Údarás: we are an open, transparent organisation and we follow all guidelines

I REFER to the letter by Brian Hopkins headlined ‘It’s time to terminate FÁS-type lifestyle’ (November 6) in which accusations were made that “Údarás na Gaeltachta was doing a FÁS with public funds... ” and which also contained allegations of ‘fraud’.

I also refer to an article published on the previous day headlined ‘Gaeltacht agency dubbed ‘mini-Fás’ over Vegas junket’.

Údarás na Gaeltachta wishes to state categorically there is no question whatsoever of fraud being undertaken by either its executives or board members.

We take serious issue with the references and comparisons made to FÁS in both the letter and the article published in the Irish Examiner and other articles published in other media in the past regarding this matter.

Therefore, for the record, we would again like to reiterate that Údarás na Gaeltachta is an open, transparent organisation that complies fully with all Department of Finance guidelines. Údarás retains a professional and independent firm of accountants to carry out its internal audit functions. The Comptroller and Auditor General audits the annual financial statements of the organisation and reports thereon once a year to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

These audits have not shown any instances of abuse of taxpayers’ funds or of departmental guidelines. Údarás na Gaeltachta expenditure on travel fully complies with Department of Finance guidelines.

Long-haul flights to the USA and non-European destinations were, and are, made in accordance with those guidelines regarding foreign travel. European short-haul flights are booked economy or budget class according to the same guidelines. All overseas trips are assessed with regard to benefits to the Údarás remit and approved beforehand at the most senior level.

It is the policy of Údarás na Gaeltachta to reimburse only the costs necessarily incurred to perform the purpose of the business of the travel, as authorised.

This never includes the costs of other members of family. Údarás na Gaeltachta keeps foreign travel to the minimum necessary to fulfil its remit regarding the needs of potential overseas investors and existing clients.

In its efforts to attract foreign direct investment to the Gaeltacht areas, Údarás depends to a large extent on business contacts established through the network of IDA offices in the USA and elsewhere.

Both agencies work hand-in-hand in the national interest.

Údarás does not have an overseas presence and it is therefore important that it continues its working relationship with IDA staff in their network of offices to attract overseas investment.

In relation to reference made to a trip to Shanghai, this was deemed necessary to assess a project which was subsequently approved by the Údarás board. The project, with a projected employment of 18, has since located in the Connemara Gaeltacht. It was considered an efficient use of taxpayers’ money also to meet and liaise with IDA and Enterprise Ireland while the Údarás executives were in Shanghai.

The flight costs were fully in line with Department of Finance guidelines regarding long-haul flights.

There were also references made to seven trips to Halifax. There were only four, and in this instance Údarás was actively seeking technology, partnership and investment for its wholly-owned subsidiary based in Connemara in order to secure its future viability.

Údarás had been involved in negotiations with a number of companies, including one in Halifax.

In reference to trips made to Las Vegas and Los Angeles, both these overnight stops were part of one business trip that involved a senior Údarás executive meeting with prospective clients in the media sector in order to identify opportunities and secure investment for a sector that Údarás continues to develop in the Gaeltacht.

It was never claimed that the meetings in Los Angeles and Las Vegas involved the IDA and we have already placed it on the public record that no receipts were missing as claimed.

We welcome the opportunity to provide all of the details to the secretary-general of the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs for submission to the PAC as they have requested.

We would like to point out that misinformation on travel by Údarás executives, similar to that quoted by the chairman of the PAC as being in the public arena, was published in news papers previously.

Clarification and corrections were published afterwards.

Siubhán Nic Grianna

Communications and Marketing Manager

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Na Forbacha

Gaillimh