Budget agreed for Boyle Municipal District amid outcry over illegal dumping
Litter dumped indiscriminately at Coolaghtane, Ballaghaderreen.
A budget of €985,000 for Boyle Municipal District has been agreed for 2024, an increase of €63,070 on this year’s figure.
Municipal district councillors welcomed the budget but called for more funding for illegal dumping, which members stated was “a blight in the country” and they described the €7,500 allocation as a “pittance.” Sean Mullarkey, Head of Finance with Roscommon County Council, outlined at a meeting last week the breakdown of the overall figure.
A total of €524,100 has been allocated for road transport and safety under which €497,300 has been assigned for local roads general maintenance work, €10,000 for taking in charge and €16,800 for public lighting operating costs.
Funding of €6,000 has been allocated for the maintenance of public conveniences.
Under development management Boyle will receive €122,500 with €85,000 of this being the GMA (General Municipal Allocation) and €37,500 assigned for economic development.
In relation to environment services the budget will be €149,400. There is a €7,500 allocation for illegal dumping; €70,2000 for street cleaning; €25,000 for the voluntary graveyard grant; €36,700 for the maintenance of burial grounds and €10,000 for burial grounds emergency repairs.
A further €134,600 has been budgeted for recreation and amenity. Under this Tidy Towns assistance will receive €4,000; Tidy Towns and Amenity Grants are calculated at €20,000 with a further €110,600 for Open Spaces and Tidy Towns.
The remaining €48,400 of the overall budget will be assigned to the maintenance of land drainage areas.
Cllr Tom Crosby welcomed the 2024 budget but stated that “€7,500 for illegal dumping is a pittance giving the extent of the problem. I think €7,500 has been in place for a number of years. This is a blight on the county. It has a major impact on economic life especially with tourism. We need to look at this further as €7,500 is totally inadequate.” He suggested that money be taken from the street cleaning budget. Cllr Valerie Byrne also proposed they take another look at how to catch the people carrying out these acts, “the only way to stop them is with a decent fine.” The meeting was told that if dumping is carried out on private lands or on Coillte property the council inform the owners. It was further stated that in a number of cases where a clean up took place the same people returned and dumped their rubbish again. If cameras are installed signs must be erected due to data protection issues, the meeting heard.
Cllr Crosby replied: “people who are throwing bags on the side of the road are being protected. It is time our Oireachtas members woke up.” Cllr Byrne queried if the council could still investigate if people did not have bins and if they were allowed to ask for receipts for dumping their rubbish by other means.
However, it was stated that people could buy a bin but never use it and, in some cases, bins were shared. The council has access to a number of data bases which allows it to see this information and it can use it to target people who are not disposing of their rubbish properly.
Cllr Michael Mulligan described dumping is a “chronic problem.” He said there had been a clean-up in his area a number of weeks ago “but the area is now as bad as ever.” It was agreed that the matter would be raised at the council’s main plenary meeting.
Cllr John Cummins questioned if the council was involved in the clean up around the old Royal Hotel in Boyle. He was informed this is seen as a separate cost, which the council is investigating while also looking at whether it should rent or buy street cleaning machinery.
Cllr Byrne welcomed the news that more estates had been taken in charge during the current year and there are now about 70 remaining. “It is good to see that number going down as we started off at 260-270.” Chairman of Boyle MD, Cllr Liam Callaghan stated it was important “to keep ahead of the pack”, with regard to taking estates in charge. He also asked for a list of estates which remain to be circulated to the members.
Cllr Byrne also asked if there was a separate allocation for new lights as she understood a number of places were still awaiting installation.
Mr Mullarkey said the council is replacing many of the lights with LEDs.
All members had received correspondence in relation to the Abbeytown Roundabout in Boyle. Cllr Mulligan said there were some concerns from people using this area. Along with a medical company, there is a football pitch, a nursing home, school, and hundreds of houses. Some work had been carried out at the roundabout previously, but he added, “there is signage, but they are not the biggest signs in the world.” He suggested a pedestrian crossing was needed adding, “We have had a lot of tips and crashes, thankfully none were fatal. Something needs to be done with it.” The meeting was told work will be carried out in this area over the coming weeks, but the council believes that signage is “fairly good.” It was highlighted that this area has a 50kph speed limit and that the problem is with people. The roundabout caters to three local roads and traffic coming from the N16.
Cllr Crosby also raised the issue of having safety measures installed at Cloonfour national school on the Roosky to Tarmonbarry road. He understood at one stage this was under the Active Travel programme.
However, when investigated by the NTA they look at the number of school children travelling and the cost. This would have a low ranking for them as they would see it as having a poor cost benefit to other projects. The NTA is looking at putting money into more urban centres, the meeting heard.
Cllr Byrne stated: “When Active Travel was introduced it was to regenerate the small towns and villages. They have walked away from us. It is very unfair. I hope the minister changes that criteria.” Volunteers The members also welcomed the funding for Tidy Towns and Town Teams and also commended the work of the many volunteers involved. Cllr Byrne restated: “It is untold what the volunteer communities do, and I am glad to see them supported.” She also asked the council to provide support for Strokestown which will be hosting the Connacht Fleadh, “It takes €60,000 - €70,000 to run. All of that cannot be raised locally. They need that money and are entitled to it,” and further suggested the council provide €30,000 in funding.
