Councillor for Ballymote–Tubbercurry, Sligo County Council

Paul Taylor

Fianna Fáil

Elected 7 June 2024.

Voting record

Tá — yes
Níl — no
Staon — abstained
Didn't vote

Named votes of Sligo County Council while Paul Taylor was a member, from the council’s minutes. Most council decisions are made without a named vote, and not every meeting’s minutes have been read yet.

23 votes

14 Sep 2026Didn't vote4.17 RANDOM SCREENING OF TD'S, SENATORS AND COUNCILLORS“That Sligo County Council write to the AILG AND LAMA and the Ceann Comhairle of Dail Eireann and the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann, to explore random screening of TD's, Senators and Councillors to ensure that no member is under the influence of Drugs or Alcohol when decisions are being taken. Sports people have been subject to these tests for years and political leaders should be subject to the same scrutiny to ensure that decisions are taken with clear minds and that illegal drugs are not being taken. This would add to public confidence in politics and acceptance that these rules apply to everyone equally”.Carried 8–0
13 Apr 2026Níl10. ANY OTHER BUSINESSa vote on whether to suspend standing orders in order to consider the new itemLost 4–8
12 Jan 2026Tá4.6 RENAMING OF DUBLIN AIRPORT AFTER FORMER TAOISEACH SEÁN LEMASS“That Sligo County Council supports a bill to officially rename Dublin Airport after former Taoiseach Seán Lemass has been moved to a second stage, put forward by Malcom Byrne, T.D.”Carried 7–6
17 Nov 2025TáADOPTION OF BUDGET FOR FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 2026:“That Sligo County Council hereby adopts the Budget of Sligo County Council for the year ending 31st December 2026, and subject to the provisions of Section 103 of the Local Government Act, 2001, as amended, as submitted by the Chief Executive Officer set out in Tables A, B & C of the said Budget.”Carried 14–3
6 Oct 2025Níl36. ABOLITION OF TRIPLE LOCK"That Sligo County Council expresses its dismay and opposition to the Government's proposal to abolish the Triple Lock, which governs the deployment of Irish Defence Forces personnel overseas. The Triple Lock has ensured that Ireland's participation in overseas missions (with more than 12 defence personnel) would always require approval from: (1) the Cabinet, (2) Dáil Éireann, and (3) the mission they are being deployed on would have a UN mandate either from the Security Council or the General Assembly. In 2001, the Irish people rejected the Nice Treaty over concerns that it would drag Ireland into EU military structures that would threaten our neutrality. To encourage the electorate to approve the Treaty, the government with the agreement of the other EU member states, through a "solemn declaration" introduced the Triple Lock. This Declaration was reiterated following initial rejection of the subsequent Lisbon Treaty. Therefore, this Council rejects government proposals to abolish or amend the Triple Lock, noting that such a proposal would signify a major breach of trust with the Irish electorate and a serious diminution of Irish neutrality."Lost 5–8
6 Oct 2025Níl38. INTRODUCTION OF BRIT-CARDS“That the following text be deleted 'plans to deal with the probability of large amounts of undocumented migrants taking advantage of our common travel area arriving into the republic putting further pressure on our housing and public services' and replaced with the following text: 'response, particularly taking into consideration the fact that all of the main political parties in the Six Counties have unanimously rejected the proposal to introduce the mandatory card; and that the proposal is a direct attack on the Good Friday Agreement and on the rights of Irish citizens residing in the Six Counties. And further this Council commends Sinn Fein, the D.U.P., the S.D.L.P., the UUP and the Alliance Party on taking the initiative in opposing such an excessive and ill-conceived proposal that would compromise the fundamental right to privacy of Irish citizens.”Lost 4–8
7 Jul 2025Tá7. PUBLIC REALM ENHANCEMENT PROJECT AT STRANDHILL“That Sligo County Council having considered the many submissions made by members of the public, including the submission made by the Strandhill Community Development Association, and having considered the Chief Executive's Report prepared pursuant to Section 179 of Part XI of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) on the proposed development consisting of public realm enhancement works at Strandhill village, County Sligo (Td. Carrowbunnaun) including the following: Public realm enhancement works on the L-3504-0 (to the west of the main Council car park) and on the shorefront (Promenade) including narrowing and reconfiguring of the carriageway and widening and repaving footpaths. Re-allocation of car parking spaces from the shore front parking area to the main Council car park to provide a total of 365 car parking spaces, including 27 accessible spaces and 6 motor bike spaces. 42 of these spaces shall be on the shore front. Two new loading bays on the shore front, Traffic management measures on Shore Road, New landscaping, street lighting, street furniture and road signage, Relocation of the Cannon (a protected structure) 57m to the southwest, Associated site development works approve the carrying out of the proposed development in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Executive, subject to the retention of the cannon in its present location at the sea front.”Carried 13–3
7 Apr 2025Níl22. FEASIBILITY STUDY OF NEW RAIL LINE BETWEEN COLLOONEY AND CHARLESTOWN“That this Council requests the relevant government departments, including the Department of Transport, the National Transport Authority (NTA), and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), to commission a feasibility study on the development of a new rail line between Collooney and Charlestown along the proposed new N17 route.”Lost 4–10
3 Mar 2025Níl47. IRELAND'S MILITARY NEUTRALITY“Cognisant of the exceptional and proud tradition members of our defence forces have played serving abroad as peacekeepers under the auspices of the U.N., this Council calls on the Government to ensure that all overseas operations will continue to be conducted in line with Ireland's position of military neutrality and will be subject to the triple lock of U.N., Government and Dáil Eireann approval.”Lost 4–7
10 Feb 2025Níl25. BAN ON NO-FAULT EVICTIONS“Sligo County Council writes to the Minister for Housing and put in place a stop on all no fault evictions.”Lost 4–7
5 Dec 2024TáSUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS: DISCUSSION ON SLIGO COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2024-2030“Proposed submission by the elected members on the Consultation on Draft Ministerial Direction in the matter of Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). As stated in the special council meeting on the 30th September 2024 the elected members outlined errors in tables 3.2 Core Strategy Table and 5.2 Housing Demand. The errors were proposed to be changed at this meeting, but the members were informed this would not be a minor amendment. These errors do not change the quantum of zoned land proposed by the elected members at this meeting or previous meetings and correcting them alone is minor in nature. Correcting them alone does not result in a major amendment or additional zoning as it just reduces the % of additional provision available. The proposed zoning amendments can be taken on an individual site-by-site basis, as proposed by the members, and the correction of the figures would facilitate the capacity for additional provision for which these zonings provide. Considering these proposed zoning amendments had already undergone public consultation, the consideration of whether to accept or reject them was the question at hand. The intention of the correction is that there is a clear justification for the additional zoning amendments proposed by the elected members as they are accounted for as additional provision. As such the proposed submission, which was reluctantly withdrawn when put forward as an amendment on 30th September 2024, is hereby submitted as support and justification for the proposed zoning amendments as part of the public consultation process. Item 1 It is essential to understand that these are actual errors and are not subjective or open to interpretation. The final Adjusted Total Plan Demand above feeds into Column 3 of Table 3.2 which shows quantum of zoned lands for each settlement. A mistake in Table 5.2 will lead to a mistake in the quantum of housing units required in Table 3.2 to meet demand. These errors are as follows: Row B is a total of actual housing supply for years 2017-22 and an estimated figure for year 2023 & Q1/Q2 2024. These figures are: 940 (Years 2017 – 2022) 157.9 (yearly average for 2023 and Q1/Q2 2024, calculated as 940/6 = 157.9. Therefore 1.5 years is 235) = 1,175 Row C should use the latest Homeless Report figure & 2016 Census Unmet Demand figure. The May 2024 Homeless Report[1] identifies 90 units for Sligo & the Census 2016 Unmet Demand is 9 units. This is a total of 99 units, compared to the now outdated figure of 59 in Table 5.2. The largest mistake occurs at Row E1. The actual 2017-19 housing supply of 418[2] units per the official HNDA Tool[3] is subtracted twice, once at row E1 and again at E4. Finally, row E2 uses a figure of 1315 for Projected Household Demand 2027 to Q2 2030 when the official HNDA Tool figure is 1438. [1] https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/297403/eabd7b85-e9ba-4a31-95d6-415f741cee1e.pdf#page=null [2] Table 7 of the Sligo County Development Plan 2024 – 2030 Housing Strategy, https://consult.sligococo.ie/sites/default/files/Housing%20Strategy%202023%20%28final%29%20-%2024%20August%202023.pdf [3] https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/eaa99-housing-need-and-demand-assessment-hnda/ Overall based on the above, this sums to a cumulative underestimate of demand of 542 units. The adjusted total demand should read as 4,571 as opposed to 4,029 Item 2 As CDP did not commence until the 11th of November 2024 and not July 1st as initially intended, another Quarter's undersupply should be included for July-Sept. The projected supply was 168 (4029/6 years/4 quarters) but the actual supply was only 40 (CSO Q3 figures 2024) leaving an additional undersupply of 128 units. This increases the total demand from 4,571 to 4,699. It is essential that these errors are correct in Table 5.2, and feed into the housing allocation figures in Table 3.2. Item 3 A rise of 1,560 people, on the original targeted population uplift, as outlined by NWRA at a household size of 2.6 persons requires 600 additional housing units, not the 137 units allocated. This leaves a 463-unit shortfall. This increases the total demand from 4,699 to 5,162. These 3 items combined result in a demand for 1,133 units (5,162 – 4,029). At the average of 30 units per hectare (2024-2030 CDP average), these units require 37.76 ha of additional zoned land which provides the justification for the proposed residential zoning amendments by the elected members.”Carried 7–3
22 Nov 2024TáADOPTION OF BUDGET FOR FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 2024:“That Sligo County Council hereby adopts the Budget of Sligo County Council for the year ending 31st December 2025, and subject to the provisions of Section 103 of the Local Government Act, 2001, as amended, as submitted by the Chief Executive Officer set out in Tables A, B & C of the said Budget.”Carried 12–3
7 Oct 2024Tá9. LOCAL PROPERTY TAX“This Council, under the Local Property Tax (Local Adjustment Factor) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 358 of 2022), and having regard to the lifetime of this Council, hereby set out the adjustment factor of +15% for the period of 5 years as specified in this resolution, set the Local Adjustment Factor to the Local Property Tax of the period from 1st of November 2024 to 31st October 2029.”Carried 10–8
30 Sep 2024TáProposed amendments – PA 63, PA 136, PA 199, PA 201 and PA 203“To make the Development Plan with the amendment as proposed without the modification.”Carried 9–8
30 Sep 2024NílProposed amendment – PA 115 – include additional policy P-TOU-9 in Section 28.3 Tourism development based on submission 194 – Fáilte Ireland“To make the Development Plan with the amendment as proposed.”Carried 9–8
30 Sep 2024TáPAZ 11 Change the zoning of 3.06 ha of Green Belt to 2.46 ha nRES and 0.6 ha OS“To make the Development Plan with the amendment as proposed - To amend the Draft County Development Plan. The zoning map PAZ-11 previously known as S106 in relation to the Kilcawley lands at Tonaphubble, Sligo, Folio number 16207 amend the Plan so that the lands be included within the Development Limit (which it is in the current Development Plan) and be zoned for Residential Zoning nRES and OS (not Green Belt). The reason we are changing the zoning is because in the current development plan the lands are zoned SLR, residential. The lands are Tier 1 serviced lands with pedestrian access to the town centre which is within walking distance. The lands are close to public transport routes, public parks, sports complex, churches and schools.”Carried 15–3
30 Sep 2024TáPAZ 12 Change the zoning of 1.40 ha from GB to nRES (on foot of submission 171 – MKO Planning Consultants on behalf of Gary Mullane and Alan McCarrick).“To make the Development Plan with the amendment contrary to the recommendation of the OPR. Reasons for Decision: Site is within settlement boundary Site is adjacent to existing development Site is serviced and Site is in proximity to Public Transport.”Carried 13–4
30 Sep 2024TáPAZ 14, 15 and 16“To make the Development Plan with the amendment contrary to the recommendation of the OPR Reason for Decision The 2024 ESRI Report indicates that the housing projections in the draft plan have underestimated the quantity of land required to be zoned to meet growth demands.”Carried 15–3
30 Sep 2024NílPAZ 57 Remove 4.02 ha of nRES from the Strategic Land Reserve (SLR) on foot of submission 168 – MKO Consultants on behalf of Tony McCaul and Patrick Carty.“To make the Development Plan without the proposed amendment.”Lost 7–10
30 Sep 2024TáPAZ 57 Remove 4.02 ha of nRES from the Strategic Land Reserve (SLR) on foot of submission 168 – MKO Consultants on behalf of Tony McCaul and Patrick Carty.“To make the Development Plan with the amendment as proposed as these lands are adjacent to lands where the local authority intends to build adjacent to this site and any infrastructure shortfalls will be resolved by services needed on this site. Housing is urgently required in this area and the land previously zoned has not been developed to meet this need.Carried 10–7
9 Sep 2024Níl48. GREENWAY LINKING COLLOONEY WITH BELLAGHY:“Noting that the restoration of the section of the Western Rail Corridor between Athenry and Claremorris has been included in the latest All-Island Strategic Rail Review and further noting that it is an objective in the North West Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy 2020-2032, and the Draft Sligo County Development 2024-2030, to deliver the Athenry-Claremorris-Sligo rail corridor to an appropriate level of service and to a standard capable of facilitating passenger and freight transport, this Council acknowledges the publication of the rail review and confirms its support for the provision of a greenway linking Collooney with Bellaghy that is constructed a safe distance from the Rail Corridor.”Carried 7–5
8 Jul 2024Níl22. TRANSFER OF FUNDING FROM HORSE AND GREYHOUND RACING TO DOG RESCUE CENTRES AND FERAL CAT GROUPS:“Sligo County Council calls on the Minister for Agriculture and the Department of An Taoiseach to stop funding horse and greyhound racing and instead fund dog rescue centres and feral cat groups.”Lost 5–8
8 Jul 2024Níl32. INTRODUCTION BY GOVERNMENT OF EVICTION BAN:“Recognising the severe shortage of houses to rent in the private sector, this local authority calls on the Government to introduce another eviction ban to alleviate the threat of more people being made homeless.”Lost 5–12

Roster checked on 5 November 2026. Sources: Sligo County Council — County Council Members, Sligo County Council Annual Report 2024 — elected members, Sligo County Council — March 2025 minutes (Ann Higgins co-option), Sligo County Council — April 2026 minutes (Tom MacSharry resignation), Sligo County Council — May 2026 minutes (Seamus Kilgannon co-option), Sligo County Council — July 2026 minutes (Joe Queenan party change), Independent Ireland — Michael Clarke announced as general election candidate.

On the council

Voting record

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On the council

Voting record

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