Cork City Gaelscoil has finances examined after complaint by member of staff
The finances of a Cork City Gaelscoil have been examined by a Government body after a complaint was made by a member of staff.However, the Department of Education is refusing to give details of the findings of the review, saying the information will not be made publicly available. Last month, a group of parents removed nearly 100 children from Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers on Redemption Road in Cork City due to concerns over health and safety.The Irish Examiner understands those children are currently back in the school.School principal Aidan Breathnach is out on stress leave and the school is being run on an interim basis by another staff member.Mr Breathnach said in a statement last month he had been the victim of an “orchestrated campaign” after forgetting to bring his vertigo medication to school, leaving him disorientated, and allegations he was under the influence of alcohol “are completely untrue and unfounded”.Prior to this incident, a report into the school’s finances and general operation was commissioned by the Department of Education and posted out to the school’s board of management at the start of March.After a disclosure was made by a staff member, the Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), a Department of Education-funded body, undertook an examination of the finances.A department spokesperson said the FSSU “is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters”. In response to a freedom of information request for the FSSU report, the department said: “Records held by the FSSU do not fall under the remit of the Freedom of Information Act, and you cannot seek them from any department or body.” The Irish Examiner contacted the school and board of management for comment.
