Galway Sinn Féin TDs Louis O’Hara, Mairéad Farrell, and Claire Kerrane raised the ongoing underfunding of Galway County Council in the Dáil this week.
Speaking in the Dáil chamber, all three Sinn Féin TDs highlighted how Galway County Council is not receiving its fair share when it comes to funding from central Government and have called on the Government to address this pressing issue.
Deputy O’Hara said Galway County Council receives €1,051 per person, while the average across the State is €1,534. It is undeniable that they are not receiving their fair share in County Galway.
“We have never received any good reason or explanation from Government as to why Galway does not receive its fair share. I have asked parliamentary questions repeatedly, but the Department still will not disclose the formula as to how it is calculating the funding for local authorities and why Galway is losing out.
“That is not good enough. It is a serious lack of transparency.
Deputy Farrell said this is seen in the state of our roads. “If you look across Conamara, the state of the roads is a serious safety issue.
“If we take the health of the people of County Galway, if the Council does not have the maintenance funding in order to be able to conduct the necessary maintenance on homes. That has health implications for its people.
“Five years ago, myself and Deputy Kerrane raised it with the Minister at the time, and we have seen no resolution come as a result from raising this. It is high time for action.”
Deputy Kerrane said the funding Galway County Council receives is below the national average, yet it is the second biggest county in the State.
“It impacts council resources, it impacts significantly and where you really see it on the ground is in terms of outdoor staff, which have been absolutely slashed across Galway County Council.
“It is regularly pointed out to me in relation to the maintenance of the streets, the roads and the homes across Ballinasloe and the towns and villages throughout County Galway. It makes no sense.
“This is stifling development across the county of Galway and also see question marks over value for money where the outdoor staff are not there,” she added.
Responding to the issue, Minister of State, Robert Troy TD said the funding system for local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a variety of sources, including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and local property tax, as well as funding from Government Departments and other bodies.
“While I appreciate the challenges faced by Galway County Council, I am confident that every effort has been made to assist the sector in recent years.
Speaking after the exchange, Teachta O’Hara said the Minister’s response once again did not address the key questions as to why Galway County Council is losing out and what specific formula is being used to calculate the funding to local authorities.
“The council executive has come to the Government with a specific ask for an uplift of €15 million. Government supporting TDs in Galway must act to ensure that our Local Authority in financed properly.
Deputy Farrell said they are fully and acutely aware that Galway County Council has continuously been underfunded.
“The council has been clear that the funding is not there to deliver the services that people need.
“In order for things to function, they need to be funded. That is what we are asking the Government to do here.
Deputy Kerrane said Galway County Council, even with the recent uplifts in additional funding that have come from here and there, is so far behind due to years of underinvestment.
“There are smaller counties with smaller land areas and smaller populations that have more outdoor staff, more council resources and receive more money from central government than Galway County Council. That is the nub of the issue, and it has not been answered again this week,” she concluded.
