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Special meeting for €38m Monaghan civic office loan

Jul 7, 2026 12:31
By News Northern Sound
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Special meeting for €38m Monaghan civic office loan
Monaghan County Council

"In my time as a councillor, this is the biggest decision I will ever be involved in."

Monaghan County Councillors agreed that a special meeting of the local authority is needed, to determine whether or not to borrow €38 million for new civic offices.

Speaking at yesterday's full-council meeting, the Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council Robert Burns said the decision was "the biggest" the council would make.

A report on the full details of the proposals was given to elected representatives last weekend.

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Councillors felt that, given the scale of the decision, more time was needed to examine that report.

The proposed project has an estimated construction cost of €43.6 million, with approximately €5.6 million funded from Monaghan County Council's resources.

The remaining €38 million would be financed through a 30-year loan from the Housing Finance Agency.

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Following a presentation from council officials, management recommended that councillors approve the project.

It found that the proposal would have significant and sustained benefits to Monaghan Town and the wider region.

The Council also outlined its financial risk and delivery frameworks underpinning the project.

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However, a proposal was put forward by Sinn Féin Cllr. Colm Carthy, asking for a second meeting, after the elected representatives had reviewed the presentation. It was unanimously agreed.

That meeting will take place on Monday, 20th July at 2pm.

Speaking to Northern Sound after yesterday's meeting, Cllr. Carthy explained why he proposed a separate meeting:

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"The decision has to be made now. It is getting to the crunch time now.

"We received a presentation, a significant presentation - you are talking about an hour, just to present the quick version.

"There is a lot of detail to go over, and I felt it would be prudent for us to go over all of the details in the pack that was presented to us, and come back at a later date to make that decision," Cllr. Carthy explained.

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During the meeting, Fianna Fáil councillor PJ O'Hanlon said that it would be "appropriate and fitting" that local representatives are given time to examine the proposal.

Speaking to Northern Sound, Cllr. O'Hanlon said he will put forward a number of questions.

"At the end of the day, in my time as a councillor, this is the biggest decision I will ever be involved in.

"It is the borrowing of €38 million. That is going to be a charge on the rate payers of Co. Monaghan.

"This is a serious, serious proposal they have put in front of us," he added.

 

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