This article is from page 7 of the 2006-01-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
MEMBERS of Clare County Council ended a heated meeting on the budget by demanding an increase in funding from central government. The council are to bring their concerns about inequality in the allocations of funds to different counties to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Dick Roche.
Cllr Madeline Taylor Quinn received the support of her council colleagues when she proposed that a letter be sent to the Minister and the department expressing “the dismay of the council” at the funding received.
She told the meeting that the council received the 25th highest grant in the country at €14.65 million, and it is placed 30th if rated by the increase received.
The council agreed to tell the Minister that the inadequate funding places an unfair burden on the ratepayers who are then relied upon to fund services.
Agreeing with Cllr Taylor Quinn, her party colleague Cllr Joe Arkins said, “We have no chance of a third (Dail) seat (for the current government) so there is no need for us to be considered for extra funding.”
Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney further proposed that the Minister be asked to redress the inequality of the local funding bill and in the process increase the Clare allocation.
The County Manager asked the council members to approve a €12.5 million over draft for 2006, although he said he does not expect to have to use it. The council will spend €101 million this year – an increase of 8.4 per cent on last year’s spend of €93 million.