Clare Fine Gael TDs will be asked to explain why promises to refund 240,000 euro of council funding have been broken by the Environment Minister at a special meeting of Clare County Council today.
The Mayor of Clare has invited local Oireachtas members to explain to councillors why funding for services likes roads and water has been cut, even though the county has achieved the level of Household charge compliance required by the government.
Funds of 240,000 euro were withheld from council allocations in Clare earlier this year due to non payment of the household charge by a minority of home-owners across the country, but local Deputies Pat Breen and Joe Carey informed the council that the funding would be reinstated, once compliance rates increased in Clare.
Minister Phil Hogan has since announced that funding for the final quarter of the year would be paid in full as more than 65 per cent of Clare home-owners have paid the 100 euro tax, but Councillors have expressed shock to find the figure of 240,000 euro withheld in quarter three will not be paid.
Following a meeting of Fine Gael Councillors Last week, the parties two Clare TDs were asked to seek answers from the Environment Minister and to demand the repayment of the funds.
They’re expected to face further questions from the entire Clare County Council today.
