By Cianna McNally

Castleblayney Town Council has called on the government to provide a financial aid package for residential mortgage holders and businesses who are finding it difficult to pay bills at present due to the current economic climate.

At the adjourned April meeting of the Town Council on Wednesday last, 5 May Mayor Joe Brennan moved the motion “That this council demand that the government provide a financial aid package or reliefs for residential mortgage holders and S.M.E’s (small and medium enterprises) who find themselves through no fault of their own, having great difficulty meeting their financial commitments at this time.”  Speaking on the issue Mayor Brennan claimed the government had encouraged people to borrow money and live beyond their means. “There is no NAMA for ordinary people and compliant taxpayers and there are no schemes for small and medium businesses. We are trying to stay confident but nobody wants to know,” he stated. Councillor Brennan suggested that banks could give small and medium businesses a moratorium on loan repayments for a few months to allow them to build up sufficient cashflow. He also added that pressure should be put on local TDs Margaret Conlon and Dr Rory O’Hanlon to bring the issue to the government.

Supporting the Mayor’s suggestion Fine Gael councillor Gary Carville agreed that cashflow is the biggest problem facing business owners. “Small and medium businesses are suffering through no fault of their own. The system is crazy and we cannot be allowed to continue like this.” Cllr Carville also said that it was not the direct responsibility of the government to create jobs but to construct an environment where jobs can be created. There was unanimous backing for Cllr Brennan’s motion from the other members of Castleblayney Town Council with Cllr Brendan Hughes saying that people had “no confidence” in spending money anymore. “Whatever we can do to support young people in business and high mortgage holders we should do,” declared Cllr Hughes.