Hanafin says Marino institute inquiry will scrutinise funds

John Downes
07/05/2005
The Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, has announced an inquiry into alleged financial irregularities at the Marino Institute of Education (MIE).

In a press statement she also promised that the results of the inquiry - to be conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers - will be made public.

The decision has been welcomed by the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), which had sought an independent inquiry. MIE yesterday announced its own inquiry into the running of the college, but this was labelled as "an attempt to buy time" by the INTO.

Last week, the president of Col?iste Mhuire - the teacher- training college which is overseen by the MIE - resigned. Ms Caoimhe M?irt?n had taken a High Court action alleging bullying and harassment at the Christian Brothers-run facility.

The PriceWaterhouseCoopers inquiry will focus exclusively on whether there has been any misuse of State funds. MIE receives about ?4.5 million from the State annually.

Ms Hanafin said: "At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that funding provided by my department to Col?iste Mhuire Marino/MIE has not been applied solely and properly for its intended purposes, but it is important to secure confirmation that this is indeed the case."

The Minister also indicated that senior department officials will meet MIE trustees to discuss issues related to the situation at Col?iste Mhuire Marino and MIE.

Meanwhile the former INTO general secretary, Senator Joe O'Toole, yesterday threatened, at an upcoming meeting of the D?il Education and Science Committee, to "name the names" of those he suspects are involved in the events surrounding Ms M?irt?n's departure.

In a separate development, RT? News reported that board members of MIE were asked to destroy a sensitive memo outlining concerns that the use of State money to purchase four apartments for Christian Brothers could face scrutiny by the Department of Education and/or the Comptroller and Auditor General.

The apartments, within the Griffith Hall apartment complex, were purchased for the use of members of the Christian Brothers community for ?1.2 million in June 2002. However RT? said the memos also revealed the governing body was satisfied its actions were entirely legitimate.

? The Irish Times