Scrutiny into operation of VEC inevitable, says spending watchdog
The Comptroller and Auditor General, Seamus McCarthy, said audit work on CCVEC’s 2011 accounts had been significantly delayed because of a need to address outstanding issues.
Mr McCarthy said while some clarifications from CCVEC have still to be received, he expects a special report will follow once the accounts are completed.
He said before the 2011 financial statements are approved he wants all of the various problems which have come to light to be brought up to date.
“Anything that looked like a systemic issue is being addressed in the context of the 2011 accounts,” he said.
He said he expects the immediate audit work to be completed within the next month.
In recent months CCVEC was subjected to a separate root-and-branch review by the Revenue Commissioners and it subsequently offered a settlement which is still under consideration.
Earlier this year the C&AG took the unusual step of sending auditors to make site visits of selected centres in Cork to review the accounts.
In Dec 2008 Mr McCarthy’s predecessor prepared a special report into CCVEC after it emerged the body had lost money when it signed up to an unauthorised finance arrangement for computer equipment.
Since then a host of other issues have emerged.
These have included losses at Macroom youthreach, a sail training programme in Bantry without its flagship vessel, unapproved lending to fund a childcare centre in Mallow and unresolved issues with the operation of an account at Ballincollig youthreach.
The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, John McGuinness, said the amount of letters it had received which raised concern about CCVEC deserved attention by the Department of Education.
“The level of correspondence in relation to CCVEC is so large maybe we should get an overall note on accountability issues from the department,” McGuinness said.
