Sligo Dáil deputies need to ‘get on their bikes’ and get the ¤750,000 from Dept
THE dispute over ¤750,000 allegedly promised to Sligo County Council in 2015 is now up to Sligo’s four Dáil deputies to sort out.
That was the majority view of council members after a heated debate on the matter at this month’s Council meeting.
First to respond to statements from the management team back up Ciarán Hayes version of events was Councillor Michael Clarke.
He said the whole row was the result of “political failings far more than management failures.”
“Ministers and TDs could have given the ¤750,000 if enough pressure was put on them. Fine Gael, and Fianna Fáil (who support them) should be insisting on the ¤750,000,” he said.
“The political parties should hang their heads in shame at the way Sligo County Council is being treated by the Department,” he added.
Cathaoirleach Councillor Seamus Kilgannon told members he raised the issue with Deputy Marc MacSharry who wrote to Local Government Minister Eoghan Murphy asking for a meeting.
Councillor Tom MacSharry said Fianna Fáil councillors had been “very vocal” with Deputies Eamon Scanlon and Marc MacSharry about securing a meeting with Minister Murphy.
“We all have to unite behind the Executive. Let our Oireachtas members in Dublin deal with this,” he said.
Councillor Joe Queenan, who was Cathaoirleach of the
Council in 2015, said he met Paul Lemass in February 2015, when Ciarán Hayes alleges he was promised they’d get the ¤750,000 back eventually.
“He never said we wouldn’t get it. He said ‘get your plan in place, I’ ll go back to the Minister and hopefully we’ ll get it over the line’. Paul Lemass doesn’t put anything in writing,” said Cllr Queenan.
Councillor Hubert Keaney repeated his assertions that Paul Lemass “never gave any commitment to us.”
“He said if the Financial Plan was in place he would make a commitment that he would make a recommendation to the Minister about it. That to me was not a commitment to give it back,” he said.
“Do I think it was right to take the ¤750,000 away from us? No I don’t. Do I think we should get it back? Yes I do,” he said.
Councillor Sinead Maguire said the row was “disturbing, unfortunate and incredibly negative.” “For me it harks back to the old way of negativity and I will not be part of it,” she said.
Councillor Thomas Healy said talks between Paul Lemass and Ciarán Hayes had broken down: “Let’s get another meeting with Paul Lemass. If we’re entitled to the money we should get it. No one else is going to stand up for us other than ourselves,” he said.
Councillor Keith Henry said he wouldn’t like to see a tone set that the Department punish Sligo for not accept- ing their line of events, which would be “like Penal Times.”
Councillor Margaret Gormley said “if it’s to be left to the Dáil Deputies let them get on their bikes.”
She was supported by Councillor Chris MacManus who said the issue was “being flogged to death” and urged all parties to move on.
Councillor Dara Mulvey called for positivity to move things forward.
Cllr Kilgannon urged the Sligo Oireachtas members in Dáil Eireann to “earn their money” and get a meeting with Minister Murphy.
“It’s time to put clear blue water between the ¤750,000 and this Council. Whatever the outcome, even if we don’t get this money, we should draw a line and move forward,” he said.
Mr Hayes pointed out that there had been no lack of communication on the Council’s part in their dealings with the Department.
Cllr Queenan echoed Cllr Healy’s view: “The key to all of this is a working relationship between Paul Lemass and Ciarán Hayes and that’s what the Dáil Deputies have to sort out.”
Councillor Martin Baker asked that everyone would “pull together and ensure we get what’s due to this Council.”
Councillor Paul Taylor said: “We’re over and back in a battle between the Executive and a councillor.”