Lissadell legal bill lowered to ¤2m

THE elderly and other people in need around Sligo are suffering as a result of the Lissadell legal bill.

That’s according to Independent Councillor Joe Queenan who tabled a motion calling on the Council to ring fence a dividend paid by Irish Public Bodies to the Council for Community Grants, Disabled Grants and Housing Aid for the elderly and local roads.

Council Chief Executive Ciarán Hayes told members the costs of the Lissadell legal bill had been negotiated down from ¤3.75m to ¤2.075m. Hayes said he would try and have the costs for the council’s legal team ready for the council’s upcoming budget meeting.

Hayes added that the council’s overall deficit was ¤21.4m which was a very considerable deficit which they were determined to reduce.

Fine Gael Councillor Hubert Keaney said there was a “lack of clarity” about some of the figures in relation to Lissadell: “Nobody can really tell us what it will cost and that is the frustration of the members ten years on when this madness started.”

Cllr Queenan said he would defer his motion until after the council’s budget meeting later this month.