Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I wish to provide the Vice Chairman and members with an update on resolving the unacceptable financial issues in the Garda College found in the interim audit report by the Garda internal audit service. This is in addition to the actions that I advised the committee have been taken following the receipt by the Garda executive of the draft interim audit report in September 2016. As members are aware, these issues have their origin in the funding model set up for the Garda College several decades ago. These are very complex and complicated financial and legal arrangements that in some cases require us to take expert advice to resolve them and ensure they cannot happen again. Notwithstanding this, we are determined to resolve them as quickly as possible as they clearly do not meet modern corporate governance or financial standards. All of the recommendations of the interim audit report will be implemented and we are happy to provide periodic updates on our progress to the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Department of Justice and Equality, the Policing Authority and the independent Garda audit committee. On that note, I wish to advise the committee that on Friday of last week the head of the Garda internal audit section provided me with a verbal briefing on concerns he had in regard to particular financial matters relating to activities in the Garda College. Following this meeting, I requested that a written report from the internal audit service be provided on Monday. I reviewed the report yesterday and, based on the information available, the matter has now been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, for investigation. I am also conscious that the Garda internal audit section is continuing its audit of the Garda College and any further issues that may arise as that audit progresses will be addressed and appropriate action taken by the Garda executive.

As the Chairman has said, those accompanying me are available to assist the committee in any way possible.