Cllr queries ‘poor’ Mallow pay parking dividend

THE dividend return to Cork County Council generated through pay parking in Mallow has been described as “very poor” when compared to the amount of money that it generates each year.

The issue was raised by Sinn Fein’s Cllr Melissa Mullane at the September meeting of the Council’s Mallow/Kanturk committee after it emerged a sum just shy of €53,000 had been allocated from the divided to local projects this year.

A report circulated at the meeting revealed that €52,925 generated through pay parking in Mallow had been allocated to three projects - almost €28,000 to offset the overrun in cost of the Mallow Castle Walkway, €16,000 for a footpath refurbishment and €9,000 for the town’s Christmas lights.

Cllr Mullane said that while these were worthy projects, the amount of the dividend seemed small when compared to the annual intake from pay parking. “I would like to see a total breakdown of income from pay parking, including how much was collected through fines, because the return through the dividend seems very poor to me,” said Cllr Mullane.

“I understand that inroads have been made in terms of additional free parking time, but still feel this dividend is very small,” she added.

To put her query into perspective, it was estimated last December that the total pay parking divided from 2017 would come in at approximately €275,000.

Senior council official Mary Hayes said she would bring a full report on the issue to the October committee meeting.

Cllr Mullane went on to say the poor divided raised questions about having a private contractor in place to monitor pay-parking in Mallow, pointing out that it was the only town in County Cork to operate such a regime. “I think we need to consider, given the low dividend to the town whether it is offering value for money. Personally, I do not think so and look forward to finding out how much money is leaving the town and going into the coffers of the private contractor,” she said.