Not enough funding in rural Mayo compared to the bigger towns, says councillor

By Stuart Tynan

THE amount of funding for rural areas compared to the bigger towns in Mayo was highlighted at a municipal district earlier today.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Paul McNamara told a meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, while highlighting the lack of investment in basic facilities and repair work in Achill, said it was small money that was being looked for compared to the millions that have been invested into other areas.

“I'm beginning to think it's easier to apply for a multi-million euro development than a couple of thousand ones,” he said.

Fine Gael Councillor Peter Flynn, while agreeing with a lot of Councillor McNamara's views, took exception with any idea that the bigger towns are doing a lot better than the rest of the county, saying if you went to ratepayers in Ballina, Westport and Castlebar with the suggestion they were getting special treatment, you would be 'lynched'.

“As a whole, we need to stand up together and not have this as a debate about rural versus urban,” Councillor Flynn said.

He said that as councillors, they are the ones who approve and sign off on the budgets and allocations to the municipal districts.

Regarding the question of Councillor McNamara as to why there isn't money for these projects, he stated that as county councillors, they need to figure out how to re-direct more money into the municipal districts and how it will be prioritised.

Head of the municipal district Padraic Walsh said they are entering into the most difficult budget process they have had in a long year but said if there is funding available to increase services, he will make it his business to make it happen.

In response, Councillor McNamara supported the investments being made in the urban towns and is delighted there is money coming into Mayo. But he stressed that there is not near enough in the rural areas and the latter should get the same as the former.

“What's good for the gander is good for the goose,” Councillor McNamara concluded.