Kerry councillors approve all five district draft budgets

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

Kerry councillors have approved all five draft budgets for the municipal districts ahead of the county council’s full budget at the end of the month.

At the meetings this week, the council’s Director of Finance, Angela McAllen, told councillors the body still had not balanced the budget, and it remains a very difficult year for council funding.

Following a decision last year, councillors’ road allocations have increased to €40,000, while the community support fund in each district will see an extra €20,000 tacked onto its funding.

This additional spending is funded by the raising of Local Property Tax in Kerry, with councillors agreeing to raise the levy by 10 per cent for three years.

Councillors in the Tralee Municipal District (MD) unanimously approved a budget of €225,000, with €105,000 allocated to the areas Strategic Development Fund (SDF), €80,000 to the Community Support Fund (CSF) and €40,000 for Town Operations Commitments (TOC).

The SDF includes funding for Tralee’s mall regeneration project (€42,000), preservation and enhancement of Ash Memorial Hall (€27,000), under the THRIVE scheme, and shared facilities at Fenit (€20,000), as part of the Platforms for Growth initiative.

The CSF will help fund community projects in the area, while TOC is earmarked for operational costs such as town Christmas lights.

Killarney MD approved a budget of €220,000, with the same €105,000 allocated to the area’s SDF, but with €95,000 for the CSF and €20,000 for TOC.

Some of the projects set to benefit are Killarney public realm works (€37,578), Smarter Travel/Bothirín na Goun scheme (€30,000), Killarney Teen Hangout (€16,000) and equipment for Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre (€9,000).

The €20,000 set aside for TOC will likely be all spent on Christmas lights, with Councillor Niall Kelleher saying, considering previous years, the allocation wouldn’t fully cover it.

Kerry County Council also said they’re expecting another €900,000 in additional revenue from Killarney MD due to the increase in Local Property Tax agreed by members last year.

Listowel MD voted to pass a budget of €153,000, with €70,000 earmarked for the district’s SDF, €58,000 for the CSF and €25,000 for TOC.

Projects in North Kerry allocated funding include the Ballybunion Main St public realm works (€18,199), renewal of the Listowel town square (€16,400), Greenway Trailhead Facilities (€8,000) and development of the Shannon Way (€4,464).

Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne MD approved their budget of €132,000, consisting of €70,000 for districts SDF and €62,000 for the CSF.

The long-awaited Milltown-Kilderry looped walk will receive €23,766 in funding from the district budget plan as part of the €500,000 project.

The Castleisland masterplan was also allocated €13,000, while €10,000 is set aside for new public toilets in Dingle town.

Councillor Charlie Farrelly stressed the need to make the application process for the community support funds simpler, arguing that more elderly applicants struggle with filling out the forms.

Both Councillor Breandán Fitzgerald and Tommy Griffin welcomed the council’s work towards the budget but urged the authority to provide more resources for the MD.

Kenmare MD passed their budget of €120,000, with €65,000 for area’s SDF and €55,000 for the CSF.

The Cahersiveen Carnegie regeneration project will receive €17,000, the Killorglin town centre SMART project €15,000 and Kenmare town centre masterplan €10,000.

Money is also set aside for recreational enhancement in Rossbeigh and Kenmare’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.