CEO ‘frustrated’ by charity allegations

by herself and two other tutors.

‘ The funding, I assume, referred to is our ex-gratia funding which is granted to carry out a wide variety of work, including welfare and running courses. Last year we got €84,000 from the Department of Agriculture. Two courses did take place, one at the farm (in Woodenbridge) and one off-site,’ she said.

‘Myself and two other staff members gave the courses. The name on the paperwork was from a previous application as it was a template we used. It was an oversight that it was not changed.

‘However, the department is aware of the courses we provide and often approaches us to see if we will give similar courses in other areas throughout the year, which we have done in the past. In these cases, we submit the additional grant applications during the year,’ she said.

The complainants had previously raised the issue of Ms Power having a paid role as CEO while also being a director of the charity.

Ms Power said that the Board of Directors sought advice on relation to this previously and it was outlined that there was no problem in holding two positions from a revenue point of view.

‘ We were informed that there was no problem with me coming on board as a paid CEO in terms of revenue. I wasn’t aware that there was any rule against it from when we set up the charity and I had to go back and look at that as it was so long ago,’ she said.

Ms Power said that she was offered the position as paid CEO in 2014 by the board, which is chaired by Jane Myerscough, as the role needed to be filled.

‘ I had worked on other companies for the four years prior to this. I kept in touch with the IHWT and was on the board but was not paid during that time. The board wanted somebody to take on the position and offered it to me. I had been offered another job at the time and turned it down to return to the IHWT,’ she said.

Ms Power stepped aside as a director in June after it was brought to her attention that the charity’s Articles of Association prohibits a director from also holding a paid position.

Regarding the complaints as a whole, Ms Power said that she was disappointed that nobody had approached the IHWT with questions and also that her character has been called into question when, she said, she ‘goes above and beyond’ for her job.

Ms Power said that there was no correspondence with the board in relation to any of the concerns raised.

‘It is really frustrating because it is hard enough for small charities to survive,’ she said.

‘I am confident that everything is in order and that our accounts are meticulous.’ GARDAI are investigating the burglary of a house in south Rathnew which took place on Wednesday evening.

A side sliding door was smashed with a spade in order to gain entry. Unsuccessful attempts were also made to break two other windows.

The spade used to access the property was found abandoned in the back garden. Some jewellery appears to have been the only items stolen. Gardai are examining nearby CCTV footage to try and identify a suspect or suspects. On the same day one witness reported spotting a male standing outside the side of the house.

Three teenagers were also witnessed riding bicycles near to the location of the burglary and gardaí are trying to determine if there is any link with the break-in.

A garda spokesperson has warned people to ensure their home alarms are activated at night or anytime when the premises is vacant. Tools should also be secured safely in sheds so they can’t be stolen or used to break into properties.