Laois County Council announced their Budget 2025 this week, with close to €124 million to be spent – an increase of 9% from last year’s investment.
It is the largest budget in the history of Laois County Council and only the second time the county’s finances have been over the €100 million mark.
The sources for the funding include:
- €70.6 million (57%) from Government grants;
- €26 million (21%) from local goods and services provided by Laois County Council;
- €15 (12%) from commercial rates;
- €12.4 million (10%) from local property tax.
Housing and Building – €38.4 million
Housing and Building will receive close to €6 million more than 2024, with Mr Simon Walton, Interim Chief Executive, highlighting housing as a major priority for Laois County Council.
The 15% increase represents one of the biggest yearly increase of any section in Budget 2025.
The main expenditure here is the RAS (rental accommodation scheme) and leasing programme, which has been designated over €14 million, while over €6 million will be spent on maintenance and improvement of local authority housing units.
Housing grants will total €10 million in 2025, with another €490,000 going to the HAP (Housing Assistance Payments) Programme.
Over €2.7 million has been ear-marked for the Housing Capital Programme; close to €2.2 million for housing loans; and over €1 million homeless services.
The rest of the money is dispersed between administrative, management and support costs.
Road Transport and Safety – €31 million
Road Transport and Safety is one of two sections of the budget which sees a decrease on 2024 investment, however, the reduction of €194,205 is just 0.6% less than last year.
Over one third of all expenditure will go on the maintenance and improvement of local roads, which has been allocated almost €12.5 million.
Over €6 million has been designated for regional roads, with more than €4.5 million for national roads.
Road safety has been allocated in excess of €4 million, while almost €1.7 million is to be spen public lighting, with over half a million euro going to car parking services.
Councillors continue to clamour for more funding for footpaths, with several calling for a dedicated footpath programme to help County Councils manage the issue.
Environmental Services – €14 million
Almost 5% more than last year will be spent on Environmental Services, with close to €700,000 extra to be invested on the previous 12 months.
This is the most wide-ranging section in the budget, with 15 different areas of expenditure sharing close to €14 million.
Fire Service costs account for more than half of all spending, with €7.36 million set aside. This includes training, education, monitoring and more.
A further €590,000 will go on safety costs, including funding for the Civil Defence of €216,000; as well as €575,000 for cemetery costs.
Landfill operations, recycling, litter management, street cleaning, waste monitoring and all associated administrative costs have been designated a combined €3.75 million.
On top of that, €836,000 has been ear-marked for climate change and flooding, while more than €800,000 will be spent on water quality and air and noise pollution.
Development Management – €13.5 million
An increase of more than €1 million represents an 8.6% rise from 2024 investment in Development Management.
The main source of expenditure here is €4.5 million going towards community and enterprise, which includes over €1.7 million for social inclusion.
There is a similar figure attached to economic development and promotion, on which more than 4.25 million will be spent. This includes local enterprise offices, urban and village renewal, town twinning and more.
€2.5 million will go on planning and service costs; over €800,00 on heritage and conservation; €331,000 on tourism; and €108,000 on industrial and commercial facilities.
Miscellaneous Services – €12.5 million
Miscellaneous Services incorporates administrative sections of the Council budget, including finances, civic representation and more.
Almost €550,000 (4.4%) extra has been set aside for these areas from the 2024 figure.
The vast majority of the €12.5 million is designated for agency and recoupable services, which will see a spend of over €6.5 million, with a further €1.7 on associated support costs.
Other areas covered in this section include coroner fees, plant and machinery operations, debt management, election costs and motor tax.
Recreation and Amenity – €8.5 million
The 22% increase represents the biggest yearly increase of any section of Budget 2025, with an extra €1.9 million to be spent on recreation and amenity in the county.
Libraries and archiving make up over one third of the €8.5 million allocated, with over €3.75 million to be spent on the services.
Community, sport and recreation will have over €2.3 million to spend, including €438,500 for grants.
The arts will receive over €1 million, including €70,000 for festivals and concerts.
Parks, pitches, playgrounds and other outdoor leisure facilities have been assigned over €985,000, while indoor leisure facilities account for almost €325,000.
Water Services – €4.75 million
A 1.5% increase from 2024 sees little change in the money spent on water services, with over half (€2.6 million) going towards the water supply.
Over €1.5 million will go towards waste water management, while almost €300,000 has been ear-marked for various water grants.
Agriculture, Education, Health and Welfare – €928,374
The biggest reduction in terms of any one section was in Agriculture, Education, Health and Welfare, which will have €113,084 (12%) less investment than 2024.
The primary sources of expenditure here are over half a million euro on land drainage costs and almost €410,000 on veterinary services.
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