"In 2012 Dublin City Council will continue to seek innovative ways to provide the best quality service we can to residents, businesses and visitors to the City," John Tierney, City Manager has told the Elected Members at the Budget Meeting of the City Council last night.

This is despite the draft budget representing the 4th year in a row of having fewer resources. The 2012 City Council Revenue Budget will involve an expenditure of €795m. When Capital Expenditure of €331.8m is added the City Council will spend close to €1.13 billion delivering services and projects next year.

Among the provisions of the City Council's Budget for 2012 are:

• Commercial Rates: In order to support and encourage business in the City management is proposing to reduce the Commercial Rate by 2% below the 2011 level. A rate multiplier of 61.00 is proposed.
• Housing and Water Services: The 2012-2014 Capital Programme of €897.8million, represent
  -- Advertisement --

  
  
  s a continuing major investment in the Dublin economy. In 2012 €131.2million will be invested in Housing projects. Water and drainage services projects in 2012 include replacing old water mains, achieving the ultimate capacity at the Ballymore Eustace water production facility, and progressing the proposal to extend and improve capacity at the Ringsend treatment works.
• Leisure and Recreation: The City Council's five leisure centres at Ballyfermot, Ballymun, Finglas, Markievicz and Swan Leisure in Rathmines will maintain their opening hours and the range of classes available for all ages in 2012. Facilities at the three swimming pools at Crumlin, Sean McDermott Street and Coolock will be improved and opening hours maintained. The City Council will be working to attract the maximum number of people to use their excellent leisure facilities, including public libraries and its full range of sports amenities. The Passport for Leisure scheme to encourage older people to keep active will continue in 2012.
• Roads Maintenance/Improvement: Approx 4 kilometres of new footpaths will be improved in the City at a cost of €2.5million, complementing the extensive roadway resurfacing programme that was carried out in 2011, and involved an expenditure of €18m.
• Water: The cost of 1,000 litres of water for commercial customers will increase by 10cent, from €1.80 to €1.90 or 0.0019cent per litre. Despite this City Council will continue to subsidise the cost of water by €1million in 2012. The actual cost of providing water is €2.00 for 1000 litres. The cost of water in Dublin is very low in Dublin by comparison with our European counterparts.
• Waste Management: Cost savings of over €60m are expected between 2012 and 2017 due to the outsourcing of waste collection services. This will assist in maintaining the other services of the City Council in future years.