*Cllr Ian Lynch. Photograph: Eamon Ward.
A KILRUSH representative leapt to the defence of Clare County Council management following a recent scathing attack by a Clare TD in Dáil Éireann.
Last month in the Dáil, Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) criticised senior management of Clare County Council when asking An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar (FG) to investigate what she described as “serious matters”. Her comments were aimed at the Director of Social Development, Anne Haugh, a respected figure within the local authority.
Deputy Wynne stated, “Today I rise in utter frustration, I have to raise a fact that as an elected public representative I’m experiencing too many serious issues with the leadership of Clare County Council namely the leadership of the Social Directorate with responsibility for housing. For the past number of months I’ve requested a meeting to discuss the various issues in respect of housing or lack of, it has not been facilitated to date, instead I’m either told no or either given a staff member that is not the head of services”.
She continued, “Recently I had to request the assistance of the Minister on a specific case in relation to an issue and that did not deliver better engagement on the matter, there seems to be little respect to the mandate Taoiseach and it is concerning. I have constituents in distress and they smugly think that overstaying is an answer and I’m calling on you Taoiseach to investigate these serious matters”.
In response, Taoiseach Varadkar commented, “I’m sorry to hear about the experience you are having with Clare County Council, the Council and its Executives aren’t answerable to me, they are accountable to the members of Clare County Council but I will certainly let Minister O’Donnell know that the matter was raised and perhaps he will have some suggestions on how it can be brought forward”.
Reacting to the Dáil contribution by Deputy Wynne, Cathal Crowe TD (FF) felt her remarks were “shameful”. He said, “Talk about throwing a hard-working official, who is beyond helpful and available to all elected representatives, under the bus”.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) said the criticism was “just unfair”. He outlined a recent experience where a staff member of the Council answered the phone to him to deal with a query while they were on holidays in Spain. “The work done in each department is exceptional and I want to particularly support the housing and social development team on what they are doing, the criticism of them was just unfair”.
Unbeknownst to Cllr Lynch who was attending the meeting virtually, Deputy Wynne was present in the gallery of the Council Chamber for his contribution. The TD left shortly after these remarks.
Mayor of Clare, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) offered management of the Council an opportunity to respond to this contribution but this was rebuffed.
When contacted on the matter by The Clare Echo, a spokesperson for the local authority declined to comment on either the remarks of Cllr Lynch or Deputy Wynne.
