Written answers

Tuesday, 7 July 2009

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Comptroller and Auditor General Report

12:00 pm

Photo of John DeasyJohn Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 42: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she will publish the Comptroller and Auditor General report on misappropriation and misuse of public money by FÁS; the action she will take on its findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27544/09]

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 65: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she expects to receive the report commissioned from the Comptroller and Auditor General into the effectiveness of FÁS's financial management and control systems; if pending the receipt of the report, she will take action arising from allegations of financial irregularities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27445/09]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 65 together.

When issues of concern relating to expenditure in FÁS were brought to my attention following my appointment as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment last year, I acted quickly to seek assurances from FÁS that the issues highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General's value for money report had been addressed. I then proceeded to request the Comptroller and Auditor General to carry out an examination of the activities of FÁS Corporate Affairs since 2000 and to report on the effectiveness of management and control systems across the FÁS organisation. I have recently received a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General that deals with the examination of advertising and promotion in FÁS, which forms part of this investigation. This report will be laid before the House in due course.

The report is being examined by officials in my Department and will be laid before the House, as required under Section 11 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993, in due course.

I understand from the Comptroller and Auditor General that a further report will be issued in the coming months, which will examine the arrangements for internal control and governance that pertained in FÁS.

In the meantime, a number of measures have been taken by FÁS in order to improve financial control and governance across the organisation. These include the following: · The Corporate Affairs function, which is at the centre of the C&AG's investigation, has been restructured and controls in this area have been tightened. · The Board of FÁS has approved a revised structure for its Internal Audit including resources for additional staff and external co-sourced audits. An external quality review of its Internal Audit has also been completed and a number of recommendations have been made that identify how the function can develop in line with best practice. · A full audit of all procurement locations has been scheduled by FÁS Internal Audit for completion by the end of the year. · All executive credit cards have been cancelled. The one credit card retained by FÁS has a maximum credit limit of €7,000 and is used primarily to purchase research material, textbooks, and other support material to assist the work of the organisation. · All foreign travel requests by staff are now subject to the approval of the Director General of FÁS. · The FÁS advertising budget has been reduced to a minimum and a new communications strategy will be developed to ensure efficient customer communications.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.