To: Councillors of Mayo County Council

Mayo County Council is proposing to borrow €2.15 million to refurbish its council chamber and foyer.

This would mean repayments of c. €115,000 every year for 30 years - paid by local taxpayers.

The chamber is roughly the size of two classrooms and is typically used once a month for council meetings. It is not a frontline public service.

At a time when families struggle to access housing, when communities are calling for disability-friendly facilities and inclusive sensory playgrounds, and when small businesses are struggling under excessive commercial rates, this proposal reflects the wrong priorities.

 
A Question of Priorities

Councillors often claim budgets are tight and that higher property tax and commercial rates are unavoidable.

Yet millions can be found to refurbish their own chamber.

Restraint for the public - refurbishment for themselves.

That is a double standard.

This Is About Scale and Judgment
No one opposes essential maintenance or accessibility improvements.

What is being opposed is the scale of the borrowing, the long-term financial commitment, and the absence of meaningful public consultation before signing off on a project of this size.

Comparable chamber projects elsewhere have seen costs escalate significantly beyond initial projections. Mayo should not repeat that mistake.

 
What We Are Asking For
We call on Mayo County Council to:

Pause the €2.15 million chamber refurbishment.

Publish a clear and detailed cost benefit analysis. 

Hold genuine public consultation before any borrowing is approved.

Prioritise investment in housing delivery, disability-friendly facilities, inclusive disability and sensory playgrounds, and the reduction of commercial rates for local businesses.

 
Please Take Action
Signing this petition is an important first step.

We also encourage you to contact your local councillors and ask them (respectfully but clearly) whether they support or oppose this project.

Decisions involving millions of euro should not be made without scrutiny or accountability.

Public money must serve public priorities.

Sign the petition.
Contact your councillor.
Ask for better priorities for Mayo.