Fás scandal puts EU funding at risk

A MULTI-MILLION euro income stream the country receives from Europe for social projects is in danger because of questions raised about the possible misuse of grants given to Fás.

The secretary-general at the Department of Enterprise, Sean Gorman, said Fás-related claims to the European Social Fund had been put on hold pending a European Commission audit.

EU money was used to prop up payments to the agency’s €111m Competency Development Programme (CDP), the management of which has been criticised by the Comptroller and Auditor General.