DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL has voted through an annual budget that includes extra spending of nearly €1 million on street cleaning and footpath maintenance.
The spending is part of a package of extra spending measures agreed by the majority of councillors last night after an alliance of Sinn Féin, Labour, the Greens and some independents forced a reduction in the proposed cut in commercial rates.
While council chief executive Owen Keegan had recommended a 1% cut in rates to aid businesses, the alliance called for a cut of just 0.5%.
This freed up an extra €1.7 million in spending which will go towards street cleaning (€500k), footpath maintenance (€400k), area offices (€400k), 1916 centenary celebrations (€200k), libraries (€100k), a planning officer (€57k) and a cycling officer (€43k)
The buget was passed by 35 votes to 27 with support from Sinn Féin, Labour, the Greens and some independents while opposition came from Fine Gael – who wanted the full 1% commercial rate cut – and Fianna Fáil – who wanted no cut – and other independents.
People Before Profit councillors opposed the budget because of the local property tax which will account for €70 million of the total €771 million city council budget next year when the previously voted through 15 per cent reduction in rates in the capital is taken into account.
Anti Austerity Alliance councillor Michael O’Brien hit out at Sinn Féin for supporting the budget, saying:
By supporting this budget Sinn Féin is contributing to the normalisation of the property tax and a form of substitute financing that is at odds with the past claims made by the government that the Local Property Tax would fund local services.
But Sinn Féin councillor Noeleen Reilly said: “The property tax bills are going through the doors right now and it shows we were able to put money back in the pockets of many Dublin people. ”
The budget also includes €59 million to be spent on services for the homelessness, a move that was hailed by Labour’s group spokesperson, councillor Dermot Lacey.
He said: ”The largest ever budget for social housing is being set aside for next year, recognising the urgent need to tackle this key social concern.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say