Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
Statement by TUV deputy leader Court councillor Ron McDowell:
“Having discovered a £2.9 million underspend, the Belfast City Council has now allocated:
• £1.9 million to an Irish Language Strategy,
• £500,000 to newcomer families,
• £440,000 to cleaning equipment, and
• £100,000 to biodiversity measures.
“The most important duty of any elected representative is the prudent use of public money.
“Just as in our own households — when we find ourselves with a little extra — it is only wise to use it carefully, for the good of everyone under the roof.
“Regrettably, Belfast City Council has taken the opposite approach.
“This is not responsible governance. It is, frankly, a dereliction of duty and an insult to many hardworking ratepayers.
“Let’s be clear: there is nothing inclusive about the Council’s aggressive promotion of the Irish language. The imposition of bilingual signage in areas where it commands minimal support has already created division and resentment. Now, to give two-thirds of this entire pot to that agenda sends a message loud and clear — that one cultural identity is to be elevated above all others, and that it is being done at the expense of the wider community.
“The decision to allocate half a million pounds specifically to “newcomer families” is also deeply unbalanced. The Council’s first obligation must be to those who have long contributed to this city through their rates and taxes. Meeting their needs — many of which remain unaddressed — would benefit everyone in Belfast, regardless of background. Singling out one group for special treatment is a recipe for division, not inclusion.
“And what of the £100,000 set aside for “biodiversity measures”? I doubt you’d find a single ratepayer who would place that among their top twenty priorities — let alone in the top four.
“These decisions reveal a Council willing to prioritise pet projects and identity politics over the everyday needs of its citizens. It is prepared to elevate some while ignoring many. It carves up public money not on the basis of fairness or shared benefit—but on the basis of narrow interests.
“That is not responsible leadership.
“It is not inclusive governance.
“And it is not what Belfast needs.”