Phil Hogan faces query over funds for Mayo disability group charity

Irish EU commissioner Phil Hogan is facing questions as to why he pushed up the ranking of a Mayo charity group so it ended up receiving €180,000 in funding.

The former environment minister plucked the disability group from the bottom of a ranked list for funds and ensured it became one of the top recipients for grants under a scheme.

The Mayo group, the Irish Association of Supported Employment, says it lobbied heavily to get funding and that may be why its rank for funding was changed.

The Belmullet-based association ranked near the bottom of 157 charities and voluntary groups applying for funding under the Scheme to Support National Organisations, RTÉ reported.

But it still received one of the highest amounts out of the €7m total given out to 55 different groups.

The Department of Environment had originally commissioned Pobal to conduct an independent assessment of charities and groups getting funding under the scheme.

It ranked the IASE and others according to those who best met the criteria for funding.

The Mayo association though was the only one that was not anywhere near the top 55 ranked. Mr Hogan, however, reconfigured the list and ensured that it was within the 55.

This was despite the fact it had been ranked at 137 and some 80 organisations above it had better met the criteria for funds.

IASE chairman, Castlebar-based Greg Barry, told RTÉ the group had “lobbied heavily” for more funding.

The Department of Environment says Pobal submitted recommendations to the department, but it was “a matter for the minister” to decide who should receive funding.

Mr Hogan’s spokespeople did not respond to queries on the matter.