Wish list proves wide and varied

December 2005

COUNCILLORS spent six hours examining the contents of the eight programme areas of the budge.

Afterwards a number of proposals on items councillors felt should be included in the budge were put forward.

Cllr Pat Casey proposed that €5,000 be ring fenced from community grants for the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team,

Cllr George Jones proposed the setting up of a parks department for the county but was willing to flag the issue this year on the grounds that it be included in the budget for 2007.

Cllr Pat Doran proposed allocating €100,000 for public lighting in the county. This matter was dealt with under the proposal to raise the loan of €100,000.

Cllr Tommy Cullen proposed that €5,000 be provisionally ring fenced for the repair of the 1798 statue in Dunlavin.

Cllr Joe Behan attacked the way in which the estimates were prepared. He highlighted a number of what he called discrepancies in the central management charges in which sums budgeted for were either far greater or less than the final outcome in 2005. The differences were explained by finance officer, Lorraine Lynch.

However, Cllr Behan used the figures as an exampled.

‘At this part of the estimates meeting we are always put to the pin of our collars to find money for projects, for example the introduction of a waiver scheme for the elderly, public lighting, the setting up of a parks department or reducing the county demand and rates. We’re told to come up with every last euro while their figures are grotesquely out of line,’ he stated.

Cllr Jim Ruttle proposed the employment of a technician to be shared between the Blessington and Tinahely area officers. He said the two area engineers received no support whatsoever. This was not approved.

Cllr Vincent Blake sought €10,000 each for Aughrim Tidy Towns, the Kilpipe Church road restoration and the park in Shillelagh. This was also left out of the final budget.