Ms Laverne McGuinness:

The Deputy asked about the funding. The funding is provided on a yearly basis and it is not built up based on a level of service which is why the new governance arrangements were introduced as part of the service level arrangement. There was a new service level arrangement so that we would see the levels of activity to provide for the level of funding. The arrangement sets out that a copy of the audited accounts would be provided to the area manager and the financial accounts would have been submitted.

It is my understanding that the transparency in relation to the funds held in those accounts certainly was not visible. We certainly have taken on board a recommendation that further financial scrutiny needs to be given to those accounts even though they would have been looked at by people with expertise in finance. They need to be further scrutinised. That is the learning that I accept needs to take place as a result of the findings in this report, but there was no knowledge of the extent of the funds, I can say that.