Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

Is FÁS not a festering sore and did the question that the Minister of State stated was raised by the European Union not relate to the tendering process for FÁS courses? Is it not a fact that a significant number of course providers in Ireland have corrupted examination results and that the Q-Mark they provide constitutes a question mark over the results they produce? While the vast majority of companies are excellent and first class, a significant minority continue to abuse the system. Is it not true that the recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General identified more corruption in the provision of services to FÁS? I refer to courses that were supposed to have been attended but for which signatures were forged and where no course actually took place. Nevertheless, those concerned got the money and the taxpayer lost out. In addition, the results in hundreds of cases have been held up.

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