Watchdog to consider Fine Gael claims on Woods
A spokeswoman confirmed that C&AG officials would consider the matter in the 2002 audit of the Department of Education, due in September.
“We haven’t been formerly asked to investigate but our relevant staff are aware of the media coverage and those kind of comments would be taken into account during the course of the normal audit for the department in 2002,” said a spokeswoman, referring to calls for an investigation from Fine Gael.
A Department of Education spokeswoman last night declined to confirm details of the allegation, contained in an e-mail obtained by Fine Gael’s Paul McGrath, under the Freedom of Information Act.
“It just points to the difficulty arising from managing a large building programme on an annual basis,” she said.
The e-mail, sent on April 3, 2002 from the then assistant principal officer of the Department’s building unit, Miriam Kearney, reads: “Also please note that the Minister does not wish any bad news letters to issue to school authorities. Therefore any such information to be held in the short term, until the matter is re-examined.”
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern denied there was any need for an investigation. “I often wish that ministers could control their officials to that level. We don’t and we don’t try very hard to do it either,” he said.
Mr Woods also denied he had done anything improper. “There’s nothing unusual about any of it other than the fact that Fine Gael lost the last election very badly and now they keep going back on it all the time,” he said.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny called on Mr Ahern to clarify the situation.
“Firstly was this abuse known to him, was this abuse condoned by him and did this kind of carry-on take place in other departments and was it all part of an attempt by Fianna Fáil to get back into power at any cost?” he asked.
Labour’s education spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan yesterday formerly requested the Oireachtas Education Committee to ask the current Minister Noel Dempsey and Mr Woods to explain the handling of the entire school building programme in the run-up to the general election.
“These documents reveal a shocking pattern of misinformation, and a clear abuse of ministerial office. The Taoiseach’s characteristic dismissal of the whole issue and Dr Woods protestations of injured innocence will cut little ice with pupils, parents and teachers who know they were misled,” she said.
