Council’s New York trip branded ‘insensitive’

A WATERFORD County Council delegation is planning a five-day trip to New York for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations that will be paid for out of the coffers of the seriously cash-strapped local authority.

The visit is being branded as “insultingly insensitive” by the lone Sinn Féin councillor, Brendan Mansfield, who has turned down an invitation to be a member of the delegation which is expected to be headed up by the Mayor Ger Barron.

The visit will cost thousands of euro, and Mr Mansfield said that at a time when householders are being asked to fork out a new €150 charge towards refuse collection this trip is insensitive to say the very least.