Stalemate as library looks set to stay shut for good
A proposal to increase property tax to pay for more library staff is rejected
THE option of saving all three Sligo libraries from closure by increasing local property tax was rejected by councillors at a meeting yesterday. Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Cllr Hubert Keaney pleaded with councillors to adopt a 15% hike in local property tax but this move was rejected by councillors, who voted instead to keep property tax at the current level. Cllr Keaney explained the deal had been put to him after Wednesday’s meeting with Minister Simon Coveney and his Department who said that if the 15% increase was agreed to, € 200,000 would be allocated each year to save the libraries. After the move was rejected, the Cathaoirleach said he was disappointed despite efforts to reach a solution on the libraries. “We are in a critical situation and this opportunity arose. No one likes to put up taxes but that’s the economic reality. Last Wednesday when I met with the Minister and his Department, I did think the deal was fair enough. We had an effort today and that didn’t happen, it’s a difficult situation for me. Some councillors gave their support, but we hadn’t enough. That’s the reality of politics,” Cllr Keaney added.
THE opportunity to keep Sligo county library services open has been rejected by Sligo County Councillors.
It was put to them that if the Local Property Tax was increased by 15 percent, the library could be saved from closure. But they voted by 14 to 3 to maintain the LPT at current levels.
The option came about after a high level meeting between Minister for Local Government Simon Coveney, CEO for the council Ciaran Hayes, Caithoirleach Hubert Keaney and Fine Gael Deputy Tony McLoughlin last week. The Minister suggested that if Sligo was to increase the LPT by 15 percent, it would be worth an extra € 750,000 per annum. In return he would shave € 200,000 off the annual surplus owed by Sligo County Council to Central Government.
CEO Ciaran Hayes told The Sligo Champion that he could have used this € 200,000 to hire the extra staff required to keep the library open.
“The carrot was if we got a 15 per- cent increase in the LPT, which would amount to € 25 per year for 75 percent of property holders, we could use that additional fund for important capital projects and we would get in return from the Minister a € 200,000 reduction in the surplus that we are required to pay to Central Government for the next three years.”
Following the face to face talks with Minister Coveney, Ciaran Hayes said he was very pleased.
“We got a very good hearing and made a very good case. I explained that it was not an easy decision to arrive at - having to close this vital service. I came to that conclusion really regretfully. The community avail of this local service and the impact of its closure is dreadful. You cannot put a price on this but I am continually explaining that I don’t have the staff and I am not in a position to provide a full service. I can only provide a service if I have the resources to provide it.”
He confirmed that he also put a formal proposal to Minister Coveney for six extra staff to maintain a library service in Sligo. Mr. Hayes admits if the council had decided to run with the LPT increase, it would ‘ certainly have been a help.’
“As things stand today ( Monday) we are in a similar financial position as we were last week. We will be meeting again to discuss which of - if not all of - the library branches will remain closed.”
He made reference to section 140 of the Local Government Act 2001, a motion which allows Councillors to call a special meeting which can adopt a resolution preventing the CEO from utilising executive powers.
“This 140 motion will be debated at Sligo County Council’s meeting next week. Even if it were to be passed, it is not neccessarily a solution as I will still have a personnel problem in that I won’t have the staff to keep the library open. I can’t legally just move county council staff between departments and draw up new contracts to solve this problem.”
Meanwhile Fianna Fail Deputy Marc MacSharry confirmed that the eight Fianna Fail Councillors sitting on Sligo County Council met to discuss the LPT suggestion.
He said they were disgusted that such a possibility was ever mentioned. Deputy Mac Sharry also slated what he terms the ‘ Government Contempt for the Sligo Community.’
Mac Sharry said: “Our county is not an independent republic, we are not an island, we are citizens of Ireland and deserve equal treatment. The County Council debt situation demands national action and the neglect of Sligo citizens is an issue of national concern.
“It beggars belief that Deputy Tony Mc Loughlin arranged a private meeting with Minister Coveney to supposedly help our situation in Sligo and returned with a dictate delivered via Government Councillors that the people of Sligo must pay an additional 15% in property tax.
“We must unite in our demand for national assistance. We are entitled to local services; we are entitled to the same treatment as other local authority areas. Our limited revenue stream on commercial rates and other income demand central government assistance to ensure that Sligo people are afforded the same services as other communities.”
He adds: “The Government need to take a strategic approach to the debt of all local authorities throughout the country now totalling just over € 4bn. To put it in perspective – Sligo owes € 120m, Cork owe € 500m and Local Authorities like Fingal have € 100m on deposit just because they have the benefit of Dublin Airport within their rates warrant a return that in itself is a multiple of the entire rates take of all of County Sligo.”
He called on the Government to immediately embrace their responsibilities to Sligo people and address what is effectively gross neglect.
Deputy MacSharry has tabled a motion which he hopes will be taken in Dail Eireann today ( Tuesday) in which he will demand national support for Sligo County Council so that the community is treated equally and afforded the same service entitlements as Irish Citizens in other parts of the Country.