Pressure to fire board as waste exposed

THERE is growing pressure for a clear-out of top bosses at State training agency Fás after embarrassing revelations it squandered more than €600,000 on a TV ad campaign that was never aired.

An investigation also revealed the Garda were called in to probe the mysterious payment of €622,000 to two individuals, while €9,200 was spent on a car that was never delivered.

Advertising and promotion budgets overrun by between 15% and 85% between 2002 and 2008, with a total spend of over €48 million in the period – the largest of any State agency. At one stage in 2006, Fás spent €10.3m on advertising and promotion with a €6.1m budget – a €4.2m overrun.