Clare County Council will not be charged for the use of glór to host the June meeting of the local authority.
Meetings of Clare County Council have been suspended during COVID-19 with staff and elected representatives working remotely during the pandemic. Holding statutory meetings has been under review “in the context of the current public health restrictions,” a spokesperson for the local authority told The Clare Echo.
Ordinarily meetings of the County Council are held in the Chamber of Áras Contae an Chláir but glór is now set to host the June meeting next month. Meetings of Municipal District and Strategic Policy Committees are to resume at alternate venues, some MD meetings will take place before the end of the month.
“Arrangements are being put in place to facilitate physical distancing and compliance with public health guidelines at these meetings,” the spokesperson confirmed.
Proposals from the Houses of the Oireachtas Service Business Continuity Working Group on alternative venues for sittings of Dáil Éireann when all TDs have to be present for significant parliamentary occasions have been agreed. The Convention Centre in Dublin was chosen as a suitable venue for such votes with approximate costs of €50,000 per sitting and initial once-off set up costs of €110,000. There is no cost for the hire of the venue.
Council officials have confirmed that they will incur no such bills when using glór. The community venue located in Ennis is partially funded and supported by the local authority. Set-up costs have yet to be calculated but are expected to be “minimal” according to the Council who are currently organising the logistics.
