Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Féin to seek "value for money" review of all overseas travel on Donegal County Council

Published: 16 February, 2010

Sinn Féin to seek "value for money" review of all overseas travel on Donegal County Council

Sinn Féin group leader on Donegal County Council, Cllr Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has confirmed that his party will be seeking an immediate "value for money" review by senior council management of all overseas travel including the annual St Patrick's Day trip.

Councillors have to decide if they will support this year's St Patrick's Day trip at next Monday's meeting of the council.

Cllr Mac Lochlainn said:

"One in four employees of Donegal County Council have lost their jobs in recent times and our budget has been halved from 440 million euro in 2007 to 220 million euro this year due to Government cut backs. It is therefore important that the elected representatives demonstrate in these circumstances that we are not wasting tax payers and rate payer's money. At this year's council budget meeting, my party asked that the budget for overseas travel be cut from €30,000 down to €10,000. Due to the ten Fianna Fáil councillors passing the budget in the absence of the other 19, that proposal like the others fell. We also proposed that councillor's conference expenses be reduced from €5,000 per councillor down to €1,500".

"However, now that we are being asked to support the annual St Patrick's Day trip to America, we will be calling for a "value for money" review of all overseas travel expenditure before we support any proposals. That review should not just include the St Patrick's Day expenditure but also costs related to the council's membership of the Assembly of European Regions, the Assembly of Maritime Regions, and any other European related travel".

He concluded:

"Expenses scandals at home and abroad over recent years have made people weary of politics and elected representatives. It has never been more important to have full transparency over all decisions at council and we feel that our proposal for a "value for money" review of all overseas travel is absolutely necessary at this time".

ENDS