Fianna Fail councillors in Mayo have welcomed what they call a Government U-turn in relation to the collection of the €100 Household Charge.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan had warned Mayo County Council that the authority’s budget would be cut by €2.6 million up to the end of this year, due to the shortfall in the collection of the Household Charge – this would have meant cuts in a number of public services across the county.

However, at a special meeting of Mayo County Council in Castlebar yesterday, the County Manager Peter Hynes told councillors that such cuts can be avoided, if the compliance with the Household Charge rises to between 75 and 80%.

Currently, 68.5% of Mayo households have paid, and he stated that householders who do not pay the charge are facing prosecution.

The County Manager also said that hedge-cutting, verge-trimming and road maintenance programmes – which were suspended across the county in anticipation of a cut in funding from Government – will be resumed in the next week.

This decision has been welcomed by Ballinrobe-based Fianna Fail councillor Damien Ryan who said the suspension of these works was one of the main reasons his party asked the Cathaoirleach to convene a special meeting of Mayo County Council …