Bid to quash findings that €535k grants were irregular

A partnership set up to provide local rural, social and economic programmes in Co Meath has brought a High Court challenge aimed at quashing findings that €535,173 it made in payments to various projects were irregular and the projects were ineligible for funding.

The action has been brought by Meath Community Rural and Social Development Partnership Ltd, which was set up to disperse funds for projects in the county as part of the EU’s Rural Development Programme, also known as the Leader programme.

The Meath Partnership, a registered charity, has brought proceedings against the Minister for Environment, Community, and Local Government, Alan Kelly, arising out of a report entitled ‘Investigation into In House Projects at Meath Partnership’. The report, which the partnership says should be quashed, found payments of €535,173 made by the partnership to projects, which the Department of the Environment examined, were irregular. The report said the monies should be recovered and the report should be distributed to various bodies.