Senior department official meets with Mayo authority over funding controversy
A Mayo TD has received further correspondence from the Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys in relation to audit and inspection findings in County Mayo.
The minister informed Deputy Michael Ring that her department had been engaging extensively with Mayo County Council in relation to the actions which the local authority is advancing in order to address the serious issues arising from the audit and inspection findings in respect of the Clew Bay cycle route and Greeyway.
Minister Humphreys told Deputy Ring: “I know that you will appreciate that the control and governance of public monies, along with the delivery of quality projects for the citizens and communities in Co. Mayo, has always been and remains my main priority."
Minister Humphreys requested the secretary general of the department, Mary Hurley, to meet with the chief executive of Mayo County Council, Kevin Kelly, last week in relation to the roadmap and processes required to address the governance and funding issues which have arisen.
Mr. Kelly has outlined the reviews that are ongoing in relation to a range of schemes and projects administered by Mayo County Council and funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
It is expected that these reviews by the council will be submitted to the department by the end of May.
Stated Deputy Ring: "Minister Humphreys has stated to me that once the department are satisfied with the level of assurance provided through the enhanced procedures and reviews that it receives from Mayo County Council, it is intended that access to the relevant funding schemes will again be available to communities in Mayo in 2022."
The full contents of the minister's letter, which was also circulated to other Mayo Oireachtas members, reads as follows:
MINISTER HUMPHREY'S LETTER
"I am writing to give you an update on the issues which have arisen on foot of recent Department of Rural and Community Development audit and inspection findings in County Mayo.
"As you will be aware, my department has been engaging intensively with Mayo County Council in relation to the actions which the local authority are advancing in order to address the serious issues arising from the audit and inspection findings.
"I know that you will appreciate that the control and governance of public monies, along with the delivery of quality projects for the citizens and communities in Co. Mayo, has always been and remains my main priority.
"Against this background, I requested my new secretary general, Ms. Mary Hurley, to meet with the chief executive of Mayo County Council, Mr. Kevin Kelly, last week in relation to the roadmap and processes required to address the governance and funding issues which have arisen.
"On foot of this meeting, the chief executive wrote to my secretary general last Friday outlining the reviews that are ongoing in relation to a range of schemes and projects administered by Mayo County Council and funded by my department.
"In his letter, the chief executive confirmed that Mayo County Council intends to submit these reviews to my department by the end of May.
"Once my department receives this material, it will be reviewed as a matter of priority.
"I can assure you that once my department is satisfied with the level of assurance provided through the enhanced procedures and reviews that it receives from Mayo County Council, it is intended that access to the relevant funding schemes will again be available to communities in Mayo in 2022."