Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the regulatory body responsible for ensuring proper audited accounts are compiled and spending of public funds is in accordance with proper practice by school boards of management. [21159/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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In accordance with Section 18 of the Education Act 1998, schools (other than those established or maintained by an Education and Training Board) are required to keep all proper and usual accounts and records of all monies received by it or expenditure of such monies incurred by it and must ensure that in each year all such accounts are properly audited or certified in accordance with best accounting practice. The Act further requires that such accounts shall be made available by the school for inspection by the Minister and by parents of students in the school, in so far as those accounts relate to monies provided by the Oireachtas. Furthermore, the Board must satisfy itself that proper internal controls are in place for all financial transactions.

In respect of primary schools, a total account of the Board's income and expenditure shall be prepared at the end of each school year and shall be properly audited or certified in accord with best accounting practice. This account shall be made available for inspection to the school community including parents, the Patron, Trustees and the Minister. In addition, copies of this account shall be presented to the Board and a copy retained as part of the minutes of the Board of Management. The school accounts shall also be available for audit by officers of the Department and officials of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Office if requested.

In the case of Voluntary Secondary Schools the school must submit annual accounts in respect of each financial year ending 31 August. The annual accounts must be formally approved by the Management Authority of the school and must be forwarded to the Financial Services Support Unit (FSSU) of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB) by 1 December following the end of the financial year. The accounts must be accompanied by such other information as the FSSU may require from time to time. This requirement applies to all voluntary secondary schools, including fee charging schools.

In the case of Community and Comprehensive schools the Board of Management must prepare a financial report in respect of each financial year ending on 31 December. This report, formally approved by the Board must be forwarded to the Department by mid-February following the end of the financial year. The completed accounts must be accompanied by such other information as the Minister may require from time to time.

The accounts of schools established and maintained by an Education and Training Board (formerly known as Vocational Education Committees) form part of the accounts of the relevant ETB. In respect of ETBs, annual accounts must be submitted no later than the 1st April in the year following the end of the accounting period to which they relate, to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit.