The Higher Education Authority (HEA) said it was unable to investigate allegations of poor practices and mistreatment of staff in University of Limerick without concrete evidence from the complainants.
The organisation was responding to the controversy over alleged irregularities in expenses payments to staff at the institution, which has led to calls for the intervention of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
"We are aware of the situation in Limerick, and we would have a concern that any allegations of malpractice are fully and thoroughly investigated," HEA chief executive Tom Boland told The Irish Times.
“At the same time, we have not been given sufficient details of what has been alleged to allow that investigation to occur.”
The allegations have been made by two members of the university’s finance department who are the subject of disciplinary proceedings.
Victimised
The two administrative staff members claim they have been victimised for highlighting the alleged mismanagement, which they say they first raised two years ago.
But the university, through its solicitors, said the allegations of poor practice had only surfaced last May, some time after they had been found to have made a “malicious complaint” against colleagues.
Limerick TD Willie O’Dea said he may refer the matter to the PAC, having been approached by the two staff members, who are now suspended on full pay in accordance with public sector guidelines.
“These two women are constituents of mine of and they came to me about their situation and I am not happy with how UL are responding to it,” he said. “They claim there has been an abuse of the expenses system in UL, which involved public money, and they say the reason why hostility is being directed on them is because they have drawn attention to it.”
Close eye
The Fianna Fáil TD said further investigation was needed into the claims there had been an abuse of the expense system in UL involving public money, and he was keeping a close eye on how this complaint was treated.
The story made front page new in the latest edition of the Limerick Leader but the university itself has declined to comment, citing its obligation to deal with human resources issues confidentially.
