Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú:

Following a period of time after the hearing of the Committee of Public Accounts and the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, the audit unit for the VEC sector, as it was at the time, the Vocational Support Services Unit, VSSU, did a follow-up procurement audit to ascertain that the recommendations made by the Comptroller and Auditor General and committed to by the ETB had been completed. This audit was carried out in November 2012 and the final report, including management responses was issued in September 2013. A number of finding were made and management confirmed that the corresponding recommendations would be implemented. Specifically, there was a follow-up audit to follow up on it. On procurement more generally, we have put arrangements in place with ETBI for a central hub to support ETBs in their procurement so that procurement practices can be put in place. As well as that procurement in the buildings area, we have put in place a framework agreement for major project and more detailed arrangements for devolved projects to make sure that there are clear procedures in place for ETBs to follow.

We have audited the implementation of the small projects on the building side ourselves and arising from those audits, strengthened the procedures.