Garda investigation begins into Basketball Ireland grant

GARDAÍ have begun an investigation into alleged irregularities around how Basketball Ireland spent €1.8 million in grants intended for the specific purpose of installing basketball hoops in local communities.

The Dáil Public Accounts Committee heard yesterday that the matter was referred to Gardaí by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport after it emerged that only 20% of the equipment for which grants were provided had been installed.

Basketball Ireland, the national governing body of the sport, was awarded €1.8m between 1999 and 2006 under the Sports Capital Programme for a project entitled Community Hoops Programme.