Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the name of the accountancy firm that has been commissioned to audit the 21 education centres in Ireland; the amount this exercise will cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25419/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In 2018 my Department tendered for an independent external accountant to audit the 2017 financial statements of the Education Support Centres. The tendering process was carried out in line with public procurement guidelines. This practice has continued since then with the audit of 2022 financial statements currently underway. The accountancy firm currently contracted to do this work is Crowleys DFK. Each centre’s audit is conducted within the framework of FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and in accordance with International Standards on Auditing. The total amount paid for this work in 2022 was €178,934.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding provided to each of the 21 education centres in Ireland for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25420/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department issue funding to the Education Support Centres in three tranches annually following a detailed draw-down process and confirmation that the centres are in compliance with governance requirements. The majority of funding relates to the following categories:

• core grant (for the normal day to day running and operational expenses of the Centre)
• local course grant (for local courses as required in the catchment area)
• minor works grant (for minor repairs/maintenance of premises)

The funding provided to each of the 21 Education Support Centres over the last five years is shown in the table below:

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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159. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of the 21 education centres in Ireland that will publish their annual and audited accounts on their websites in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25421/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Education Support Centres are independent statutory bodies recognised under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998). Each Education Support Centre is responsible for preparing annual audited financial statements and submitting these to my Department. In accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies each Education Support Centre should publish an annual report and audited financial statements each year, having first presented them to members at the AGM. All Education Support Centres are aware of their obligations in relation to the publishing of their financial statements and my Department will engage with the Centres in this regard.