2008 Letterkenny Town Council Budget
December 19th, 2007Last night (Dec 18), Letterkenny Town Council passed our annual budget for 2008. The budget will include a commercial rates increase of 3%, approximately 2 points less than the current rate of inflation and 1% less than the rate sought by the County Manager and Town Clerk in the Draft Budget.
I have some difficulties with the budgetting process. While I am very happy with what has been delivered in the town over the last year, and I consider it positive that we have kept the increases below inflation (by at least a full percentage point) every year I’ve been on the Council, the current system of funding for Local Government in Ireland needs substantial reform. A substantial burden is placed on businesses, which is okay in the good years but in our changing circumstances it becomes one more bill hitting employers in the town #1.
My highlights in the budget include €160,000 for Road Safety and Education, continued funding for the CCTV programme (cameras currently in place, networking being finalised and should be in operation fully within weeks) and an allocation towards bringing an Ice Rink to the town for the Christmas 2008 and New Year 2009 period. We have allocated substantial funding towards marketing the town on a national and international basis, for sporting and community groups, and for planning and development control including putting together the next development plan.
Letterkenny has developed at an amazing pace in recent years. This is likely to slow, so it’s more important than ever before that we have the resources in place to deal with the problems of a growing town. I think we’ve done that. By allocating money directly, and setting money aside to work on projects like the Gateway Innovations Fund during the year, we’re addressing the deficits that have been identified.
On another point; towards the end of the meeting I put forward a motion that we look at the naming of the Leisure Complex at Sallaghraine #2. The centre has been an outstanding success, far exceeding our expectations. But I think the centre sells itself short. It’s not just a Leisure Centre, it’s the largest sports, convention and event centre in the North West of Ireland. I fully believe that the title “Aura Leisure Centre” does not do the complex justice, and makes it sound like a much smaller venue than it really is. I have asked the Town Clerk to draw up some proposals along the lines of a “North West Sports and Event Centre” and bring them before the members in January or February.
A final point in response to those who will complain about how Letterkenny “always gets everything”: over 40% of the rates collected in Letterkenny go to Donegal County Council (towards the Fire Service, Library Service etc), the 3% increase this year can be accounted for completely within the County Demand, and Donegal County Council has this year seen a massive increase in income from Letterkenny’s businesses through the Water Rates. The new Sports Complex at Sallaghraine was constructed completely from either Central Government grants, and money raised by Letterkenny Town Council.
*1… On a side note, businesses in Letterkenny benefit from the presence of the Town Council on two fronts. Our ratable valuation is slightly less than the County Council, meaning businesses would be charged more if we weren’t here. And if we weren’t here, the rates raised in the town would become part of the County Council’s general budget with no guarantee that it would be spent in the town or the surrounding area. Without our strong rates base, there would be Sports Centre, Ballymacool Park or An Grianan Theatre.
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*2… The Centre hasn’t officially been given a name yet; Aura Leisure Centre is the operational name chosen by the management company to market the centre. Various elements have been named in honour of local people already. The running track is named after local olympian Danny McDaid, and the pool for former Town Clerk Barney Doherty. I am proposing an overall name for the entire complex, including the Track, Pool, Skate Park and Events Centre.
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2 Responses to “2008 Letterkenny Town Council Budget”
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December 19th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Hi Damien,
As a Derryman with very strong Donegal connections (that is, a Derryman who really thinks of himself as a Donegal man), I was very interested to read the information contained on your website.
May I ask a -hopefully apolitical - question ?
I’ve been away from Derry for a very long time and during that time have seen Letterkenny prosper greatly - well done to all involved. However, when I spend time in Derry itself, I see a City that has really benefitted little from the Peace Dividend. By that, I mean, when you come into a town - anywhere, and I’ve travelled a lot - you can tell whether it falls into the “prosperous” or “struggling to get by” category. So, it’s easy to categorise the two places.
I have great faith that Derry will rejuvenate.
What joint working is there between the two towns that is mutually benefit ?
Forgive me if there is a massive amount of such activity of which I’m unaware.
Finally, as someone who’s worked in the technology business for the last number of years, may I say I like your website !
With kind regards - John Bradley
December 22nd, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Letterkenny and Derry work very closely; in particular, we’ve been linked under the National Spatial Strategy and have applied for approximately E90m of funding under the Gateway Innovation Fund.
Letterkenny and Derry work very closely together. The Councills, Chambers of Commerce and Third Level Collleges all work closely. Business people are active in both towns, and students like myself do degrees in one town and postgrads in the other.
Derry has been held back by a number of things. Donegal has always been a more attractive taxation area. The infrastructure in Letterkenny has been improving at a quicker rate. Finally, the absence of political stability in the North has been a disaster over thirty years.
I love visiting Derry, the City has an atmosphere and a way of life like no other. Hopefully the new political stability in the North will bring improved development.