Search Results for 'Local government'

Fine Gael TD for Mayo, John O'Mahony, has welcomed the decision by the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, to provide €5 million to support recycling facilities in local authorities. The money will be used for the operation of bring banks and civic amenity facilities.

A new national business organisation, Irish Employers for Affordable Rates (IEAR), which wants the Government to reform the present local authority commercial rates system, was launched recently.

Fine Gael Ballina Town councillor Mark Winters demanded answers why a motion he submitted to the town council to change the standing orders of the meetings to include an item called either engineers report or questions was ruled not valid by the council.

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI), which represents 4,500 pubs throughout Ireland, has called for reform of the commercial rates system. The VFI believes the commercial rates system is punitive, is a heavy burden on businesses throughout Ireland and is costing jobs in the current climate.

The post of Galway city manager could be abolished while the powers of the Tuam, Loughrea and Ballinasloe town councils could be greatly reduced if the recommendations of a new report are implemented fully.

Hotels in Galway already under pressure from the recession and low visitor numbers are paying the eighth highest local authority rates in the country with more than €6 million in total paid out in 2009 alone.

Councillors abilities to go off on junkets or make claims for conferences they may not have attended will be limited under new regulations.

At a recent meeting of Mayo County Council, Fine Gael Councilor for the Ballina electoral area Jarlath Munnelly questioned County Manager, Des Mahon, on the introduction of a new €200 levy on houses which are not the owner’s principal residence. This levy was introduced as part of Budget 2009 by the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan.

Local elections have been held in Ireland since 1899 and during March, City Hall will host an exhibition on local elections over the past 110 years.

Crippling local authority rates emerged as a key issue causing severe hardship for hoteliers at a crisis meeting held by the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) last week.