Summary

SAI Portugal conducted a combined performance and compliance audit of investments in the justice sector in order to assess efficiency of infrastructure and ICT financing by the Institute for the Financial Management and Infrastructures of Justice (Instituto de Gestão Financeira e Equipamentos da Justiça) under the Ministry of Justice of Portugal. According to the SAI, in 2020-2021 investments in infrastructure (EUR 20.7 million) predominated over ICT financing (EUR 2.7 million), but since 2022 investments in technology have become prominent, amounting to EUR 15.5 million. The SAI identified such shortcomings as inconsistencies between the planning/financing of projects and the priorities set in strategic documents, shortage of staff with appropriate expertise, especially in ICT and infrastructure management, as well as lack of performance indicators for assessing infrastructure projects. Financial violations and deficiencies in the internal control system were also noted. Audit recommendations included the following: - defining criteria and indicators for assessing the effectiveness of investments; - facilitating accelerated financing and implementation of priority projects; - improving internal controls and accounting.