The preliminary Census results show Greystones District has increased population by 4,041, a 15% increase since the 2016 Census. Wicklow County has increased by 9%, the Greystones increase being 31% of the total, increasing Greystones from 18 to 20% of the County’s population.

Greystones share of the budget has remained at 12% for at least the last 5 years. It is by far the lowest spend of any area and it is not increasing with the population. Increasing population needs more resources.

The Outdoor Staff are less than half that of other areas. This is why Greystones Tidy Towns has had such difficulties in spite of a huge effort by them.

The Capital Budget shows every other area gets 4 or 5 times more spent even though they are expanding less.

Summary:

·       Capital expenditure of every other area 4 or 5 times that of Greystones

·       Revenue spent way lower than all other areas. Outdoor Staff well under half others. Spending remained at 12% of County even though population grown from 18 to 20% of County.

·       Local Property Tax paid in Greystones is the highest in Wicklow, services are the lowest.

I am not prepared to vote for the Budget if it does not aim to correct this.