The Minister for Education has apologised to the Dáil for using public resources to compile briefing documents for Fianna Fáil candidates in the local elections.
Mr Dempsey has also made arrangements to repay the Department of Education €2,590.40 for the cost of the materials used and the time of the civil servants involved in preparing the information. The money will be repaid by Fianna Fáil.
Deputies listened in silence as the Minister told the Dáil that he had fully responded to the Standards in Public Office Commission, which considered the issue.
In a brief personal statement to the House, Mr Dempsey said the Commission had "written to me to indicate that they have decided not to carry out an investigation on the matter.
"However, the commission has taken account of the code of conduct for office holders and are of the view that I didn't have regard to and was not guided by the terms of the code of conduct for office holders.
"In light of that, I am offering an apology to my colleagues in government and to the House and have made arrangements to repay €2,590.40 to the department - the cost of the materials and the time of the civil servants involved."
The furore arose in April, as the campaign for the local elections got under way. It was reported that the Minister had ordered Department of Education officials to compile a customised information pack for Fianna Fáil candidates on monies spent on schools in the North Leinster area. Mr Dempsey was director of elections for the North Leinster area.
Under the Government's own Code of Conduct for Office Holders, officials are required to "ensure that their use of officially provided facilities are designed to give the public value for money and to avoid any abuse of the privileges which are, undoubtedly, attached to office."
Ms Olwyn Enright, Fine Gael spokeswoman on education, had branded the incident a Fianna Fáil "electioneering stunt". She said the Minister claimed the information was available to anyone who wanted it but it was only provided to Fianna Fáil candidates. When the story emerged she said she wanted to know how many department staff were involved in compiling the information and at what cost.
At the time, Mr Dempsey pointed out that the Department frequently provided briefing notes to opposition party members, as well as an information service to the general public, the media and public representatives from all parties.
However, he conceded that the information pack was customised for Fianna Fáil election candidates, and was paid for out of public monies.
