DLR adopts €281.2m budget for 2025

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has announced the adoption of a balanced draft budget for 2025, investing €281.2m across a wide range of supports and services for residents, businesses, and visitors.

The council said “this budget aligns with our corporate goals in housing, climate action, and economic development to create an attractive, inclusive, and accessible county.”

Frank Curran, Chief Executive, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said “we are proud to present a budget that enhances our ability to provide additional support and services for residents, businesses and visitors.”

“This expansionary budget will contribute to making Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown a vibrant county that is appealing to live, work, and visit. The implementation of the Housing Delivery Action Plan 2022-2026 will continue in 2025 with over 600 homes expected to be delivered during the year and background work will commence on the next County Development Plan. In addition, we will also complete the Old Conna LAP, Kiltiernan-Glenamuck LAP, Rathmichael LAP, Dublin Eastern Bypass Study and studies to inform a review of the Sandyford Urban Framework Plan. Funding has also been increased for business area promotion grants which is vital to help our businesses and drive footfall to our towns and villages”.

Key highlights of the budget includes no proposed increases to parking charges, housing rents, cemetery charges, or fees at recycling centres and in addition the maximum permitted reduction of 15% has been applied to the LPT rate. The budget has also been increased in various areas such as housing maintenance, road maintenance, tourism, economic development, parks, libraries, heritage, and sports.

In terms of commercial rates and business supports, the draft budget includes a 2% increase in commercial rates and continues the ratepayers’ support grant for eligible businesses. Additionally, the budget provides funding for start-ups, training, and mentoring by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), as well as various business grants.

Furthermore, there are increases in the budget for business promotion grants, ratepayers’ support grants, economic development, and tourism to enhance support for businesses and increase footfall in towns and villages. To incentivise owners of vacant commercial properties, the draft budget proposes to abolish the commercial rates vacancy abatement, with exceptions for eligible ratepayers.

Highlights of the Budget for 2025

Climate Action 

• €100,000 increase in contribution to fund the Climate Action Plan and associated services provided by our partners CODEMA, to ensure the objectives set out under the Climate Action Plan 2024 – 2029 are realised.
• The targets of the new plan are for a 50% improvement in the council’s energy efficiency and a 51% reduction in our carbon emissions by 2030.
• €100,000 contribution toward the development of a Circular Economy Hub in Dún Laoghaire in partnership with the Rediscovery Centre.

Housing 

• The implementation of the Housing Delivery Action Plan 2022-2026 will continue in 2025 with over 600 homes expected to be delivered during the year.
• The Energy Retrofitting Programme for social housing stock will continue for 2025 and beyond.
• The total budget for Housing Maintenance has been increased by €2 million. This is the last year of our stock condition survey programme with a further 1000 properties to be surveyed, which will allow us to move to a planned maintenance programme and maximise the resources available to us.

Staffing 

• Completion of a Strategic Workforce Plan 2023-2027 last year, and this plan will be reviewed in early 2025 as a requirement arising from the adoption of the new Corporate Plan.

Planning & Economic Development 

• Background work to start on the next County Development Plan.
• Completion of the Old Conna LAP, Kiltiernan-Glenamuck LAP, Rathmichael LAP, Dublin Eastern Bypass Study and studies to inform a review of the Sandyford Urban Framework Plan.
• The Harbour Team will finalise the Harbour Masterplan and 81 cruise ships are booked in for 2025.
• Economic Development have increased funding for business area promotion grants which is vital to help our businesses and drive footfall to our towns and villages. The team will focus on night time economy, developing the Dublin Place brand, and rolling out our first Town Centre First plans.