Audit Reveals Financial Mismanagement at Ireland’s Fisheries Agency

An audit by the State’s financial watchdog has uncovered significant financial mismanagement at Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), raising concerns over excessive use of staff credit cards and a high number of vehicles. The report, published by the Comptroller and Auditor General, details lapses in internal control systems that have persisted for years.

The audit highlighted that in 2020, IFI issued 53 credit cards to staff, leading to expenditures exceeding €148,000. Although the number of cards has since been reduced to 17, the watchdog deemed this still excessive for an organization of its size. In a related finding, the report noted that IFI staff had access to 436 vehicles in 2023, with 196 owned by the agency and 43 leased seasonally. The Comptroller’s office stated, “Notwithstanding the nature of IFI’s work, the number of vehicles used appears to be very high.”

In addition to credit card and vehicle concerns, the audit revealed that IFI incurred costs of nearly €230,000 following a road traffic accident in 2021. This incident involved 15 hired vehicles, including the one involved in the crash, which had been uninsured for a period.

The report also addressed financial liabilities related to a €278,000 settlement with the Revenue Commissioners concerning benefit-in-kind payments. This issue arose from the installation of electric vehicle charging points at the homes of seven employees, costing €11,700. These installations, identified as taxable benefits, led IFI to pay over €17,600 in taxes, interest, and penalties in 2023. Six of the charging points have since been removed and are currently stored at IFI’s offices in Citywest, Dublin, pending further assessment for either reuse or disposal.

The audit also pointed out that extensive reliance on agency staff has caused IFI to consistently operate above its sanctioned staffing levels. Costs associated with hiring agency staff surged from €743,000 in 2021 to €882,000 in 2022.

In a significant governance lapse, the report revealed that the chief executive’s relocation to the regional office in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, in November 2021 occurred without board authorization. There was no documented business case to justify this change, raising questions about governance and oversight.

Furthermore, by March 2023, IFI learned that formal delegated authority for officers to initiate prosecutions had not been established. As a result, around 50 cases, including serious prosecutions for fish kills and water pollution, had to be withdrawn, exposing the agency to potential financial and legal risks.

The findings from the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report underline urgent needs for reforms in governance and financial controls at IFI, emphasizing the importance of accountability in public agencies responsible for environmental protection and resource management.