17. — (1) The resources of the Fund shall be maintained and administered by the Minister or, as the case may be, by a person nominated by him pursuant to section 15 of this Act.

(2) The costs of administration of the Fund shall be defrayed from the resources of the Fund.

(3) The Minister or, as the case may be, the person nominated by him pursuant to section 15 of this Act, shall keep all proper and usual accounts of all moneys paid into the Fund and of all disbursements from the Fund including an income and expenditure account and a balance sheet.

(4) As soon as may be after the end of each year, accounts kept in pursuance of this section shall be submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit and, immediately after the audit, a copy of the income and expenditure account and of the balance sheet and a copy of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the accounts shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.