In circumstances where an alleged financial, enrolment irregularity or fraud is identified or suspected in a school it must be reported promptly to the Department. The Department’s standard policy is to ensure that an investigation is undertaken and that the matter is referred to An Garda Síochána where appropriate. Where a case is reported to An Garda Síochána it is a matter for An Garda Síochána to evaluate and progress as appropriate. In a very small number of circumstances enrolment overstatements have occurred due to genuine error.
Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management manages the school on behalf of the patron. Any follow up action of a disciplinary nature is the responsibility of the Board of Management as the employer.
Department circulars make it clear that deliberate overstatement of enrolment figures will be reported to An Garda Síochána as a matter of policy. There are 13 schools that have inflated pupil enrolment figures in the last 10 years. Some of these are ‘live cases’ where either the Department or the Guards have not concluded their investigations.
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School level
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Outcome of Investigation
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Primary school 1
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Principal prosecuted
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Primary School 2
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Reported to Guards – Investigation Ongoing
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Primary School 3
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Principal prosecuted
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Primary School 4
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Reported to Guards – No prosecution
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Primary School 5
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Reported to Guards – No prosecution
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Primary School 6
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Reported to Guards – No prosecution
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Primary School 7
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Not reported to guards – Department investigation, no further action
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Primary School 8
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Principal Prosecuted
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Primary School 9
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Principal Prosecuted
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Primary School 10
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Reported to Guards – No prosecution
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Primary School 11
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Investigation Ongoing
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Primary School 12
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Reported to Guards – Investigation Ongoing
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Post Primary School 1
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Not reported to guards – Department investigation, no further action
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