Council in appeal to public over household charge and unpaid rates

There was some good festive news for people in Roscommon as a result of the 2013 budget which was agreed by councillors at the annual estimates meeting just before Christmas. 

  A 2% drop in commercial rates was agreed and there is also a freeze on water rates for businesses for 2013. It was also announced at the meeting that street cleaning would resume in Roscommon, Boyle and other towns over the Christmas period and on Sundays in the New Year. To add to the good news it was also announced that the civic amenity centres will open again on

…

There was some good festive news for people in Roscommon as a result of the 2013 budget which was agreed by councillors at the annual estimates meeting just before Christmas. 

  A 2% drop in commercial rates was agreed and there is also a freeze on water rates for businesses for 2013. It was also announced at the meeting that street cleaning would resume in Roscommon, Boyle and other towns over the Christmas period and on Sundays in the New Year. To add to the good news it was also announced that the civic amenity centres will open again on Saturdays in the New Year and that recycling facilities will be available in the county from December the 29^th

  The new commercial rate for 2013 will be 72.89 which is 2% down on the 2012 figure of 74.38. The local government grant for 2013 is €15,828,208  which is down less than 1% on the 2012 figure.

  A total of 15,767 people in County Roscommon have now paid the household charge, which is a total of 67.77% and an appeal is now being made for the remaining 32% of people who have not paid to do so.

  The comprehensive annual financial statement reveals that major work on roads will be ongoing on the Ballaghaderreen bypass which will cost €74 million in total. Preparation work will begin in 2013 on the N60 Oran road re-aligment project which will cost €7.6 million and also the Treranagry/Rathallen road improvement project will also be progressed substantially in 2013.

Appeal to 

ratepayers

Finance Officer Martin Lydon said that business people who owe commercial rates should contact the council and discuss their situation. He said that usually people who owe rates did not contact the council until a solicitor’s letter is sent which is an additional cost to the council. He indicated that he plans to go ahead and publish the list of the people who have defaulted on their rates in the New Year.

  There was widespread welcome for the decision to reduce rates and to freeze water charges. Mayor Cllr. Tom Crosby said that he was very impressed with the budget proposals and he welcomed the reduction in rates. He also welcomed the fact that street cleaning would be continued over the holiday period. 

  Fine Gael Cllr. Michael McGreal said that he welcomed the fact that the local government grant was down only 1% which he said was excellent in the current economic climate. He welcomed the news that the government were proposing a €4,000 grant for septic tank remedial works. He proposed that employment schemes and maybe even FAS could be used to cut hedges and verges. He also said that with The Gathering bringing in people into the country in 2013, it was vital that the county was looking at its best.

  Cllr. John Cummins (Fianna Fail) said that he was very happy that the voluntary housing scheme in Croghan was now up and running and he also queried the price of sites at Forest View in Boyle saying that €20,000 might be too high and that a drop in the price might have positive results. He also said he was very disappointed that the local roads allocation was well down.

  Cllr. Rachel Doherty praised the council for its work in Boyle town. She said that the streets and roads around the town were now in good condition. She appealed to the council to try and do something to move on the proposed Boyle/Ardcarne and Arigna Water schemes. “It’s going on for twenty years and it’s about time we heard something positive from the council on these schemes” she said. She also complained about the farcical situation that has developed with regard to the payment of student grants.

Concern on 

land drainage

Cllr. Valerie Byrne, while welcoming the budget in general, said she was disappointed that there was a cut in the allocation for land drainage. ”With all the rain that is falling in the past few years we will regret cutting back on land drainage” she said. She also welcomed the fact that €400,000 was set aside to buy and develop Elphin Fire station.

  Independent Cllr. Larry Fallon welcomed the proposal to re-align the road at Oran and he said that the Roscommon to Boyle Road near Roscommon town needed attention. He said that the junction at Ballymurray was one of the most dangerous in the county and he appealed to the council to get work started there as soon as possible. “We are going to have a major accident there, it’s only a matter of time and we have to do major works there as soon as possible” he said.

  Independent Cllr. John Murphy said that he welcomed the budget and appealed to the people who owed money for rates to contact the council. He also complemented the work of the Castlerea area roads office which he said was top class. “They have done anything we asked this year….within reason” he said.

  Independent Cllr. Jimmy Kenny said that while he welcomed the budget he wanted more money to be allocated for the extension of graveyards and he proposed that the land drainage grant be raised from €100,000 to €110,000.

  Fianna Fail Cllr. John Keogh said he welcomed the reduction of 2% in rates and he said it was Fianna Fail policy to reduce the burden on ratepayers. He also welcomed proposals of a grant to aid septic tank works and he encouraged people to register their tank with the authorities.

Facilities 

re-open 

All councillors commented favourably on the reduction in commercial rates and on the decision to freeze water rate for 2013 and also to recommence Sunday street cleaning, and the fact that there would be street cleaning over Christmas. There was also a widespread welcome for the news that the civic amenity centres would re-open on Saturdays in the New Year and that they would also open for Christmas re-cycling from December the 29^th. 

  The annual budget statement also reveals that it’s also planned to progress with the building project for the civic amenity offices in 2013. The work will commence subject to the impact study being carried out by An Bord Pleanala and the usual planning laws.

Roscommon People

Issued dated 4th January 2013.