The Cathaoirleach welcomed the Members to the Budget Meeting and thanked the Chief Executive and all staff for their work in preparing the Budget. The Cathaoirleach proposed that the meeting would conclude by 1.00pm, outlining that each Director will present their areas of responsibility, and that each Member would be afforded four minutes to speak on the Budget.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Connolly

SECONDED by Cllr. Keogh

It was AGREED that the meeting would be concluded by 1.00pm, each Director speak about their areas of responsibility, and that each Member would be afforded four minutes to speak on the Budget.

Cathaoirleach Cllr. Callaghan stated that the Budget is a large amount of money, and that it is well spent to ensure benefits for the entire community. He highlighted several key areas, including the support provided to community groups and volunteers through Budget allocations. He mentioned the impact of the Regeneration projects which can be seen in our towns and villages, noting that these projects require considerable funding. He referenced the many tourism and outdoor events that were held during the summer, commended the recreational opportunities facilitated by Roscommon County Council. He acknowledged that funding is dependent on the Government, Local Property Tax and rate payers, emphasizing the need for respect for the income from these sources. He further noted that the change in Local Property Tax (LPT) valuations could impact rate payers and that the proposed 5% increase this year will only affect 4% of rate payers, protecting the small businesses and shops.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE REPORT

The Chief Executive Mr. Shane Tiernan welcomed the Elected Members and presented the Draft Budget for consideration, he highlighted the following key elements:

• The total proposed budget is €86 million, representing an 8% increase from 2025 and a 50% increase since 2019, reflecting significant growth and service delivery across Roscommon over the past six years.
• The Capital Budget is €442 million over the next few years which is a significant amount of money for the County of Roscommon. A considerable amount of this is for the N5 construction works.
• Over 50% of the revenue budget is funded through state grants and LPT allocations, demonstrating that Roscommon is heavily reliant on central Government funding.
• Roscommon County Council’s aim is to bring the county of Roscommon to the best place it can be, ensuring strong economic conditions, strong community growth and strong social cohesion. Achieving this requires significant capital investment and associated borrowings as raising funds alone would be insufficient to meet these needs.
• The Budget includes a 5% increase in Commercial Rates to ensure access to funding, in particular for capital projects, and to sustain progress made. This increase is not targeted at small businesses, allowing them to continue to thrive while creating additional funds.
• Significant allocations are directed toward housing and roads with over 4,000 kilometres of road within the county and an ongoing need to deliver social, affordable and private housing.
• The Croí Cónaithe scheme has successfully brought many derelict properties  ...  view the full minutes text for item 177.21