SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan
Derry City and Strabane District Council is facing a £6.5 million shortfall because of the Coranavirus as revenue receipts from leisure and tourism has plummeted.
It is not yet known how much of the emergency council will be allocated to Derry and Strabane Council.
Said the Foyle MLA: “Over the last few months, I have been increasingly concerned with the financial state of our local councils and how this will impact on ratepayers, council staff and services.
“I have written to the Minister for Finance and Minister for Communities on numerous occasions with unsatisfying responses as they passed the buck between each other.
“Last week, I made an urgent call for the Executive to take this crisis seriously and make the necessary funding available to support our local councils.
“The dire financial outlook of our councils threatened the most basic of council services, which many of us take for granted, including bin collection, street cleaning and burials.
“The impact of these services having to stop on our local communities would have been unconscionable.
“I welcome this announcement of funding for locals, which will provide some immediate assistance from now until the end of June.
“It is the first step and more investment will be required to ensure that council jobs and services are protected and ratepayers continue to get value for money.
“It is crucial that the Executive continue to consider investing in our local councils, who are on the front line of our ambitions for recovery and transforming our society.”
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