Parking fees ‘should stay in Mullingar'

A suggestion that the Mullingar Municipal District look to reclaim the paid parking money from Mullingar for projects in the town itself, has been made by Cllr Mick Dollard.

The money at present goes into the council’s general revenue fund, which he says does not happen with paid parking fees collected in Athlone.

Cllr Dollard suggested that this step be taken at the forthcoming Estimates meeting, and he said that it is his understanding that as much as €263,000 could be at stake.

“We as councillors in this area should ensure that the director of finance would leave that money at the discretion of councillors who represent Mullingar Coole and Mullingar Kilbeggan and in that way, members, we will have money to do those projects.”

Cllr Dollard said that €263,000 from paid parking was taken out of the estimates in 2011, and while he understood the logic of that at the time, because there were financial constraints in place, the situation has now changed.

Cllr Dollard was speaking at the September meeting of Mullingar Municipal District.