Funding gap poses threat to refuse collection and street cleaning

VITAL services such as refuse collection and street cleaning are at risk because of inadequate Government funding for local authorities, IMPACT’s biennial conference in Killarney heard yesterday.

Jim Nealon of the union’s Municipal Employees’ branch said local government was unfairly being portrayed as a black hole which swallows resources.

“That’s rubbish. We are delivering vital services each and every day: Safe drinking water, decent roads, public lighting, clean streets and refuse collection. We also deliver homes for those priced out of the property market, drainage and sewage systems, libraries, parks – even art galleries. Take any one of these away and life would be more difficult, more dangerous, more expensive, and an awful lot smellier for everyone.”