Councillors defend travel budget rise instead of allocating the extra €35,000 for homeless services

Limerick councillors have defended increasing the budget for international travel instead of allocating the extra €35,000 for homeless services, following the death of a mother of two on the streets last week.

Councillors voted against the proposal by Cllr Cian Prendiville, of the Anti-Austerity Alliance, after agreeing to triple its budget for international trips from €15,000 to €50,000.

“Already in 2016 councillors from Limerick have visited Boston, Cannes, Bourdeaux, Birmingham, Greece, London, and Germany. For all these the cost of the flights, accommodation and ‘subsistence payments’ are all paid by the council,” said Cllr Prendiville.

This year the council has allocated €3.5m — the same amount as last year — for homeless services in the city and county.

“It’s a big enough figure, but it’s obviously not enough as the services are struggling,” he said.

Homeless woman Louise “BuBu” Casey was laid to rest last Friday three days after her body was found at a squat on Catherine St.

Mr Prendiville said he had spoken to the city’s homeless services who “are crying out for support”.

“There is now a waiting list, not just for houses, but for homeless accommodation, with 10 or more people a night unable to be accommodated in the hostels in Limerick.”

He added the increase in the council budget for foreign travel “could fund the entire budget for the homeless street outreach programme in Limerick for next year, and also expand the community detox scheme currently run by Novas so that they can also cater for those suffering from codeine and alcohol addiction... Surely these are more pressing needs.”

Fianna Fáil mayor of Limerick, Cllr Kieran Lehane, who is currently on a trip to China, was unavailable for comment. A council spokesperson said the estimated cost of the trip to Hangzhou City would be at least €1,500. However, he could not confirm the total cost of the trip until the mayor and the rest of a Limerick delegation had returned home with receipted expenses.

Joining the mayor on the trip are the council’s director of service, Josephine Cotter, and adult education officer with Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, Eimear Brophy.

According to the spokesperson the “two-day conference will see Limerick showcasing its expertise in the provision of lifelong learning across multiple locations”.

Fianna Fáil Deputy Mayor, Noel Gleeson, visited Cannes earlier this year to accept an award on behalf of the people of Limerick, paid for by the council.

Responding to Cllr Prendiville’s comments, he said: “The city council won a European award for Best Small City to invest in, in Europe. Should we have snubbed that award? Also, the Limerickmen’s Association invited us over to Birmingham earlier this year... The bottom line is they were delighted that we recognised them as immigrants. Why should we snub them? I’m not a man for junkets but I think these trips have to be respected.”

Fine Gael councillor Michael Hourigan, Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Limerick, agreed any international trips by councillors reflected a genuine need “to build tourism and business links” between Limerick and other parts of the world.