Hayes says money row is an ‘unnecessary debate’
COUNTY Council Chief Executive Ciaran Hayes has slammed what he calls the “politics of negativity” as the row over whether a commitment to give the council an extra €750,000 was made rumbles on.
A government minister and senior civil servant have both insisted that no promise was given to the council to hand over the money at a meeting in 2015 but this week, CEO Ciaran Hayes insists such a commitment was given.
He’s also hit back at what he says is an “unnecessary debate” surrounding the issue. The matter has been raised by Councillor Declan Bree who says the situation is unprecedented.
In a statement to The Sligo Champion Mr Hayes said the Council’s Management Team was given a commitment by the Assistant Secretary that the €750,000 withdrawn by the Department would be remitted to the Council following approval of the Financial Plan.
“The commitment was given at a meeting with the Management Team in Sligo on 18th February 2015, when the Assistant Secretary met for the specific purpose of advancing the Financial Plan. It is the clear recollection of the entire Management Team that in the course of the meeting, the Assistant Secretary stated that when the Plan is approved and ‘over the line’ a way would be found to allocate the €750,000 back into the finances of the Council. Once this commitment was given, it would be negligent of me not to follow through on it.”
This view is at total odds with the recollection of the Assistant Secretary Paul Lemass who emailed Cllr Bree to state no commitment to remit the €750,000 was given to Mr Hayes, either by him or by the Secretary General of the Department at the meeting on the 7 th of September 2016.
Mr Hayes went on to say that he was pleased to confirm that the finances of the Council had improved immeasurably in recent years.
“A budget surplus is being returned again in 2017 making it three years in a row for the production of a surplus and the finances are now operating on a sustainable basis.
“The serious legacy issues regarding Lissadell legal costs are being addressed and the county is on the cusp of major infrastructural investment.
“Sligo’s profile and reputation has been enhanced with the success of events like the Fleadh, Royal Visit and European Volunteering Capital in recent times.
“The Council has also been innovative and creative in progressing strategic alliances with Knock Airport and Stewart Airport outside of New York for the benefit of the region while we have also advanced an innovative Trade Office in Providence for the benefit of small local enterprises. All of these initiatives reflect positively on Sligo.
“In this context, it is disappointing that we should be drawn back into an unnecessary debate that reverts to the politics of negativity and causes reputational damage for the Council. Negativity did not work for Sligo in the past and it will not work in the future.”
The matter was also raised in the Dáil last week with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy saying no commitment was made to pay €750,000 to the council.
In response to Parliamentary Questions asked by Clare Daly T.D. and Marc MacSharry TD the Minister said no commitment to remit the €750,000 was given subsequent to it being withdrawn in 2015 or at the meeting on the 7 th of September 2016 or in the intervening period.
Councillor Bree said as far as he was concerned the situation was unprecedented.
“As far back as February 2015 it was made abundantly clear to the Chief Executive and to councillors that the €750,000 was withdrawn because of the failure of the Council management to submit a sustainable financial plan to the Department before the end of 2014.
“In June 2015 when a deputation from the Council met with the Asst. Secretary of the Department, Mr Lemass, it was again made clear to us that the €750,000 was not available,” said Cllr Bree.
He added: “Sligo County Council is the only council in the country which is receiving bailout money from the Department and now we have the Chief Executive embroiled in a public row with the most senior people in the Department. This certainly won’t help us in our dealing with the Department in the new year.”