A call has been made for a review of the operation of the North-South body Waterways Ireland as Fine Gael claimed that €30 million of taxpayers' money could be wasted.
"The evidence suggests it is not operating at its most functional," Dinny McGinley (FG, Donegal South-West) said of the body responsible for waterways on both sides of the Border.
It had had a "turbulent existence", he said. The Comptroller and Auditor General highlighted auditing problems over three years, and an inquiry upheld allegations of bullying. Mr McGinley was also concerned about disused properties along canals owned by Waterways Ireland becoming derelict.
Minister for Community Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív said "all of the North-South bodies faced a difficult time over the past few years". A full "independent review of practices and policies relating to bullying" would be carried out, including the possibility of an independent mechanism to support staff making complaints.
Mr McGinley said the body knew since September that €12 million in unspent money was returned to Government in 2003 and 2004. "The question must be asked whether [the organisation] is achieving [its] aims," and there was potential to waste up to €30 million of taxpayers' money.
The Minister said provision had been made but not spent on new offices. People talked about money returning to the department but "it is the same money allocated three times for the same purpose". He would investigate the question of disused properties.
