Mr. Seamus McCarthy:

No. 46 also concerns a technological university, the Technological University of Shannon: Midlands Midwest. Again, this is a new body and it is the first period of account. In this case, the accounting period is 1 October 2021 to 31 August 2022, an 11-month period. The university received a clear audit opinion. It is an amalgamation of the former institutes of technology of Limerick and Athlone.

No. 47 relates to Mary Immaculate College, Coláiste Mhuire Gan Smál, for the accounting period 2021-22. It received a clear audit opinion but again I am drawing attention to the disclosure of a material level of non-compliance with procurement rules. In this case, the amount is €528,000. The threshold above which I draw attention to non-compliance is €500,000. The college is close to being under this. Inevitably in organisations, there will be some element of procurement in this category, for a variety of reasons, but I have consistently tried to draw attention to it where it is over the €500,000 mark.

Again, like the submission of accounts, that has had an effect in organisations and there is much more effort on that.

No. 48 is The Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. This is now a dissolved body. These are cessation accounts for the period 1 September 2021 to 31 March 2022. That received a clear audit opinion. No. 49 is The Royal Irish Academy of Music for the calendar year 2022. That received a clear audit opinion. No. 50 is the Educational Research Centre for 2022. That received a clear audit opinion. No. 51 is An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas, the Higher Education Authority, for 2022. That received a clear audit opinion.

No. 52 is the Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board for 2022. That received a clear audit opinion. However, I again draw attention to the disclosure of material level of non-compliance with procurement rules to a value of €778,000 in that case. They give some information about the nature of it. Repairs and maintenance, core consumer goods, security, recruitment and telecoms are the top spends in that case. No. 53 is Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board for 2022. That received a clear audit opinion. Again, however, I draw attention to disclosure of a material level of non-compliance with procurement rules. They again give a level of detail. I apologise, because what I read previously relating to the Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board is not the case but in that case, they give a comprehensive list of the categories, and similarly with Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board.

No. 54 is the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment for 2022. It received a clear audit opinion.

No. 55 is the Dundalk Institute of Technology for 2021-22. It received a clear audit opinion. However, I draw attention to a number of matters. First, I draw attention to the going concern relating to the Dundalk Institute of Technology. The institute has had deficits in recent years, which have effectively run down its income and expenditure reserves. It envisages that deficits will continue for a number of further years but by 2024-25, because they have a plan, they should be able to get back on track and move back to a surplus position. They have analysed the thing, they have a plan and so they are satisfied to present the accounts on a going concern basis. Another issue that arose was unauthorised bank accounts. Six bank accounts were identified, which were held in various departments, for taking in student funds for one reason or another. The balances in the accounts at the end of the accounting period totalled €29,000. These were probably small scale, but there are not complete accounting records going back, so the total value of the funds going through them is not really known. I think they are moving to close down those accounts. Finally, I draw attention to termination of employment payments that were made in the year of account. The figure was €69,393. However, prior to being paid a severance payment, a staff member received gross salary payments totalling €205,000 while on administrative leave. That is a significant expense in that particular case. I do not know if there are any questions relating to that.