This article is from page 22 of the 2008-09-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 22 JPG
DEVELOPMENT contributions re- ceived by Clare County Council have fallen sharply, figures in the financial reports for the first six months of 2008 reveal.
The council received €750,000 in contributions for the first six months of 2008 compared to €3 million for the same period last year.
It is forecasted that the 12 month figure will not be higher than €1.5 million, compared to €10 million in 2007. The report states that “this will adversely affect the council’s ability to fund projects which require matching funding from Clare Coun- ty Council”.
The report concludes that “the buoyant income experienced from some sources in recent years can no longer be relied upon to compensate for any expenditure in excess of the YOO) o) Kee mol U(OLome
Speaking at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council, County Man- ager Alec Fleming outlined a bleak financial picture for the year ahead.
He said, “Things are looking ex- tremely tight next year. It’s looking like the local government fund will be flat out at around two to three per cent. Our take from the fund is al- ready one of the lowest in the coun- (ry.
“I do think we have prepared quite well but the conditions this year are
particularly challenging. The budget for 2009 is going to be very difficult indeed.”
Mr Fleming said that the depart- ment-issued directives to cut payroll costs had already been met in part by some staff taking up a volountary re- dundancy scheme.
“We are going to be under tremen- dous pressure. Income streams have dried up and there are extra pressures on our cash flow,” added Mr. Flem- ing.
The reports also stated that the Department of the Environment has been “slow in approving new loans”.
The council has not received ap- proval for a loan to carry our reme- diation works on Doora and Lisden
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“In the absence of loan approval, the council must carry the costs and this will have a negative impact in cash flow,” the report states
Independent councillor Patricia McCarthy said the council criticised the Department of the Environment for failing to meet financial commit- ments, despite the council’s policy of prudent financial management.
“Every time we practice good housekeeping we get a kick in the you know where. They are kicking us with contempt. The better we man- age our affairs, the worse we seem to be treated. Let the message go out, there is no fat in County Clare. We have trimmed to the last”.