THE CHAIRMAN of the Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) has expressed confidence that the charity has resolved financial difficulties which led to staff not being paid for the third time in the past 12 months.
Diarmuid Kilcullen told The Irish Timesthe society had taken steps to secure funding and ensure there would be no repeat of the situation. Questioned about the difficulties, Mr Kilcullen said he did not wish to go into the matter in "too much detail" but the society was putting arrangements in place so there would be no repetition.
"There are quite substantial overheads and very sizeable veterinary expenses and we're trying to meet those, and I'm actively putting something in place at the moment and I'm confident that this won't happen again," Mr Kilcullen said.
The society moved last September from a valuable city-centre site at Clontarf Street to a newly-designed animals' home in Mahon after negotiations with property developer Owen O'Callaghan.
The Irish Timesunderstands the transaction involved O'Callaghan Properties designing and constructing the new centre at a cost of €3 million and then exchanging the premises for the site at Clontarf Street, which is now part of a planned €210 million quayside development.
It is understood O'Callaghan Properties also agreed to pay €750,000 to the CSPCA on finalisation of title and has already paid 50 per cent as a goodwill gesture. Payment of the remaining €375,000 is awaiting finalisation of title and other legal matters.
Green Party councillor Chris O'Leary expressed concern that six staff at the CSPCA have been left without pay on a number of occasions this year, and said he hoped the matter could be resolved.
The CSPCA is largely dependent on donations and bequests from benefactors. However, it does receive funding from Cork City Council, which pays it to employ a dog warden and enforce the Control of Dogs Act.
Cork city manager Joe Gavin revealed this year that the council had paid the society €163,000 over the past three years.