asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to recent reports in the media concerning irregularities in the management of the AnCO Tallaght, County Dublin, training centre, if he will indicate when he was officially informed of these allegations; the precise action he has taken so far; if he proposes to ask the internal audit section of AnCO to carry out a detailed examination of all of the other training centres; if he proposes to have a meeting with the Director General and Chairman of AnCO on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - AnCO, Tallaght Training Centre.
19.
The alleged irregularities referred to by the Deputy are the subject of Garda investigation and it would be improper for me to make any detailed comments at this time.
Is the Minister not prepared to indicate when this was brought to his attention? Is he happy that no further irregularities are occurring not alone in Tallaght but in the other AnCO centres throughout the country? I think there is widespread unrest out there among the public and the Minister is duty bound in this. I do not think this will impinge in any way upon the Garda investigations.
As the Deputy suggested, it is confirmed that the Garda Fraud Squad have been called in to the Tallaght training centre to investigate certain matters in relation to AnCO operations. The decision to do so was taken by the Director General of AnCO, after consultation with the Chairman of AnCO and the Secretary of the Department of Labour. I wrote to AnCO on 10 April asking for a comprehensive report on the outcome of the investigations and the action taken. In addition an assurance has been sought by me that procedures have been tightened where necessary throughout the organisation to ensure that public funds are protected and to meet the points raised quite rightly by the Deputy.
Is it the Minister's intention to meet the Director General and the Chairman of AnCO? I am aware that he has stated in his reply that he has contacted them in writing, but does he intend to invite them to express the fears and the unrest Members of this House have intimated to me, as have members of the public?
I have done so. I would rather not say anything more at this stage.
That would seem to dispose of questions for today.