An independent report on the purchase of five houses at An Crannla in Buncrana has cost Donegal County Council over €21,000.
The investigation, by BDO Ireland, found no evidence of wrongdoing by staff or councillors of the local authority.
The external review was ordered after accusations of ‘systematic corruption’ in relation to the purchase of five homes for social housing with the knowledge they had deleterious materials.
Councillor Frank McBrearty
The accusations were made by Councillor Frank McBrearty who, back in May, said he could prove there was corruption.
Cllr McBrearty compiled his own report on the €600,000 acquisition which he said he has sent to the council and to the Garda Commissioner.
Councillor Micheal Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig last year called for a public inquiry into all housing acquisitions made by the council in Donegal on the back of this acquisition.
The authors of the BDO report noted that both councillors were asked to provide any evidence they had of corruption. However, they failed to do so.
Cllr Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig.
At the time, Independent Councillor Nicholas Crossan said the claims were like “a cloud hanging over everyone in this chamber”.
In response to a query from Donegal Daily, the council said they conducted a formal procurement process in April/May with the objective of procuring the services of an external audit firm to conduct a review of the process followed by the council in connection with the purchase of the houses.
“BDO Ireland submitted the lowest price to undertake the review,” the spokesperson explained.
“The total amount paid to BDO Ireland to undertake the review was €21,456.73 (inclusive of VAT).”
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