Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liomsa féin nóta omóis a léiriú do Peter Mathews. Fear uasal a bhí ann i ndáiríre. Aireoidh chuile dhuine uaidh é. Cásaim a bháis lena bhean agus lena chlann. I, too, extend my condolences to the family of the late former Deputy Peter Matthews. The only phrase that sums him up is that he was a consummate gentleman in everything he did.

I raised concerns previously in a Commencement debate about the administration of the affordable housing scheme by Galway City Council. I note that Galway City Tribune reported recently that a Galway City Council employee had been suspended because of metering irregularities. The report stated an investigation was being carried out into alleged irregularities involving pay and display parking meters and that a member of staff was on leave pending the outcome of this examination. Councillors have said a thorough investigation is needed and have criticised the local authority for releasing a statement without first informing councillors of what was happening. They have raised questions about the transparency of the way the matter is being handled. I am also told by people quite close to Galway City Council, on foot of other issues I have raised, that other serious issues may come to light concerning the misappropriation of property belonging to the council, something which has been happening on an ongoing basis. I wonder if the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government is aware that these issues are being investigated and, if so, who is investigating them? Who is being told about what is going on? I am led to believe that, all in all, Galway City Council could be out of pocket by as much as €800,000 or even €1 million because of a number of these irregularities. Who will ultimately pay the price? We need to have a debate with the Minister on the oversight mechanisms in place in local authorities. Is the Department notified when such issues arise and, if so, what does it do about it? Does it merely take a hands-off approach?What mechanisms are in place in the Department to ensure that proper oversight and procedures are in place in respect of financial and capital asset management in local authorities? Are these incidents particular to Galway City Council or are similar irregularities happening in other local authorities? In light of recent issues with organisations in this State investigating themselves, is it appropriate for a local authority to be judge and jury over irregularities that happen on their own watch? How can one have confidence that such investigations can be thorough, impartial and in the best interest of citizens? A lot of Members of this House are concerned about the responsibility of the elected representatives on these local authorities regarding the issues being raised since they state they are not being informed on an ongoing basis as to what is going on. I wonder whether ignorance is a defence in their case. We must get to the heart of this matter and discuss it with the Minister in detail.