Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú:

As we keep a record of when accounts are completed, we would have been aware that the 2010 accounts had been completed and signed off at the end of 2012 and that the 2011 accounts were under consideration. Other than that, we were not aware of the details of the concerns. A number of different strands arise from that. The first strand is to keep highlighting with the institutions their primary responsibility. The primary breakdown is within the institution. In regard to the second concern, we have had a number of meetings with the HEA and the Comptroller and the Auditor General about speeding up the processing of accounts and the information that is certified by the latter. That is not enough, however. We need a speedier process so that institutions sign off within six months of the end of the financial year in respect of formally informing the HEA that they have gone through the various steps required to ensure they have an effective system of internal financial control.