€20,000 spend on brochures

OVER €20,000 is being spent by Wexford County Council producing and delivering 60,000 brochures outlining the economic stimulus projects being undertaken by the council, next week.

The 16 page document print costs run to €9,000 plus VAT for 60,000 copies. A council spokesperson described them as high gloss, saddle stitched publications. ‘The brochure will be distributed to every delivery address (residential and business) in County Wexford before the end of January (via An Post) so the public can see and understand for themselves the scale of the ambition and investment proposed.

The cost of distribution will be €7,000 plus VAT and the cost of each brochure is just under 33c, including VAT.’

CEO Tom Enright said the increase in property tax and rates is helping the council secure loans to fund the projects, which are aimed at boosting job growth in the county. ‘These brochures are being printed at the moment – around 60,000. I think it’s a very positive and important thing for the council to showcase what will be happening over the next few years and how we are addressing economic, but also social and community challenges and how to put infrastucture in place to address these challenges.’

Cllr George Lawlor described the initiative as terrific, asking if the councillors who supported the LPT and rates tax increases can be named, along with those who didn’t. Mr Enright said the decision was made by the council as a body and not individuals. Cllr Lawlor said he and other councillors have been getting it ‘in the neck’ for their vote in favour of an increase in the LPT. Mr Enright said 27 of 31 councillors voted in favour of the increase in commercial rates. ‘That is a very strong endorsement of the type of thing we are trying to do. The decision was made collectively and I am not going to state who is in favour of a vote and who isn’t. It’s up to yourselves when you are gone around to make your case. I think this will make a real difference for the county.’