Call to direct funds from reducing council deficit to services in Mayo

THE council in Mayo should focus on investing more money in services as opposed to reducing its deficit.

Similar to last year, some €900,000 is earmarked towards reducing a €1.2 million deficit this year.

However, Councillor Michael Loftus said the maximum taken off the deficit should be €300,000, which would bring it down fairly quickly over three to four years, with the remaining €600,000 put into services.

With increased costs involved in doing jobs, services are being affected, he said.

The amount put into cutting the deficit should be reduced, with the balance put into services.

He made his comments at the monthly meeting of the local authority where a report from the audit committee was on the agenda for noting.

Councillor Peter Flynn, who sits on the audit committee along with Councillor Al McDonnell, said they had fought for this, and he agreed they need to be investing in the county as much as possible.

Paying off the residue of previous administrations was not the answer.

Their legacy debt had been significant, said Councillor Damien Ryan, and it was now reduced down to €1.2 million.

He agreed it would not have a big impact to reduce it over a two- to three-year period, freeing up funding for essential projects, rather than putting €900,000 in and clearing it over the next year and a half.

Finance director Peter Duggan said he cannot ignore debt and they have to get it down.

However, he heard what they said and if it could be pushed out, they would work on it. The figures will be looked at.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme