Director of Services, Majella Hunt presented the draft budget for her areas of responsibility:

Tourism:

·         The sum of €313,000 has been provided for Tourism Development and Promotion to realise the 2017-2022 Tourism strategy through Roscommon Tourism Network, the Festivals and Events Scheme contribution of €50,000 and development of the relationship with Irelands Hidden Heartlands including The Shannon Masterplan, Beara Breifne Way, development of tourism network, destination North Roscommon /Carrick on Shannon and Destination town of Boyle and a feasibility study of a greenway from Athlone to Tarmonbarry. In addition we are promoting the development of walks and cyleway infrastructure across the county

Community:

·         With a prominent role in community, economic and enterprise development, the LCDC, Economic and Enterprise Development SPC and the PPN all contribute to this role.

·         LEO continues to support small businesses and start ups and was particularly busy supporting these businesses in 2020 because of the pandemic with mentoring training,  trading vouchers in partnership with Enterprise Ireland.

·         Funding for Social Inclusion Officer, Healthy Ireland Co-Ordinator, PPN resource worker are included in the budget

·         During the year a Community Call resource was set up to provide 24hr assistance to the vulnerable in partnership with an Garda Síochanna, LEADER and other agencies and this will continue to be in operation in a revised format until April 2021

Regeneration:

·         Work will continue of a number of strategic projects including Boyle and Roscommon Town with construction due to commence in 2021

·         Projects in planning, development and construction under Town and Village Renewal, Urban and Rural Regeneration, Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure schemes are progressed by the regeneration team and funded through matched funding.

Heritage:

·         The sum of €201,700 is provided for Heritage and Conservation services in 2021. These include the delivery of the heritage programme, the conservation projects, community awareness programmes, supporting the Rathcroghan Field monument advisor, biodiversity actions including pollinator programmes and Royal Sites of Ireland UNESCO world heritage bid.

Recreation and Amenity:

·         The budget for the operation of the Library Service in 2021 is €2.093m

·         The sum of €371k has been included to meet the costs of maintaining outdoor amenities including €25k each for Roscommon and Monksland parks.

·         Tidy towns assistance is provided from local roads maintenance own resources and €12,000 from own resources.

·         The Council also provides funding for games development officers for GAA, LGFA, Connacht Rugby and FAI at a cost of €202k.

Operation of Arts Programme:

·         The Arts office will continue to implement actions from the current Arts Plan and the sum of €1.06m has been provided for the Service in 2021. The Covid pandemic affected the operation of the arts centre this year but a range of online and offline initiatives were rolled out and will continue into 2021

·         Support has also been provided for King House and the Douglas Hyde Centre.

Other:

·         The sum of €30,000 is provided to co-fund the position of Atlantic Economic corridor officer, a partnership of all western counties to promote industry and to forge links with other providers like IDA and Enterprise Ireland .