Auditors express concern at the level of Donegal County Council’s deficit

An Overview of the work of Local Government Auditors has expressed grave concern at the deficit run by Donegal County Council.
At the end of 2013, the council’s deficit was over 17 million euro, the second highest in the country.
The report also found that at the same time, the council had a land bank valued at over 32 million euro.
In its analysis of the report, the Irish Independent reports the financial position of some councils is “deteriorating”, with 20 technically insolvent as of the end of 2013, the most recent year for which figures are available.
Of these, nine have a deficit of more than €2m each, with particular concerns expressed about Sligo and Donegal, which are running deficits of €21.7m and €17.7m respectively.
The overview of the workl of local government auditors shows 58% of commercial rates owed were collected by Donegal County Council in 2013, 88% of housing rent due was paid, while the collection rate for commercial water rates was 42%, the fourth lowest collection rate in the country.