Emergency accommodation funding for Ukranian refugees is set to see an increase of €165,000 in 2024.
The news came at Laois County Council’s unveiling of their new Budget, with emergency accommodation funding climbing from €134,000 in 2023 to €299,000.
This follows the recent news that the number of refugees arriving in Stradbally would be increasing once again.
A further €325,000 has been allocated for Integration Support Services, while Social Inclusion will rise from €74,700 to €99,000.
Elsewhere, €220,000 was allocated for next year’s Local Elections.
Head of Finance, Mr Gerry Murphy explained that this figure is an accumulation of funds set aside over each of the past five years.
Economic Development and Promotion has been given an increase of €83,000 up to €335,000.
This includes €73,000 towards supporting small and medium businesses.
Maintenance of burial grounds has seen its funding rise from €266,000 to €411,500, with Mr Murphy pointing out that the new Columbarium wall in Portlaoise had added considerably to this figure.
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