DONEGAL County Council has drawn up a hit list of projects which will be axed by Christmas to cover off losses from the lack of household tax payments.
And one of the first to be cut is a multi-cultural centre in Letterkenny which works to build relationships across the entire county between ethnic minorities and the indigenous population.
Port Na Failte had been funded by the county council and funding from the EU.
People from dozens of nations around the globe meet with local people at premises on the Port Road.
The centre has been told the council is withdrawing its funding at Christmas; though it’s not clear yet if county councillors need to rubber-stamp that decision.
Ironically the shock axing of the project comes as Donegal County Council goes ahead with the One Donegal Cultural Diversity Month.
“It may seem like a small initiative, but the ripples of the activities of Port na Failte have spread far and wide, and I really think it would be appropriate if Donegal County Council would see it through another year, at least until some other appropriate funding was allocated to continue it,” said one support in a letter to councillors.
Many of the festivals which are held across Donegal each year celebrating different cultures are resourced and supported from the centre.
The project however is just one of those which will go.
“The council has drawn up a hitlist of other projects which will not be funded next year,” said one DCC insider.
“It’s scandalous what is going on; but it’s all down to the fact that Phil Hogan had cut direct funding and the shortfall from the household charge hasn’t been collected.”
Just over half of householders in the county have paid the €100 tax.
The council now needs to find more than a €1M in savings as a result.
Tags:
