Limerick councillors to lobby minister to redirect seized cash to local projects
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COUNCIL is to write to government urging laws be put in place to allow drug trafficking monies confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime legislation redirected locally.
At this month’s council meeting, a motion from Independent member Fergus Kilcoyne urging the local authority to write to Justice Minister Helen McEntee, Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe, and Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath was passed.
In his motion, Cllr Kilcoyne argued this money could be channeled back into local addiction services, youth and community organisations to combat the effect of addition on communities.
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“My guesstimate is that in Fingal we have paid in excess of €50,000 for such journeys during this pandemic that have not been made and if this is just one local authority, then the figure countrywide could run to millions,” he said.
Fingal County Council said one councillor has waived their expenses.
“The Annual Expenses Allowance for elected members is calculated and paid in line with regulations and guidelines from the department and on the basis of ‘relevant meetings’ in a year,” it said.
“The exceptional circumstances of the pandemic and its effect on the members’ ability to meet in the normal way is being provided for this year. Payment is made monthly rather than on a meeting-by-meeting basis. The budget provision for the travel element of the annual expenses is €69,300.”
Councillors paid mileage for attending virtual meetings from homes in Republic of Ireland belfasttelegraph.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from belfasttelegraph.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.