An audit of Waterford City and County Council has highlighted ongoing issues with Mount Congreve.
The audit which mainly concerned 2024, explained that the most recent accounts made available for Mount Congreve belonged to 2023, with the audit stating, “The last audited accounts presented were for 2023, the ongoing delay in finalising the trust’s privately audited annual accounts is a matter of increasing concern as this entity remains a burden on the Council’s finances.”
Further to this, the auditor commented, “I have previously highlighted issues with this project. Cumulative expenditure of €11.3m, including a loan, has been advanced in the last four year to fund the development of the visitor attraction, rental accommodation and funding ongoing operations. Separate state funding has also been provided by the OPW and Fáilte Ireland”.
“Interim management accounts were also not presented but the Council’s Director of Finance advised that while the OPW had committed to additional funding the trust’s ongoing financial performance, net of the OPW proposed contribution, is materially unchanged and also that visitor number had declined in 2025.”
Mount Congreve has been recognised as a site with enormous potential for Waterford and could, it has been claimed, become the jewel in county’s crown. Councillors such as Fine Gael’s Pat Nugent (who sits on the Mount Congreve board), and Fianna Fáil’s John O’Leary, have voiced strong support for the project and its staff.
Other councillors, such as Cllr. John Hearne and Cllr. Donal Barry, align with the auditor’s view that Mount Congreve remains a ‘burden’ on Council finances. They have called repeatedly for the Office of Public Works to take full charge of the site, given its scale.
In response to the Audit’s comments, CEO for Waterford Council Sean McKeown stated: “The management and delivery of the accommodation works were the responsibility of Mount Congreve, with technical assistance provided by the Council to assist with procurement and construction activities”.
“The works have been completed to the satisfaction on the Mount Congreve Management Team. Delays in completing the accounts and audit for Mount Congreve have arisen due to workload pressures within their finance department. Accounts and audit have now been completed for 2023, and it is envisaged that the 2024 audit will be completed by the end of November 2025,” Mr. McKeown added.
AARON KENT
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
