Laois County Councillors voted to confirm an expenditure budget of almost €89 million at a meeting of Laois County Council yesterday.
The revenue for this expenditure will be gathered from Local Property Tax, Commercial Rates Government Grants of and Goods and Services.
Speaking yesterday, Chief Executive John Mulholland outlined where the money would be spent.
€1.83 million is being allocated to maintain council houses, €1.9 million to operate library services while a further €1.5 million will be spent on enterprise, jobs and innovation.
The fire service will cost €892,000 to run while the areas of playgrounds, parks, pitches and recreational development have been allocated €870,000.
Chief Executive Mulholland also outlined several areas of note from the expenditure side.
He said: “€270,500 in additional expenditure has been allocated over 2021 on the maintenance of Council housing units and to include the recruitment of additional tradesmen and apprentices to assist with relets, maintenance and other areas of housing activity.
“The budget provides €46,000 towards the recruitment of additional technical staff to fully resource an expanded role by Laois County Council in tackling dereliction/vacancy.
“There is the provision of €1,304,000 for local road maintenance while a sum of €225,000 towards the continuance of activities at Council owned Leisure Centres including support for Ballinakill swimming pool.
“There is also the provision of €207,000 towards matched funding for urban renewal in Portlaoise and Portarlington while an additional fund of €23,000 is going towards heritage projects on churches and graveyards, Tinnakill Heritage House, heritage works in Donaghmore and Rathdowney and a biodiversity action plan.
“A sum of €20,000 in respect of preparations for the world ploughing championship has been ringfenced while the provision of an additional €40,000 towards maintaining standards in street cleanliness has been made.
“A book fund of €25,000 in respect of the new County Library and the provision of €89,000 towards ensuring that Laois County Council can monitor and protect its IT systems against cyber attacks is also there.
“The provision of an additional sum of €39,000 for community projects to be decided at Municipal District level while an additional €41,000 for unfinished housing estates is also included.
“An extra €30,000 towards is allocated for climate change and flooding as well as an additional €24,500 for maintenance of playgrounds.
“€10,500 for green schools while the provision of a sum of €10,000 towards feasibility of municipal indoor sports arena has also been made.”
SEE ALSO – Laois County Councillors approve biggest ever budget for 2022
