Ballymote - Tubbercurry Minutes 2025

Minutes of the Budget meeting of The Municipal District of Ballymote-Tubbercurry held on Monday 20th October, 2025 at 2:30 pm in Teach Laighne, Co. Sligo.


COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Michael Clarke (Cathaoirleach)
  • Councillor Joseph Queenan
  • Councillor Barry Gallagher
  • Councillor Gerard Mullaney
  • Councillor Paul Taylor
  • Councillor Liam Brennan

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Ms. Emer Concannon, Director of Services
  • Ms. Marie Whelan, Director of Finance and Corporate Governance
  • Mr. Dessie Sloyan, A/Senior Executive Engineer
  • Ms. Olivia Black, Meeting Administrator

 

CATHAOIRLEACH:

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Michael Clarke presided and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

1. TO CONSIDER THE DRAFT 2026 BUDGETARY PLAN FOR THE BALLYMOTE – TUBBERCURRY MUNICIPAL DISTRICT:

Ms. Whelan informed Members that the draft budgetary plan contained items of discretionary expenditure that apply to all three Municipal Districts.

Ms. Whelan advised Members as follows:

  • The amount of Sligo County Councils LPT for 2026 as adopted at the 2024 October Council meeting for 15% additional of €831,908 is proposed as follows:
  • In 2026 we are continuing to provide a gross amount of €400,000 for Housing Grants that will be match funded with €80,000 from the additional LPT 15% increase.
  • €305,000 from the LPT towards Local Roads Programme and the ongoing Footpath Improvement Scheme with €100,000 from Development Levies.
  • DO5 Tourism Development and Promotion includes the €100,000 from LPT.
  • €75,000 is included for E09 Maintenance of Burial Grounds.
  • €100,000 is included for funding salaries included within dereliction E1004.
  • €75,000 is included for F0204 Purchase of Library Books.
  • Public Conveniences €15,000 (€5,000 to Enniscrone, Mullaghmore and Rosses Point).
  • Festival Strategy Commitment €30,000 – Cat 1 Festivals.
  • Disability, Inclusion and Access Strategy 2024 – 2027: €51,908.
  • The additional Rates Income for borrowings for the Regional Growth Centre Projects is included in D0901 Urban and village Renewal.

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Michael Clarke thanked Ms. Whelan and staff for the concise presentation. 

Members in turn thanked Ms. Whelan and staff for the work in preparing the Annual Budget.

A discussion followed and queries / clarifications from Members were answered as follows:

  • The 15% increase in LPT is going towards the services / initiates outlined in the Draft Budgetary Plan (above). This is Revenue expenditure. Costs (matching funding) associated with Capital expenditure, is coming from Rates increase.
  • Street Cleaning covers the street cleaning, wages, waste disposal etc.
  • Active Travel funding is focused on ‘origin-destination’ in larger urban areas. There is a large number of schemes that need to be completed before any further schemes can be considered in Sligo. Active Travel is 100% funded by NTA and does not affect SCC Revenue budget.

Other items of concern discussed by Members include the following:

  • Lack of funding / progress on improving Graveyards
  • Footpath to Secondary School in Tubbercurry
  • Bus Shelters
  • Lack of Capital funding for Tubbercurry Town - RRDF
  • Low level of CIS funding – a discussion on SCC officials and Members contacting the Department again on this followed. €7million required for backlog in Sligo.
  • Not enough Housing Grants for Older People – a discussion on Members contacting Government on this followed.
  • Generally, more funding needed in this MD for roads and village enhancements. Visibility of Capital project delivery is required.

Councillor Michael Clarke advised he is unable to attend the next Municipal District meeting proposed for the 10th November 2025 and suggested changing the date.  It was agreed by all Councillors present:

“That the next meeting of the Ballymote Tubbercurry MD be held on Monday, 17th November 2025 at 3pm in the Council Chamber, Sligo County Council, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo (after Sligo County Council’s Budget Meeting).” 

Meeting ended at 3 pm.


Meeting Date 20/10/2025