Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has received the report she commissioned into use of moneys paid by her Department to Coláiste Mhuire Marino-Marino Institute of Education; if she intends to publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19649/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, issues were raised in a number of quarters about the funding provided by my Department to Coláiste Mhuire Marino-Marino Institute of Education for the training of primary teachers.

I announced, on 6 May, that I had asked PricewaterhouseCoopers to "examine the question of the use of monies paid by the Department of Education and Science to Coláiste Mhuire Marino-Marino Institute of Education". While I indicated that there was nothing to suggest that funding provided by my Department to Coláiste Mhuire Marino-Marino Institute of Education has not been applied solely and properly for its intended purposes, I felt that it was important to secure confirmation that this is indeed the case.

In addition to the provision of funding for training primary teachers at undergraduate and post-graduate levels, PricewaterhouseCoopers has been asked to look at funding provided by the Department of Education and Science to Coláiste Mhuire Marino-Marino Institute of Education for expenditure on items of a capital nature in relation to training primary teachers; in-service national programmes-support services, focusing on curriculum changes and specific topics relating to teaching and learning; and the scrúdú cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge, SCG.

In order to ensure that the examination is as comprehensive as possible, PricewaterhouseCoopers is covering the period from 2001 to date.

My officials are in ongoing contact with PricewaterhouseCoopers and indications have been received that steady progress is being made on the work which is currently at an advanced stage. I understand that the examination will be completed shortly.

When initially establishing the examination, I indicated my intention to make the findings of the report public. This remains my position.