The committee must consider the Dún Laoghaire VEC's accounts from 1994 to 1997, inclusive. I felt it was appropriate to prepare a separate report for 1995 over and above the normal audit certificate. The issues referred to in the report for that year centred around the management of community employment projects by the VEC. First, there was a failure to make timely recruitment claims from FÁS for the cost of the projects culminating in a balance of nearly £0.5 million left outstanding at the end of 1995. Second, there was a problem with financial control over one of the projects which facilitated the alleged perpetration of an internal irregularity. The amount involved was only £3,000 but the underlying weakness, if not rectified, could have had more serious repercussions.
Members will see from my report that the chief executive officer rationalised the involvement of the VEC in the community employment projects and restructured their administration in 1996. This appeared to have the desired effect as there has been no recurrence of the large outstanding balances which characterised its activity in 1995. An improved control of the projects was also put in place which has reduced the risk of any further irregularities.
The committee might wish to note that with effect from 1 April 1997, the third level college, the Dún Laoghaire College of Art and Design, which up to then had been part of the VEC, became an autonomous body. It is now known as the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology. The first accounts of that institute have still to be presented to me for audit.
With regard to the VEC, audit field work on the 1998 accounts has been completed but their certification awaits the resolution of a few outstanding items.