Annual Budget 2013 - Roscommon County Council

Manager’s Foreword
Waste Management
The direct costs of operating 40 Bring Banks and 4 Recycling Centres is estimated at €438,000 in 2013,
representing a saving of over €77,000 over 2012 through efficiencies and cost savings. Their operation
is undergoing continuous review.
Housing
The provision we are making for the management and maintenance of our housing stock of over 1300
homes is the minimum in my view and will need to be given attention in future as increased resources
become available.
Civic, Recreation and Amenity Facilities
This budget provides for the operation of two leisure centres at Roscommon and Castlerea and will allow
for the continuation of the service. Focus will be placed in 2012 on programming to ensure that our
centres remain attractive to potential users. The VAT framework applying to local authorities has been
changed with effect from 1st January 2013 and VAT will be applicable to services at varying rates.
The upgrade and modernisation of our County Library were completed recently and the planning process
is underway for our new civic offices which will bring all sections together, with the consequent cost
savings and improvements in operational efficiencies, access, health & safety and customer service.
Tourism & The Gathering
Roscommon County Council has developed a number of flagship projects in recent years in partnership
with other state agencies. These include the Lough Key Activity Centre, Hodson Bay Boat Training
Centre, Suck Valley Way Walk, Donamon Angling Facility, Errit Lough, Lake O’Flynn, King House,
Loughnaneane Park and Boyle Historic Town Trails. Over €4m has been invested directly by the Council
in tourism facilities during the past six years. This investment matched by investment on the part of Fáilte
Ireland, Waterways Ireland and Coillte has provided a huge resource to County Roscommon on which to
implement the new County Tourism Strategy under the by-line Revive, Refresh, Rewind.
Resources have been ring-fenced for Roscommon County Council to continue to play a central role at
community level in preparing for the counties participation the The Gathering Ireland 2013. A host of
community and flagship events are planned in conjunction with communities and other state agencies
which will see the county celebrate our heritage, culture and intrinsic beauty as a destination for
homecoming, inward investment and pride of place.
Discretionary Community Funding
Due to the massive reduction of resources available it will continue to be necessary to restrict the range
and scale of discretionary funding, as in recent years, towards community based initiatives. This will
manifest itself in limited grants towards burial grounds, arts and voluntary bodies, maintenance of amenity
areas and land drainage.
Capital Investment in Infrastructure
The Capital Programme for the year period 2013 – 2015 (with reference to Section 135 of the Local
Government Act 2001) is included with the Revenue Budget. We have prepared the Capital Programme
having due regard to available resources. The County’s Capital Programme may be funded from
Government Grants, proceeds from development contributions and the sale of assets. These funding
sources have significantly contracted in recent years. The three-year investment plan amounts to
€149,627,000; €62,730,000 of which is scheduled to be incurred in 2013. In particular there is
substantial investment in roads and water services.
This level of spend is a welcome investment in our County’s infrastructure.
Roscommon County Council | Comhairle Chontae Ros Comain | Adopted Budget 2013 | For year ended 31st December 2013
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