Waterford Council says they have no role or responsibility for the oversight or governance of Waterford Area Partnership.
The state-funded body works with disadvantaged communities however, it emerged this week that it's facing major investigations including by Gardai, Revenue and the Charities Regulator.
In a statement issued this afternoon, the local authority said that the Waterford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), which is a subcommittee of Waterford City & County Council, considered the report. Waterford City and County Council said:"The company (WAP) and its Board in particular, are responsible for the issues contained within the report.
"WAP is contracted by the LCDC to deliver the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme 2018-2022 in Waterford and the LCDC has oversight of the implementation of SICAP.
"The LCDC is generally satisfied with the implementation of SICAP and that the SICAP targets are being met."
The local authority acknowledged the issues that were detailed in Crowe Horwath audit, commissioned on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development. They said:"The Crowe Report highlights some very serious issues in relation to governance in WAP.
"It is the Council’s intention to immediately engage with the company to assess their proposals and capacity to satisfactorily resolve the issues contained in the Report."
"The state-funded body works with disadvantaged communities however, it emerged this week that it's facing major investigations including by Gardai, Revenue and the Charities Regulator."
Labour Councillor John Pratt raised the matter at this afternoon's meeting of Waterford City and County Council.
