There were no Disclosures of Conflict of Interest declared by Members.

Mr. Sean Mullarkey, Head of Finance presented the Chief Executive Report regarding the General Municipal Allocation (GMA) and the Draft Budgetary Plans for Boyle Municipal District 2026.  Mr. Mullarkey, Head of Finance outlined that the total proposed General Municipal Allocation (GMA) for 2026 for the Boyle Municipal District Area was €1,055,000.

The decision taken at the Plenary meeting on the 23rd September, 2024 to vary the LPT basic rate upwards by 15% allowed for the following items to be included in the GMA for 2026.

• €295,000 of Community & Enterprise funding for distribution by members
• €191,200 for street cleaning.
• €22,500 of funding has been allocated to the emergency graveyard budget.
• €75,000 additional funding has been allocated to major repair works for graveyards.
• €90,000 of funding has been allocated to graveyard grants.
• €90,000 in funding has been granted to assist Tidy Towns programmes
• Town Team funding of €12,500 for each of the six town teams totaling €75,000

Mr. Mullarkey, Head of Finance outlined the rationale for allocating funds. The model used in 2025 for apportioning roads expenditure is (33.3% Population, 33.3% km Roads, 33.3% Condition) has again been applied in 2026.

The purpose of the draft budgetary plan meeting is to provide each municipal district an opportunity to allocate its proportion of the General Municipal Allocation according to its priorities.

The following budget changes for 2026 were noted:

• Taking in Charge: €25,000/€15,000 2025
• Community Development: €95,000/€128,333 2025
• Tidy Towns & Amenity Grants: €25,000/€20,000 2025
• Illegal Dumping: €10,000/€8,500 2025
• Voluntary Graveyard Grant: €30,000/€25,000 2025
• Burial Grounds – major repair works: €25,000/€0 2025
• Voluntary Graveyard Grant: €30,000/€25,000 2025

Members thanked Mr. Sean Mullarkey, Head of Finance for the comprehensive budget and welcomed the budget as presented.

The following items were discussed:

• An allocation for the provision of columbarium walls in cemeteries to deal with the increasing percentage of cremations in 2027 budget. Encourage graveyard committee to install these facilities. Members should go on a fact-finding mission to look at good examples of columbarium walls.
• How does Boyle MD compare to other MDs in its funding for Taking in Charge estates? Any additional funding from Central Government to assist with ghost estates and to deal with estates bonds not in place? The largest number of unfinished estates in Co. Roscommon is in the Boyle MD and funding should reflect this with support from Central Government.
• NWRA money going back to Government that could be ringfenced, e.g. Smarter Regions Funding to THRIVE. 
• Street Cleaning – how is this shared between the 3 Areas.
• Graveyards – extra funding welcomed especially additional works needed dealing with fallen trees following Storm Eowyn.
• Maintenance of Land Drainage Areas budget should be increased.
• It was understood by members that the funding for the operational costs of the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre was to come from main Council Budget and not the Boyle MD Fund 2026.
• CTV Funding for Roscommon Town €5,000, could a similar allocation be made to Ballaghaderreen CTV.
• Funding for the purchase of derelict buildings in Ballaghaderreen – such buildings are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.25