Independent Kildare councillor stresses due diligence for Local Property Tax allocation of €100,000

A councillor urged Kildare County Council (KCC) to be cautious regarding an allocation of €100,000 from Local Property Tax (LPT) funds.

Independent Cllr Fiona McLoughlin-Healy stressed her opinion regarding the allocation to those present at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting, which was held on Wednesday, July 19 last.

She appeared at the meeting via a video call.

It was heard that €100,000 would be taken from the MD’s LPT fund in order to go towards the expansion of the Newbridge Family Resource Centre (NFRC).

The decision was welcomed by Fianna Fáil (FF) Cllr Rob Power, as well as Fine Gael Cllrs Tracey O’Dwyer and Cllr Kevin Duffy.

However, Cllr McLoughlin-Healy was skeptical of the allocation.

Her sentiments were echoed by FF Cllr Anne Connolly, who said that she would prefer to see the assurances in writing first.

Cllr Fiona McLoughlin-Healy passionately emphasised her views at the meeting.

Elaborating on her view, Cllr McLoughlin-Healy said: "The NFRC does brilliant work, but my concern is that there is a procedure to be followed here, we need to see if it is feasible (referring to the project) and receive assurances that it is feasible.

"If we are spending €100,000 worth of tax-payer’s money to this worthy cause, then we should go by protocol."

She added: "I will support the motion so long as it is on the condition that KCC carries out a feasibility report and due diligence is completed."

In response to Cllr McLoughlin-Healy, FF Cllr Suzanne Doyle said: "I can guarantee that no one is concerned about due diligence.

"You are 100 per cent right Fiona, but I’m confident that it meets the standards."

When a director with KCC, Marian Higgins, mentioned that the deadline for the project is looming (December 2, 2024), Cllr McLoughlin-Healy questioned why the MD office and her colleagues were not approached about the matter earlier.

FF Cllr and newly-elected Cathaoirleach Noel Heavey said that he believed that 'due diligence would come anyway.'

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'WHY DID IT GET TO THIS POINT?'

He made a formal proposal for the allocation, which was seconded by Cllr O'Dwyer, but Cllr Fiona McLoughlin-Healy interjected by saying that they should proposed the allocation only when they receive a confirmation report.

"Why did it get to this point?" she said.

Cllr McLoughlin-Healy added: "I would like to ask the Chair not to allow urgency (like this in future."

This led to a brief back-and-forth verbal exchange between Cllr Heavey, Cllr McLoughlin-Healy, Cllr Doyle and FG Cllr Kevin Duffy, with the latter two representatives asking Cllr McLoughlin-Healy 'to please respect the Chair.'

During this time, one administrator at the meeting could be heard saying: "This is getting ridiculous."

The vote was passed in favour of the allocation: the six councillors that supported it were: Cllr O’Dwyer, Cllr Noel Connolly (Sinn Féin), Cllr Heavey, Cllr Doyle, Cllr Duffy and Cllr Rob Power (FF).

It should be noted that Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender and FG Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer were absent from this session and (subsequently the vote) due to their connections to the NFRC.

Following the vote, Cllr Heavey told Cllr McLoughlin-Healy that her objections were noted, and again assured her that 'due diligence would come anyway.'

ADDITIONAL CONTEXT

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Power provided additional context to the Leinster Leader about the allocation: "The money will move from a €100,000 fund already set aside for the development of youth facilities.

"Although there’s no concrete plan to develop youth facilities yet, there is agreement to redirect those funds to the NFRC.

He added: "The point I made (while speaking at the meeting) is that the now depleted pot for youth facilities should be the first thing replenished in the next round of LPT discussions at the end of this year."