SENIOR staff on Community Employment schemes run by Dun Laoghaire Vocational Education Committee have asked the Comptroller and Auditor General's office to investigate funding arrears. The seven schemes employ 230 people, and some participants have suffered delays in completing courses because of delays in funding.
According to confidential reports prepared by the VEC's chief executive officer, Mr Micheal O Lionain, arrears peaked at £340,000 in February. This represents one quarter of the £1.3 million annual budget for the schemes. The difficulties arose from administrative delays in claiming the money from FAS, which provides the funding.
Mr O Lionain said yesterday that the problem of arrears had now been resolved and accounts were up to date. He expressed surprise that a complaint had been made to the Comptroller and Auditor General's office.
The CAG's office has confirmed that a complaint has been lodged and that an initial submission was made to it by staff members last Friday. It can either carry out a special audit of the CE schemes concerned or deal with the issues when the VEC's finances come up for review in the normal way.
Staff are concerned that the recurring problems with arrears might lead to some of the schemes being axed. Mr O Lionain said yesterday that the schemes were safe for the moment.
"If there are any problems in future it will not be because of arrears problems. But there is a huge burden of administration involved and that has to be recognised." Extra staff were needed to administer the schemes, he said.
There are seven VEC sponsored CE schemes. These are 46A, a local magazine employing 35 people Access Community Network TV, employing 35 to produce videos Options Radio, employing 35 to make programmes for local radio Mariners' Project, employing 30 to provide sailing for disadvantaged groups Sport Eco, employing 30 in sporting and environmental projects Loughlinstown Employment Centre, employing 35 and Community Support Services, which employs 25 people in backup services for other VEC sponsored projects.