Written answers

Thursday, 12 November 2009

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Departmental Agencies

5:00 pm

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 63: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement on the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on FÁS published on 10 September 2009. [41049/09]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) is carrying out an investigation into certain matters within FÁS. A copy of the report that deals with the examination of advertising and promotion in FÁS, which forms part of the investigation, was laid before the House on 9 September. I understand that a further report from the C&AG will be issued in the coming months. This report will focus on the arrangements for internal control and governance that pertained in FÁS.

In the meantime a number of measures have been taken by FÁS to improve financial control and governance across the organisation including 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

The FÁS advertising budget has been reduced to a minimum and a new communications strategy will be developed to ensure efficient customer communications.

In addition to the measures outlined above legislation to amend the Labour Services Act in order to improve the effectiveness and governance of the Board of FÁS and strengthen the accountability of the Director General of FÁS to the Oireachtas is nearing completion. The Amendment Act takes account of the recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee in its fourth interim report and the work of the Comptroller and Auditor General, as well as the debate in this House when the Bill was being presented.

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