Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the background to the resignation of a person (details supplied) as principal of a training college; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14938/05]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 405: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on allegations of bullying and psychological abuse against the former principal of a training college (details supplied); and if the trustees and governing body of the college acted in a fair and professional manner. [14939/05]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 406: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the purchase of four apartments by an institute of education (details supplied); and if all aspects of the issue are in order. [14940/05]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 407: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person was forced to resign from a training college (details supplied); and her views on whether this resignation raises disturbing questions regarding governance of such institutions. [14941/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 409: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the procedures her Department has in place for each of the colleges of education to ensure accountability for the public moneys allocated to them for the sole purposes of teacher education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14943/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 410: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount of surplus public moneys which accrued in each of the colleges of education in the years 1999 to 2004, inclusive; the way in which these moneys were spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14944/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 404 to 407, inclusive, and 410 together.

As Deputies are well aware, the president of the college covered by the Deputies' questions resigned from that position on Friday, 29 April. Arising from this development and various related matters, I have asked that one of the country's leading independent accountancy firms examine the question of the use of moneys paid by my Department to the institution in question. I have also asked that a report be prepared as promptly as possible and that the outcome be presented to me once completed. I intend to make its findings public.

At this stage, there is nothing to show that funding provided by my Department to the institution in question has not been applied solely and properly for its intended purposes, but it is important to secure confirmation that this is indeed the case. I also commend and acknowledge that the staff of the institution in question are ensuring that the education of its students is of paramount importance and, despite the current difficulties at the institution, they continue to provide a properly professional service to students. I have been assured that the lectures, teaching practice and examinations are proceeding as planned.

The recent reported difficulties at the institution in question relate to the employee-employer relationship between the head of the college and that person's employers which, I understand, were subject to legal proceedings. In this regard, it is considered that it is not appropriate for me to make any comment on them.

Apart from the provision of funding, my Department also has a role in regard to the quality of graduates from the college. This role is similar to its role vis-À-vis other State-supported colleges of this nature. My Department's inspectorate actively monitors the quality of the graduates on an ongoing basis to ensure that the highest quality students leave all colleges of this nature. This is a well established monitoring process and one which has worked very well.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount of public moneys allocated to colleges of education (details supplied) in the years 1999 to 2004, inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14942/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are three different methods of providing funding to the five colleges of education, reflecting the historical context within which the colleges were established and developed over time. Coláiste Mhuire Marino and the Froebel College of Education are funded on a capitation basis with funding linked to a payment per student registered in these colleges, certified by the college president. My Department is not prescriptive in how this funding is spent by the colleges only that, in accordance with regulations governing all public expenditure, the moneys are spent in accordance with the purposes for which they are allocated. For Coláiste Mhuire Marino and the Froebel College of Education, this purpose is teacher training.

The Church of Ireland College, Rathmines, is funded on a budget basis. This involves that college submitting annual returns and financial projections for agreement by my Department. St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, and Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, are funded through the Higher Education Authority. The amount of funding provided by my Department for the 1999-2004 period is set out in the following table.

Mary Immaculate College Limerick and St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, are funded by the HEA.