By Christy Parker

Youghal Town Clerk Liam Ryan warned the September council meeting to bear in mind that money is the oil that turns most wheels when next year’s budget meeting comes round. The official had listened to a long litany of requested remedies for maladies like cavernous potholes, long grass and dangerously unmarked roads, etc, etc, when he broached the crux of most arguments. ‘At the last two budget meetings, expenditure budgets were cut to the core in order to minimise rates increases,’ he said, before elaborating that, €50,000 had been provided for ongoing maintenance work in the 2008 budget, which was already spent. “Unless you provide substantial funds for ongoing road and footpath maintenance, then there is nothing we can do about several of the issues that you have raised.” 

The fiscal sky grew darker as Mr. Ryan pointed out that ‘the Dept of Environment had already issued formal letters requesting the local authority to cut expenditure and payroll costs by at least 3% on last year’s budget.’  Cllr Barbara Murray responded that non-repaired potholes or footpaths potentially served a greater threat to finances as well as to health. ‘Someone could have an accident -whether unintentionally or on purpose- and sue the council,’ she observed. ‘I know.  Consequently you all need to look at that budget,’ concluded the town clerk.