Council decides against halting CSPCA funding

AN attempt to withhold public funding from Cork’s main animal welfare group failed last night.

City councillors said agreeing to the move would damage the Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA).

The city council has paid the society €163,000 over the past three years to employ a dog warden and enforce the Control of Dogs Act.

However, concerns have arisen in recent months after society staff were left unpaid on at least three occasions.

Councillors agreed instead last night to a suggestion from CSPCA chairman Diarmuid Kilcullen to meet public representatives and city officials on a quarterly basis to discuss any issues of concern.

The news emerged during a debate on a motion from Green Cllr Chris O’Leary which sought to withhold public funding from the society until some council members took up places on its board.

He said he had genuine concerns about certain issues relating to the running of the society in recent months after staff were not paid.

But most councillors said withholding funding would do more damage to the charity.

Cllr Dara Murphy (FG) said if the money was withheld, the city would not be in a position to do the work the society currently does.

Cllr Jonathon O’Brien (SF) said withholding funding should be the last resort.

“It’s a drastic step. And if we withhold funding, it could result in CSPCA staff being laid off,” he warned.

Cllr Denis O’Flynn (Lab) said councillors should be on the society’s board and have an input into how and where public money is spent.

“If they have nothing to hide, then what’s the problem?” he asked.

Last September, Mr Kilcullen expressed confidence that the charity had resolved financial difficulties which led to staff not being paid for the third time in a year.

He said the society had taken steps to secure funding and to ensure there would be no repeat of the situation.

The society moved from a valuable city centre site at Clontarf Street to a newly designed headquarters in Mahon after negotiations with property developer Owen O’Callaghan.

The transaction involved O’Callaghan Properties designing and constructing the centre at a cost of €3 million and then exchanging the premises for the site at Clontarf Street, which is now part of a planned €210m quayside development.

The CSPCA is largely dependent on donations and bequests from benefactors.