Ballinasloe councillors still want slice of €20m fund

Councillors in Ballinasloe are still trying to give the town a dig-out from the proceeds of a €20 million fund, generated through closure of a dump in the town more than 20 years ago.

Local councillors have been told that the money is being used to maintain the dump in Poolboy into 2035 – but this explanation is not sitting well with some councillors.

Fine Gael’s Cllr Michael Finnerty abstained when it came to the vote on the Ballinasloe Municipal Council budget as he wanted the €20 million reinvested in the town.

He said that there was nothing in last year’s budget for the Poolboy landfill site and there was no allocation in next year’s budget – so he wanted to know what was being done with the €20 million.

Of the six members of Ballinasloe Municipal Council, three voted in favour of the budget, two voted against while Cllr Finnerty abstained. It resulted in the in the district’s draft budget for 2017 being adopted.

The Ballinasloe district will receive €4.8 million of the overall council budget of over €27 million for 2017.

Councillor Tim Broderick raised concern over the figure allocated to the district and said it would be impossible to maintain services at the current funding level – particularly in the roads department.

Director of Finance Ger Mullarkey told the meeting that each of the district budgets for 2017 were broadly the same as last year.

The draft budget was proposed for adoption by Councillor Michael Connolly and seconded by Councillor Aidan Donohoe.

A counter proposal by Councillor Tim Broderick called for the rejection of the budget until the executive provides more information on the roads fund, specifically the income from paid parking in the Ballinasloe area.

However, due to the fact that the budget meeting could not be adjourned under the council’s standing orders, the proposal could not be accepted.

Councillor Broderick then argued that due to what he described as inconsistencies in roads funding, he would have to reject the document – resulting in a vote.

Councillors Broderick and Dermot Connolly voted to reject the budget, while Councillor Michael Finnerty chose to abstain.