Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason key senior staff are leaving a school (details supplied) in Dublin; the position regarding the crisis following the shock departure of its director. [29609/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the president of the college in question resigned from that position in April 2005. That matter related to the employee-employer relationship between the head of the college and that person's employers, which, I understand, was subject to legal proceedings. In this regard, it is considered that it is not appropriate for me to make any comment.

The institute referred to in the question is a private institution and individual employees are employed by the management authorities of the institute. Accordingly, I am not in a position to comment on their reasons for departure. I have, however, been assured by the trustees of the institute that the former members of staff referred to in the Deputy's question will be replaced immediately.

I have a direct role with regard to the funding provided by my Department to the institute in question. That is why I asked the accountancy firm, PwC, to examine the use of moneys paid by my Department to the institute referred to by the Deputy. The main findings of the report, which I published in early August, revealed that there has been no misuse of the public moneys paid by my Department to the institute.

Although my Department 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 that the findings of the examination confirm this position. The trustees of the institute have also commissioned a report by Farrell Grant Sparks. I am confident that these two reports can be used to develop financial and management practices which will bring greater accountability with regard to moneys paid by my Department. I expect that they will also contribute to the current review by the trustees of the present structure of the institute and facilitate permanent governance and management arrangements which will attract the support and confidence of all concerned.

The trustees of the institute in question have announced that a new interim director and president are in place for the coming academic year. I understand that these interim arrangements are working well at the institute and have the backing of the staff. I have asked that my officials maintain ongoing contact with the trustees and interim director and president at the institute concerned.

In addition, a senior official from my Department has recently joined the governing body of the institute for an interim period. I am sure that the Deputy will agree that these significant developments at the institute demonstrate a clear indication, from all concerned, that they remain fully committed to the future of teacher education at the institute.

Finally, my Department's inspectorate will continue to monitor 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.