STATE AGENCY Fás has refused to give documents to a Dáil committee investigating possible irregularities at the organisation, following legal advice.

Comptroller and Auditor General John Buckley, the Dáil's Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) and the Garda are investigating various aspects of allegations of a €160,000 overspend and breaches of procurement at Fás's corporate affairs division.

Last month the PAC asked the State training and employment agency to provide it with documents relating to advertising spending, awarding of contracts, disciplinary proceedings against a staff member and other issues.

But Fás chief executive Rody Molloy this week wrote to the committee saying its lawyers advised the agency that it could not provide much of the information the committee sought, as it was covered by data protection law.

Mr Molloy said the agency's lawyers warned Fás that it could only provide the information on foot of a direction made under the Committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas Act, 1997, which covers committees' powers to call and question witnesses.

Mr Molloy's letter added that Fás could not comply with the PAC's request for information as the agency's lawyers believed it "did not appear to be a direction pursuant to the 1997 act".

Committee chairman Bernard Allen said he would suspend the hearing.

"The committee finds itself in an impossible position because of the delay in receiving material," he said. "The committee will be in contact with Fás in relation to further documents that it requires."