Council frets over next year's finances

Less than half of the estimated number of homes eligible for paying the newly introduced €100 Household Charge have paid up in County Cavan. Members of Cavan County Council expressed concern at their meeting last Monday over how the local authority intends to plug the financial gap left by non-payments. An implied warning was given by several elected officials that if the charge were to remain unpaid, it would undoubtedly lead to "difficulties in maintaining a safe level of service". Only 42.22% or 11,388 of the estimated 26,962 households eligible for payment of the charge have paid as and from Monday, May 7. These monies, which when collected centrally, are to be pooled in replacing the exchequer contribution towards general purpose grants next year. Local authorities were allocated general purpose grants of €790m in 2011, with Cavan receiving little over €15m of that, contributing to 23% of their overall budget for that year.