John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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491. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills with regard to a report (details supplied) on the allegations made by a whistleblower with regard to corporate income tax, if she will confirm the tender process by which the company was selected; the cost of the report; if the full report will be published; the cost of the legal advice in respect of the report and any other matter relative to the allegations; if the terms of reference for the report will be published; the name of the legal advisers; the persons or group of advisers who drafted the terms of reference for the report; if she will provide the list of those interviewed as part of the process of compiling the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27201/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware the reports commissioned by Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) were on foot of anonymous allegations made in relation to practices and procedures at the Institute.

In order to ensure the independence of the review process and to ensure that the review was thorough, objective and comprehensive, CIT's Audit Committee sought approval from the Governing Body to take legal advice on the matter. Arthur Cox, Solicitors, were subsequently appointed to give advice on the approach to be taken. Based on the advice received, CIT appointed independent consultants to review the allegations. The consultants were instructed by Arthur Cox, in consultation with CIT's Audit Committee, regarding the terms for the review to be undertaken. The cost to CIT of this legal advice was €34,181.73, with additional legal advice sought from O'Flynn Exhams Solrs. amounting to €9,461.53.

Arthur Cox legal advisors issued tenders to four companies. Tenders were received and the successful consultants were appointed on the basis of being the most competitive tender. Given the nature of the allegations select members of staff liaised with the consultants carrying out the review and facilitated requests for information and documentation as required. The cost of the consultant's reports was €21,175.

On the basis of concerns expressed by CIT that the publication of the reports could potentially damage the reputation of CIT and the individuals and organisations named in the reports, the Institute submitted redacted copies of the reports to my Department and the HEA. In the interest of confidentiality CIT are reluctant to make public the names of the people who were consulted as part of the review process.

My Department has since sent a copy of the reports to the Public Accounts Committee who have been in correspondence with my Department in relation to the matter. Sections 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 of the reports set out the scope of work undertaken by the consultants in conducting the reviews.