College head loses bid to keep job in wake of expenses row [Independent.ie]
- Published: 13 May 2011
Professor Kieran Byrne has failed in his bid for re-appointment as president of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) in the wake of revelations over high spending by his office.
It included the use of taxis for 200-mile (322km) round trips between Waterford and Dublin as well as hospitality expenses amounting to €290,000 over seven years.
It is a dramatic turnabout in fortunes for Prof Byrne, who has been WIT president for 10 years and championed the college's case for university status.
Up to yesterday, Prof Byrne was the sole nominee for the post, which had been publicly advertised. He was recommended by a sub committee set up as part of the selection process.
Controversy
However, Prof Byrne's road to re-appointment became mired in controversy as questions were asked about spending authorised by his office between 2004 and 2011.
The Waterford Colleges branch of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) had submitted a Freedom of Information request to establish that funding was being diverted to priority areas.
The detailed spending breakdown was provided to the TUI last Friday.
Yesterday, the day before the information was released to the TUI, the governing body postponed a decision on Prof Byrne's re-appointment and called in the accountancy firm Deloitte to review budgetary spending procedures.
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