Minutes 2024

Minutes of Statutory Budget Meeting of Sligo County Council held on Friday 22nd November 2024 at 10.00 a.m. in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo.

COUNCILLORS PRESENT: 

• Councillor Bree,
• Councillor Brennan,
• Councillor Cosgrove,
• Councillor Gallagher,
• Councillor Gibbons,
• Councillor Gilroy,
• Councillor Healy,
• Councillor MacSharry, T.,
• Councillor McSharry, E.,
• Councillor Mulvey,
• Councillor Nealon,
• Councillor O’Boyle,
• Councillor Queenan,
• Councillor Taylor and
• Councillor Walsh.

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

• Mr. Martin Lydon, Chief Executive
• Mr. Jim Molloy, Director of Services
• Ms. Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services
• Ms. Emer Concannon, A/ Director of Services
• Ms. Marie Whelan, Director of Finance
• Mr. John Moran, A/ Director of Services
• Ms. Patricia Guckian, Financial Accountant
• Ms. Mary Dunleavy, Financial Accountant
• Ms. Sinéad Branley, Meetings Administrator
• Ms. Karen McMahon, IS Technical Support Officer
• Ms. Jo-Anne McGonigle, Assistant Staff Officer

 

CATHAOIRLEACH:

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Declan Bree, presided.

 

APOLOGIES:

Apologies were received from Councillors Casserly, Clarke and Mullaney.

 

ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEETING:

The Cathaoirleach welcomed all present to the meeting and informed the Elected Members that he had two resolutions to hand.

 

PROPOSALS FOR INCREASES OR REDUCTIONS IN EXPENDITURE:

Proposed by Councillor D. Gilroy
Seconded by Councillor P. Taylor

AND AGREED

“That all motions seeking an increase in expenditure or a reduction in income under any heading must either show a corresponding decrease in expenditure or an increase in realisable income.”

 

CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET IN DETAIL:

Proposed by Councillor P. Taylor
Seconded by Councillor L. Brennan

AND AGREED

“That no further motion be voted on by the Council until such time as the entire budget has been considered in detail”.

The Cathaoirleach then asked the Chief Executive to introduce the Budget, to be followed by the Director of Finance and an overview from the other Directors of Services.

 

DRAFT BUDGET FOR YEAR ENDING 31^STDECEMBER, 2025:

The Chief Executive, Mr. Lydon, had advised the Members that the Budget had been prepared in compliance with the Statutory Framework, after consultation with the Corporate Policy Group (CPG) and Elected Members.

The rate of inflation was currently below 2 per cent.  However, in tendering for new contracts, all contracts and services were more expensive to deliver.

The Chief Executive had referred to the global environment in his commentary and the level of competition for attracting foreign investment was intensifying at national and local level.  Sligo was now competing with neighbouring counties for inward investment, and it was, therefore, essential that Sligo County Council clearly demonstrated that the county is a place to Live, Visit and Invest.  Decisions had to be made locally regarding financial resources as the Council could not rely on Government funding alone.

In relation to staffing and pension costs, the Chief Executive updated Members on potential staff retirements and replacement costs. The change and efficiency programme, ongoing in the organisation, would continue.  Investment was needed to meet Government targets in relation to climate action, (including the retrofit programme and a review of the Machinery Yard) and the on-going work of the Digital Transformation Team.

The Budget showed a Rates increase of 5% with the Revenue Budget standing at €80.7m and the Capital Budget for 2025 in the region of €170m.  That sum, if projects are to be delivered, required match funding.  Hence the request for the additional funding. 

24% of the Council’s Ratepayers deliver 80% of the income.  18 Ratepayers in the county deliver 32% of the income to County Sligo.  The Rates Incentive scheme was still going to be in place which meant that if businesses paid their Rates by the end of June, they would receive a 5% reduction, if paid by the end of September they would receive a 2.5% reduction.  This could allow for the increase to be nullified as much as possible if the early payment scheme was availed of. 

A 5% Rates increase would mean an additional €700k in income meaning that €1.45m would be ringfenced to deliver capital projects which would help to deliver the Regional Growth Centre.

The Member’s welcome decision at the October Meeting in relation to the LPT had provided additional investment in the following services:

• Local Roads €305,000
• Tourism €100,000
• Dereliction €100,000
• Housing Grants €  80,000
• Burial Grounds €  75,000
• Library Book Fund €  75,000

2025 is the last year N.P.P.R. (Non-Principal Private Residence) charge can be collected.  This income has never been replaced and had proved invaluable to Sligo County Council, especially during the term of the financial plan. 

The Council’s funding had become much more prescriptive leaving little leverage, not only for the Elected Members to vote on discretionary expenditure but also for the Executive to give advice as to how the discretionary income could be spent.

The delivery of projects had been discussed, together with the upcoming Corporate Plan and financial strategy, during a visit to Limerick 2030. For those who had attended, they saw some transformational work being undertaken by that Company and he felt that Sligo County Council should replicate that type of company with Elected Members and the private sector being represented on the Board. This would give a mechanism to be able to go to the private sector markets to unlock funding to help deliver projects such as 

• City Campus Project
• Masterplan for Sligo Harbour (due to be published in quarter 1 of 2025)
• Wine Street Development.

Other projects highlighted by the Chief Executive were

• Tender for the Eastern Garavogue Bridge and public realm projects (investment circa €50m),
• Part 8 process in relation to Sligo Gaol and the THRIVE project,
• UNESCO Heritage Site application was due to accelerate in 2025
• Enniscrone Cliff Bath Project (Cost of €9.4m)
• Water Sports Activities Centres at Enniscrone and Rosses Point at a cost of €2.4m.

The Council were looking to reduce the Council’s waiting list, address homelessness and where possible provide affordable housing.  Ongoing discussions were taking place with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to bring forward a mixed social and affordable housing development to the Cairnsfoot/Browne’s field site in the middle of Sligo town.  Expressions of interest are to be advertised early in 2025 for 150 to 180 homes to be delivered on that site. 

The current pipeline in relation to Social Housing showed that 163 social homes would have commenced, or were due to commence, construction in 2024 with a further 186 planned to be on site in 2025.  The level of investment in 2025 will be €90.3m.

In relation to the National and Local Roads Design Offices, there were 26 non-national roads and 6 national Active Travel projects underway at a cost of €40m.  The budget, though not included in the Local Property Tax allocation, includes €100,000 from Development Contributions into footpaths. 

From 1^st January 2025, the following Directorate structure will be implemented, resulting in a reduction in the number of Directors within the organisation.  This would replicate what was passed by the Elected Members in relation to the Strategic Policy Committee (S.P.C.) Programme at the November Plenary Meeting.

• Placemaking – Housing Capital, Capital Projects, Regeneration, N.R.O., Planning and Heritage
• Climate and Infrastructure – Climate and Environment, Roads Operations and Emergency Services
• Live Invest Visit – Community, Culture, Enterprise and Housing
• Corporate Governance – Corporate Services, Finance, Human Resources and Information Systems.

Over the last 15 years, approximately €50m had been received in relation to the Cranmore Regeneration Project.  However, this project will start to wind down in 2025.

In relation to Uisce Éireann, staff have until the 31^st December, 2026 to make the decision to stay with Sligo County Council or move to Uisce Éireann.  In comparison to other local authorities, staff vacancies within the Council are very low.  A programme of mental and physical wellbeing would also be promoted across the organisation. 

In conclusion, Mr. Lydon stated that change is something that would be happening on a regular basis within the organisation.  Sligo County Council had to try to be, as much as possible, agile and flexible to be able to react to issues.

The Chief Executive expressed his appreciation to the Cathaoirleach Councillor Declan Bree, Corporate Policy Group, Elected Members, Director of Finance and the Finance team for their advice, support and hard work in the preparation of the Budget which he was happy to commend to the Members for adoption.

 

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

The Director of Finance, Ms. Whelan, referred to her report from Page 6 to Page 9 of the Budget Book and said she would refer to some of the main figures therein.

• Overall L.P.T. figure of €12.438m, including the increase of 15% adopted (€735,000),
• The main movement in the Budget from previous years was in relation to the Rates increase of 5% (contained in D09 Economic Development and Promotion),
• The movement of €76.5m to €80.7m incorporated that sum and some other lines that the Director of Finance would refer to,
• As the L.P.T. went back into various lines within the budget - F0404 - where previously the Council provided the additional L.P.T. of the balance, had dropped for 2025. There was a drop in F0404 and an increase in D09,
• One of the biggest areas that had an increase was the Central Management Charge (in Appendix 1) €14.5m, approximately a €1.5m increase,
• The Pension commitment had already been referred to at the meeting by the Chief Executive. There had been a movement of €900k for Pensions. This was being funded by the pay compensation figure referred to earlier of €6.9m,
• The sum of €735,000 had been a big driver of increases and this had been set out on page 7,
• Homeless had an increase and this required 10% funding from Sligo County Council with the 90% being funded by the Department,
• Loan charges had included an increase for 2024, but it would be above that sum in 2024. It had been increased again in 2025 owing to this,
• Some additional funding was included in housing maintenance, but house insurance costs had absorbed that increase,
• The local roads in B04 had the L.P.T. and Planning had some increased costs, tourism promotion social inclusion in D0603 the Integration and Ukrainian Team also showed increases as well as Burial grounds (E09), Vacancy and Dereliction (E10),
• Fire Brigade Service has continued proposed Pay Agreements, and this was balanced with funding that should come to cover that cost. The Council had since received a figure of funding for 2025 and would work within the funding agreed,
• F01 Leisure Facilties Operations – Sligo Regional Sports Centre,
• F02 Operation of Library Services,
• Parks and open spaces – as had been discussed at the Municipal District Meetings; Sligo County Council had gone to tender and has been referred to, costs on had increased significantly in 2024 and into 2025 and this had been the same with the operation of the Dog Warden service,
• Position on the Revenue Account at the end of 2023 is €9.6m.

 

DIVISION A – HOUSING AND BUILDING:

Director of Services, Mr. Molloy, gave an overview of Division A in the draft budget book as set in pages 32-43 referring to the following areas in particular:

Section A01 – Maintenance/Improvement of Local Authority Housing Units.

Mr. Molloy referred to

• challenges with increases in costs for maintenance and works required resulting in an increase of 30% (€650,000) in the budget,
• Up to 80 additional units would be added to the stock by the end of 2024,
• Permanent emergency accommodation Centre,
• Capital delivery with 2025 being the biggest year of the Housing Delivery Plan,
• Budget spend of €60-€90m in 2025 possibly affecting the Voids spending,
• Significant number of builds on site with up to 455 units on site in 2025 –

70 in the Sligo-Drumcliff area
320 in the Borough and Strandhill area and
65 in the Tubbercurry-Ballymote area,

• Lack of availability of land in the Enniscrone area for the delivery of 20-30 units,
• Housing Loans – 3 in process for drawdown and approximately 15 additional applications. As those eligible had applied, the numbers would be decreasing over time,
• Housing Adaptation Grants – the budget of €1.7m was on a par with the budget for 2024. 20% of the allocation is funded form the Council’s own resources. As costs rose, the number of properties that could be delivered decreased and
• Cranmore Regeneration Project was coming to completion. Work was ongoing in Phase 3 which includes Yeats Drive, Collery Drive, Langan Drive, McNeill Drive and Devins’ Drive with all due to be completed in 2025.  The Community Centre was also being advanced with a design more appropriate for the area.

 

DIVISION B – ROADS, TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY:

Ms. Concannon, Acting Director of Services, informed Members that the details of this Division are set out in pages 46-54 of the Budget Book.

Work on non national roads is funded by the Department of Transport, with national roads  and greenways grant aided by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, with  and N.T.A. funding Active Travel Schemes.

Capital Schemes to be progressed in 2025 were set out as follows –

• N17 – to be progressed to design and environmental evaluation stage. A Ministerial Condition was in place that the N17, would only include bypasses of Tubbercurry and Charlestown Bypass.  It was hoped that this condition would be removed in the 2025 allocation,
• N16 – Lugatober (Drumkilsellagh to Lugnagall Project) had been opened to traffic. In 2025, the option selection of the next phase (from the Abbvie roundabout in Sligo to Lugatober) was due to take place,
• Pavement strengthening and overlays on the national roads, would be progressed on the N16 on the county boundary side, on the Inner Relief Road in Sligo town and on the N59 at Tullylin,
• Safety Schemes would be progressed including pedestrian crossings and traffic calming in Ballisodare and Cliffoney villages. A further scheme is to be progressed on the N17 at the entrance to the southern side of Curry Village,
• In relation to Active Travel on the national roads, design and environmental evaluation would progress on the Sligo Greenway and the two N4 Active Travel projects, the first linking Toberbride Business Park to Collooney and the second linking the Doorly Active Travel Scheme to Castlebaldwin,
• Grant notifications for non-national roads, T.I.I. and N.T.A. grants would be received in February. The Roadworks Programme for 2025 could not be finalised until that time,
• In 2024, the non-national Roads Programme had been funded with €18 from the Department of Transport. Approximately €5m then came from the Council’s own resources,
• Eastern Garavogue Bridge – Contractor for construction was to be procured in 2025 with their appointment at the end of 2025 or early in 2026,
• Burton Street Link project – it was expected to advertise for the construction Contractor with a contract to be in place in March or April of 2025,
• Oakfield Road Scheme would be brought through the Planning process,
• New National Speed Limit implementation with signage to be up on all
• Rural Local Roads, indicating a 60km/hr speed limit, in February 2025
• Urban Roads, indicating a 30km/hr speed limit, in mid-year and
• National Secondary Roads, indicating a speed limit of 80 km/hr
• Bus stop enhancement programme – there are approximately 50 locations in Sligo with the N.T.A. to deliver over the coming years,
• Active Travel Programme (funded by the N.T.A.) budget in 2024 had been €3.5m and a similar budget was expected in 2025. The Pathfinders Scheme would link Carraroe, via Pearse Road, Bridge Street and The Mall to end A.T.U. Sligo.  The statutory process and detailed design were due for completion in 2025,
• Maintenance and management of public lighting was funded from the Council’s own resources. In relation to capital works, the Council had an obligation to meet its energy efficiency and climate action targets.  All lights had to be retrofitted to LEDs over the coming years with 40% remaining to be dealt with over the next two years.  These works would require a loan and are a statutory obligation,
• Efficiencies in Sligo County Council’s Machinery Yard would be rolled out over the coming years decarbonising the fleet across the organisation and bringing in energy efficiency measures and
• Development of an electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy in 2025, funded by the Department of Transport.

 

DIVISION E – ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES:

Ms. Concannon, Acting Director of Services, set out the information under the various headings in pages 73-82 of the Budget Book.

As referred to by the Director of Finance, there was very little change in the budgets for Environmental Services in 2025.  Support would continue for the following work

• Operation of recycling facilities,
• Environmental awareness, including the Green Schools Scheme, National Spring Clean, the anti-dumping initiative and many more schemes,
• Waste enforcement priorities as determined nationally,
• Implementation of the new National Waste Management Plan,
• Maintenance of Burial Grounds,
• Operation of the Fire Service due to the costs associated with the Retained Firefighter W.R.C. Agreement,
• Regarding Water Quality Management, the new River Basin Management Plan had been published in September 2024. Enforcement measures would continue to be prioritised to protect and enhance the county’s water quality,
• Climate Action Plan had been adopted in February 2024 with very strict legislative targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% and increase energy efficiency by 50% by 2030,
• Community Climate Action Fund had provided €450,000, funded by the Department, in 2024 to various communities throughout the county and
• Sligo Leitrim Energy Agency (SLEA) is progressing a project regarding the feasibility of a proposed Satellite Gas Network Project for Sligo town. This would support large energy users transition to renewable gas such as biomethane.

 

DIVISION F – RECREATION AND AMENITY:

• The main increase in this Division related to the Parks budget to honour existing commitments on contracts and y grass cutting for the new park due to open in Finisklin (remediation of the old landfill site),
• Funding would be sought for works in recreational areas and the Council would continue to investigate funding streams to progress the  the Cleveragh Masterplan
• Skate Park in Cleveragh was still regarded as a desirable project to deliver and avenues were being examined for capital funding.

 

DIVISION G – AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND WELFARE:

• The budgets for maintenance of piers, harbours and coastal protection would remain the same as that of 2024,
• It was hoped that the Department of the Marine would reintroduce their 85% funding of capital projects under piers and harbours. Under that heading, it was hoped to develop a floating pontoon at Enniscrone,
• On capital coastal projects, the Council would continue to develop the design for the boardwalk access at Rosses Point beach,
• The Executive were continuing to pursue funding with the O.P.W. for Strandhill coastal erosion project,
• Under the Veterinary Service, responsibility for Food Safety would be transferring to the Department of Agriculture on the 1^st January, 2025. This meant that the Council’s Veterinary Officer would also be transferring to that Department in 2025 and
• Animal welfare, including the Dog Warden Service, would remain as a responsibility of the County Council.

 

DIVISION D – DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT:

Ms Clarke, Director of Services, presented an overview of budgetary issues in relation to Programme Group D on pages 60-71

Ms. Clarke provided an overview of the ongoing works and funding streams in various areas including:

• The only increase in this area referred to salaries,
• An increase in income was reflected as Sligo County Council received funding from the Department to fund two of the Planning staff,
• The Vacant Homes Team (based in Enforcement) are supplemented by €100,000 from the L.P.T.
• Tourism budget included funding towards Sligo Airport, Ireland West Airport Knock and continued work on the Diaspora Strategy, salary costs and overheads of the Tourism Officer and Festival and Events Co-ordinator in place since 2024, operation of the Surf Centre and S.L.A. and other costs for Queen Maeve Square,
• An increased budget had been proposed under the Tourism heading, particularly for Tourism marketing and promotion and the Festival and Events Strategy, due for completion in quarter one of 2025,
• Community services and development costs included those for the P.P.N., L.C.D.C., Age Friendly, Volunteer Centre, etc. These costs were in line with what was spent in 2024,
• Costs for the Integration Team and Ukraine Emergency Response Team were listed in this Division and were funded 100% by the Department,
• Economic Development and Promotion included the annual contributions to the N.W.R.A., I.C.B.A.N. and L.A.M.A. Also included was a contribution to the Northwest Regional Enterprise Programme towards the salary costs of the Regional Programme Manager,
• Town Centre First Programme and Town Regeneration Officer was also included in this division. €100,000 would be received from the Department to cover costs in this area,
• The Night-time Economy Initiative was a new addition to the division. Sligo County Council has an S.L.A. with Sligo B.I.D. in relation to this initiative.  This funding was fully recoupable from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media,
• Local Enterprise Office – the majority of costs are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment via the S.L.A. with Enterprise Ireland,
• Funding proposed for the Heritage Office and Programme remained the same as in 2024 with support from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage,
• A sum had been included for biodiversity and the implementaion of the Biodiversity Action Plan which was fully recoupable from that Department and
• Provision had been made, in the three year Capital Programme, for the Project Team for the UNESCO World Heritage Site bid for the Passage Tombs landscape and its recruitment costs.

 

DIVISION F – RECREATION AND AMENITY

Ms. Clarke noted that this division covered the operation of the Library Service.  With the exception of the book fund, all expenditure for salaries, overheads and programme costs remained the same as in 2024.

It was proposed to increase the Book Fund by €75,000 to be funded from the increase in the L.P.T.  In previous years, this fund had been €100,000.

Community and Voluntary Grants are included under heading F04, Community Sport and Recreational Development.  Schemes for Tidy Towns, Burial Grounds and the general Community and Voluntary Grant Scheme, Christmas lights provision and Sligo Food Trail were also included under this heading.

Under heading F05 - Operation of the Arts Service – the Members were informed that recruitment was under way for a new Arts Officer and Assistant Arts Officer for Sligo Arts Office.  It was hoped that these would be in place during quarter one of 2025.  The implementation of the Arts Plan was into its second year at this time with €75,000 recouped from the Arts Council.  Contributions to the Arts Grants Scheme remained the same as in 2024 with funding going towards Arts venues and Arts grants for Festivals and Events.  A portion of the funding also was included for

• the Community/Commercial grants (the sum included was in addition to the Fáilte Ireland funding for this purpose)
• The Wrap (Western Regional Audiovisual Production Fund) initiative funded by the Western Development Commission.

Ms. Clarke concluded by highlighting the funding received from the Department of Health for the Healthy Ireland Programme and Co-ordinator’s salary.

 

DIVISION H – MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES:

In relation to this Division, Mr. Moran drew the Members’ attention to pages 95 to 101 in the Budget Book.

The budget for the services in the Corporate Services area are largely provided for within this Division.  The more significant expenditure items were

• Franchise costs relating to the Register of Electors and Election costs. The figure for 2024 had been higher due to the Local Elections
• Work would continue in 2025 to improve the accuracy of the Register of Electors, and the Members were advised of the significant level of activity on this in recent times.
• Since the Local Elections in June 2024, over 5,000 modifications had been made to the Register of Electors with a considerable effort made to improve the accuracy of the Register.

In relation to H05, the Members were informed that this included Coroners’ expenses and was marginally increased from the 2024 budget. 

H09 (Page 100) included costs for Local Representation and Civic Leadership costs.  This covers Representational payments, Expenses, and associated service support costs for Council Meetings. 

In relation to the Ukraine response and integration, the number of beneficiaries of temporary protection in County Sligo at this time stood at over 2,500 people from Ukraine.  The numbers in State provided accommodation had reduced significantly to approximately 1,000, having been about double that figure in the early part of 2024.  This was largely due to the new national policies including the 90-day accommodation policy and changes to welfare entitlements.

In addition to this, there were about 650 International Protection Applicants accommodated in eight State provided centres throughout the county.  This figure was on the rise and set to reach over 1,000 if the recently announced centres at Milligan Court and Benbulben Court became fully occupied.  Members were aware of some of the issues relating to some of the centres and correspondence between Sligo County Council and the Department was recently shared with the Members.

This would mean approximately 3,500 residents in the county would require support in 2025 from the new Local Authority Integration Team.  This had been in place since May 2024. 

The costs associated with the Ukraine Response and Integration Team for 2025 were provided for in the Budget under Division D (Page 70 of the Budget Book – D0603). The bulk of the costs are recoupable from the Department. 

Local Community Safety Partnerships are to be established in the coming months, replacing the former J.P.C.s (Joint Policing Committees).  These would bring together the relevant state agencies and communities at a local level, building on the work of the J.P.C.s and expand them into a more holistic forum for community priorities.  Staffing costs associated with this work in 2025 would be recouped from the Department of Justice. 

Another significant cost element in the Budget for this Division related to Land Assets and Facilities Management Section.  This Section also looked after the Harbour.  The team’s 2025 work programme would focus on addressing essential structural and maintenance interventions at key public-facing buildings.

Cunningham Civil and Marie are contracted as Port operators with responsibility for management and control of Harbour and shipping activities together with operation and maintenance.  This contract would continue throughout 2025. 

An office accommodation strategy was being developed by the team with a view to utilisation of the Council’s own properties and minimising the need to lease or rent properties. 

In relation to the three-year Capital Programme section of the Budget Book (Page 105) details relating to the implementation of Sligo Public Realm and the City Campus Project were listed.

The Harbour Masterplan was also listed.  This was nearing completion and would be brought before the Members for adoption early in 2025. 

Also referenced in this Division was the Sligo Gaol Project, as referred to by the Chief Executive at the outset.  Funding would be sought under Stage 2 of the THRIVE Programme for the renovation and adaptive reuse of the building as a visitor attraction.  A strong application for funding had to be prepared for submission early in the new year.  The Part 8 Planning process was almost complete and would be coming before the Members for a decision. 

 

MEMBERS’ QUERIES ON PRESENTATIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE:

The Cathaoirleach said that the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Directors of Services had provided an overview of the Programmes.  It was his intention to go back through each Division and allow each Member an opportunity to comment, if they so wished.  They could ask any question or propose any changes in expenditure or income.

The Chief Executive responded to queries raised regarding

• Digital Transformation and the digitisation of Burial Ground records across the county and
• Advantages of forming a company for three projects – City campus, Masterplan for Sligo Harbour and the Wine Street Development.

 

DIVISION A

Under this heading Members raised queries, and Mr. Molloy, Director of Services responded, in relation to the following:

• Tenant in situ scheme – Members were informed that the scheme has been “paused” with a national target of 200 in for 2025. Further information was awaited from the Government.
• Applicants for County Council loans taking rental payments into account. It was confirmed that, often, rental payments were less than the loan repayment. Taking all factors into account, they would be facing increased costs over the lifetime of the loan. 
• A further query regarding the allocation for tenant in situ purchases in 2024 and purchases made. Members were advised by Mr. Molloy that the allocation had been 17 houses, and the Council had gone 17 over that.  A number were being finalised, with the Department’s agreement. 
• Emergency accommodation centre – this would be for mixed use for those who became homeless at short notice. This would provide short-term accommodation while housing was being sourced. 

• Government house building targets – until the new Dáil would sit, clarification would not be received on how this would be delivered and the relevant breakdown of the figures referred to.
• Access road to Strandhill housing scheme would be covered in the housing development.
• Sligo County Council are engaging with other local authorities who had operated successful schemes for affordable housing.
• Closure of Adelaide Street car park to develop housing.
• Modern methods of construction – the Housing Team had delivered a Framework Agreement for construction and design services for the whole of the Connacht/northwest region.
• Funding for energy upgrades/retrofits – Sligo County Council were provisionally listed for 45-50 in 2025, an increase on 2024.
• Transfer criteria and possibility of building of modular unit/extensions to homes – the Department was generally amenable to schemes submitted but there was a finite budget for the schemes.

• Setting limits for the affordable housing scheme – the local authority generally did not have a role in setting income limits for housing schemes.

• Availability of cost rental – this scheme worked in large urban areas and currently the numbers did not stack up for its introduction in Sligo.

Members acknowledged the work that Mr. Molloy and the Housing Department undertake and thanked them for that work.

 

DIVISION B – ROADS, TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY:

The Roads Programme was developed with all the Roads Engineers. This was based on, as set out in the NOAC indicators, the structure, capacity and defects in the roads, the Chief Executive and Ms. Concannon advised the meeting. 

Members raised queries and were updated by Ms. Concannon in relation to the following matters:

• Active Travel funding was received in Sligo town, Strandhill and Rosses Point but not in rural towns and villages,
• All outstanding works on the N4 Collooney-Castlebaldwin route were included in the tender process,
• The N.T.A. set out criteria for assessing the location of bus stops,
• Pathfinder Programme had been modified in consultation with the N.T.A. and would be going for public consultation imminently,
• Active Travel involved a robust selection process,
• Veterinary staff moving to the Department of Agriculture was a national policy where the S.L.A. with all local authorities was terminating on 31^st December 2024,
• Footpath works across the county,
• Public lighting L.E.D. replacement scheme,
• Funding for N17 route and Sligo Greenway,
• N59 Ballisodare Improvement Scheme,
• Segregated Strandhill-Rosses Point cycle lane,
• Process for inclusion of capital projects in the Roads Programme and
• Mail Coach Road to Burton Street link road.

 

DIVISION D – DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT

Director of Services, Ms. Clarke, responded to points raised by Members relating to the following issues –

• Demands issued for the 31 properties on the Derelict Sites Register and the sums collected,
• Arts Funding (listed in both Division D and Division F of the Budget Book),
• Festival and Events Strategy,
• Timeframe for payments of Grants to Community groups,
• Sligo Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) and
• Funding set aside for Arts Venues

The Chief Executive referred to discussions with representatives of both the Cairde Festival and Blue Raincoat Theatre Company and advised the Members that he would see what could be developed and  put in place from 2026 onwards.  The Cathaoirleach welcomed Mr. Lydon’s comments and said he appreciated the difficulties the Executive had in drafting a budget and preparing it for the Members while trying to balance the books.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR MS. DOROTHY CLARKE, DIRECTOR OF SERVICES:

Councillor Queenan thanked Ms. Clarke for her report at the meeting and for her work over the years as Director of Services and noted that this would be her final Budget meeting in that role.

 

DIVISION E – ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Ms. Concannon, Acting Director of Services responded to a query in relation to the Maintenance of Burial Grounds (Page 81) and advised the meeting that there was an ongoing reorganisation of the operation of Sligo Cemetery.

The Cathaoirleach enquired if Members wished to raise further queries under Division G, Division H or the Capital Programme.  No further matters were raised as they had been dealt with by the Directors in the earlier discussions. 

 

VOTING ON RESOLUTIONS:

The Cathaoirleach informed the meeting that he would now deal with the resolutions to hand.

 

ADOPTION OF BUDGET FOR FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING 31^ST DECEMBER 2024:

Proposed by Councillor P. Taylor
Seconded by Councillor D. Gilroy

AND AGREED

“That Sligo County Council hereby adopts the Budget of Sligo County Council for the year ending 31^st December 2025, and subject to the provisions of Section 103 of the Local Government Act, 2001, as amended, as submitted by the Chief Executive Officer set out in Tables A, B & C of the said Budget.”

The Cathaoirleach then asked the Meetings Administrator to call the roll for a vote which resulted as follows:

FOR:    Councillors Bree, Brennan, Cosgrove, Gallagher, Gilroy, MacSharry, T., McSharry, E., Mulvey, Nealon, Queenan, Taylor and Walsh (12)
AGAINST:        Councillors Gibbons, Healy and O’Boyle (3)
ABSENT:         Councillors Casserly, Clarke and Mullaney (3)

The Cathaoirleach deemed the resolution CARRIED.

 

RATEABLE VALUATION MULTIPLIER:

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor P. Taylor

AND AGREED

“Subject to Section 6 of the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act, 2019 as amended, and in accordance with the Budget adopted, determine the annual rate on valuation applicable in the calculation of the amount of the rate under Section 4 of the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019, as amended, to be €.2536.”

Councillor E. McSharry requested to be recorded as against this resolution with Councillors. Healy and Gibbons requesting to be recorded as abstaining.

 

TRANSITION REGION (NORTHERN AND WESTERN REGION):

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor G. O’Boyle

AND AGREED

“Noting that the Northern and Western Region has been downgraded and is officially classified as a ‘Transition Region’ by the European Commission; and further noting that this region now ranks 218^th out of 234 regions in terms of infrastructure in the 27 countries which make up the European Union, placing us in the bottom 7 per cent, alongside some of the poorest regions in the E.U., and further aware of the legacy of underinvestment in the region; this Council calls on the Government to provide additional funding to Sligo County Council and other local authorities in the region, so as to assist the councils to address the many challenges the region faces.”

 

ABATEMENT OF RATES:

Proposed by Councillor P. Taylor
Seconded by Councillor D. Gilroy

AND AGREED

“That Sligo County Council makes a scheme for the abatement of rates due to it by liable persons, or classes of liable persons, in respect of vacant properties in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 of the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019.

Such a scheme will provide for a tiered abatement of rates on vacant premises as provided for in Section 9 (1) of the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act of 2019 for the financial year ending 31st December 2025 as set out in the Table below.”

Annual Rates Bill	% Payment Due	% Abatement of Annual Rates
<€3,000	50%	50%
€3,001-€19,999	60%	40%
>€20,000	75%	25%

 

CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2025-2027

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor P. Taylor

AND AGREED

“To consider the Capital Programme 2025-2027 in accordance with Section 135(2) of the Local Government Act, 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act, 2014 (pages 103-106 of the Budget Book).”

Having considered the Capital Programme, no other matter was raised by the Members under this heading.

 

CONTINUATION OF THE 2024 RATES INCENTIVE SCHEME FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 31^ST OF DECEMBER 2025:

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor T. MacSharry

AND AGREED

“That Sligo County Council continue the operation of the 2024 Rates Incentive Scheme for the financial year 31^st of December 2025 in accordance with Section 66 of the Local Government Act, 2001, as amended by Section 43 of the Local Government Reform Act, 2014.”

 

ALLOWANCE FOR CATHAOIRLEACH:

Proposed by Councillor T. MacSharry
Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan

AND AGREED

“That the allowance for the Cathaoirleach be fixed at €20,000 per annum with effect from the 1^stJanuary, 2025.  This allowance is to be paid monthly in arrears to cover reasonable expenses incurred by the Cathaoirleach within County Sligo.”

 

ALLOWANCE FOR LEAS CATHAOIRLEACH:

Proposed by Councillor T. MacSharry
Seconded by Councillor P. Taylor

AND AGREED

“That the allowance for the Leas Cathaoirleach be fixed at €4,000 per annum with effect from the 1^stJanuary, 2025.  This allowance is to be paid monthly in arrears to cover reasonable expenses incurred by the Leas Cathaoirleach within County Sligo.”

 

ALLOWANCE FOR MAYOR OF SLIGO BOROUGH MUNICIPAL DISTRICT:

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor L. Brennan

AND AGREED

“That the allowance for the Mayor of the Sligo Borough Municipal District be fixed at €12,000 per annum with effect from the 1^stJanuary, 2025.  This allowance is to be paid monthly in arrears to cover reasonable expenses incurred by the Mayor within the Municipal District.”

 

ALLOWANCE FOR CATHAOIRLEACH OF BALLYMOTE-TUBBERCURRY M.D.; SLIGO DRUMCLIFF M.D. AND CHAIRPERSON OF EACH STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEE:

Proposed by Councillor L. Brennan
Seconded by Councillor D. Mulvey

AND AGREED

“That the allowance for the Cathaoirleach of the Tubbercurry-Ballymote Municipal District and the Sligo-Drumcliff Municipal District and the Chairperson of each Strategic Policy Committee be fixed at €6,000 per annum with effect from the 1^stJanuary, 2025.  This allowance is to be paid monthly in arrears to cover reasonable expenses incurred.”

The Cathaoirleach advised the Meeting that he wished to raise two further matters prior to the closing of the meeting.

 

FLYING OF PALESTINIAN FLAG AT COUNTY HALL

The Cathaoirleach advised the Meeting that Friday, 29^th November 2024 was designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  It was his intention to fly the Palestinian Flag at County Hall on that day.  Also, he would invite the new Palestinian Ambassador to Sligo in December to allow Sligo County Council to express its support and solidarity for the cause of Palestinian freedom. 

The Members consented to the proposals set out by the Cathaoirleach.

 

REVISED DATE FOR DECEMBER ORDINARY MEETING:

Due to the General Election, the Cathaoirleach reminded Members that the Ordinary Meeting would take place on Thursday, 5th December, 2024 at 10.00 a.m.

 

CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL ELECTION 2024:

On behalf of the Elected Members, the Cathaoirleach wished Councillors Casserly, Clarke, Cosgrove, McSharry and O’Boyle the best for the upcoming General Election.

 

END OF MEETING:

The Cathaoirleach thanked the Members for getting through the Budget Book.  He thanked the Chief Executive, Directors of Services and staff for ensuring that it had been a successful meeting.

The business of the meeting concluded at 1.30 p.m.

Meeting Date 22/11/2024