Inishowen Councilor Jack Murray has said that Buncrana must feel the full benefit of commercial rates paid by businesses in the town.
In a hard-hitting attack, the Sinn Fein councillor says the abolition of Buncrana Town Council was a poorly thought out, retrograde step.
“The political focus and suppports that the town had enjoyed for over a century was sadly abolished at the stroke of a pen by the Fine Gael government.
“In order to excuse this foolish decision, they claimed that areas which had town councils would not see a reduction in services. Unfortunately this has not been the case.
“Furthermore, as part of the rates harmonisation process, Buncrana businesses will see a rates increase until 2018, while public representatives do not have the power to change it.”
He added that the very least, he believes that these rates should benefit the town in which they’re raised.
“Community groups like the local Tidy Towns Committee which historically received annual financial support from the Town Council should receive that support from Donegal County Council into the future.
“As we approach the county council budget negotiations, I am proposing that money raised from commercial rates in former Town Council areas are spent in those towns to the extent that they rightly reap the full benefits.
“As the largest town in Inishowen, a boost in Buncrana will be felt across the peninsula.”
Tags: