System of the Austrian Federal Railways Passenger Transport Company (ÖBB Personenverkehr AG); Follow-up Audit (in German)

Report: Ticket Sales System of the Austrian Federal Railways Passenger Transport Company (ÖBB Personenverkehr AG); Follow-up Audit (in German) Download
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Report: ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH; Follow-up Audit (in German)

Report: ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH; Follow-up Audit (in German) Download
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Report: Apartments Administered by the Federal Ministry of Defence; Follow-up Audit (in German)

Report: Apartments Administered by the Federal Ministry of Defence; Follow-up Audit (in German) Download