Deputy research ministry handed out funds without due diligence, report says

Deputy research ministry handed out funds without due diligence, audit office says

By Tom Cleaver

The deputy research ministry handed out funds without conducting the correct due diligence, an audit office report released on Tuesday said, while a separate report highlighted inefficiency in the system which provides financial support for students.

The report on the deputy research ministry cited funds allocated to the research and innovation foundation, which, it said, was paid “without an internal control mechanism”, while also highlighting a grant which was paid to the institute of neurology and genetics “without ensuring compliance with the finance ministry’s terms”.

The funds were allocated to the research and innovation foundation in 2023, and amounted to just over €5.2 million, while the grant paid to the institute of neurology and genetics was worth a little more than €3.5m.

It also said the information technology services department’s register of computer equipment “is not maintained” and added that “significant delays were observed in the establishment, authorisation, and finalisation of the payment of a number of invoices”.

It added that a payment of €14,779 was identified “which was recorded in an incorrect account”.

Meanwhile, the report on the matter of government financial support for students found that “the entire system needs improvement”, but did point out that this is expected with the coming of new computer software.

It described “weaknesses … in the process of receiving and managing applications for student financial support, which … increase the risk of errors”.

In addition, it said, “no specific deadlines had been set” regarding the evaluation of applications for financial support, resulting in “significant delays” in some cases.

As such, it said that a “reasonable period of time be set for the examination and approval or rejection of applications”.

It then highlighted that in a sample audit of 13 cases, it was found that three of them had been paid to applicants who did not meet the criteria, or that an “incorrect amount” had been paid.