Tullamore MD request 10% increase in budget allocation for 2027

Tullamore Municipal District Councillors have requested a 10% increase in the General Municipal Allocation (GMA) for 2027.

The elected members voiced their concerns about the allocation during the October meeting of the Tullamore MD in the Town Hall recently.

The 2027 draft budget states Tullamore's allocation as €220,000 which is the same figure as 2026 prompting unanimous agreement among councillors in their proposal for an additional 10% for the upcoming year.

The elected members cited that the additional funding would be necessary to support community projects, grant and capital funding as well as facilitating events on landmark occasions throughout the year such as St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas and Halloween.

Senior Executive Officer for Tullamore Municipal District, Monica Cleary, offered some background on the funding allocation at the latest MD meeting.

She stated: “The chief executive has outlined the various costs, issues and constraints in relation to the 2027 budget and the allocation remains the same as 2026 at €220,000. The GMA has increased by 24% since 2022 which the municipal district uses towards community grants and match funding for various programmes throughout the year.”

Cathaoirleach of Tullamore MD, Councillor Shane Murray revealed that they had previously discussed the funding allocation as a group. He recollected: “I think we're all in agreement that we disagree with the chief executive's report on this matter.”

Cllr Murray then opened the floor to the elected members who each supported the proposal and stressed the importance of the additional funding for the municipal district.

Councillor Frank Moran proposed the 10% increase for the 2027 allocation. He said: “I don't agree with the chief executive leaving the figure the same as last year. It's a bit disingenuous to mention figures like 24% considering the fact that it only rose by about 7% last year and there’s no rise for next year.”

“Let's focus on the percentage it was increased from last year and work on that for this year. I would propose that the municipal district look for an additional 10%, (€22,000) to be added to the allocation for this year.”

Councillor Neil Feighery expressed that inflation must be taken into consideration when deciding the municipal district allocation. “I think for a number of years here we tried in vain to get an increase and in fairness, we have seen an increase over the last couple of years. However, I always thought that an increase would be in line with inflation for many years and it wasn't.”

The Fine Gael representative continued: “As local councillors, our discretionary fund allows us to support communities across the district in terms of grant funding and significant capital funding for worthwhile projects that we help get off the ground. I'm thinking of projects like the Mucklagh Playground which was allocated funds.”

“This is of huge benefit to our communities and the residents that live there so I think we need to make sure that funding keeps pace with the current cost of everything. There has been steady inflation so I would certainly support Councillor Moran’s request for 10%.”

Councillor Declan Harvey was also in agreement with the proposal and declared how vital it is to maintain funding for local cultural events within the district.

“We need to keep Tullamore used to the standards we’ve set when it comes to funding for our festivals including Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day as well as Summer and Halloween Festivities. The cost of living is high enough so people need to be able to enjoy what the council can help provide with these cultural events. I agree with the proposed 10%.”

Councillor Aoife Masterson offered her support to the proposal citing that the funding is paramount to the elected members being able to directly support the local communities through engagement on the ground level.

She commented: “I completely agree with what has been said because our remit as councillors is quite limited. We have very limited funds which we directly have access to and allocate as we see fit based on our experience engaging with people on the ground.”

“I think that this is one of the few instances where we can make a real influence. If we don't keep this in line with inflation then the allocation is deteriorating and being devalued and ultimately, it is our communities that will pay the price for that.”

Cllr Masterson added: “I think that at a minimum we should look at this to be kept in line with inflation, but I do think that it is only a benefit to the communities if there is more in the kitty in terms of discretionary funds and I would therefore support the 10% proposal.”

Councillor Sean O’Brien also showed his support for the proposal as he stated: “I'd be anxious that we see a good allocation. It's the only bit of money we have to promote what we want to promote and I think we've used it very wisely throughout the area over the last number of years.”

“We need to be able to promote events and get people into our towns and I think we know best how to do that locally so I'd be very strongly asking that we would seek extra funding for the allocation.”

Cllr Frank Moran spoke again in order to illustrate the impact an extra 10% in additional funding could have for the local communities.

He explained: “That 10% increase of €22,000 from what we got last year could potentially yield the Tullamore Municipal District and the communities that the funding is going to in the region of €100,000 through match funding.”

“So although we're just looking for a 10% increase, it could benefit the Municipal District by over €100,000 so we need to be cognisant of that as well when issuing our response.”

The discussion on the allocation finished with Cathaoirleach Shane Murray providing his stance on the matter. “I'm just going to concur with everything that's been said. For these groups that we're dealing with such as the St. Patrick's Day committee or the Tidy Towns group, that funding is absolutely vital.”

He concluded: “We all know from being involved with these groups that the cost of everything has gone up. We can see it coming in with the grants as people are looking for more money but we just don't have it to give to them because the costs have gone up.”

“We need to bear that in mind as well for residents’ groups and all the different community groups that come in looking for grants so I think it's pretty clear that we're looking for a 10% increase.”

The response from the Tullamore Municipal District on their allocation will be discussed at the statutory budget meeting for Offaly County Council on November 16, with the in-committee meeting to consider the budget taking place beforehand on November 9.