Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the timescale of the recent report on the Marino Institute; if matters prior to 2002 were considered in drawing up this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27536/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Following allegations of financial impropriety at Marino Institute of Education, I asked the accountancy firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, to examine the use of moneys paid by the Department of Education and Science to the institute. The main findings of the review, published in early August, revealed there has been no misuse of the public moneys paid by the Department of Education and Science to the institute.

Although the Department of Education and Science did not have any concerns regarding the use of funding provided for the purpose of training teachers, it was, nevertheless, important in view of the level of public and media interest in this matter, to demonstrate clearly that public funding was properly applied for teacher training. I am happy the findings of the examination confirm this position. The review covered the beginning of the academic year 2001-02 to the date it was commissioned, 9 May 2005. This was the period that related to the unproven allegations of financial irregularity. I am assured by PricewaterhouseCoopers the years leading up to 2001-02, although not covered directly in the terms of reference for the review, were considered by them in compiling its report and informed the findings of the review.

The Department of Education and Science cannot and should not give open-ended terms of reference. The question of materiality and costs must also be considered when commissioning such reviews and setting terms of reference. These factors, together with the nature of the allegations being made about funding provided to the institute, informed the decision regarding the period to be covered in the review.