COUNTY MANAGER DESCRIBES LOCAL AUTHORITY CUTS AS "UNPALATABLE"

Date Published: 01-Aug-2012

The County Manager Martina Maloney has described the decision to withhold key local authority services as "unpalatable".

The decision has been reached in a bid to balance the budget following cuts of just over 3 million euro to the local government fund.

The Environment Department notified the local authority of the cut last month which is being made as a direct result of the 44 percent level of non-compliance with the household charge.

10 key programmes are now being withheld including the suspension of housing grants to older people and people with disabilities.

Speaking on Galway Talks, County Manager Martina Maloney says the cuts are unpalatable but that the council has no choice but to reforecast this year's budget.