The Government has intervened to cover the shortfall in Galway County Council funding, arising from a loss of income from rates, with an allocation of €573,554. One Galway TD has described this as a "timely intervention".
The fall in revenue resulted from the re-evaluation of rates, by the Valuation Office, on properties used by utility companies across a number of counties, including Galway. The issue had become one of great concern to councillors and council officials, and was raised with both the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Paudie Coffey, and Minister Simon Harris of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, by Fine Gael Galway West TD Seán Kyne.
Last night Minister Coffey confirmed the funding, and Kevin Kelly, the chief executive of the county council, has been informed in writing of the allocation, which will be used mainly for road maintenance.
“I welcome this timely intervention to help offset the loss of income from rates," said Dep Kyne. “The issue has been one of great concern to councillors, with several, including Cllr Peter Feeney and Cllr Joe Byrne, contacting me on the matter. Mindful of the budget deficit, which despite the improving and encouraging economic figures, remains, I urged the ministers to address the shortfall from Government funding."
