Laois county councillors today approved an increased Laois County Council budget of over €132m, which is a 7.4% increase on last year.
Almost 60% (58%) of Laois’s projected expenditure comes from Government grants, with Goods and Services making up for 20% of it, Commercial Rates 12% and Local Property Tax 10%.
Among the key figures are €41.5 million to be spent on Housing, €31.3 million on Roads, Transport and Safety, €15.3 million on Environmental Services, €9 million on Recreation and Amenities and just over €4 million on Water Services.
The Laois County Council budget has increased year-on-year, breaking the €100 million mark for the first time in 2024. In 2019, it stood at €72 million, just over half of what it will be for the next 12 months.
The budget was presented to councillors on Friday last and was then formally adopted at a full public meeting of the council this morning.
Julie Bergin, the council’s Director of Finance, went through the figures in considerable detail and then answered questions from the councillors present at the meeting.
“2025 was a really positive year in Laois,” said the Council’s CEO Michael Rainey in his address towards the end of the meeting.
“There were huge improvements across the county. There were significant national and international awards won by Laois groups.
“This year’s Budget shows an increase of €9 million from last year and that is not an insignificant increase.
“I’m confident of the team we have in Laois County Council to deliver on that budget. It is improved and it’s ambitious. It is a positive and strategic budget and it is framed by what we are hearing from the elected members.
“The budget is framed by what the elected members want. We met with all the councillors at an early stage and will be continuing to do that.
“It has gone through all the section heads and it’s a long process. Julie (Bergin) put in a huge shift on this and was doing it at a time when the section was understaffed. There is a great team in finance but the budget is all-consuming.
“I want to thank the elected members for their support in backing the budget. It shows confidence in the management.”
Reflecting on this year’s budget, Cllr Barry Walsh, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council said: “This is a positive budget with huge investment allocated to communities in Laois.
“I am delighted to see the support of community initiatives, the tackling of dereliction and the allocation of funds to STEM engagement as well as much more.
“Being able to increase the budget by over 7% is to be commended for the positive impacts it will bring to communities across our county.”
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