CONCERNS have been raised by Fine Gael councillor Dan McSweeney in relation the mayoral fund regarding the criteria for eligible expenditure and the Christmas grants scheme.
Speaking at the recent full meeting of Limerick City and County Council, Cllr McSweeney took the view that greater transparency was needed around the allocation and use of monies from the mayoral fund.
He claimed the fund was lacking “an awful lot” in relation to transparency of the process.
During an update on the mayoral fund from the Council’s Director of Finance, Matthew White, the Fine Gael man told the director that he is signing off on these monies and called on him to ensure “improvements” going forward.
“I want to complement the Mayor in relation to the Christmas Grant Scheme that he ran. I know it was a benefit to some communities – I use the word some. There has been money promised to other community groups and they have avoided any community grant scheme completely. That’s where the lack of transparency is arising,” Cllr McSweeney alleged.
“If we’re promising money to one group, it has to be done in a fair and transparent manner. It’s not my money, it’s not the Mayor’s money, it’s the taxpayers money.”
The elephant in the room, he went on to say, when it comes to expenditure, were in relation to items that he alleged do not comply with Council policy.
“I don’t need to provide anyone with a lesson here, but every decision that the Mayor makes, and every decision the Director General makes, must comply with Council policy. Some people are failing to implement that, and I could go as far as saying that some people are breaking the law because some items of expenditure on this framework do not comply with Council policy. I think this is something the Department should be looking at if they respect the law,” McSweeney opined.
He demanded of the Council executive, as well setting out what complies with the Mayor’s vision, greater alignment with policy.
In response, the Council’s Director of Finance, Matthew White, pointed out that the Department has been through the mayoral fund and satisfied themselves in relation to payments.
“If there is an issue on Council policy or breaking the law, please highlight it to me directly. I’m not aware of something where we’ve broken the law, so if there’s an issue please highlight it to me and we will take it very seriously,” Mr White said.
Regarding transparency around grants schemes, he reminded Cllr McSweeney that it is a discretionary fund and, again, the Department satisfied themselves that all expenditure is in accordance with what the fund states.