Council still waits for ¤750k
CHIEF EXECUTIVE HITS OUT AT GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL FOR IGNORING REPEATED REQUESTS FOR THE PROMISED FUNDS
A lump sum of ¤750,000 promised to Sligo County Council by the Government over two years ago has never been paid.
The sum, which represents the balance of a 2014 Local Government Fund, was taken off the table by the Department of Local Government back in January 2015 but was to be given back to the Council once they had approved a Financial Plan to get out of debt.
The matter was raised by Council Chief Executive Ciarán Hayes at last week’s annual budgetary meeting of Sligo Municipal District.
According to Hayes, the Assistant Secretary for Community and Local Government Paul Lemass gave an undertaking in person to him and separately to some councillors in early and mid 2015 that he would restore the allocation of ¤750,000 once the Financial Plan was approved and signed.
It was signed on 21 December 2015. As part of the plan, the Department would give the Council ¤5million between 2015-2019.
Hayes raised the issue of the outstanding ¤750,000 from 2014 with Lemass at a meeting with him and the Secretary General in September 2016 only to be told by Lemass that it was his recollection that the funds would only be handed over if the Council met the terms of the Plan over a 2-3 year period.
This was news to Hayes: “This change to the criteria was never notified to Sligo County Council” he wrote on April 12 th 2017 in a series of correspondence seen by The Sligo Champion.
Hayes asked for the ¤750,000 again, point- ing out that they had met the terms of the Plan in 2015 and 2016. He said it would bring the Council’s 2017 surplus to ¤5.12million and “have significant benefits for both cash flow and cost of funds.”
Two and a half months later, on 29 th June 2017 Lemass replied. He made no mention of the ¤750,000. He wanted the Council to spread their five year Financial Plan out over a ten year period to 2027 and give them ¤200,000 pa.
His letter raised concerns at the Corporate Policy Group meeting of Sligo County Council on 30 June.
On 10 th July, Hayes replied to Lemass, seeking a meeting with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government Eoghan Murphy and repeated his request for payment of the ¤750,000.
On 4 th August, Lemass wrote to Hayes: “Given the ongoing engagement at official level, it is not considered appropriate at this time to meet with the Minister and the request for a meeting has been declined.”
On 29 th August, Hayes replied to Lemass to express his “disappointment at the level of Departmental engagement which I regret to say is characterized by a failure to respond to issues” and requested an urgent meeting with him. There was no response from Lemass.
On 14 th September, Hayes writes a lengthy letter to Lemass, claiming the ongoing engagement at official level was “falling far short” of what was needed. He again sought an urgent meeting and urged Lemass not to extend the Financial Plan out to 2027.
There was no response from Lemass.
On 9 th October, Hayes wrote once more to Lemass: “I find it extraordinary and disappointing that you are consistently failing to engage with the Council.”
“Your initial target of ¤12.3m surplus over a 5 year period failed as it was neither a viable nor sustainable target. Your current proposal to extend the target out to 2027 is equally unsustainable and will similarly fail.”
He sought a meeting again, saying it was “critical” they met up to discuss the issues.
Lemass replied a month later, on 9 th November, rejecting outright Hayes assertions of a lack of engagement.
He repeated his preference for the Department to pay the Council ¤200,000 pa over the next ten years.
Again, he made no mention of the ¤750,000 he promised back in early 2015.
Hayes is told “a further meeting is not warranted.”
The Sligo Champion has asked the Department for comment on the matter.
Hayes circulated Lemass’ latest letter to councillors on Friday 10 th November, writing that Lemass “appears to have unilaterally decided to alter the terms of the Financial Plan without any consultation with Sligo County Council.”