Probe Into KWETB Continues As Eighth Person Is Detained for Questioning

Gardaí say their investigation into alleged corrupt practices at the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board are continuing.

It follows the arrest last Friday of a man in his 50’s, which has been described as significant, in relation to the ongoing probe. He is the eighth person detained in the ongoing investigation.

He was taken to Naas garda station and questioned by detectives from the Anti-Corruption Unit within the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau.

Concerns about the operational running of the KWETB were highlighted following an investigation by the Department of Education and a Comptroller and Auditor General report in 2019, which found the ETB repeatedly broke public contract rules and indulged in “excessive” spending.

According to the Irish Times, its then chief executive, Seán Ashe, also failed to declare ties to family members with interests in two companies that received contracts from the ETB.