Department in the dark about €200k paid into SIPTU-controlled account

THE Department of the Environment is still in the dark about what became of €200,000 it paid into a “dubious” bank account managed under the umbrella of SIPTU.

The bank account is the subject of a Garda investigation following revelations that €2.35 million paid into it by the HSE through the SKILL programme, could not be accounted for.

Secretary general of the department of the Environment, Geraldine Tallon, said on two occasions, SIPTU’s national industrial secretary, Matt Merrigan, invoiced for €100,000 to be paid to the SIPTU National Health and Local Authority Levy Fund. These were met by the department without question.