Clare’s local representatives have criticised management at the County Council, saying they were ‘caught on the hop’ by the decision to send controversial letters linking college grants with the household charge.
At last evening’s monthly meeting, local representatives demanded that they be briefed on such matters in the future, before the news reaches the media.
In defence, County Manager Tom Coughlan said there was no way of knowing that the story would come to dominate the national media, and again insisted that the Council was not seeking to remove the grant from those who have not paid the charge. He also revealed the compliance had risen to 68% as a result of the move.
Lissycasey Councillor PJ Kelly hopes lessons can be learnt from the affair.