Dept of Education considering report into fraud claims

An internal report into allegations of fraud at the Department of Education's offices in Athlone has been completed.

The findings are now being considered by management and the department is refusing to comment on the report's contents.

The fraud allegations centre on an official in Westmeath who authorised financial payments of more than €1m to a number of external sources.

The matter is still under investigation by the Gardaí, who will decide if any prosecutions are to be brought.