By Chris Ashmore
DONEGAL County Council’s plans to spend a record €224 million under its Draft Revenue Budget in 2026 are on hold – until councillors agree to give the green light.
Members met on Friday to approve the local authority’s day-to-day expenditure next year which is set to rise by more than €25.1 million (12 per cent) on the 2025 figure.
But the matter did not go to a vote and the meeting was adjourned until Wednesday, December 3, when councillors will reassemble with a view to passing what will almost certainly be a revised budget.
One of the main decisions facing councillors was the proposals by senior management to increase commercial rates for businesses by 5 per cent to help towards the increased budget.
Council officials pointed out that there has been no rates increase in seven years despite rising inflation and ever increasing demands for council services.
Following an outlining of the budget proposals, it became clear that there were mixed views on this.
Many councillors were of the view that businesses are already being stretched and with the increase in the minimum wage and auto-enrolment (pension) costs coming in January, they could not vote in favour of an increase in commercial rates.
Fianna Fáil councillors were the only ones to meet senior council officials in the afternoon, and afterwards the view was put forward that there were issues that needed to be considered and more time was needed.
It is understood that some issues relating to expenditure in the Letterkenny area were also raised.
Cathaoirleach Paul Canning (FF) said that he was aware a lot of other groups had not met with the senior management team. He said that Fianna Fáil wanted clarification on a number of things.
Councillors from other parties, and some independents expressed their displeasure at the way things panned out.
Cllr Jack Murray (SF) felt they could “work on” during the evening and did not favour adjourning to another day while Cllr Martin Farrren (Labour) felt if they could resolve the issues on the day it should be done.
“The idea of postponing is a waste of a day,” he maintained.
However, Cllr Liam Blaney (FF) said that they could not get clarity on issues and he asked that they look at another day.
“We are trying to accommodate everyone, it’s not for ourselves, it’s for the county,” he maintained.
John McLaughlin, Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, said the council officials were happy to meet Fianna Fáil or anyone else that evening, or into next week. He assured members that Council officials were flexible.
Cllr Michael McClafferty (Ind) said they should give “everyone a chance to recharge batteries and rethink and come back and talk about it”.
