HSE audit reveals high risk practices at Rathmines Women’s Refuge

Sensitive information relating to residents of a women's refuge run by Tusla could have been compromised as it was held on an unencrypted computer, a HSE audit has found.

The audit recorded 34 instances of high risk practice at the Rathmines Women's Refuge - Ireland's longest-operating refuge which provides accommodation for 10 families. The audit was carried out in 2014.

Other pressing concerns related to unpaid rent, staff’s tendency to complete clerical duties while working premium pay overtime hours, and an inaccessible safe which contained a copy of a will worth €250,000.

Auditors noted that client data was stored on an unencrypted computer purchased in 2005 as well as two other devices which were donated to the refuge second-hand.

Unencrypted USB drives were also used to transfer data between the computers, and the system of data storage presented a risk of access by unauthorised individuals according to the HSE’s report.

A weekly payment of €40 was requested from each resident who stayed at the refuge. However, an inspection of records in November 2014 revealed that 94 per cent of rental receipts were missing for the month, with further receipts missing in December.

The report author also noted concerns over “inadequate” information on donations from members of the public as there was “no evidence to verify” that cash gifts totalling €1,040 were used to buy Christmas toys for children in the refuge, as was said to be the case.

One member of staff worked 161 overtime hours in 2014 in order to “catch up on clerical duties”, meaning they earned a total of €85,163 in 2014, which included an additional 38 per cent in excess of basic pay.

The same staff member, whose grade was not disclosed, received over 50 per cent in excess of basic pay for each of the previous two years, earning €95,961 in 2012 and €94,238 in 2013.

This prompted the auditor to comment that using premium hours to complete clerical duties is “not an economical use of Tusla funds”.

Tusla had already appropriated €250,000 which was bequeathed to the refuge in a will, a copy of which was locked in a safe that would not open, so the audit recommended that a functioning safe be purchased to replace it.