Auditor raises red flag over Mayo council projects

The Local Government Audit Service has raised a red flag with Mayo County Council over two major community projects in the county – the Mary Robinson Centre in Ballina and Lough Lannagh leisure complex in Castlebar.

The council is engaged in transforming Victoria House in Ballina into the Mary Robinson Centre, a valuable resource for the community.

Ray Lavin, principal officer, said the council informed him that income sources for the project 'include philanthropic funding and community group funding'.

In his annual report, he outlined the importance of all such monies being received from those sources 'in order to ensure the project is adequately funded'.

It is not the first time that the audit service has highlighted such concerns over the matter.

However, the chief executive of the council, Kevin Kelly, has assured Mr. Lavin that discussions in respect of the amenity are ongoing.

The project is being developed as a partnership between the Mary Robinson Centre, NUI Galway and the council.

Mr. Lavin has also asked the council to consider if the manner in which it dealt with the existing tenancy agreement at the Lough Lannagh Leisure Complex in Castlebar 'represented best practice'.

He explained the tenancy agreement was awarded without a competitive tender for the year ending March 15, 2020.

This tenancy agreement was subsequently extended on three separate occasions without competitive tender to October 6, 2020, June 30, 2021, and again until December 31, 2021.

He outlined: “The council paid this provider a total of €997,000 from April 2019 until July 2021.

“The council has agreed to pay the provider a minimum of an additional €160,000 until December 2021 without competitive tender.

"The council should consider if the manner in which it dealt with this tenancy agreement represented best practice.”

In response, Mr. Kelly revealed consideration is now being given to the future management and operation arrangements for the facility.

He stated expressions of interest were sought when the facility was completed and a short-term tenancy agreement was put in place with the view to procuring a longer term service contract thereafter.

“The Covid-19 pandemic emerged and interfered with the intended process.

"The service provider’s contract was extended to enable the service to continue during the pandemic as it was impossible to tender under the uncertainties that Covid-19 presented.

“This was a unique circumstance for Mayo County Council during unprecedented times unlikely to reoccur again.”