Ministers ignored advice and funded marina projects
The Controller and Auditor General yesterday described the handling of all four projects as “unorthodox”.
In one case, then Minister for the Marine Frank Fahey informed then Minister for Justice John O’Donoghue that he was approving €2.5m in grant aid - 75% of the total cost - for a marina in Mr O’Donoghue’s home town of Caherciveen despite officials’ warnings that the project was not even eligible for grant assistance.
That project went ahead, but another marina at Kenmare, which received a €330,312 grant, is stalled after buildings were demolished for breaching planning conditions.
Grant aid was approved by then Minister for the Marine Frank Fahey.
Shortly after, the promoters revised their grant application upwards and included €73,000 for marketing costs which were not eligible for grant aid.
In another case, the cost of a marina at Roundstone increased more than five times after the first funding application.
Minister Fahey and his successor, Dermot Ahern, each approved grants totalling €1.69m.
Costs for the Rosses Point marina also increased from €1.75m for a 42 berth facility to €2.62m for a 47 berth version.
The project has since been revised again and a 27 berth facility costing €2.2m is now proposed.
Civil servants have warned that the project’s financial viability is doubtful.
