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Audit figures suggest no financial loss to Waterford Council after purchase of controversial van fleet

Audit figures suggest no financial loss to Waterford Council after purchase of controversial van fleet

Waterford City and County Council has denied figures involved in the procurement of sixty vans were modified in the region of over a quarter of a million euro.

The claim was made during discussion of the annual report released by the council's Audit Committee.

1.4 million euro was involved in the transaction for over sixty vans without authorisation from senior management - however no loss was incurred by the council.

Sinn Féin's Declan Clune made the accusation at the recent plenary meeting, asking management if they were "aware of an alleged meeting between a council official and consultants... where the figures in the transaction were allegedly modified to the tune of €300,000?"

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Director of Services Fergus Galvin refuted the suggestion and said there was no variation in the contract.

"That just did not happen," he said, "there was never any question of a variation from the original tendered figures."

Director of Services Michael Quinn said there has been no financial loss to the local authority as a result of the procurement.

"We are satisfied that whilst this was not an acceptable transaction in terms of how it all played out... the issues that have cropped up have been satisfactorily addressed and that the council is not out of pocket in relation to costs."

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