The Elected Members welcomed the Draft Budget and made the following observations and queries:

·         Welcomed the substantial investment of almost €1million in the Roadmaster velocity patching units. It is a necessary investment and will pay for itself over time in addition to keeping the roads up to standard for longer.

·         Welcome the upgrading and cleaning of signage throughout the county.

·         Update on the refurbishment of the houses in Silverroe in Boyle

·         Small water schemes are finding it difficult to access funding to upgrade their supply

·         Welcome increased allocation to the tourism facilities such as King House. The Mary McAleese collection has been moved to Áras an Chontae for safe keeping – when will it be returned to King House?

·         Will Town Plans be reviewed in conjunction with the County Development Plan?

·         Will Casual Trading Bye Laws finally be introduced in 2019?

·         The realignment of the N60 at Oran is welcomed.

·         Can the executive look at introducing a Pilot Scheme to retrofit storage heaters in Council Houses?

·         The prospect of Town Regeneration schemes under the new Rural and Urban Regeneration funds are timely and very positive for the county

·         Concern that there are still many unfinished housing estates in the county.

·         It is very welcome news that Phase 2 of the Food Hub in Castlerea will commence soon

·         A €561k spend on providing motor tax services – is this not very high?

·         Investment in footpaths and LED lighting is to be welcomed. The replacement of the LED lights should be done on a phased basis.

·         The cost of €584k to run the recycling centres is very high and there should be opportunities to find better value in disposing of the goods.

·         While there is a lot of thought and effort in putting the budget together, more resources from Central Government must be forthcoming. There has been a cut of €80m over the past 10 years to County Roscommon.

·         It is important to have adequate grants for older people and people with disabilities.

·         Happy to see the Rates Initiative continues to be provided for in the budget.

·         Delighted to see that plans are being put in place to facilitate economic development for when large scale funding becomes available.

·         When will the Enterprise Hub in Monksland be open?

·         With regard to tourism, the upper Shannon investment plans appears to be ok but there is deficit in South Roscommon tourism investment from Athlone to Roscommon. What is the update on the Greenway from Athlone to Ballinasloe?

·         Can the executive give an update on the urgent improvement works required at Bealnamullia and Clonakilla? Is the allocation for upgrade works in Bealnamullia at the R362 not too small?

·         The investment in 255 new housing units over the next three years is very welcome but do people who refuse an offer of a house remain on the housing list?

·         Can more matching funding be provided for housing repairs if there is an increased central government allocation?

·         Local Authorities are not receiving money to build houses.

·         Desire to see the focus move to villages in the county from 2019 onwards.

·         Good to see that the Arigna Mining Experience has received a Science Foundation Ireland Discovery Centre recently that will showcase the past, present and future for primary schools learning.

·         What is the update on the N5 Tulsk to Clashaganny road improvement works?

·         Welcome the Town and Village and community funding but it is important that small communities are not bypassed when the funds are allocated.

·         Is the Dog Control service contracted out?

·         Welcome the increased funding allocation for the Douglas Hyde and Rathcroghan projects.

·         Concern about the impact of the recent housing rent review for some Council tenants.

·         There is a major issue with roads funding for the county from the local roads to the National primary roads.

·         Concern by residents regarding preferred route of the Knockcroghery Bypass on the N61.

·         No emergency fund to deal with roads issues.

·         Satisfied with LEADER funding expenditure to date in 2018

·         When there is an increase in local funding available, funding for small projects at Municipal level should be restored.

·         Delighted to see Lough Fuinshinagh included for funding.

·         Welcome the start of the process to secure new base for the Civil Defence

·         Welcome the objective of having cycle-ways countywide.

·         Congratulate Rathcroghan on securing a Pride of Place award.

·         Where are the dangerous buildings in the county?

·         Welcome for the Local Improvements Scheme as everyone expects to have their roads looked after.

·         While welcoming some investment in our tourism attractions, we require substantial investment in Heritage Tourism in Roscommon.

·         Welcome funding of four games promotion officers in the county.

·         This budget will attract significant funding to support revitalising the county

·         Welcome funding to help projects such as Light up Roscommon Castle, CCTV, and in the future the Public Realm in Roscommon town

·         There is a need to continue to develop Roscommon tourism as part of the Hidden Heartlands and look at 10km radius of Bears Breiffni way.

·         Can Roscommon develop larger projects from Creative Ireland funding? Perhaps we could get more National Exhibitions into the county.

·         Request that extra funding set aside for the twinning visit of Chartrettes next year

·         Can there be an assessment carried out on the sporting needs/facilities in the county?

·         The realignment of the N5 at Scramogue cross must be a priority.

·         It is not satisfactory that central funding for roads is not known before this budget is presented for adoption.

·         Are there any proposals for charging units for electric/hybrid cars around the county?

·         There needs to be a commitment to fund the Heritage Plan – the libraries are a very important part of this.

·         With the future investment in Digital Transformation, it is important to remember to cater for those who do not have online access or the ability to use online services

·         The recently approved resolution to seek a €10m loan gives a very positive message that the County Council is serious about economic development.

·         The new Council in 2019 will have to consider LPT and Rates and the income it generates into the future.

·         The success of the Town Teams could be translated to Village Teams in the future

·         There may be an opportunity to leverage funding from Creative Ieland fund

The Executive replied to queries as follows:

·         The Contract for purchase of houses at Silverroe is not yet signed but a contract to use bond money for necessary works has been signed.

·         Town plans will be looked at as part of the County Development plan

·         The retrofitting of storage hearers is an issue and will be a pilot scheme

·         The cost of providing the Motor Tax service is not funded which is why we encourage more people to use online facility.

·         Unfinished housing Estates with sewerage issues is not necessarily an Irish water issue, there are many complexities involved including the private sector and those holding bonds.

·         Tenants are obliged to inform the Council of a change in income circumstances. The recent rent review was necessary with 88% of the assessed rents charged less than €400pm and almost half received a rent increase on less than 10%.

·         Welcome positive comments regarding the high velocity patching units.

·         There is a phased approach to replacing the Public Lighting to LED at an overall cost of €3m. The sector is looking at the European Investment Bank for loan.

·         Roads – The Tulsk/Clashganny section of the N5 is at initial Planning Stage. The Council will support works at the Ardcarne turnoff on the N4 but this is a TII project. The route selection for the Knockcroghery bypass is not yet confirmed and road safety works for Rahara are included in the Budget.

·         The Dog Warden service is contracted.

·         An announcement is expected on Friday regarding the Rural Regeneration funding.

·         There is an expectation of a decision on funding for the Roscommon Innovation centre by the year end.

·         There are two programmes as part of the River Shannon Master Plan. Consultants have been appointed and service gaps appointed and all communities will be contacted and involved in the study.

·         There are opportunities under the Leader programme for funding of small projects for communities.

·         The Mary McAleese Collection is owned by the OPW and the Council are responsible for its security. It is currently in Áras an Chontae for safekeeping and will be returned to King House in the Spring.

·         The Athlone Ballinasloe Greenway is part of the Dublin Galway route and a Part 8 will have to be prepared to approval regarding the crossing of the River Shannon

·         It was agreed at the CPG this morning to issue an invitation to the Chartrette twinning group. A programme will be developed in the New Year but the budget is limited.

In the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fallon

            SECONDED by Cllr. Kilduff

It was AGREED that if more funds become available, the Municipal District funding could be reintroduced to provide matching funding for smaller community projects.