Christmas lights grants gap stirs anger in smaller towns

The gap between the funding allocation for Christmas lights in Mullingar and for smaller towns and villages led to disappointment at the November monthly meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad.

A partial resolution was found when members agreed that €7,500 originally set aside for town twinning be used to boost allocations for towns and villages this Christmas.

The initial list of allocations circulated to councillors proposed that Mullingar receive €34,000 and the next highest town on the list, Kinnegad, receive €2,000, followed by Castlepollard, Rochfortbridge and Killucan/Rathwire on €1,400 apiece; €650 apiece to Clonmellon, Collinstown, Coole, Delvin and Multyfarnham; and €450 to Crookedwood, Finea, Fore, Milltownpass, Raharney, Whitehall and Streete.

The adjustment will now see Kinnegad receive €2,468.75; Castlepollard, Rochfortbridge and Killucan/Rathwire €1,868.75 apiece; €1,118.75 apiece to Clonmellon, Collinstown, Coole, Delvin and Multyfarnham; and €918.75 to Crookedwood, Finea, Fore, Milltownpass, Raharney, Whitehall and Streete.

Director of services, Deirdre Reilly, told members the allocations related to the town hierarchy in the county development plan.

She said the increase to the Mullingar allocation represented a “catching-up” on what it actually costs to fund the lights every year.

Cllr Niall Gaffney expressed dissatisfaction over the disparity. He said that while the 16 rural villages had received slight increases, the funds still did not meet the rise in costs: “I’ve spoken to people on committees across the area and they face challenges due to increasing costs.”

Cllr Leonard backed Cllr Gaffney’s proposal, voicing frustration that despite this year’s previous funding increase from €30,000 to €48,000, the rural share had not reached the desired 50pc.

Cllr Leonard said it was understandable that Mullingar should get a larger share due to its size and role as the county town, but rural areas have more than half the district population and, while they dot not need as many lights, their costs were as high as in Mullingar, as insurance, lift hire and electricians cost the same.

Cllr David Jones agreed, saying he has been involved with the Delvin lights effort: “Every year, they just manage to cover the costs, but there’s no guarantee,” Cllr Jones said, explaining that the cost last year was €3,029, and income was just €30 more than that.

Cllr Alfie Devine seconded Cllr Gaffney’s proposal for an exclusive rural allocation of the €12,500 in 2025 – and suggested that the town twinning fund of €7,500 be directed to the rural villages for this Christmas, noting that the boost would help address the immediate needs of smaller towns, a proposal backed by Cllr Emily Wallace, who also suggested that the executive negotiate with Electric Ireland for discounted rates for Christmas lights across the district, regardless of size. She said the costs, currently billed at commercial rates, place an undue burden on smaller towns.

Admitting to feeling “conflicted” on the question, Cllr Andrew Duncan stressed that the county town’s status and size make its lighting needs unique, and he stressed that many businesses in the town already contribute to lighting efforts.

“I have to put my hand up here and say that if we don’t put Mullingar as the central location within the county in terms of a town of its size, then I’m not doing my job,” he said, also counselling against committing the entire of next year’s additional €12,500 solely to rural towns without flexibility for the future. “We need to assess needs year by year,” he cautioned, while Cllr Aoife Davitt contended that with the Mullingar WinterFest returning, there was an even greater need for lighting to keep the town attractive during the holiday season.

The mayor, Cllr Ken Glynn, said he could see the validity of the points made by both sides, but he also felt it was important to remember that the director of services had pointed out that the allocation was merely bringing the funds for Mullingar up to what covers costs.

The debate concluded with a consensus to use the current town twinning reserve of €7,500 to supplement this year’s rural Christmas lighting fund. Additionally, Cllr Gaffney’s motion to earmark the €12,500 for rural villages next year was accepted, with the stipulation that the council would revisit that allocation in a future in-committee meeting to discuss how it should be allocated.