The University of Limerick has confirmed it has asked the Department of Education to carry out an independent review of a number of issues of governance at the university.
The new President of UL, Dr Des Fitzgerald, who has taken over from former president Don Barry, who has retired, has requested the review following a number of questions raised at the Public Accounts Committee when UL personnel appeared before it last month, in addition to a number of questions raised by the department itself.
The independent review is likely to concentrate on allegations of bullying and irregular expenses payments which were raised by three whistleblowers who worked in the university's finance department and who raised questions about expenses payments to some staff.
One of the whistleblowers has left UL since 2012, but two others have been suspended on full pay.
An independent review of the allegations was carried out by Mazars last year at the instigation of the Higher Education Authority.
It found all inappropriate claims were challenged and ultimately none were issued.
While it found no financial mismanagement, there was dissatisfaction around a number of human resource issues including travel and subsistence, sabbatical expenses, procurement of equipment and management of staff absences.
Dr Fitzgerald said his focus is to protect and develop the university's academic reputation which is important to the city of Limerick, to the region and to the thousands of students, staff and graduates of UL.
He said the issues raised by the PAC last month need to be addressed and clarified so that the reputation of UL and the region it serves can move forward with the full confidence of stakeholders.
The Minister for Education, Richard Bruton, said the review of governance issues at UL was necessary to ensure the reputation of the university was safeguarded and that it had robust structures in the future.
Speaking in Limerick, the Minister said the decision to have an independent review was by mutual agreement between all the parties concerned that this was the best way forward.
