Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is an organisation that was in trouble from day one, not because of applicants and receipts but because of internal controls. I am still waiting on the figure for the number of companies that Caranua had to bring in to put things right.

The Comptroller and Auditor General has asked how can one know whether there has been an overpayment or underpayment without receipts so this problem has been flagged. In all of the consultations by Caranua, informal and formal, did it ever occur to the organisation to discuss the issue to decide whether the situation is a burden and, if it was, seek permission to do this work directly? Did that occur to the organisation? I presume it is not necessary to say there was a choice. Part of the whole set-up of Caranua is to treat people with dignity and respect. "Empower" was the word uttered by the witnesses.