Prime Time probe Mary Robinson Centre funding issue in Mayo

The RTÉ current affairs programme, Prime Time, has conducted an investigation into a funding issue relating to the Mary Robinson Centre in Ballina.

The programme has informed Mayo County Council that it intends to broadcast its report on Thursday next, February 8, at 9.35 p.m., during which its findings will be revealed.

The Connaught Telegraph has learned the programme will highlight a sum of €800,000 outstanding to Mayo County Council from the Victoria House Foundation in respect of the project.

The matter was raised in the Local Government Auditor's Report, which came before the December meeting of the council for noting.

Accounts for the Foundation to the end of 2022 show they have €3,868 in their bank account but owe €6,150 to creditors, with no assets, Councillor Peter Flynn told the meeting in question.

There is no record of the sum owed to the council, he outlined.

The auditor's report set out how the council is engaged in a project to transform Victoria House, along the River Moy, into the Mary Robinson Centre, at a cost of €5.4 million, excluding fit-out costs.

Committed income sources to date include funding from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for €2 million, of which €1.74 million has been received towards the construction phase, and €1.1 million from the Mary Robinson Foundation/Community Group, of which €300,000 has been received by the council to date.

The remaining €250,000 for the department grant is allocated towards the fit-out and the council are currently preparing a proposal for a fit-out on a phased basis.

Councillor Flynn said he had looked at the foundation's accounts and they showed no record of the €800,000 owed to the council. This liability should be included in the accounts.

Going through the accounts since 2015, the Foundation has received just over €1 million in donations and have spent just over €1 million, with €300,000 coming back to the council, €700,000 gone in admin and wages, legal and professional fees, events, etcetera.

It wasn't for the council to worry about how Victoria House spend their money but it was their worry how the €800,000 is not recognised in the accounts, Councillor Flynn stated.