Results 14,481-14,500 of 26,537 for speaker:John McGuinness
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: I am just making a clarification as well. He is an insider, as are the other two. Ms Stewart's organisation convinced the panel and got the job. What happened then? Did the Department have to sanction or give permission-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: No, in terms of the appointment first of all. Did Mr. Ó Foghlú have to satisfy himself in regard to this appointment that the panel was right and that Dublin VEC had what was necessary to do the job?
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: Therefore, it was the panel's fault.
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: The Department made the decision, based on the panel, and appointed the VEC. In taking that step, did the Department rely solely on the panel, or did Mr. Ó Foghlú decide to do further investigation, check the references and make sure it was okay?
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: I suggest that what happened afterwards would show that further investigation was needed. In Ms Stewart's opening remarks, she said that 2011-12 was characterised by a series of delays and so on. It was part of what she said. Frankly, it was chaotic. I dealt with it on the other end, as did other public representatives. I know how the students and the parents felt. I cannot get my head...
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: Outsourcing cost €3.6 million in the first year.
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: In the second year, which partially refers to the first year, the cost was €5.5 million. The cost is now down to €3.6 million. Did the overpayment to students amount to €3.5 million?
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: It was €4.1 million. One can add that €4.1 million to the costs of outsourcing because the cost was incurred during that period. What were the other costs? We are only dealing with outsourcing now.
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: The outsourced services cost €3.6 million that year. What were the pay costs?
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: No, 2012.
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: What other costs were incurred?
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: How did the costs compare to the following year?
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: In what years were the €4.4 million in overpayments incurred?
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: The total is €22 million.
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: If I was running a shop or a small business, I would note that the first year cost me €7.2 million, the second year cost me €10.7 million and I made a mistake costing €4.1 million. That amounts to €22 million. I would also ask myself how I might recoup the €4.1 million. How much of that sum has SUSI recouped?
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: Does Ms Stewart know of any business in this country which would write off €4.1 million after two years? No business could afford it.
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: That is what usually happens with an error. It is a particular time and a particular error. There are special circumstances but it still adds up to €4.1 million of taxpayers' money. Does Ms Stewart know how much turnover a company would require in order to make €4.1 million? The taxpayer is expected to carry that money with no questions asked.
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: Ms Stewart just admitted as much.
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: When was the proposal made?
- Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 88 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Restructuring the Administration of Student Grants (11 Jun 2015)
John McGuinness: In December 2014, Ms Stewart made a proposal to the Department to write off €4.1 million.