Fahey under fire over abandoned marina scheme

FORMER Marine Minister Frank Fahey faced a storm of criticism yesterday following a damning report by the Dáil’s financial watchdog on an abandoned €6 million scheme to build four marinas.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found the four projects singled out for grant-aid were “approved under ministerial direction” by Mr Fahey and were not subject to normal departmental guidelines. Dubbed ‘Punchestown on Sea’ after the controversial jumping centre at the Kildare race-track, the grant aid of 6m was earmarked for projects in Kenmare, Co Kerry; in Cahirciveen, Co Kerry, in Roundstone, Co Galway and in Rosses Point, Co Sligo.

But Mr Fahey robustly defended the decision, saying all four were subject to “rigorous” evaluation.