Donegal C0unty Council says it remains committed to providing enhanced Recreation and Amenity facilities in 2026. This includes improvements to leisure facilities making them more sustainable, enhanced arts and library services, and a restated commitment to the council’s culture strategy.
The council says significant upgrade and energy-efficiency projects have been completed at the Ballyshannon and Waterworld leisure centres in recent years, while similar projects have been commenced at the Aura and Finn Valley centres.
To build on this progress, over €1.2 million has been set aside in the Budget for leisure facilities, with a strong focus on improving energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions in 2026 and beyond.
Capital Expenditure within the Facilities and Cultural Services portfolio includes a feasibility design for upgrading the Lifford Campus, necessary upgrade of office accommodation in the Barracks, and identification of energy efficiency projects for Significant Energy Users, such as the Public Services buildings and leisure centres.
These projects are included in the Council’s 2026 – 2028 Capital Budget.
The Culture Division will continue to deliver a wide programme of activities in line with the goals and actions set out in ‘Cultúr le Chéile: the Strategic Plan for the Culture Division.
Over €4 million is provided for in the budget to fund Library Service Operations.
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Relevant section from the draft budget book. Please note these figures may change, as the draft book factors in a commercial rates increase which was not approved.
Recreation and Amenity
Significant upgrade and energy-efficiency
projects have been completed at the
Ballyshannon and Waterworld leisure centres
in recent years, while similar projects have been
commenced at the Aura and Finn Valley
centres. To build on this progress, a provision of
€1,298,903 has been made in Budget 2026 for
leisure facilities, with a strong focus on
improving energy efficiency and reducing CO2
emissions in 2026 and beyond, in line with our
LACAP Gap to Target obligations.
An allocation of €389,403 is provided for beach
access, maintenance and cleaning in 2026.
Collaborative work with local community groups
to improve beach accessibility for older adults
and people with disabilities, contributed to the
Council receiving several prestigious
Accessibility and Age Friendly awards in 2024
and 2025.
Capital Expenditure within the Facilities and
Cultural Services portfolio includes a feasibility
design for upgrading the Lifford Campus,
necessary upgrade of office accommodation in
the Barracks, and identification of energy
efficiency projects for Significant Energy Users,
such as the Public Services buildings and leisure
centres. These projects are included in the
Council’s 2026 – 2028 Capital Budget.
Donegal County Council oversees limited
maintenance of historic burial grounds, while
most are managed by churches. Following
concerns raised by Elected Members, a 2020
survey assessed graveyard capacity across the
county. The Council is continuing to explore the
provision of a new burial ground, initially
focussing on Letterkenny due to its population
and diversity. Engagement with various
stakeholder groups has informed multi
denominational requirements. Site assessment
criteria include location, accessibility and
environmental impact. The Council’s 2026 –
2028 Capital Budget includes a Burial Grounds
Capital Programme, covering costs for site
selection, scoping, preliminary design, public
consultation, environmental assessment,
planning, land acquisition and construction.
Potential sites have been identified, with
updates expected to be provided to the SPC and
Elected Members in late 2025.
6.9
The Culture Division will continue to deliver a
wide programme of activities in line with the
goals and actions set out in ‘Cultúr le Chéile:
Strategic Plan for the Culture Division 2022 –
2026.’
Donegal County Council will continue cross
border collaboration with Derry City & Strabane
District Council on audience development during
2026, including developing and promoting the
HERE for Arts and Culture North West brand.
The Council will continue to rollout the Creative
Ireland initiative through its Donegal Culture and
Creativity Team, which includes staff from
Libraries, County Arts, Regional Cultural Centre,
County Museum, County Archives, Heritage
Office, Biodiversity Office, Conservation Office,
Rannóg na Gaeilge, Film Office, and Social
Inclusion Unit. The team will continue to
implement actions from the ‘Donegal Culture
and Creativity Strategy 2023 – 2027’ in
collaboration with partners and with the
assistance of the Creative Communities
Engagement Officer.
A provision of €4,016,075 is provided to fund
Library Service Operations, Taobh Tíre
community outreach points, and the cross
border mobile library.
An additional €13,000 is included in the Draft
Budget for 2026 to support the Library Book
Fund, bringing the total to €212,000 for 2026.
The increase is required in order to bring
Donegal’s allocation closer to national averages.
6.10 Libraries will implement actions from the
national Public Library Strategy 2023 – 2027 –
‘The Library is the Place: Information,
Recreation, Inspiration’ across the branch
network. This will include delivering national
strategic programmes such as Right to Read,
Healthy Ireland at Your Library, Skills for Life,
and the Europe Direct Centre. Libraries will
provide a wide and varied programme of
events and will continue to grow our online
resources and services.
6.11 The Council will continue to seek additional
funding to enable the progression of the
Donegal Town Library capital project. The
Council will review locations in the area that
align with priorities for the project as well as
the national Public Library Standards and
Benchmarks for service delivery
6.12 The Regional Cultural Centre, one of the top
ranked art centres in Ireland, will continue to
provide vital support to the County’s cultural
and creative ecosystem, delivering large-scale
programmes of exhibitions, concerts, films,
youth events, festivals, community events, and
intercultural events – engaging with both local
audiences and visitors.
6.13 A provision of €1,667,277 has been provided to
cover a wide range of arts activity including
facilities/events such as An Grianán Theatre,
Earagail Arts Festival, Abbey Arts Centre,
Strategic Partnerships with other independent
arts organisations, Artists Bursaries, Culture
Night, support for festivals, and support for
new artistic works.
6.14 The Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival,
which supports artists and engages
communities in the south of the County, will
present its 26th annual programme in 2026.
The festival will showcase new theatre, music,
literature and spectacle works.
6.15 The Council will continue to develop and
deliver arts programmes and initiatives,
through the Arts & Cultural Diversity Officer,
that reflect and speak to the ethnically diverse,
multicultural nature of today’s Donegal
community and that respond to the expressed
needs of these new communities.
6.16 The sum of €369,330 is provided in respect of
the County Museum service. The Museum will
deliver an exhibition and events programme
throughout the year working in association
with various groups and organisations. The
Museum will continue to collaborate with
other transnational partners in a 3-year EU
project titled Digital Action for Climate Change
in Heritage Environments (DACCHE).
6.17 The sum of €204,666 is provided in respect of
County Archives services. Amongst other
developments in 2026, the acquisition,
digitisation, preservation, processing, and
provision of access to archives will continue. The
Council continues to work on plans to develop
an Archives Centre in Lifford in order to
preserve the county archives collection and
ensure it is widely accessible. The Prior
Endowed School, on the site of the former
Lifford Army Barracks, is potentially suitable for
this and the Council is developing plans in this
regard. The Council will continue to carry out
conservation and restoration works with the
assistance of the Historic Structures Fund from
the Department of Housing, Local Government
and Heritage. The Council will explore additional
funding options to progress the capital project.
6.18 A provision of €1,578,944 is included in respect
of the maintenance and upkeep of Parks &
Open Spaces. As new amenities are developed
going forward further provision will need to be
main for the maintenance of these important
public spaces.
