New audit committees must deliver

WHETHER towns without councils realise it or not, they frequently have a major advantage over larger neighbouring towns, which are handicapped by local councillors engaging in political posturing without regard for efficiency or the communities’ needs.

Local authorities have been complaining in recent years about being hamstrung by inadequate funding from central government, but some councils are failing dismally to collect funds that they are supposed to be raising themselves.

Last year various councils had collective rent arrears of €33.7 million. Dublin City Council was the worst offender with arrears of over €10m, which amounted to 14% of the housing rent that it should have collected. It was followed by South Dublin County Council, which is owed more than €6m, but this was twice as bad proportionately, because the arrears amounted to a staggering 28% of the rent due. Dun Laogaire-Rathdown had arrears of almost €1.5m, or 13%. Rented property around the capital is presently at a premium, and by comparison, local council houses are rented at bargain prices.