Kerry cutbacks ‘not as high as feared’

A higher-than-expected number of Kerry people have paid the controversial household charge, which means cuts in government funding for local services will not be as severe as had been feared.

As a result of a 71% compliance rate, Kerry County Council will receive its full allocation for the final quarter of the year. A minimum 65% compliance is needed to receive the full sum.

However, a cut of €417,000, made in relation to the third quarter, will stand.

County manager Tom Curran, who last month said the council was looking at a possible cut of €1.7m, said he was delighted they would be receiving the full allocation for the remainder of the year.

He had warned at the September meeting of cuts in water and environment services, housing, roads and IT upgrading, as well as postponement of other projects to 2013.

Mr Curran told yesterday’s meeting in Tralee that he and his officials would continue to manage affairs in a manner that would lead to a balanced budget at the end of the year.

“Projects, which we indicated previously would be postponed to 2013, will now proceed where possible,” he said.

Mr Curran also said that officials would continue to pursue people who had not paid the charge, in the interest of fairness.

A number of councillors protested at the €417,000 cut, with FF councillor Norma Foley describing it as a big hit for a local authority to take.

“This is a massive loss and it will affect some of our services,” she said.

South Kerry Independent Alliance councillor Michael Gleeson said the €100 charge had been introduced in a very crude way with no reference to people’s ability to pay However, he and other councillors urged everyone to pay the charge.