EC to examine spending practices at FAS

The European Commission is to put a decade of spending at Ireland's State training agency under the spotlight.

Europe is to to re-examine how the funds of up to €6bn from the European Social Fund were spent at FAS.

The problems initially emerged when FAS was examined to see if it satisfied European commission requirements in the use of European Social funds in the 2007 - 2013 programme.

This in turn lead Europe to re-examine the funds from an earlier period amid fears that the same practices may have been widespread.

Now FAS may be required to repay funds of up to €100m if the offending body is found to have mislead Europe.

FAS is believed to have received €6bn from the European Social Fund for education training as well as employment purposes.

FAS financial practices have already faced intense scrutiny which identified inappropriate practices relating to spending and expenses.