Mr. Ted Owens:

A review was undertaken following the initial internal audit and retrospective sanction was obtained for the leases identified in the report. County Cork VEC initially examined its main centres of operation, which included Youthreach. We now have a register of all properties occupied by Cork ETB for the delivery of our services in order to ensure the assets are managed in a professional, co-ordinated and efficient manner which provides maximum value for money. We are trying to comply with the new property asset management delivery plan for better management of public property under the Government's public service reform programme. We have put in place stricter controls regarding the renting and leasing of facilities to ensure compliance with the Act. We currently occupy 137 properties from which we deliver our services. We own 81 of these properties and the remaining 56 are held under various lease agreements, including licences and even agreements to rent a local hall for two hours per week. We have notified the Department about every property we use and we are awaiting sanction for some of these properties.