It is time to move on from debates in the council chamber over the revelation that Mayo County Council had to refund over €1m drawn down for projects that were then not worked on - a number of councillors in Castlebar Municipal District said this week.
At the monthly meeting of the district, Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne asked: "In relation to funds having to be handed back, was the Municipal District impacted in any way? Was there anything earmarked for us that wasn’t done?"
He was informed by head of the district for the council, Iarla Moran, that: "The question you asked was in relation to the projects that happened and were audited at that time; we weren’t impacted by those. Has anything gone back from us? Yes, we have returned money in relation to market areas in relation to supplementary covid funding we got last year. We looked for an extension towards the end of last year but weren’t granted one; the money has gone back, it is €36,000. It was to do additional casual trading areas
"It wasn’t spent because we couldn’t get a contractor engaged at the time, the construction industry was shut down to May, and we had a contractor lined up, but that contractor had to work on another project, which was the Springfield work which had to be done - that was time bound in relation to school closings and we couldn’t get a replacement contractor to carry out the works; we looked for an extension and we were unsuccessful."
Fine Gael councillor Cyril Burke told the meeting that: "When you were discussing the point on the greenway, there was a lot of debate on funding going back to the government; my fear is that people in offices in this local authority and others will be afraid to apply; they will be afraid they won’t get all the paperwork done in time or they won't be able to get a contractor to do it and they’ll be maybe sending money back to the department."
Cllr Kilcoyne responded saying: "They won’t have to send it back if they don’t draw it down", to which Cllr Burke replied: "I’d rather be sending it back to be honest with you, after the application being made rather than the other way around. I think it is about time the debate finished on all of that and let us move on."
Fianna Fáil Cllr Al McDonnell added: "It is common practice right around this country, absolutely. To draw the money down, when time is running out, in the best interest of the people that we represent and the officials represent as well.
"You can blame covid and it was a very significant factor and it wasn’t possible to get the work done, because there were problems on the ground with landowners, that is why it didn’t happen. If that had been sorted out it would have have had the same status as the work that did get underway and wasn’t finished on time either."
Cllr Burke then stated: "There is a lot of projects to go ahead in this district, it is about time to finish the debate and go ahead with the projects." Cllr McDonnell then said: "We will lose money, Cllr Burke is right, this was done in the best interests of the county and it was hoped to at least have the work commenced and done to a certain degree.
"But it didn’t happen due to issues on the ground. The questions should cease on it and give these people a bit of peace, there are officials in this authority and others who are afraid of their lives to apply for money - and who will be the losers be then?"
