Cuts in Cork funding will affect community projects

CUTS in Government funding to Cork County Council will impact on the development of some children’s playgrounds and community projects next year.

County manager Maurice Moloney said he had been informed by Junior Minister for the Environment, Batt O'Keeffe, that the rate support grant would be increased by 6.5% next year, and the accounts were prepared with that figure in mind.

Mr Moloney added that officials from the department had forecast an increase of 6.7% to 7%, but the council has now been informed it was just 4.9%. This left a shortfall in the budget of nearly 1 million and to compensate the council will have to raid its savings usually used to aid community schemes, such as playgrounds.