Fine Gael town councillor and candidate in the forthcoming Westport Town Council elections Myles Staunton has submitted the picture below to highlight the wasting of taxpayers’ money by the Government and the effect this can have on local issues.
When contacted, Cllr Staunton stated the following: “They say a picture paints a thousand words and the picture has been submitted to highlight one of the many examples of government wastage when it comes to taxpayers’ money. When you consider the amount of money which has been wasted at central government level, you can only wonder at how useful a fraction of the amount could have been used at local level. The e-voting machines fiasco is only one example in addition to the example of the ill fated PPARS computer system in the Department of Health in which the Government paid in excess of €150 million for a system which simply did not work. It beggars belief that the Government did not protect itself by including provisions regarding the retention of funds until the system actually worked properly or the inclusion of liquidated damages in the event of significant delays in the project.”
Cllr Staunton continued: “Currently, at local level a number of projects are under significant pressure due to funding issues. For example, I was extremely annoyed to see that the funding for the implementation works programme which was agreed by all Westport town councillors has been cut by €110,000 by central government which will see a reduction in works which were due to be carried out in six areas of the town. In addition, the outgoing superintendent recently told us at a town council meeting that there may be up to six experienced members of the Westport Garda Síochána leaving before September and it is doubtful whether they will be replaced, which will also have a detrimental effect locally.
“The flippant attitude toward taxpayers’ money at central government level has to be changed as towns all over the country, including Westport, are paying the price locally for the mistakes which have been made in squandering what is essentially the people’s money.
“At council level we in Fine Gael have proposed for the past three years that there be no increase in the rates, and by doing so we have scrutinised in detail where savings could be made at council level in respect of expenditure by the council. We have also raised the issue of the failure by the council to have a value for money committee. However, when you see what is happening at central government level, you can certainly become disheartened at times. If elected, we will continue to highlight the necessity for the council to adopt a value for money approach at every possible opportunity during the next council term. As the picture says, it would be funny if it wasn’t so serious.”
