War of words over LIS funding continues to rage
Fine Gael councillors circled the wagons in support of one of their own, when party members railed against the less than favourable reception to Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) funding for private laneways announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys recently.
Fine Gael’s Peter McVitty took the perceived barbs levelled by Cathaoirleach, Sarah O’Reilly (Aontu), personally.
In a statement issued after news broke that Cavan would receive almost €290,000 to repair non-public roads in rural communities, Cllr O’Reilly lambasted how at a subsequent council meeting Fine Gael members “waxed lyrical about the LIS scheme”, despite “bemoaning the fact that ‘something needed to be done’ and ‘someone has to do something’”. She continued: “They seem to be blissfully or wilfully unaware that it is fully within their gift and the Minister’s remit to actually do something and that something can be done - only of course, if the will is there to do it.”
Referencing the statement’s publication in The Anglo-Celt, Cllr McVitty told the a specially convened meeting of the council, held virtually and to clear the agenda ahead of the summer recess, that the comments “obviously refer to me”.
He went on: “I don’t care where the council gets the money from so long as the council gets it.”
The Ballyconnell-based councillor added: “Whatever we get is welcome.”
The previous meeting ended with a proposal, tabled by Cllr McVitty, to write to both the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue and Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan, seeking more money for the LIS.
Denying the comments were directed at Cllr McVitty, Cllr O’Reilly said that the problem with regard to LIS allocations is “raised every year” and pointed out that Fine Gael led the government when a shortfall was being complained about.
She described looking for funding from other departments as a “cop out” and she went on to state that, despite meeting with Minister Eamon Ryan in December, the council has yet to sit down to discuss their same concerns with Minister Humphreys.
She said the €290,000 allocated to Cavan paled in comparison to the near €12m needed to clear the backlog of approved applications - running at more than 220 laneways at present.
“If you think you’re going to get that God help you,” laughed Cllr McVitty, who was supported in his stance by colleague TP O’Reilly who described Cllr O’Reilly’s comments as “disingenuous”.
Minister has ‘pumped’ money into the county
He contended that Minister Humphreys had “pumped” more funding into the county than any TD before her, and any aspersion to the contrary only served to “deflect” from the good work being done.
He said that Minister Humphreys was “on the phone continuously” fielding calls from representatives, and there was a need now for “joined-up thinking” in reference to Cllr McVitty’s proposal for a multi-departmental approach.
“To come out in the media, in the local tabloid and say those things, is not right,” retorted Cllr O’Reilly. “I’d rather try and fail than not come out at all.”
He said: “We need more positivity not negativity.”
Addressing the sum allocated, Cllr Feeley said there was a need to be “honest” with the people, saying he was astonished by the “fanfare” that followed the funding announcement in some quarters.
He said there was a danger of being “selective in view of history” but willingly gave credit to former minister Michael Ring who reintroduced a fixed funding stream for LIS works.
If additional funding were to be made available, he hoped it would not be done “two weeks before Christmas and to be spent in the calendar year”.
Madeleine Argue (FG) also defended Minister Humphreys role; while Sinn Féin’s Paddy McDonald told the meeting that there was a need to put an end to “finger pointing”.
“We need to work together on this,” he said.
“All I know is that in the past 13 years Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil need to accept responsibility for this,” added Cllr McDonald.
A pragmatic Winston Bennett (FG) mustered: “We are where we are with this.”
Cllr T.P. O’Reilly reminded that Fine Gael’s Val Smith, who was on the delegation that met with Minister Ryan, raised the need for both additional LIS and CIS funding; while Sean Smith (FF) noted that rural lane dwellers felt “discriminated” against.
“This amount of money is not going to do anything,” he fumed, acknowledging that there were councils across the country in similar circumstances and the need for a “national campaign” to collectively lobby the government.
“Whoever wants to put their name forward at the next local election can be certain there will be rural lane candidates.”
Aiden Fitzpatrick (FF) simply said the system operating now is “not working”, but the issue wasn’t exclusive to lane dwellers, and that he had just gotten off the phone to a woman living on a local road where “only cattle” could pass.
Independent Brendan Fay agreed with the need for a collective approach between all councils in Ireland. “I want to be able to go out and say to my constituents your road will be done this year and not in 40 years’ time.”
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Cathaoirleach says allocation 'makes a mockery' of LIS