Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 12 May 2022

Public Accounts Committee

2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
University of Limerick Financial Report 2020

9:30 am

Photo of James O'ConnorJames O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the witnesses before the Committee of Public Accounts and I appreciate the work the Comptroller and Auditor General has done with regard to the consolidated financial statements for UL. I have a number of concerns, especially when it comes to due diligence and due process within the university. That has been highlighted to the Committee of Public Accounts.

The significant level of procurement non-compliance and issues around property transactions that the university has been involved with have been particularly concerning. There were also HR matters in relation to the former president, his resignation and around severance agreements that were not submitted for sanction by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. That is something that is of particular concern to me.

How did the purchase of the €8 million site in Limerick city from Dunnes Stores for the UL campus come about? I put that to the head of the governing authority of the college who has overall responsibility regarding these matters as set out in legislation.