Christmas party €30,000 donation found resting in CHI account – Neville

The operator of three children’s hospitals – Children’s Health Ireland – must explain fully how a contractor’s donated €30,000 for a Christmas party was found in their accounts during an audit, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Joe Neville said the vast sum originated from a CHI concession holder in 2022 and the party was due to be held at one of the donor’s locations.

The issued only emerged today after Comptroller and Audit General Seamus McCarthy told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today of the find during an audit of the CHI accounts.

Deputy Neville, a chartered accountant and PAC member said the CHI must provide clarity on this.

“It was not registered as income and only returned to the donor in 2025 after the audit found it.

“This payment has the potential to undermine the whole procurement process in CHI and undermines the rules and regulations around procurement,” he said.

“There are serious question marks as to why the vendor felt they were in a position to offer the €30,000 and indeed as to why CHI felt they were in a position to accept it.

“In addition to this, the amount was received in 2022 but was resting in a bank account until 2025 after the issue had been highlighted by the C&AG. I think we’ve seen that script before.

“As a chartered account and someone who has worked on procurement processes at a senior level, I know that this is not normal and is beyond the pale of good governance.

“A transparent and clear procurement process must be at the centre of everything the CHI does.

“An unidentified vendor, who have been awarded a public tender to operate at CHI hospitals, giving €30,000 for a CHI staff Christmas party and potentially competing for future public contracts from the same organisation, is an extraordinary act.

“We must have trust in CHI management – it cannot be eroded.

“Questions will be asked at the upcoming PAC if the €30,000 was sought out by CHI or gifted from the vendor off their own accord.

“Separately, there will be focus on what senior management were aware of this bank account and if so, why they did not repay the money once aware of it and I am keen to hear what response they have to these questions,” concluded Deputy Neville.