The Galway County Council anticipates losses of €1 million for 2020 due to the impact of the Government’s Covid-19 restrictions.
In a report circulated to councillors at the local authority’s plenary meeting on Monday morning at GMIT, members were informed that income on goods and services that will be affected by the impact of Covid-19 include a possible 50 per cent reduction in parking fees and charges and a potential reduction of 10 per cent in planning fees.
'Unless there is additional funding from central Government to cover the shortfall in income identified, the local authority would record a deficit for 2020'
It was also expected there would be reductions in income associated with the recycling of clothes, fire service charges, dog licences, ferry charges, a reduction in the property entry levy, and a reduction associated with the Ballinasloe Fair.
Head of finance at the county council, Gerard Mullarkey, told the chamber unless there was additional funding from central Government to cover the shortfall in income identified, the local authority would record a deficit for the full year of 2020.
Mr Mullarkey also told the council that just under €300,000 in additional costs had been incurred associated with the Covid-19 pandemic with the vast majority of the expenditure being in the housing and roads section in respect of additional personal protective equipment.
