Finding a 'new or smarter way of creating income' for Louth

With Louth councillors engaging with the Louth County Council executive as it plans its the 2026/27 Louth County Council Budget, Dundalk South Fianna Fáil representative, Councillor Shane McGuinness, is urging the local authority to expand its outlook on parking in Dundalk and Blackrock, and has highlighted a number of areas where he believes could be “a new or smarter way” of generating revenue for the local authority.

In a statement to the Dundalk Democrat, Cllr McGuinness said: “As we sit down as local representatives, we are looking at the 2026/27 Louth County Council Budget. I have raised a number of areas at workshops, where I see a new or smarter way of creating income for our council.

“In a way, we are always expected to raise the Local Property Tax to create ways of raising incomes. When we look strategically at this function, I feel we need to broaden our views on this.”

Looking at a number of areas in Dundalk and Blackrock where he believes the local authority should consider, Cllr McGuinness said: “We have large areas of land and properties where we should as a council use these grounds or property to try and raise our income capacities for running our county services.

“In relation to our train stations, we have serious parking issues. We shouldn’t be waiting for Iarnród Eireann to provide car parking as they don’t seem to see that as their priorities and looking at sites and buildings around Dundalk station should be looked at as a future investment from the council and developed ourselves to future fund our county requirements.

“Also, specific areas like Blackrock which has a serious parking issue, it should be considered to procure sites which are available close to the main street should also be considered to alleviate the parking problem and boost the businesses there and the tourism and visitor expectation.”

Cllr McGuinness also highlighted a number of other areas in Dundalk which should be considered, saying that, “we have an area around DKIT/university site and the new GAA stadium and running track site, and again, search out these neighbouring sites and prepare them for parking locations as best use of space and not be in a position 10 years down the line where we just have not got enough parking allocations for these sporting and college sites.”

The Fianna Fáil councillor concluded by adding: “There are many ways we can look at creating more income, but we have to be brave and sometimes invest and finance for the betterment of the community.

“There is no point in looking back and saying, why didn’t we do that and give private companies opportunities to. Seek out these investments now, when it could be staring us in the face.”