On Monday 2nd of November the Fingal Co Council budget was passed comfortably by 33 votes to 4. I it was pleasing to vote for a positive budget with an overall increase of €7.5 million after many years of difficult budgets. The budget which came in at €214.2 Million sees an increase in funding for virtually all services that the council provides. During the recession the Fingal budget was decimated much like the nation exchequer, plummeting from €270 Million in 2008 to €206 Million. Although there is much to still be done it is satisfying to see that Ireland’s return to positive economic growth is filtering down to local government.