Director of Finance Sean Mullarkey presented members with the Unaudited Annual Financial Statement for 2023:

·        Total Expenditure €72,883,658 and total Income €55,322,013.

·        Net Cost of Divisions funded from Rates and LPT = €17.561m

·        Rates Income = €12.464m and LPT = €10.756m

·        Transfers from reserves = €5.632m with over surplus for the year of €27,120

Transfers from Revenue Account to Capital Account (€5.045m)

·        Matched funding for Government projects - €1.429m

·        New Civil Defence Centre - €800,000

·        Funding for energy plans to bring buildings up to recognised environmental and climate change standards - €640,000

·        Machinery Account  - €481,000 (to part fund purchase six lorries at a cost of €1.2m.)

·        Housing Grants - €301,000.

·        Commitments to An Bealach Project - €300,000

·        Roscommon Swimming Pool - €300,000

·        Public lighting - €250,000.

·        General Municipal Allocation - €220,000.

·        Castlerea Toddler Swimming Pool - €150,000

·        Other Capital Projects - €73,000

·        Library Van - €50,000

·        Town Teams (5 No.) - €50,000

Cllr. Cummins said that as a member of the outgoing Audit Committee, all of the members of the committee are very satisfied with the way Roscommon County Council manage its finances.

Members responded favourably to the report and discussed as follows:

·        What is the annual cost of the mortgage on Aras an Chontae and the savings in comparison to renting office space?

·        A proposal was made for a supplementary increase for the roads budget which should take allowance of inflation.

·        A proposal was made to write to the Minister seeking extra funding in the light of inflation for roads projects.

·        Members enquired if equipment had been purchased for street cleaning.

·        A request was also made seeking funding for drainage works along roads, to prevent ‘flash flooding’.

·        Will the €2m allocated for the purchase of vehicles be spent locally?

Mr. Mullarkey responded to issues raised:

·        The Council is fortunate in that it is costing approximately €600,000 per year to service the loan for Áras an Chontae at a low level of interest.

·        The big challenge for the local authority is financing the 20% cost of matched funding for projects.

·        The €5.9m loan secured in 2019 has not yet been drawn down.

·        Of the revenue received in respect of the Local Property Tax (LPT), €7m of this was coming from the exchequer.

·        There has been no rates increase for the past twenty years.

·        The purchase of new equipment has to be publicly procured, noting six lorries are being purchased this year.

Acting Director of Services Greg O’Donnell said a street cleaner has not yet being purchased which may result in such equipment having to be rented. A provision of €300,000 was available in this year’s budget for such equipment. He also noted that the issue of drainage works for individual houses along roads was a matter solely for householders to consider, but where the Council can assist it will. He stressed the Council’s priority was to get value for money in providing road surfacing.

Cllr. Cummins suggested a report be compiled in respect of the local contributions required to match grant aid coming from central Government for the regeneration programme.  Clarity is required as contributions up to 24% to 27% were being required for projects, such as recent funding allocated for Strokestown, in contrast to contributions of 9% to 11% for other projects in other counties. It was felt the North-West region was at a disadvantage in being expected to draw down significant matched funding.

Director of Services Mark Keaveney said the Council had advised the Government and Departments that matched funding requirements for RRDF and URDF schemes needed to be revised downward. He said the rate of matched funding required is becoming an issue nationally. He added that matched RRDF funding for works in Strokestown was at 90% but that the shortfall was being met by TII who are part-funding the scheme, which was resulting in the Council match funding to the amount of 10%.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fallon

SECONDED by Cllr. Byrne

It was AGREED to write to the Minister for Finance to increase the roads budget for 2024 to cover the increased costs of works due to inflation

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Cummins

SECONDED by Cllr. Byrne

It was AGREED to that a comprehensive report be compiled on local contributions required and how these are arrived at.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Murphy

SECONDED by Cllr. Cummins

It was AGREED to adopt the Unaudited Annual Financial statement for 2023.