DUNDALK’S FREE NEWSPAPER St Louis host careers fair Page 10
Football success for Realt na Mara Page 12
New members for Sub Aqua Club Page 6
Wednesday, 22nd November, 2017. Vol. 10, Issue 47 • 63 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Council left in crisis as budget is rejected
Tel: 042 9320888. Fax: 042 9329676. Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
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By Paul Byrne
Louth County Council was plunged into crisis on Monday night after it failed to adopt its budget for 2018. Councillors voted overwhelmingly not to adopt the budget for next year with 21 councillors voting against passing the motion. Seven councillors voted for the budget (Pio Smith LAB, John McGahon FG, Maria Doyle FG, Colm Markey FG, Dolores Minogue FG, Oliver Tully FG and Richie Culhane FG). One councillor was not present and didn’t vote. The meeting was at times heated as councillors outlined their grievances with the central government and the continuous cuts in services locally over the last number of years. Fine Gael councillors argued that a rejection of the budget would affect communities around the county adversely but the majority of councillors stood their ground and voted the budget down. It was suggested that the councillors vote to adjourn the meeting until a later date but Continued on Page 2
Conor is Ireland’s top young chef
It was a case of third time lucky for talented chef Conor Halpenny (above) who was named as the best young chef in Ireland at a glittering awards ceremony. See Page 8.