Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to establish a review for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 into the expenses incurred by each of the President's Office of every institute of technology and university in the State, to ensure that correct tendering processes are being followed, and that other procedures in terms of the way in which moneys are being spent are being adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38282/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) are committed to ensuring the efficient and effective spend of all resources within higher education. While it would clearly not be feasible for my Department or the HEA to monitor or approve all individual levels of expenditure within the higher education sector, there are clear accountability and governance procedures in place within institutions, and reporting mechanisms to me, as Minster, and to the Oireachtas. In particular, under both University and IOT legislation, the President is the Accountable Officer and is answerable to the Committees of the Oireachtas in relation to the disposal of monies. The legislation also provides that the C&AG undertakes annual audits of the financial statements of universities and institutes of technology which includes a review of expenditure incurred by the institutions, and the C&AG reports regularly on these audits.

Furthermore, and in line with practice in the public and private sector, Codes of Governance have been agreed at a sectorial level which provides for a range of effective measures around procedures for procurement, tendering, financial reporting, internal audit and travel. This further increases the accountability of institutions, by requiring the establishment and implementation of specific mechanisms in these areas. Each university and institute of technology is required to submit to the HEA an annual statement, confirming that all appropriate procedures and measures in relation to the above have been adhered to. In light of the above I have no plans at present to establish a review such as that referred to by the Deputy.