Finian McGrath
Ceist:232 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding a report (details supplied). [6104/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 2 February 2012
Ceisteanna (229)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware a number of children-focused services from various sectors, including the National Educational Welfare Board, have been brought together under my responsibility since June 2011 to facilitate Government's objective to deliver an integrated and consistent approach in the development of policy and services aimed at children.
With reference to the outcome of the matters investigated in Special Report No. 8 of the Comptroller and Auditor General published in 2007, I wish to refer the Deputy to the findings of the Report which found that the National Educational Welfare Board had incurred nugatory expenditure of approximately €470,000 and professional fees of €228,000 investigating the matter up to September 2007. With regard to the civil case referenced by the Deputy, I am advised by the Board that the matter has not yet concluded and so it would not be appropriate to comment on the specifics of the case or the legal fees incurred at this point in time.
In relation to the incremental salary payment referred to, in April 2004, the former IT Manager's salary was increased from point 4 of the Assistant Principal Officer scale to the 2nd Long Service Increments (There are six points on the scale plus two Long Service Increments). This had the effect of increasing his salary from €61,959 to €69,460. In 2008 the Department of Education and Skills informed the Public Accounts Committee that no sanction was issued from the Department in relation to this case.
The Department of Education and Skills (being the Department with responsibility for the NEWB at the time of aforementioned expenditure) in view of its key role in the ongoing engagement with bodies under its aegis to ensure continuing compliance with standards in the development and implementation by bodies of their own internal governance and financial systems, established ongoing monitoring and reporting structures with the NEWB whereby all income and expenditure activity was reported to the Department on a quarterly basis. Procedures were also established by the Department of Education and Skills at that time whereby applications for pay alterations could be submitted by the Board in respect of individuals where such consideration was warranted and any sanctions on pay alterations were approved through the Department of Finance and conveyed to the Board in written format.
Furthermore, the Board, in keeping with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies established internal corporate governance structures which are reviewed and developed on an ongoing basis. These structures include an internal audit function, structured and comprehensive reporting to the Board by the CEO on all aspects of the work of the Board including detailed monthly financial information and approval process for Board and management.
My Department continues to monitor the Board's compliance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. The Board is fully aware of its responsibility with regard to its oversight role in the disbursement of moneys with the Chief Executive Officer being the person accountable to the Board and to the Oireachtas.