Effort to look into payments to Trust

ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH SUB-COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT ANNUAL PAYMENTS

AN attempt to establish a sub-committee to look into annual payments made by Louth county council to Stephenstown Pond Trust has failed.

At the November meeting Cllr Hugh Conlon proposed a motion that the local authority set up a sub-committee to review its annual payments of €10,000 made to the trust.

He also called for the sub-committee to review the specific applications made by Stephenstown Pond Trust in relation to drawdown of the €10,000 funding in the future.

Cllr Conlon spoke of what he described as an ‘ easy relationship’ between the trust and the council; and wondered did anyone know of voluntary bodies which received such a ‘ bail-out’.

Cllr Maeve Yore gave her support to the motion, remarking that local residents had concerns.

She added there had to be a resolution; and that the executive had to be accountable for a ‘ huge amount’ of €10,000 per annum.

Cllr Maria Doyle wanted to know why the council was paying so much money to a limited company. It would be less of an issue if Stephenstown was a voluntary body.

She also queried what type of paperwork the trust had to submit to get the funding.

In a written reply to the motion, Director of Services, Joe McGuinness said: ‘Committees of Council may only be established to consider matters connected with the functions of Council and assist and advise on those matters. This would also only relate to reserved functions of Council.’

Chief executive Joan Martin told the meeting she was fully accountable for all the council’s budget.

There was no paperwork required for the €10,000 in question, and Ms Martin also pointed out that while a limited company, Stephenstown Pond Trust was a voluntary organisation.

When it got funding from the International Fund for Ireland it was a requirement that a limited company be established.

‘Stephenstown Pond is not a like a Tidy Towns organisation. It is offering a different facility,’ the CEO continued.

‘I’ve looked at this and I’m fully satisfied there is no issue in relation to Stephenstown Pond.’

During subsequent debate on the annual budget, only Cllrs Conlon and Yore backed a proposed amendment to reduce the Louth county council budget by €10,000 and distribute that money to Dundalk municipal district.