PAC to resume review of financial audits of education sector and HEA accounts

Chairman of the Committee John McGuinness, TD, said: “The C&AG report gives an account of matters which arose out of the financial audits of the education sector. The general key issues in this report which relate to the HEA and the Department of Education are centred on their oversight functions. Among the key issues we will be addressing tomorrow are funding pensions in excess of requirements and the status of recoupments from payments in excess of approved remuneration levels.”

The HEA is the statutory funding authority for the universities, institutes of technology and a number of designated higher education institutions. It is also the planning and policy development body for higher education and research in Ireland and has an advisory role to the Minister for Education and Skills throughout the whole of the third level education sector.

Deputy McGuinness said: “Among the matters the Committee will focus on tomorrow are capital grants paid in 2011 which were 59% less than 2010; interest earned last year which was 47% more than was earned in 2010; the HEA’s capital commitments at the end of 2011 of almost €367 million; and staffing matters.”

The meeting starts at 10am on Thursday, 4th October in Committee Room 1, LH 2000.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI

Ends

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Committee of Public Accounts

Membership

John McGuinness (Chairman)
Kieran O’Donnell (Vice Chairman)
Paul J Connaughton,
John Deasy,
Paschal Donohoe,
Gerald Nash,
Simon Harris,
Michael McCarthy,
Mary Lou McDonald,
Sean Fleming,
Eoghan Murphy,
Derek Nolan,
Shane Ross