Public Accounts Committee

Public Accounts Committee Still Waiting for Report on Review of €126 Million of FAS Spending



Committee Told of Reduction of €290,000 in Spending on Foreign Travel over Last 12 Months while Spending on Sports and Concert Tickets has Ended

18TH Feb 2010

The D il Public Accounts Committee has still not received a report on the review of spending on a FAS programme which cost the taxpayer €126 million, it was revealed at today’s meeting.

It was also disclosed that the group in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment who are compiling the report have only met twice since last October. The PAC is seeking a review of the spending by FAS on its Competency Development Programme. This was a scheme intended to upskill Irish workers. In total, €126 million was spent on the programme.

Committee Chairman, Bernard Allen TD said;
“The Committee is exasperated by this delay. For coming up on two years now we have been trying to get the full picture regarding what has gone on at FAS. The hold-up in finalising this important report is hampering our investigations.

I urge the Department to deal with it as a matter of urgency. The fact that the group compiling the report have only met twice since last October does not give the impression that it is being treated as a priority.”

The Committee was informed that all spending on events such as concerts and sports tickets had now ceased and that credit cards were no longer given to employees. Last year, about €90,000 was spent on foreign travel, reduced from €380,000 in 2008 it was revealed to Committee members.

Also at the meeting, a letter published from a FAS employee, alleged that senior management at the agency had interfered with an internal audit process.

Bernard Allen said;
“The letter made public today made for some disturbing reading. It claims that senior management at the agency were effectively able to “face down” the audit team and delay the referral of the report to the proper authorities.

This issues needs to be addressed urgently as a situation cannot exist where employees are stopped form carrying out their legitimate duties.”

The Committee also learned that following advice from the Attorney General, there was no legal basis to set aside the severance deal made with the former Director General of FAS.