More residents' associations for Ballinamore - Barry

Councillors want to support the establishment of more residents' associations in the Ballinamore area, it was revealed at the latest Ballinamore municipal district meeting. 

Cllr Brendan Barry asked for a list of residents' associations in the area. "If we, as councillors, could help to set up more of those groups; that's something we could do to get more money into the area."

Cllr Paddy O'Rourke supported the motion adding, "the existing ones benefit from each other and there may be others out there who could, if they were on the list."

The councillors were speaking following a presentation by Leitrim County Council head of finance, Vincent Dwyer regarding the General Municipal Allocation (GMA) for Ballinamore.

The figure comes in at €32,035 in total for Ballinamore and was brought before members ahead of the budget meeting in November. 

Mr Dwyer advised members that this is the "preliminary review" and the budget process is still ongoing. 

It's proposed to increase the GMA overall from €82,000 to €112,000, Mr Dwyer said that it's proposed to increase housing estate management from €12,00 to €15,000 and estate funding from €6,000 to €9,000. 

Ballinamore active residents' association are to receive €3,947 while local authority estate funding is €3,000. 

It's proposed to increase the GMA overall from €82,000 to €112,000. Mr Dwyer said that it's proposed to increase housing estate management from €12,000 to €15,000 and estate funding from €6,000 to €9,000. 

He said that community, tourism and arts grants are increased this year from €15,000 to €21,000, with €6,463 going to Ballinamore and and the Love Where You Live Leitrim programme has been increased from €9,000 to €12,000 with €3,693 going to Ballinamore. 

The allocation Adopt a Road/Bring Bank schemes remain at €5,000 (€1,539 for Ballinamore) while the Tidy Towns and Amenity Grant Scheme allocation will increase from €35,000 to €50,000 (€13,393).