The NAO report – Improving the Management of Road Projects – was laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by the Honourable Speaker in terms of the Auditor General and the National Audit Office Act. 

The report focuses on the progress made by the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) on the management of road projects.  The study was requested by the Public Accounts Committee, in the wake of the NAO report entitled Managing Procurement – Road Construction and Restoration Contracts and the subsequent meetings of the Public Accounts Committee on the subject held between April and June 2004. 

NAO found that a number of improvements have been made by the Authority in the past year in terms of organisational restructuring, the application of adequate financial controls and the planning and management of major projects.  However, limitations remain with respect to in-house verification of submitted quality tests, overall handling of smaller scale projects and the on-site abidance by contractors to traffic management regulations.  

NAO appreciates that some improvements are difficult to implement effectively within one year and that the Authority is undergoing a process of change likely to require additional time. The report also highlights areas where more needs to be done by the Authority in order to strengthen its operations.