Carysfort claimed to owe £847,000

THE Department of Education is trying to recoup up to £847,000 it claims it is owed since the former Carysfort teacher training college run by the Sisters of Mercy closed in 1988.

Any Exchequer monies found not to have been required to meet running costs should have been refunded to the Department, the report says. However, the religious order argued that no refund is due as this relates to income earned by it through activities unconnected with teacher training. Discussions between the college's accountants and the Department are continuing.

The Comptroller also reports on cases of financial irregularity in three schools. In one case, a discrepancy of £125,000 was discovered in the accounts of a national school and adjoining secondary school last year. The school secretary at both schools acknowledged responsibility for £37,000 of this discrepancy, which has since been repaid. A further £61,000 has been received from the bank in settlement of its liability. The school authorities say they are confident of recovering the remaining sum of £27,000.

In the second case, the chairman of the board of management of another national school told the Department in November 1995 that an irregularity had arisen in the school's accounts. The PRSI due from the school secretary had been underpaid by £14,700 over nine years. The secretary resigned last November. About £3,700 has been recovered. The Garda is investigating.