West Mayo councillors approve GMA funding plan
The Westport Civic Offices, where last week's Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting was held. Picture: Google Maps
Councillors from the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District have approved their General Municipal Allocation (GMA) plan for 2024. They voted overhelmingly to adopt plans that would see €490,000 split among seven elected members, which totals to €70,000 each.
Independent Cllr Christy Hyland credits the parking charges in Westport for allowing them to have this GMA fund.
"Some people were opposed to it, they called it a 'tax of people going to work'. People that I meet now would say that they would never go back to the old system," Cllr Hyland said.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Paul McNamara says GMA funding is very important to rural communities in particular.
"With the different type of festivals and organisations, it's great to provide them with GMA funding. Particularly festivals that take place during our tourism season, a lot of them wouldn't go ahead if wasn't for GMA funding from local representatives," Cllr McNamara said.
"It's very important, there was a time where we had no allocation, we had about €2,000, which is very little, but now you can look after a lot more organisations and make a big difference."
