WesternPeople: Council to take 10,000 to court

MORE than 10,000 Mayo homeowners face potential legal action after failing to pay the household charge. n July, Mayo County Council had been threatened with cuts of €2.57 million from the Local Government Fund (LGF) if it did not improve collection rates of the charge. At that stage, the collection rate in Mayo was 63 per cent, but county manager Peter Hynes told a special meeting of Mayo County Council that as of yesterday (Monday) the figure now stands at 68.5 per cent. He said that a cut to the LFG would be “catastrophic” and noted that €641,589 was already deducted from the third quarter payment due to the council. 

Following meetings with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Minister Phil Hogan, the council have been told that if the collection rate reaches 75 to 80 per cent the Local Government Fund will be paid in full. 

via WesternPeople: Council to take 10,000 to court.

via WesternPeople: Council to take 10,000 to court.

WesternPeople: Council staff expenses bill reveals ‘virtual scandal’

MORE than 250 Mayo County Council employees each claimed in excess of €5,000 in expenses last year, Independent councillor Frank Durcan has revealed.

Referring to information obtained in a Freedom of Information request, Cllr Durcan told a special budget meeting of Mayo County Council that County Manager Peter Hynes had claimed expenses in 2011 totalling €22,390. He said that the county manager was the only official to claim expenses over €20,000 while two council employees made claims over €15,000, 25 claimed over €10,000 and 255 claimed over €5,000. In total, the expense claims amounted to a staggering €3.2m for 2011.

Cllr Durcan also drew attention to a claim by one council employee for €35.45 following purchases in a Castlebar pub.

via WesternPeople: Council staff expenses bill reveals ‘virtual scandal’.

via WesternPeople: Council staff expenses bill reveals ‘virtual scandal’.