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 holding back progress of the town.
• Provision of salt bins/grit bins to localities should be reviewed.
• Public lighting – more needed in Scramoge, Cootehall and Cortober especially at train station.  Also, at national schools – Kiltrustan and Kingsland NS.
• Does RCC have insurance to cover costs of storm damage in graveyards.
• Money should have been allocated for the maintenance of Rivers in the Boyle MD.
• An allocation of €10,000 for illegal dumping is insufficient. Country side is destroyed and with the advent of Greenway Networks, extra funding for this should be addressed
• Maintenance agreement for Strokestown Public Realm and N5 exits and entrances should be discussed with the Tidy Towns Committee.

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Valerie Byrne

             SECONDED by Councillor Leah Cull

It was AGREED that the Budget allocation in 2027 should include funding for smaller Towns and Villages Teams.

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Liam Callaghan

             SECONDED by Councillor Sean Moylan

It was AGREED that the allocation to the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre should be funded from the Council Budget and that the Boyle MD Fund 2026 should be reinstated at €100,000.

Response:

• Supports Village Team Funding suggestion – this should be brought to the SPC.
• Street Cleaning has been allocated to the 3 areas equally – if additional funding required, it would have to be pulled from other MD job codes.
• Funding of River drainage – this is decided by the MD Coordinator and Area Engineers.
• MD Fund €33,000 additional funding in 2025 was a one-off allocation.
• Dereliction of old buildings – Housing is carrying out CPO on selected houses, etc.
• SPC to change rates on vacant commercial properties in 2027.  Use 2026 to get information to property owners.
• CCTV Ballaghaderreen – is a private funded initiative.
• Public Lighting – 75% replaced with LED at Council’s own cost
• Insurance for Graveyards:  raised by Roscommon MD.  Council not yet reimbursed by Department for Storm Eowyn cost of €1.2m which is a concern. Not possible to allocate money towards storm damage.

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Liam Callaghan

             SECONDED by Councillor Tom Crosby

It was AGREED that a letter would issue to the Office of An Taoiseach requesting recoupment of costs for Storm Eowyn.

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Liam Callaghan

             SECONDED by Councillor Tom Crosby

It was AGREED that the Budget allocation for the Boyle Municipal District 2026 be ADOPTED.