Gardaí investigate 'training' fund used to pay for overseas trips

It has emerged officials from the Departments of Health and Finance, the HSE and Trade Unions made overseas trips paid for from a training fund.

Some spouses accompanied officials to locations including Australia and the US.

The finding has come as a result of an HSE audit into training funds over a seven-year period up to 2009.

The fund is being investigated by gardaí.