Mr. William Beausang:

I hope it is clear to the Deputy and the committee that the Department is taking these issues seriously. The CEO of the HEA has already referenced the letter we issued to Waterford IT with the detailed set of questions that we have asked for responses to, but we are in a process with the HEA. There is a ministerial power, under section 20 of the Regional Technical Colleges Act, which allows the Minister to commission an investigation and appoint a reviewer to look at the performance of functions of any colleges or governing bodies. In light of what has transpired with the HEA review, it is important for us to be legally advised on the scope of that power. We are conscious that it is there and of the considerations that the CEO of the HEA has referenced, and the concerns raised or referenced in a wider context than the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General. We are conscious that the Comptroller and Auditor General has highlighted a set of issues in respect of which we need to bring closure and clarity. I cannot prejudge ministerial decision-making and, in light of the history of this issue, I am sure the Deputy will understand that it is important that we are seen to be approaching this without prejudice or bias.

The HEA board may, and probably will, decide to give advice to the Department. We are considering our assessment of the issues raised in the report. We are conscious of the concerns that have been raised by individuals that go wider than some of the issues in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General. We will be taking all those issues into account in our assessment and advice to the Minister in due course in light of the information that we get back from the questions we have posed for Waterford IT.