Cork City Councillors want Jerry Buttimer to say sorry for rebuke

A TD has been urged to apologise for his criticism of Cork City Council for failing to draw down millions in housing funding. It follows a defence of the situation by city officials last night in the wake of Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer’s statement in the Dáil last week.

Mr Buttimer demanded an explanation from the council as to why it had not used all of the housing funding allocated by the Government to it between 2011 and 2014.

He said in that period, €1m for housing adaptation grants for older people and persons with a disability was not used, that €2m for housing construction and acquisitions, and €3m for energy efficiency measures were not drawn down.

The city’s head of housing Valerie O’Sullivan told councillors last night that it was advised in August 2014, without any advance notice, that €3m was available for energy efficiency measures on condition it would be all spent by November of that year.

She said rigorous procurement and quality procedures, combined with the very late notice of the funding and the “wholly unrealistic deadline”, made it impossible for the council to avail of the money. She said the council’s housing staff were “understandably frustrated” given the upgrade works they have been pursuing in recent years.

“However, if notification of any funding and provision of achievable deadlines are received at any time, we can and will deliver, while achieving value for money for the taxpayer and upgrading an ageing housing stock for our tenants,” she said.

She said the late notice and unrealistic spend deadline have been issues in other funding allocations, particularly for vacant houses, and explains in many cases why money hasn’t been drawn down.

She said the issues have been discussed with, and accepted by departmental officials. “We are hopeful of no future recurrence,” she said. Fianna Fáil councillors

Tim Brosnan and Terry Shannon called on Mr Buttimer to apologise for his criticism.

“It was a cheap attempt at publicity at our expense,” said Mr Shannon.