FINE Gael councillor Dan McSweeney told the local authority that he is extremely disappointed that no further discussions have so far taken place with directly-elected Mayor John Moran in relation to the “short changing” of the Metropolitan District’s General Municipal Allocation (GMA) funding.
Speaking ahead of Limerick City and County Council’s Budget 2026 meeting set to take place on Friday (November 21), Cllr McSweeney hit out that city councillors have been “short-changed over €10,000 per district”.
Apologising to the room for missing the beginning of last Monday’s Metropolitan District meeting, the Fine Gael councillor told the chamber that he was delayed after acquiring the budget book on the way in.
“The forward mentions that Adare Rathkeale deferred their draft budget plan, but it never mentioned that this district deferred it as well, and the Newcastle West district,” Cllr McSweeney told the meeting.
- External Walls: Up to €8,000 Grant
- Attic: Up to €1,500 Grant
- Cavity Walls: Up to €1,700 Grant
- Internal Dry Lining: Up to €4,500 Grant
“That’s extremely disappointing. Three districts deferred the discussions around GMA due to funding issues. We’re being short-changed in this district. I’m really disappointed that further discussions didn’t take place and was taken as adopted by the Mayor,” Cllr McSweeney told Council management.
His party colleague, Cllr Peter Doyle, also expressed his disappointment to the chamber at the close of the November Metropolitan District meeting.
“In addition to the inequality around the GMA, all the Leader funds go to the county. I see a recent announcement from the Minister for Outdoor Recreation Scheme funding and not a brass shilling for the Metropolitan area,” Cllr Doyle fumed.