Misuse inquiry at Irish Rail
Sunday January 11 2009
IRISH Rail has launched an internal investigation into allegations of misuse of company resources following an internal audit.
The investigation is thought to have been prompted after allegations that contractors hired to work for Irish Rail had also carried out work for an employee, allegedly at the expense of the company.
It is believed that the investigation has broadened from the initial allegations, which were uncovered last year, to include a number of other matters.
An individual at the centre of the investigation has been moved out of Irish Rail to work in another CIE company.
A spokesman for Irish Rail confirmed that an inquiry was under way but declined to confirm details of the matters under investigation.
A statement said: "In the course of normal reviews and audits, issues came to light which prompted an investigation into an individual employed by Iarnrod Eireann.
"This investigation is ongoing, and the individual has been transferred to elsewhere in the CIE Group. Iarnrod Eireann will not comment further on any specific allegations."
The internal inquiry comes as the CIE Group faces massive cuts amid expected losses of €39m in 2008. Sources close to the company said that Irish Rail, along with the other companies in the group, is reviewing all spending within the organisation, including wage bills, overtime and bonuses to staff.
The company has been asked to rationalise services, including bus and rail routes. The sharp fall in CIE's finances has been attributed to the soaring costs of fuel in the first half of last year and a fall in demand for services.
- MAEVE SHEEHAN
