Tánaiste requests Comptroller and Auditor General to examine specific issues relating to FÁS

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Ms. Mary Coughlan, today (Monday 22^nd September 2008) said that as a follow-up to the concerns raised by the publication, before the summer, of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General into the procurement practices in FÁS, she has decided after her recent discussions with the Chairman and the Director General of FÁS, to request the Comptroller and Auditor General to report on the effectiveness of the management and control systems that are in place generally across the FÁS organisation.

This examination is to ensure that appropriate public procurement procedures exist to prevent or detect irregularities or wrongdoing and, in particular, examine and report on the activities of the FÁS Corporate Affairs area since 2000.

The Tánaiste emphasised that she is committed to ensuring value for money and the best possible use of scarce public resources in these challenging economic and employment market circumstances.