Sinn Féin Rejects Council Plan to Slash Maintenance-Nugent

Sinn Féin Rejects Council Plan to Slash Maintenance-Nugent

Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent last night expressed his shock and outrage at plans to slash the City Council’s budget for maintenance by €700,000. The proposal was contained in an interim financial report presented to the council by the City Manager last night.

Cllr Nugent said:

“There can be no question of targeting the council’s already inadequate housing maintenance budget to make up the shortfall in its finances.”

“According to the Manager, revenues from a number of sources, including parking charges and government funding, have come in below expectations in the year to date. As a result, he is proposing to cut €700,000 from the budget for housing maintenance.”

“As things stand, there is a massive waiting list for maintenance. Many families have been forced to endure years living in houses which are damp, leaking or otherwise unfit. Housing has suffered in the last two sets of council estimates and cannot be cut back any further.”

“The Manager’s proposal is one more example of cutbacks being targeted at the most vulnerable and those least able to bear them. Questions must also asked about why council revenue is so far under target so quickly after the estimates that were passed last December. Sinn Féin rejects any suggestion of further cutbacks to the budget for housing maintenance and will oppose them in the council chamber.”

For further information contact Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793