Concern has been expressed that East Clare has been denied what would be vital funding for the area.
Under draft budget proposals, an increased amount of nearly 1.3 million euro will be set aside for the General Municipal Allocation for all of Co. Clare next year.
However, because of changes in how the money is divided out, East Clare will receive €30,000 less than it did last year.
€1,273,000 will be set aside for the General Municipal Allocation in Clare next year, under draft proposals, which are expected to be given the go ahead at the council’s budget meeting later this month.
The GMA is a is discretionary funding for elected representatives, who put the funding towards projects in their areas and following agreed changes in how the money will be divided, around 45,000 euro will be available to each councillor.
Ennis and Shannon will receive €318,000 each, and the nine-councillor area of West and North Clare will receive over €409,000
But with just five Councillors, it means the the Killaloe area will benefit to the tune of just €227,000, thirty thousand less than last year.
Kilmurry Fianna Fáil Councillor Alan O’Callaghan fears it will impact negatively on the area.
The decision on how to divide the money has been made by Councillors themselves.
A commitment has been given by the CEO of Clare County Council that if there’s a requirement for extra funding, it can be made available through other projects.
Fine Gael Whitegate Councillor Pat Burke believes it was the fairest way to divide the money.
