Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which his Department and the HEA are attempting to resolve the situation of two suspended staff members in the University of Limerick who have now been suspended with pay for 16 months at a cost to the taxpayer; the way in which both bodies have implemented recommendations in the Mazars review which it ordered to be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28525/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Following the publication of the Mazars review of the process employed by the University of Limerick (UL) to inquire into allegations made by a number of individuals, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) met with the University to request a full response and an action plan to address the recommendations in the review.

The response from UL was received by the HEA in March 2016 and set out a range of actions to be progressed in response to the recommendations. I understand that UL has indicated to the HEA that action has already been taken to progress the recommendations and the HEA are working closely with the University to ensure that the remaining actions are progressed.

Since the Mazars review the HEA appointed a facilitator  to explore the options and see if a basis could be found for a resolution to the dispute. My Department expect to receive a copy of the facilitator's report very shortly. The Department and the HEA continue to work towards seeking a solution to this highly complex dispute.