Clare Council Passes its 2015 Budget

Clare County Council's Budget for 2015 has been passed by local representatives, and will see no change in commercial rates.

The budget didn't get unanimous approval, however, with some Councillors expressing concern about costs to businesses in the years ahead, and also anger at a lack of clarity from the Department of Transport.

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CEO of Clare County Council Tom Coughlan says this year's budget, the first since the reform of local government, was more difficult to draw up.

Spending levels in most areas are broadly in line with the figures for last year, though the cost of local representation is due to fall by over 600 thousand euro with the reduction in the number of County Councillors and the abolition of Town Councils.

The Council says it will be some years before substantial savings arise from these changes.

The budget also ensures that rates will remain at existing levels after an insutrction from government, as described by Tom Coughlan.

Retaining the status quo means businesses in Ennis and Kilrush will continue to pay the lower rates bills previously levied by their respective Town Councils.

That will begin to change from 2016, when a process of harmonisation will begin.

Fine Gael Mayor of Ennis Johnny Flynn and Independent Kilrush representative Ian Lynch both voted against the budget – Councillor Lynch is worried that will see increased bills for companies if the overall county rate is not reduced.

The Budget was also adopted even though there is no confirmation of the amount of roads funding Clare will receive next year.

The Department of Transport has yet to announce its allocations, and while that's not unusual, Ennis area Indepdendent Councillor James Breen has had enough.