Resources must be diverted temporarily into Housing from other sections of Meath County Council’s Budget for 2026 in a bid to try and get a grip on the homelessness crisis.
Highlighting the fact that the allocation for housing has increased by 14% only, in contrast to the 20% for the environment, Aontu Cllr Emer Tóibín says
“I strongly believe that we are at the state where resources must be temporarily diverted to housing to try and get a handle on this dreadful crisis for once and for all.
The housing budget in Meath must be prioritised above all others given the ongoing and severe housing emergency affecting thousands of people across the county.
“Housing’s funding increase is only double the increase given to the Environment budget. While the environment is unquestionably important, our prolonged and painful housing emergency warrants a significantly greater uplift than what is currently proposed, and if that means temporarily diverting resources from less urgent areas, then so be it.”
Housing is the singular most pressing issue facing this county. Budgets simply have to reflect this is the clearest and strongest terms .The 2026 Meath County Council budget must be a statement of values and must shape this budget”
Acknowledging the challenge of balancing competing demands, Cllr Tóibín says if homelessness is not absolutely prioritised it risks becoming normalised.
She says
“We simply cannot allow that. Every week, councillors are hearing the same stories: families in hardship, young people unable to move on with their lives, and growing pressure on emergency accommodation. Housing must remain front and centre in every decision we make.”
Cllr. Tobin highlighted the need for a coordinated, cross-departmental push to accelerate delivery
“The housing waiting list is too large, the need too severe. Every arm of the council including housing, Planning, Environment, Finance, Corporate — must play its part.
She pointed to areas where reallocations could be responsibly made.
“The Environment budget is €34 million, up 20% on last year, compared to a 14% increase for Housing. If portions of that uplift are not directly enabling homes to be built or activated — water, wastewater, roads — then we should examine whether €3–4 million in discretionary spending can be redirected to areas with immediate impact: derelict activation, tenant-in-situ purchases, accelerating Part V delivery, and expanding voids crews.”
Additional scope exists, she said, within Miscellaneous Services,
“Consultancies, PR and external strategy reports have their place but they are not as urgent as children growing up in emergency accommodation. Targeted reductions in non-frontline areas would not reduce services, but they would improve the facilities and supports for families in emergency accommodation. Homelessness is traumatic and it will have severe and long lasting repercussions down the line; we can lessen that trauma with better-resourced services.”
We have the ability to do this and what’s more, we have an absolute duty to do this”.
Cllr. Tobin also voiced her strong opposition to the proposed 10% rates increase on businesses paying more than €20,000 annually — citing the lack of transparency as the central issue.
“Councillors are being asked to approve a major rates hike without being told who the affected ratepayers actually are,” she said. “For GDPR reasons, the Council cannot provide this information. While I can guess who some of the big players are, I have real concerns about the many family-run or medium-sized businesses that may fall into this bracket.”
She emphasised that the threshold does not only capture large multinationals.
“In Meath, many local retailers, hospitality businesses, logistics firms and service providers exceed the €20,000 rates mark simply because of premises size or location not because they are high-profit operations.”
With energy bills still volatile, insurance costs punishing, and consumers under cost-of-living pressure, Cllr. Tobin said she “cannot in good conscience vote blindly for a 10% increase.”
She consulted local business owners during the week to gauge the potential impact.
“I also spoke to a local postman who told me parcel deliveries have surged again — businesses are increasingly worried as more people turn to online shopping. With roadworks, reduced town centre parking and worsening congestion, the pressures are already mounting. I cannot inflict further costs on businesses without knowing exactly who is affected.”
Cllr. Tobin said she would support a targeted increase for large multinational or high-profit entities but only once councillors are given full visibility of those ratepayers.
“If we could see who the top-tier ratepayers are, I would be in a better position to support an increase for that cohort. But I will not vote for a blanket hike that risks hitting SMEs we rely on for local jobs and vibrant town centres.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
Cllr Tóibín was one of 6 Councillors who opposed the Rates Hike .
Five abstained from voting for or against the budget.
She was the sole vote against it because of the rates hike.
