Urgent meeting sought with minister over Mayo's funding dilemma

County misses out on rural allocations for a third time in aftermath of Greenway funding audit and moves are now underway to 'restore confidence'

Elected representatives of Mayo County Council have expressed their disappointment over a loss of funding for Mayo following a recent audit and warned the executive it cannot happen again.

Officials of the authority met with councillors at a special meting yesterday to discuss the recent Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) audit and the Local Government Auditors report.

It was revealed in December that the council had to repay €1.1 million in funding that was drawn down for ORIS projects that did not proceed.

The audit showed 10 projects fell short of the guidelines in terms of the draw down of funding.

A penalty of €160,000 was imposed on the council for the breach.

Joanne Grehan, director of services, said one of the key findings of the audit was the 'miscoding of expenditure' to capital codes across the ORIS projects.

She added that the de-committed funding had been repaid to the department and the penalties applied to the continuing schemes have been paid.

Mayo County Council have submitted an implementation plan for the five and a half ORIS projects to be completed and approval is awaited.

“A number of meetings have been held with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in particular regarding the Clew Bay Greenway and Ballina Castlebar Westport inter-urban Greenway and will continue to be held on a monthly basis,” said Ms. Grehan.

Councillor Donna Sheridan, who had sought the special meeting, said said the situation has been compounded by the announcement yesterday by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, that €18.5 million has been allocated to benefit rural towns and villages, with Mayo not receiving any of the allocation.

Councillor Sheridan said this was the third round of grants that Mayo missed out on substantial funding and that shock and disappointment would not adequately describe the feelings the community groups who have missed out.

She proposed a motion that the council note the submissions, both oral and in writing, in relation to the funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development, including questions raised by Fine Gael councillors and correspondence from the chief executive, and the matter be referred to the County Council's audit committee for their own observations and recommendations.

Councillor Jarlath Munnelly proposed that members of the council meet with Minister Humphreys to restore confidence in the relationship between the department and Mayo County Council.

Both proposals were approved.