VEC head was given 2 week to defend job

THE head of Co Longford VEC was given two weeks to explain to the Minister for Education why he should not be dismissed from his post. Ms Breathnach made the request to the acting chief executive officer of the VEC, Mr Sean Ryan, by letter. Last night, a spokesman for the Department confirmed that the 14 day period had elapsed, but was unable to say if Mr Ryan had replied to the Minister's letter.

The Minister's letter followed the finding by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr John Purcell, last month that Mr Ryan was paid travel expenses for more than nine years for his journey to and from work, in spite of the Department's refusal to sanction the arrangement.

Mr Purcell had found that Mr Ryan was paid the unauthorised travel and subsistence expenses for the 28 mile round trip from his home in Ballymahon to the VEC offices in Longford town. The arrangement, which the Minister also refused to sanction, operated for more than nine years from the time of Mr Ryan's appointment in 1986.

Mr Purcell estimated the sum of money involved in 1994 alone at about £4,500. The overall sum is estimated at £30,000. It is understood that Mr Ryan disputes both these figures. Mr Ryan was unavailable for comment yesterday. An official in the VEC offices said she was not at liberty to discuss the matter which, she said, was subjudice.

The arrangement was approved by the VEC, which agreed to pay Mr Ryan's travel expenses from his "headquarters" in Ballymahon to the VEC offices. The acting CEO was appointed in May 1986, having previously served as principal of Ballymahon Vocational School.

Meanwhile, the Dail Committee of Public Accounts is seeking legal advice on a demand by the chairman of Co Westmeath VEC, Mr Henry Abbott, that he be called to give evidence before the committee.

The committee had planned to question the newly appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of the VEC, Mr Gearoid O Bradaigh, at its meeting today. Members were anxious to hear the VEC's response to criticisms made by the Comptroller and Auditor General of the operation of the VEC in the period up to the end of 1994.

However, this session has now been cancelled after Mr Abbott wrote to the chairman Mr Denis Foley TD. It is understood Mr Abbott is seeking to call the Minister for Education as a witness, although the committee does not have the power to compel witnesses to attend.

Ms Breathnach has revealed that the former acting CEO of Co Westmeath VEC, Mr Padraic Dunne, received an additional seven years in pension entitlements when he retired early year.

The report from the Comptroller and Auditor General on Westmeath VEC gives details financial irregularities, overstaffing, poor judgment a regard for instructions from Department by the VEC. The VEC had a deficit at the end 1994 of £740,000 in special allocations from the Department which totalled over the previous two years.

A report on the future of VECs, which was commissioned by Ms Breathnach year, is expected to, the abolition of up to 14 when it is published tomorrow.