Probe into use of State funding at institute

CONSULTANTS PricewaterhouseCoopers were yesterday appointed to examine the use of Department of Education funding at the Marino Institute of Education.

The Irish National Teachers Union (INTO) last night welcomed the speedy initiative by Education Minister Mary Hanafin to appoint the international accounting firm.

However, the minister emphasised: "at this stage, there is nothing to suggest that funding provided by my department has not been applied solely and properly for its intended purposes, but it is important to secure confirmation that this is indeed the case."

Ms Hanafin said she planned to make public the findings of the report.

"I am confident that the trustees and the governing body of Coláiste Mhuire Marino will fully facilitate this examination," she said.

Earlier yesterday, the INTO warned against a planned independent investigation by the institute's governing body. The union had described the move as "a pointless time-wasting exercise."

INTO general secretary John Carr had been dismissive of the institute's governing body to ask consultants Farrell Grant Sparks to audit its affairs and analyse its organisation.

The institute has been engulfed in controversy over the past week about its financial status and its handling of staff relations.

The president of its constituent teacher-training college Coláiste Mhuire, Caoimhe Máirtín resigned after claiming she was bullied and psychologically abused by members of the governing body and the Christian Brothers trustees.

Mr Carr, whose union represents academic staff at MIE, said any planned organisational review by the governing body was simply an attempt to buy time, as a similar exercise last year had achieved nothing.

"The difficulties are clear in that report fear and frustration among staff, lack of consultation, confusion and lack of agreement about financial accounting practices. It is clear these are still going on and another report will not change that," he said.

Welcoming the minister's intervention yesterday, Mr Carr said the only proper course of action was for the governing body to step aside and that a fully independent financial investigation be conducted.

Meanwhile, the governing body said yesterday it was satisfied that it had at all times behaved with integrity and probity.

Former Coláiste Mhuire lecturer Brother Rory Geoghegan claimed in a letter to the department last week the outcome of a structural review last year was a sham. It appeared to have been to prevent Ms Máirtín from having any real administrative function.