Laois County Council's budget to top €130 m in 2026

Laois councillors have backed an increased Laois County Council budget of over €132.9 million, which is a 7.4% increase on last year.

A statement from County Hall to the Leinster Express / Laois Live outlined various changes in spending plans for 2026 confirmed at the annual budget meeting on November 11 in Portlaoise.

The council says the Housing and Building budget has increased by €3.1m to €41.5m which the Council claims reflects a  "commitment to providing and maintaining social and affordable housing".

The Road Transportation and Safety budget includes increased provision to support maintenance and enhancement of the local road network, as well as improvements in fleet management.

The Development Management budget has increased by €1.3 million to a total of €15.2 million, reflecting enhanced allocations for Town Regeneration, Economic Development, County Promotion, and Heritage & Conservation initiatives.

The Environmental Services budget has increased by €1.4 million compared to last year, with additional funding allocated to street cleaning, fire service operations, and initiatives in Climate Action and Biodiversity.

The Recreation and Amenity budget includes increased allocations for leisure facilities, library services, and community amenities, including local enhancement programmes, parks, and open spaces to meet growing demand within this service division.

The budget sees allocations to the following headline areas:

• €41.5m – Housing and Building
• €31.3 – Road Transport and Safety
• €4m – Water Services
• €15.2m – Development Management
• €15.3m – Environmental Services
• €9m – Recreation and Amenity
• €900k – Agriculture, Education, Health and Welfare
• €15.4m – Miscellaneous Services

Cllr Barry Walsh, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, reflecting on this year’s budget.

“This is a positive budget with huge investment allocated to communities in Laois. I am delighted to see the support of community initiatives, the tackling of dereliction and the allocation of funds to STEM engagement as well as much more. Being able to increase the budget by over 7% is to be commended for the positive impacts it will bring to communities across our county,” he said.

This increased budget will ensure the continued provision of high-quality services and supports to Laois residents, across eight service divisions.

Michael Rainey, Chief Executive of Laois County Council, also commented.

“I want to sincerely thank the elected members for adopting the 2026 budget. This is a progressive and forward-looking budget which allocates funds to key priority areas including housing, local roads, parks, regeneration, libraries and at the heart of it all, communities in Laois. Our aim is to ensure that the quality of life for Laois residents continues to improve as well as positioning our county as an attractive destination for visitors nationally and internationally.

READ ALSO: Council may start counting applicants it turns away for social housing

"I would also like to thank and recognise the dedication from our finance team, led by Director of Finance Julie Bergin for their work in putting this budget together," he said.

The three-year Capital Programme for 2026–2028 was also acknowledged during the budget meeting.