Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Mar 1995

Vol. 450 No. 2

Written Answers. - Misuse of Departmental Funds.

Joe Costello

Question:

113 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice if she will make a statement on the contents of an article in the Sunday Independent of 26 February 1995 alleging misuse of funds in her Department by a senior official: if any other instances of misuse of funds or irregularities have been identified; the action, if any, she proposes to take in relation to this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4865/95]

I can confirm that an officer in the middle management ranks of the Department has been under suspension since December 1994. This development arose from revelations in the Department concerning alleged misuse of departmental property by the officer in question. The officer's suspension was extended in January 1995 in connection with alleged irregularities in relation to certain contracts placed by the Department for computer equipment in the prison service.

The officer's suspension is continuing until a thorough investigation has been completed, including a Garda investigation of certain aspects of the administration of the contracts referred to.

In accordance with usual practice, it is not proposed to make any further comment about the case until the investigation has been completed. I hope the investigation will be completed in a matter of weeks.

As with many large organisations responsible for substantial amounts of expenditure, arrangements are in place to monitor payments made in the areas for which my Department has direct responsibility. Again, in common with other large organisations both in the public and private sectors, various procedures and payments are the subject of ongoing examination and query in my Department with the aim of avoiding loss to public funds. It is not unusual from time to time to find that procedural changes may be required. In a relatively small number of cases some form of disciplinary action may be called for as well.
As my Department carries responsibility for five separate Votes covering a combined annual expenditure of about £600 million and 16,000 public servants, I would need time to get a complete picture of all financial matters that may be under examination at any particular time and an assessment as to whether disciplinary action might be required. I can confirm that this time no irregularity has been identified which is anything near the scale of that referred to in the Deputy's question.
Top
Share