KEY COUNTY COUNCIL PROGRAMMES WITHHELD DUE TO HOUSEHOLD TAX DEFICIT

Date Published: 01-Aug-2012

A Galway County Councillor has hit out at cuts to the local government fund after a number of key programmes have now been withheld by the local authority in a bid to balance the budget.

Independent Cllr Sean Canney says the most vulnerable will now be hit hardest due to what he describes as the poor implementation of the household charge by the Environment Minister.

Galway County Council received a notification last month [July] of cuts of over three million euro to the local government fund as a direct result of the 44 percent level of compliance with the houshold charge.

Over 10 programmes will now be withheld including the suspension of housing grants to older people and people with disabilities.

Grants will also be withheld for various community initiatives including burial ground maintenance and amenity grants.

There will also be a reduction in resources across a range of front-line services including litter and maintenance.

Speaking on Galway Talks, Cllr Canney says the cuts will be felt by some of the most vulnerable in society including the elderly and those with disabilities.