Household charge assurances were ‘a bag of porkies’

FIANNA Fáil Councillor Kevin Sheahan has said that the public was “sold a bag of porkies” after he asked Council officials how many new footpaths, parks and public lighting projects had been planned since the introduction of the household charge. Speaking at this month’s County Council meeting, Cllr Sheahan said: “I want to know what paths, parks and public lighting have been provided since that money was collected. And if the answer is none, I want to know what plans there are to spend the money on what it was meant to be for.”

Limerick Local Authorities manager Conn Murray stated that no provisions had been made for such new projects, however he said that the household charge did not provide additional funding but was introduced to “replace the local government fund”.
Acting head of finance Sean Coughlan said that Limerick county had one of the highest household charge collection rates in the country and added that a debt collection unit had been established to focus on collecting charges from those in arrears.
Cllr. Sheahan said: “We were told a number of times by the Taoiseach that the household charge was to be spent on footpaths, parks and public lighting.”
Referring  to estimated reductions in spending on public lighting and footpaths, Cllr Sheahan commented: “The truth is we were sold a bag of porkies.”
Cllr Jerome Scanlan pointed out that income generated by the household charge was to be spent on maintaining existing facilities.
Mr Coughlan remarked that the Council was operating in difficult times and added: “services are under pressure but we are doing everything we possibly can.”