Irish street sign costs questioned

A Dungannon DUP councillor has questioned Mid Ulster District Council’s expenditure on dual language street signs in light of Council’s COVID-19 induced financial situation.
Dual street nameplate in Magherafelt.Dual street nameplate in Magherafelt.
Dual street nameplate in Magherafelt.

During July’s meeting of Council’s environment committee members were updated on dual language signage requests received by Mid Ulster District Council since its last meeting.

Members were informed that Council has received 21 requests for dual language signage.

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Speaking about the issue Councillor Clement Cuthberston said Council needs to allocate a budget for these requests.

“There is another 21 requests coming before Council,” said Cllr Cuthbertson.

“This council is facing very significant budget cuts considering the dual language signage requests do not have a budget, as it comes out of property services and environmental health and building control budgets, I think this has to be looked at again.

“We need to see what budget is allocated to these signs, if every other department is taking a hit, this has to take a hit as well.”

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This suggestion was rejected by Sinn Fein Councillor John McNamee who said this was a matter of Council policy.

“I would disagree with that Chair,” said Cllr McNamee. “This is Council policy and until such time as policies change it has to continue the way it is.”

In response Councillor Cuthberston said: “We have a lot of policies and a lot of aspirations for this council to do but if our budgets are cut everything under those departments has to take a shared hit.”

The Chair of the committee Sean McGuigan said he assumed each department has “already been doing that”.

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“We will wait to see where any cuts, or rather where any significant cuts are being made and reflect on them.”

A council officer then advised the Chair the matter was discussed during a meeting of Council’s policy and resource committee where it was agreed the matter would be deferred until September’s policy and resources meeting.

This, the environment committee was informed, would allow the Chief Executive, Anthony Tohill, and Council’s director of finance, JJ Tohill, to discuss the issue during meetings with the different political parties over the summer.

The 21 dual language street signage request received by Council are as follows.

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Coalisland: Altowen Park; Blackwater Terrace; Clondallon Close; Clonmeen Cottages; Derryowen Place; Gortview Manor; Hazelbrook; Kildara Close; Knockmoy Park; Lisnakill Court; Loughview Gardens; Maghercastle Avenue; Millbrooke Drive; Millview Meadows; Pine Grove; Roughan Way and Stewartstown Road.

Dungannon: Fairmount Park; Killybrackey Heights and Sanaghanroe Manor

Stewartstown: North Close.

Members were also advised that access to the electoral office in Belfast is expected to resume in July and this will allow the necessary information to be gained to allow these surveys to progress.

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