Council has 21 days to pass budget

Fermoy Town Council has 21 days to pass its annual budget or face dissolution after councillors failed to reach a consensus last night.

Sinn Féin councillor Séamus Coleman said members had no option but to adjourn the meeting because they faced a €200,000 budget shortfall.

“We got €2.5 million in Budget 2014, down approximately €200,000 on the previous year even though the minister told the Dáil in October that no council would be worse off this year in comparison to last year,” Mr Coleman said.

The council received €135,000 in additional funds from Cork County Council, but it had conditions attached, Mr Coleman said. These conditions meant rents and rates could not be adjusted and any improvements in council services were restricted.

Councillors asked town manager Katherine Walshe to write to Cork County Council asking that it either provide additional funds or remove the conditions.

Donegal County Council was saved from dissolution when members belatedly adopted a revised budget.

Councillors had been told that if they failed to adopt a budget by midnight, they faced dissolution.

Under local government legislation, the minister has the power to remove councillors from office and take steps to ensure the council continues to function.