Ninth Level Ireland

“All colleges and universities are to be questioned over their links to spin-off companies involving members of staff amid concerns over financial issues surrounding some firms. The Dáil’s public accounts committee has agreed to take the step after discussions between it, Cork Institute of Technology, the University of Limerick and Waterford Institute of Technology …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 30 May]

“Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail): We will now deal with item No 8 on today’s agenda, which is the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Special Report 104, which deals with Waterford Institute of Technology in respect of the development and disposal of intellectual property in FeedHenry. The Comptroller and Auditor General is joined by Shane Carton, deputy director of audit …” (more)

[Public Accounts Committee, 24 January]

“Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail): In this session we will examine the Comptroller and Auditor General’s special report No 103 on the handling of remuneration for certain senior staff in the University of Limerick and Institute of Technology Sligo. We have also requested an update on the implementation of Dr Thorn’s Independent Review of Certain Matters and Allegations Relating to the University of Limerick …” (more)

[Public Accounts Committee, 24 January]

“Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail): We are joined again by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Seamus McCarthy, who is a permanent witness to the committee and Ms Colette Drinan, deputy director of audit at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. We are meeting representatives from the Department of Education and Skills and the Higher Education Authority, HEA, to discuss the Higher Education Authority’s financial statements for 2017 …” (more)

[Public Accounts Committee, 18 October]

“At least three leading State-funded third level institutes of technology have been ordered to draw up three-year financial recovery plans after it emerged they are millions of euro in debt – putting significant pressure on key front-line services …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 27 September]

“A review of policies on pay and other benefits for third-level college staff is about to begin, almost a year after it was due to commence. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) review is to focus on examining policies in respect of pay, pensions, travel, and leave, and how those policies are applied …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 21 September]

“John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail): I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones as interference affects the sound quality and transmission of the meeting. I advise witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege …” (more)

[Public Accounts Committee, 24 September]

“Three staff at a third-level college received €627,000 in salary payments between them – despite having no clear role. The staff did not have any defined duties following the amalgamation of the Tipperary Institute into Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) in September 2011, according to Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy …” (more)

[Shane Phelan, Independent, 25 September]

“Three employees at Limerick Institute of Technology are earning up to €72,000 a year, with no work to do. The issue has been raised at a hearing of the Public Accounts Committee this morning …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 24 September]

“The Dáil’s spending watchdog is to investigate an ‘anomalous’ €160m cash mountain in Irish universities which is growing by €30m a year, the Irish Independent can reveal …” (more)

[Daniel McConnell and Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 10 August]

“The Comptroller and Auditor General has told the Public Accounts Committee that he is happy to report that the initial problems at the SUSI grant system had been addressed and the performance had been significantly improved …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 11 June]

“The chaos that engulfed SUSI in its first year of operation is perfectly understandable, and completely inexcusable, after reading the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, Séamus McCarthy …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 16 April]

“A third-level college has insisted none of the €1.2m it has channelled to a charitable foundation was taxpayers’ money. The funds were transferred to the foundation in several tranches by St Patrick’s College in Drumcondra, Dublin, prompting concern from the Comptroller and Auditor General about the arrangement … ” (more)

[Shane Phelan, Independent, 12 February]

“The higher education planning and policy body has threatened to withhold funding from third-level colleges which don’t keep up-to-date financial accounts …” (more)

[Shane Phelan, Independent, 23 January]