Is Mayo County Council facing a new controversy?

Is Mayo County Council on the verge of an RTE-type controversy? That was the question posed in Castlebar this week when local county councillors reacted to proposed restrictions in housing improvement grants.

Cllr Donna Sheridan said reports that a directive has been issued confining the grants issued in Mayo has raised serious questions for the local authority.

“This is utterly outrageous. We have had no communication on this at all. These grants make a huge difference to people and I want to make it clear to Chief Executive Kevin Kelly and the officials that we won't accept business being done in this manner. We won't accept secrecy any more. Are we going back to the Greenway debacle again where everyone was kept in the dark about a bridge that was supposed to have been built? Are we going to end up like RTE and the controversy they're facing? Do the officials think they can keep things quiet and we won't say anything? I'm sick of it. I've had enough,” she stated at the monthly meeting of the municipal district.

Outgoing cathaoirleach of the local authority, Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said he was dumbfounded to hear a letter had been issued by Mayo County Council confining the monthly spend on housing grants.

“I had to hear this second-hand but I'm not surprised by that. Directives are being issued and we're not being told. Confining these badly-needed grants is outrageous. The government contributed €3 million, so where is that? How is it being spent? How much is going on staff costs? Councillors are being told nothing. We have to hear this on the ground, but I've been listening to the ground for a long time now, have no doubt about that.

“We will not sit back and accept this outrageous decision. I'm very disappointed with the attitude and views of the Chief Executive in this matter. I'm disappointed with the relationship between the Chief Executive and us councillors. His name won't be on the ballot paper at the next election. We get elected to represent people who need help and that's what we will continue to do. If we have to show our teeth on this matter we will,” Kilcoyne added.