Anger over ‘anti-Catholic’ City Council budget

Fianna Fáil councillors accused the ruling pact of forcing an ‘anti-Catholic’ budget on Galway City by its inclusion of a grant for St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church.

The Anglican institution, which this year celebrated its 700th anniversary, was awarded €20,000 by the pact – made up of Independents, Fine Gael, Green Party, and Labour – towards the cost of a new €100,000 sound system for the church. The grant was approved in the adopted budget.

Cllr Mike Crowe (FF), who proposed an alternative budget from Fianna Fáil and Independents Noel Larkin and Declan McDonnell, asked how anybody could stand over providing €20,000 to the religious sector.

“It’s absolutely and totally outside of our remit,” he said.

His party colleague, John Connolly, said a precedent would be set if it was passed, warning that churches across the city would seek funding from Galway City Council.

“Are we now saying we’re going to provide support from public monies to religious facilities?”

Cllr Crowe then remarked that it was “discrimination against Catholics”, which was repeated by Cllr Connolly.

After Councillor Crowe’s amended budget was defeated, Cllr Connolly proposed the ruling pact’s budget, but the withdrawal of the stipend for the St Nicholas’ sound system.

The grant was approved as part of the ruling pact’s adopted budget.