Site identification the big thing for getting a headquarters for Longford Civil Defence

There was a mixed reaction from councillors to Longford County Council's capital expenditure budget.

John McKeon Head of Finance, IT, Procurement and Facilities, who was thanked for his presentation,   was also queried by local representatives  on a number of different areas.

Cllr Martin Monaghan asked Mr McKeon for an update on the Civil Defence HQ, which he said needed to be prioritised after he called last year for a site or building to be identified.

"I see the major spend on that is 2027, which is pushing it down the road, " he said. "I also see there is €20,000 per year for recreation and playgrounds which is very little considering we have to move a large playground this year and I would like to see that significantly raised."

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Cllr Seamus Butler described the budget as startling due to the sheer scale of it and he asked over the three years in the Housing and Building budgets and he asked how many affordable houses are included.

He said the spending on footpaths was very welcome and he stated once they know the general roads funding they can designate a certain amount for pavements in the Longford town area.

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Cllr Monaghan interjected and described a peculiar aspect from the budget and how revenue from paid parking would be used to repair footpaths in Longford town.

"It's a bit ironic because it's the country people that are actually paying for the parking and not too many townies paying for it.

"The irony isn't lost on me on that one, maybe when they are finished fixing their footpaths they might share it out with the people who are actually paying for it."

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Cllr Monaghan noted there is €20,000 per year designated for recreation and playgrounds which he said was very little considering "they have to move a large playground this year and I would like to see that significantly raised".

Cllr Mick Cahill said it was a  very ambitious plan as usual and there was lot of work ahead as he noted there was money for replacing their fleet of vehicles, which he said was very welcome. 

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Mr McKeon, who replied to the questions, said site identification was the big thing for getting a Civil Defence HQ.

"At least we have recognised it and put in a provision for finances around it as well, in all likelihood it will probably necessitate us getting a loan to do that over the three years," he added.

Mr McKeon said 25 affordable houses included presently in the Housing and Building budgets of just over  €114 million and he answered a query from Cllr Pat O'Toole on the number of affordable units planned for Ballymahon and Lanesboro.

He said there were no plans for affordable housing in those areas, however, that could change in 2026 and 2027.