The Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, acknowledged yesterday that she had not been briefed on the Marino affair before it became public a week ago.
She said that while some information had been given to her department officials, "there was no reason for anyone to bring it to my attention".
The Irish Times has reported that several senior officials, including former secretary general John Dennehy, were extensively briefed on the Marino affair over the past year. This followed a series of meetings since August last between senior officials and the former president of Coláiste Mhuire teacher training college in Marino, Caoimhe Máirtín.
The department took the view that Ms Máirtín's complaints of bullying and intimidation were an internal matter at the privately-run college. It was also satisfied that there had been no misuse of the €4.5 million received annually in State grants for teacher training.
During meetings with department officials, Ms Máirtímade no allegation of financial impropriety at the college. But she said she had been kept "out of the loop" on financial and other matters.
Sources say she did not ask the department to intervene on her behalf.
Yesterday, Ms Hanafin said her information was that there was never any suggestion of financial impropriety. However, she said her department had an "obligation to ask" if State money was being used correctly.
She expected an independent inquiry by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which she announced last Friday, to be completed within weeks. This will focus exclusively on the use of State funds. It will not examine the allegations of bullying which led Ms Máirtíto pursue High Court action against the college.
The Minister said she was very anxious that all of the issues surrounding Marino should be resolved. While there was no evidence that the quality of teaching had been affected, the current crisis could damage morale.
Describing Ms Máirtín as a "top-class educationalist", she expressed dismay that this controversy had arisen.
Following the meetings with Ms Máirtín, the Minister said her department had satisfied itself in two key areas - the continued quality of teacher training at the institute, and the fact that there had been no improper use of State funds.
The governing body at Marino has established its own inquiry into events leading to the departure of Ms Máirtín, who resigned 10 days ago. This will be conducted by Greg Sparks of Farrell Grant Sparks.
