Auditors from the Eastern Health Board are to review the accounts of the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The EHB requested access to the accounts following the arrest of a senior official of the charity and allegations of fraud at the society.
In a separate development the Western Health Board has confirmed that it is to review its annual allocation of £25,000 to the ISPCC. The Eastern Health Board makes two grants, totalling £185,000, to the ISPCC each year. In return for this the charity gives the board an annual report of its audited accounts. However, in light of the investigation by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation into the charity's fund-raising activities, the board decided several days ago to send in its own auditors to examine the detailed accounts, particularly relating to the expenditure of public money. Commenting after a routine board meeting last night, at which the issue was raised, the EHB's Chief Executive Officer Mr Pat McLoughlin said the ISPCC had had no difficulty with the board's request. The society also said it would give all the assistance it could to auditors "as a matter of urgency".
The EHB hopes to have a report from its auditors in time for the board meeting next month. Currently, £100,000 is granted annually for community-based projects and £85,000 for other costs. A spokeswoman for the Western Health Board told The Irish Times last night the board was reviewing its annual allocation of £25,000 to the charity, on the basis of "value for money". The money is granted for three ISPCC child-care professionals to work in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. The decision to review the grant was made before the current speculation about the charity's finances.
