It’s claimed the people of Clare have been conned in the money provided for local services this year despite a high compliance rate with the Property Tax.
Members of Clare County Council adopted their annual budget last night with much criticism of an increase of just 200,000 euro in local government funding, as much of the €23m allocated for Clare will go towards the new Irish Water company.
The County Manager explained that budgets are also down as funds must cover Ennis and Kilrush after their town councils are abolished, and though property tax was due to fund local services, this won’t happen until 2015 at the earliest.
Commercial rates were left unchanged, and in the end 20 Councillors supported the budget while seven voted against it.
The budget was drafted before storms wreaked havoc along the Clare Coast but the county manager has said repair works will have to be done, wherever the money comes from.
Tom Coughlan told last night’s meeting that repairs are already underway in Lahinch where it’s estimated that millions of euro in storm damage has been caused, and he’s awaiting reports on the cost of the clean-up in other areas like Kilbaha, Carrigaholt, Quilty, Doolin and Liscannor.
Though he admitted worries about where the money will come from, the manager said the 2014 budget can’t cover these costs, and applications for extra funds will be made to government.
