THE head of a Fás construction training centre in the midlands which cost €6.7 million to build but which has trained just 12 people has insisted the centre is a “fantastic hub” for the building trade in Ireland.

THE head of the Department of Enterprise has denied burying a critical report into an alleged €167 million Fás “slush” fund for employers.

THE chief executive of the HSE said yesterday there were questions over whether the HSE was better now than it was five years ago, as it emerged the executive does not have a series of records in relation to children in care.

THERE could be a “€1 billion black hole” in Government spending plans because ministers are not keeping track of how much the Mahon Tribunal will cost, TDs warned last night.

THE State’s financial watchdog yesterday warned there is a “problem” with the way hundreds of millions of euro is poured into local authority projects without full scrutiny.

A GAA club could run its finances better than a Government agency, the Dáil’s public spending watchdog heard yesterday.

ENGINEERS at the Department of the Marine expressed concerns that water level measurements at a controversial Kilkenny weir made for the project by international engineering consultants Mott McDonald were incorrect before the project was given the final go-ahead, the Irish Examiner has learned.