€106M Council spend for 2025

Over €106M is to be invested in public services and infrastructure across County Cavan in 2025. The figure was approved at the local authority budget meeting last Friday at which a 10% hike in commercial rates from January 1 was also passed.

It wasn’t a unanimous decision with some councillors expressing anger at the increased tax on businesses; while it was highlighted that the rate remains among the lowest in the region (see page 3).

Meanwhile, expenditure at Cavan County Council is forecast to be €106,017,129 for 2025, from €91,471,902 in 2024. This represents an increase of €14.5M or almost 15% on the 2024 figure and will be financed from the following sources: Local Property Tax (LPT), €12,402,993; Roads Grants, €16,834,357; Government Grants, €37,428,690; Uisce Éireann Service Level Agreement, €4,135,000; Goods and Services, €15,270,446; and rates, €35,216,089.

An analysis of expenditure, which was outlined during the meeting, indicates that the local authority will use more than a quarter of its budget (26%) on road transport and safety; over a fifth (22%) on housing and building, 13% for development management, 12% for environmental services, 11% is earmarked for water services, eight per cent for recreation & amenity, one per cent for agriculture, education, health & welfare, and 7% for miscellaneous services.

Those gathered heard that Cavan County Council has a housing stock of 2,179 units and €1.5M was allocated in Budget 2024 to meet day-to-day repairs such as heating, plumbing, electrical, roof, repairs to windows and doors.

HOUSING

Some 74 new social housing units were completed this year under the local authority’s ‘Housing for All’ programme including developments in Kingscourt, Mullagh, Ballyjamesduff, Bailieborough, Killeshandra, Ballyhaise, Cootehill, Virginia and Cavan Town. Since the introduction of the Croí Conáithe Scheme in 2022, Cavan County Council has received 357 applications; 71 have required further information; 227 have been approved; and 18 properties have had works completed and the applicants paid.

In 2024, Cavan County Council maintained and insured 27 existing playgrounds and outdoor gyms in the county - four playgrounds were refurbished.

ROADS

Meanwhile, funding for roads in the county this year included €16.7M from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), €18.1M from the Department of Transport, €3M from Cavan County Council; and €3.3M from the National Transport Authority (NTA).

There is 62km of national primary road and 61km of national secondary road. Regional roads incorporate 400km while local primary, secondary and tertiary make up 748km, 1,315km and 426km respectively.

This year’s budget includes the Virginia Bypass Scheme, which Cavan County Council says, “is to be developed as a hybrid multi-model transport solution that comprises bus enhancements, management, active travel facilities and transport park and share hubs”. The scheme is being introduced on a phased basis and is currently at Design and Environmental Evaluation stage.

Elsewhere, the realignment of the N55 at Killydoon was also completed by Cavan County Council this year and planning is now underway on the N55 Ballinagh Relief Road.

Cllr John Paul Feeley who proposed the budget said that the increase in rates would provide an additional €800,000 in funding for the local authority, which will make a “big difference in housing maintenance and bringing vacant housing back into the system”.

“The other big thing is funding our fire service and civil defence; there is over €4M going in there to fund that without an income stream to match it,” he continued before adding they were “essential services” that the local authority could be “very proud of”.

“As a council we have to be ambitious and we have a capital investment into this county of over €106M; improvements that we want to make; to address issues of dereliction and the historic underinvestment in some parts of the county. We want to revitalise every community, provide the supports and facilities those communities need but we can’t do it without having the funding.

“In this budget we have had to make decisions and be able to put in place the match funding to allow all these things to happen.”