Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the Marino Institute of Education; if public funding is being paid into a private organisation which cannot be subject to Freedom of Information; if so, the position regarding same; if her Department's annual capitation funding for primary teacher training is being used for that purpose alone; the checks and balances system which are in place to ensure that taxpayers' money is used for its intended purpose; if, in view of shortcomings which were identified in the PWC report, there are now separate bank accounts for Coláiste Mhuire and the other sections of Marino Institute of Education in order that funding intended for primary teacher training is clearly ring-fenced for that purpose; the way in which site overhead and costs are shared between all users on the Marino Institute of Education campus; if the full publication of Farrell Grant Spark's report will be published; the reason same has not been published; if statements (details supplied) are true when a substantial settlement was awarded to a person; the reason that high quality staff members have left Coláiste Mhuire over the recent months citing an unhealthy and unacceptable work environment as the reason for their departure; the nature of the direct involvement between her Department and the trustees; the interim arrangement referred to; if the direct involvement of the DES will continue; if Farrell Grant Sparks and the trustees will dictate the future role of the DES in relation to Marino Institute of Education in view of the injection of €5/6 million from the DES on an annual basis; her views on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8832/06]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 531: To ask the Minister for Education and Science where the funds came from in the settlement with the former president at Coláiste Mhuire, Marino; and the details of same. [9091/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 499, 531 together.

Coláiste Mhuire Marino, which is one of five privately-owned denominational colleges of education recognised by my Department for the purpose of training primary teachers, is part of the overall Marino Institute of Education, MIE. MIE is registered as a charitable trust and it is a privately owned institution.

MIE is governed by a governing body on behalf of the institute's Christian Brothers' trustees. The MIE also operates conferencing facilities and continuing professional development programmes. The Deputy will be aware that, following allegations of financial impropriety at MIE, I asked the accountancy firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC, to examine the use of moneys paid by my Department to MIE for the purposes of training primary teachers and associated activities. The main findings of this examination, which I published in August last year, revealed that there has been no misuse of the public moneys paid by my Department to MIE for the purpose of training primary teachers. In my press release welcoming the PwC report, I stated: "although my Department did not have any concerns regarding the funding provided for the purpose of training teachers, it was, nevertheless, important to clearly demonstrate that Department funding was correctly allocated for teacher training". That remains my view on this matter.

Coláiste Mhuire Marino is covered by the Freedom of Information Act. As the Deputy is aware, the PwC commissioned by my Department states clearly that the funds supplied by my Department for teacher training were used for the intended purpose of teacher training. In line with recommendations in the PwC examination, my Department has requested that MIE submit annual accounts to the Department in relation to teacher training and related activities at Coláiste Mhuire Marino. The Department has been assured by the institute that the annual accounts for the current academic and financial year will be submitted as soon as possible after year-end.

In addition, the Department has been assured that MIE will implement all of the recommendations made by PwC, including the setting up of a separate bank account in respect teacher training activities at Coláiste Mhuire Marino.

The question of devising a system which better reflects and takes into account site overhead costs in MIE and impacting upon Coláiste Mhuire Marino will, I understand, be the subject of discussions, which are due to take place shortly between my officials and the interim director, interim president and chief financial officer at MIE. My Department have been assured by management authorities at the institute that they will implement all of the recommendations of the PwC examination.

The Farrell Grant Sparks, FGS, report, referred to by the Deputy was commissioned by the trustees of the institute to carry out a review of management structures. I understand that the report has been provided to staff and that it will be published on MIE's website shortly.

With regard to the resignation of the former head of Coláiste Mhuire Marino, it is understood that this decision was as a result of ongoing difficulties with her employer. However, the Department does not have any direct role in matters covered by employee-employer relations. Although the internal governance arrangements and management structures at the institute are the direct responsibility of the trustees, in light of the highly-publicised and well-documented difficulties at the institute, officials from my Department assisted in putting in place interim governance arrangements there. This was done because of the public interest in a college of education and the need to assure students of the continued provision of high quality teacher training. I should also say that my officials received the full co-operation of the trustees, governing body, management and staff at the institute. While these arrangements are interim and, by definition, not long term, I understand, nevertheless, that they have been working relatively well given the very difficult context in which they are operating at present.

Under the terms of the interim arrangements, the trustees of MIE appointed an interim director and interim president until a more lasting solution could be found. In addition, a senior official from my Department has recently joined the governing body of the institute for the interim period. The aim of the process was, among other things, to arrive at an interim arrangement which would guarantee the continuation of high quality teacher training for both existing and the new incoming cohort of students for the next academic year.

I would like to assure the Deputy that, in the interest of the students attending Coláiste Mhuire Marino, my officials will continue to be available to engage in a process with the trustees, governing body, management and staff pertaining to the teacher training college element of MIE.

I am not aware of the source of funding for the settlement referred to by the Deputy. I have, however, been assured by the trustees of Marino Institute of Education that funding for the settlement did not come from funds provided by my Department for the purposes of teacher education and related activities.