Minutes 2025

Minutes of Budget Meeting of Sligo - Drumcliff Municipal District held on Monday 20th October 2025 at 09.30am in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Marie Casserly
  • Councillor Donal Gilroy
  • Councillor Edel McSharry
  • Councillor Thomas Walsh

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Mr. Jim Molloy, Director of Services
  • Ms. Marie Whelan, Director of Services, Head of Finance
  • Ms. Sarah McNamara, Staff Officer

 

ABSENT:

Councillor Thomas Healy

 

CATHAOIRLEACH:

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Marie Casserly presided and welcomed all present to the meeting before handing proceedings over to Ms. Marie Whelan, Head of Finance.

 

1. TO CONSIDER THE DRAFT 2026 BUDGETARY PLAN FOR THE SLIGO-DRUMCLIFF MUNICIPAL DISTRICT:

Ms. M. Whelan informed Members that the draft budgetary plan contained items of discretionary expenditure that apply to the three Municipal Districts, which may be considered on a County-wide basis along with items that are specific to each district.

 These figures include the adopted 2025 budget along with similar proposals for the 2026 Budget.

  • The amount of Sligo County Councils LPT for 2026 as adopted at the October Council meeting for 15% additional of €831,908 is incorporated as follows:
  • In 2025 we are continuing to provide a gross amount of €400,000 for Housing Grants that will be match funded with €80,000 from the additional LPT 15% increase.
  • €305,000 from the LPT towards Local Roads Programme and the ongoing Footpath Improvement Scheme with €100,000 from Development Levies.
  • D05 Tourism Development and Promotion includes the €100,000 from LPT.
  • €75,000 is included for E09 Maintenance of Burial Grounds.
  • €100,000 is included for funding salaries included within dereliction E1004
  • €75,000 is included for F0204 Purchase of Library Books.
  • Public Conveniences €15,000 (€5,000 to Enniscrone, Mullaghmore and Rosses Point)
  • Festival Stategy Commitment €30,000- Cat 1 Festivals
  • Disability, Inclusion and Access Strategy 2024-2027: €51,908
  • The additional Rates Income for borrowings for the Regional Growth Centre Projects is included in D0901 Urban and Village Renewal.

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Casserly thanked Ms. M. Whelan for the draft budget report.

Members put forward queries in relation to the Festivals & Events Strategy/Allocation for Public Conveniences, additional monies for burial grounds, provision of additional funding for housing maintenance, Grass cutting in public spaces,  provision of Life Guards at public Beachs together with appropriate training, Provision of additional LED in public Lighting, status of the Council’s overall finances and the imbalance regarding the distribution of funding between the Municipal Districts in the area of Recreation & Amenities, which were answered by Ms. M. Whelan, DOS and Head of Finance as follows:

  • Festivals & Events Strategy – Tier 1 and Tier 2 festivals are included in Main budget. Members to agree this at Plenary Council Meeting
  • Burial Grounds - there is a priority list for maintenance works in burial grounds.
  • Additional funding for Housing Maintenance – noted part of rental income directed to housing maintenance, also is Budget in place presently, Members directed to Mr. Brían Flynn, Director of Service.
  • Clarification as to additional €5,000 per public convenience at Enniscrone, Mullaghmore and Rosses Point, budget increased from €55,000 to €70,000.
  • Council to investigate extension of opening hours of toilets for winter.
  • Council to investigate beach maintenance, life buoys, cutting of grass in public areas etc to county wide and not just Urban Area.
  • Imbalance in funding between Municipal Districts in Recreation & Amenity – Maintenance of local roads in rural areas will absorb a lot of the funding in this area, though not specifically listed in the Budget Book.

Mr. Jim Molloy, DOS confirmed the Management Team are investigating Public Lighting Upgrade, will revisit the issue of Public Toilets winter opening hours/ if any, Recreation Facilities/Area of work, changes coming in regard to all MDs having a co-ordinated approach to management of Cemeteries and public spaces.  Mr. Molloy DOS further confirmed training for Lifeguards is currently being organised in advance of the new season.  This has not been advertised to date. 

Cathaoirleach, Councillor M. Casserly, and the Members thanked the Executive and staff for their responses.

It was then

Proposed by Councillor T. Walsh
Seconded by Councillor D. Gilroy

AND AGREED

“To adopt the Draft 2026 Budgetary Plan for the Sligo – Drumcliff Municipal District”

 

The business of the meeting concluded at 10.15 pm.


Meeting Date 20/10/2025