'Housing and infrastructure is really really important' - €4 million boost for Leitrim!

A Leitrim councillor has welcomed the positive news today that Leitrim County Council's budget will rise by €4million, with a total allocation of €64million.

Cllr James Gilmartin said that it meant more works and projects can be realised in the coming years. "It's a very positive story and a €4 million increase from last year's budget is really good. It will bring huge benefits to the county in relation to all the different services it will provide; local services such as road maintenance, public lighting, waste management. Also housing and infrastructure is really really important for accelerating house repairs and social housing delivery. Also things like the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund and Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, which is really doing well."

The increase of 6.5 per cent, to €64 million, according to the draft budget document, will be discussed by councillors at their budget meeting on Monday. 

It was revealed the council will also spend €700,000 on making homes more energy-efficient and an extra 3 per cent will be spent on upgrading local roads in 2026. 

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Cllr Gilmartin continued: "Others areas it will be able to contribute to are things like community and recreation investment; more playgrounds, sporting amenities and community centres which will benefit the wellbeing and inclusion of all. It will help climate and environmental issues; the biodiversity project; the biodiversity plan is set to be announced soon and there is going to be great measures coming from that. It'll also benefit economic development and local tourism and enterprises and really importantly, town and village renewal schemes."

He added that it was important to acknowledge those who contribute to the schemes, such as householders and businesses. "They contribute through either their local property tax or their commercial rates and service charges. If we didn't have these revenues coming in, we wouldn't be able to have the funding in the bag so we could go to central government and match fund. It's really really important that the people who are contributing to this are acknowledged."