Inspector to examine companies at WIT

An inspector has been appointed by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to examine a range of subsidiary companies at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT).

The unusual step was announced yesterday evening and the minister expects an interim report of the statutory inquiry within a month from former Revenue Commissioners chairman Dermot Quigley. He has been asked to carry out an inspection under laws governing the institutes of technology sector which have only twice before been used by previous ministers.

A report in June by taxpayers’ watchdog, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), said accounts for six campus service companies at WIT did not form part of the college’s accounts.