OFFICES IN NAAS RAIDED BY GARDAI

THE OFFICES of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) in Naas were raided by Gardai on Wednesday following the publication of findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General which identified concerns about procurement, project cost overruns and propriety matters.

The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, with the assistance of detectives attached to the Kildare Division, carried out a number of searches of premises in the Kildare area in relation to an ongoing investigation into certain matters.

The C&AG report by Dr Richard Thorn, which was published last week, highlighted a lack of engagement with the KWETB board to answer questions regarding 2015 accounts.

Deputy John Brady has called on the ex- CEO of KWETB, Sean Ashe, and the ex- Chairperson of the KWETB Board, Cllr Jim Ruttle, to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigations.

‘ The long-awaited publication of this report follows intense scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee back in November 2017 where the former Chief Executive and Chairperson were in attendance to account for financial statements,’ said Deputy Brady. ‘At that meeting of PAC, both Sean Ashe and Cllr Jim Ruttle refused to answer questions put to them in relation to the accounts of the KWETB.’

At the time, both men informed the PAC that they were advised not to speak about any of the matters being address by Dr Thorn’s inquiry into the KWETB.

‘I welcome the raids carried out by the gardaí as part of the serious investigation and I hope that anyone with information will fully cooperate with the investigation,’ said Deputy Brady.

Cllr Nicola Lawless, a board member of the KWETB, said that there are still questions that need to be answered by the KWETB Executive. She also wants answers about the signing of a 25-year lease on Civic Block E in Bray which she believes will have ‘ huge financial implications’ on the KWETB.

‘Who signed off on the tenders?’ asked Cllr Lawless, who also wants an examination of the 2016 and 2017 accounts to be carried out.