Ms. Caitlín Conneely, Director of Services provided an overview of the Budget for her areas of responsibility:

•       Public Lighting

•       Operating Costs ? 220k

•       Procurement: Existing OGP Contract for the provision of Unmetered Electricity to the Public Sector expires on 31st October 2024

•       Unit rate for electricity will increase

•       LED's - 45% in 2021 to 63% today

•       Number of public lights has increased from 6,500 in 2021 to 7,883 today

•       Annual usage has increased from 2,550,000 kWhr in 2021 to 2,800,000 kWhr in 2023

•       Water Services

•       Transition to Uisce Éireann - 19th July 2023;

•       Water Services staff - transferring to UE or being reassigned back to RCC;

•       All expenditure in relation to water and waste water services will be recouped from UE.

•       Rural Water Programme 2024 – 2026 to be launched Q1 2024

•       Subsidies GWS to continue

•       Grants for private water supplies to a house to continue

•       Environmental Services

•       Overall Budget increase in 2024 of  €172.4k for  Waste & Water Quality Management

•       Enforcement Team in place

•       Increased legal obligations on Local Authority

•       Climate Action

•       Climate Change & Flooding - €421k:

•       Climate Action Team in place

•       LA Climate Action Plan to be adopted Q1 2024

•       Deliver Actions in LACAP

•       DECC funding Climate Action Unit

•       SEAI funding SECs Energy Master Plans

•       Franchise Costs - €287k

•       Local Elections 2024

•       Maintenance of Electoral Register

•       Local Representation & Civic Leadership - €1.4m

•       Payments to Elected Members

•       Gratuity Scheme for Councillors in 2024

•       Recruitment:

•       Increasing workloads and expanding work areas

•       Replacement of staff lost to retirement and promotion

•       Staff turnover & succession planning

•       Staffing requirements intensive

•       Staff training, supports & wellbeing prioritized

•       44 number recruitment competitions completed to date in 2023

•       Blended Working:

•       200+ working on blended pattern

•       Focus on delivery of high quality services

•       Prioritised IT, digital transformation and communication

•       Flexibility - new ways of working - innovation

Capital Budget

•       Development Incentives and Controls

•       Energy & ergonomic upgrade to Áras and Chontae incl. Solar PV panels, lighting to LED, better use of space within building & upgrade to BMS - €1m

This Project will contribute towards reacting our 2030 Targets by reducing our Carbon Emissions

·         RCC 2030 Targets:

•       51% reduction in energy related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

•       51% reduction in thermal (heating and transport) related greenhouse gas emissions

•       50% improvement in energy efficiency

•       All buildings to be net zero emissions by 2050

•       Environmental Protection

•       Upgrades to Civic Amenity Sites – Draft Waste Management Plan for Circular Economy - €95k

•       Landfill licencing requirements - €100k

•       Climate Action Plan - €100k

•        

•      Administration and Miscellaneous

•       Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project (PLEEP) - €3.4m

•       North West Region managed by Mayo County Council (7LA’s)

•       Unbundling Costs

•       Procurement electricity for public lights during 2024

•       Cut energy use and reduce CO2 emissions

•       Public Lighting Infill Projects - €300k