South Dublin groups set to share in €3.4m ‘windfall’

Residents of the South Dublin Co Council area are to share a multimillion euro “windfall”.

A surplus of some €3.4 million in council finances in 2014 is to be shared among a range of sporting and community groups, councillors were told at their monthly meeting.

The surplus would have been about €1 million more but for the higher-than-expected costs of the council’s contribution towards accommodation for the homeless, and the Dublin area fire service.

The main factors which gave rise to the surplus were a local government grant of almost €1 million which was “not anticipated in the budget for 2014” according to county management.

Additional income of €2.2 million came from changes which “encouraged” owners of properties with outstanding Non-Principal Private Residence tax liabilities to make arrangements to pay.

A third factor was council payroll savings totalling €876,000.

Council officials said the revised budget included a “suite” of projects which could be advanced from the additional funds and savings.

Amounts ranging from €50,000 to €750,000 could be allocated to projects including allotments at Tymon, Corkagh and Grange; a new mobile library; community centre upgrades; tourism projects; Cobra boxing club; Clondalkin Equine Club; a new stand at Tallaght stadium, and €500,000 for the windows and doors programme.

The council said it had initially hoped to provide two sports pavilions at Oldbawn and Griffeen but this was not possible following the additional costs of the homeless accommodation and the fire service.

The amounts involved were €900,000 for the homeless service and €177,400 for the fire service.