*Cllr Mary Howard. Photograph: Eamon Ward
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL must also be considered “in the equation” for the cost of living crisis, an Ennis representative has said while calling for “significant additional funding” to be provided to the local authority.
Unsurprisingly a motion from Cllr Mary Howard (FG) seeking additional funds for the coffers of Clare County Council received unanimous backing at a recent sitting of the local authority.
Directed to Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, Cllr Howard requested the provision of “significant additional funding to Local Authorities in 2023 having regard to the unprecedented levels of inflation, in particular, spiralling energy costs, rising construction costs, enhanced payroll commitments, impact of the cost of living crisis on other revenue streams such as rent and rates. Such additional funding is crucial in maintaining essential services”.
She outlined, “we are all aware of the cost of living crisis, we hear nothing more day in day out, homeowners, renters, small businesses and I think Clare County Council and other Councils are in the same situation with dealing with price increases whether it’s heating libraries, offices, leisure centres, fuelling vehicles, getting materials in, we’ve a good case that we also need to be considered”.
This proposal was “very relevant” in the eyes of Cllr John Crowe (FG). “I know from ESB bills alone that where you had a bill this time last year for €3700 is gone to €10000 a month, no business can carry this and a lot of them are operating on low margins”. The Sixmilebridge representative added, “I know businesses won’t be able to sustain this risk, we don’t want essential services disappearing from our localities”.
A whopping €20,000 ESB bill electricity bill received by Flora Crowe for Crowe’s Supermarket in Sixmilebridge was referenced by Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF), “The more the people can spend in these shops the better to try sustain the communities we live in whether it is Cratloe, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Sixmilebridge, Ennis or wherever it is. We need to try to sustain businesses in our areas”. Supporting local businesses “is key to their survival in our areas,” Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) agreed.
Mayor of Clare, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) following these contributions reminded his colleagues, “the motion is very specific, we seem to be drifting to a different tangent”.
Drafting of a case study on increased costs by the Council’s Head of Finance would have merit, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) suggested. He also believed the county’s Oireachtas members needed to come before a meeting of the local authority so “we can let them know what we expect of them”. Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) commented, “many people in Clare require increased services, The public out there expect”.
Further support was voiced by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG), “We’re getting so much funding for different projects, the money is there and we need to apply for it, I’m always speaking about roads, N67 and N68 need funding, they are collapsing in places”. The case was merited, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) agreed.
Chief Executive of the Council, Pat Dowling stated, “the collective increased costs of running local governments in 2023 is quite significant and most of it will be borne by local authorities”. He acknowledged the allocation of €60m across 31 local authorities “to try meet the increased needs of inflationary services but it’s not adequate to match what we’re looking for”.
.
Ennis based Howard explained that the motion was drafted around the Council trying to keeping the lights on and buildings warm for staff. “We don’t have a bottomless pit of money either. They are facing a big crisis as are our families, we need to be thought of in the equation”.
