Dedicated EU officer would not offer value for money believes Council Chief Executive

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

The Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, Martin Lydon, dismissed calls for the appointment of a dedicated EU officer when speaking against a proposal Cllr Dara Mulvey at the local authority’s November monthly meeting on Monday last saying such an appointment would not offer value for money.

The motion tabled by Cllr Dara Mulvey asked whether or not Sligo County Council currently employ a dedicated EU officer and if not would they consider clustering with another local authority for the purpose of creating such a position.

There was a favourable response to the motion from elected representatives with Cllr Gerard Mullaney saying, “EU funding is going to get a lot more difficult. It’s a point well made.”

Cllr Fergal Nealon was wholeheartedly in favour of the motion when he said, “I couldn't support this motion enough, adding, “We are leaving money on the table without this officer. We need to hustle and fight.”

Cllr Ann Higgins also voiced her support for the motion saying, “I was in Brussells earlier in the year with Aodhan O Riordan and he called for the same thing. Having an EU officer raises our visibility in Europe.

"Anything that an EU officer can do for funding and increasing visibility is welcomed.”

Cllr Donal Gilroy also offered his support for the motion saying he had tabled a similar motion five years earlier but was told it was a matter for the executive rather than the Councillors.

Cllr Gilroy added, “I think we are putting too much trust in the Regional Assembly. We have to accept it, every county has to fight for itself.”

Having heard the arguments put forward in support of the motion by the elected representatives, Mr Lydon addressed the chamber saying, “Big funded projects, they come through central government.” He added, “We are involved in a number of European projects.”

Speaking out against the idea of employing a dedicated EU officer Mr Lydon said, “We don’t want to send our staff all over Europe. I’ve been on some of those trips and you don’t learn very much. An EU funding officer won’t make that much difference.”

He added, “I’m not so sure it’s good value for money.”

Cllr Mulvey, who proposed the motion, added, “When you see counties like Donegal, Cork and Dublin having a dedicated officer, they are bigger counties but we need to be punching above our weight.”

In reply, Cllr Michael Clarke argued, “We work very well as a region. I don’t think we are being badly represented.”

Closing the discussion Mr Lydon said, “If I thought it would bring more capital funding without a shadow of a doubt we would employ someone. When funding is available we go for it and we get it.”

He added, “I have absolutely weighed up the pros and cons,” before stressing, “I am supportive of European projects. I will work with everybody to bring money in.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.