REPLY FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SERVICES:
The matter of access to the Aura Leisure Centre for swimming clubs was raised at the last Carrick on Shannon Municipal District Meeting. A meeting has been held by Leitrim County Council with the senior management of Aura, the centre operation company. Aura has reassured Leitrim County Council that their primary aim is to deliver a fair and equitable allocation of available hours for swim clubs across their current swim club customers. Rates for swim clubs are effectively pool hire rates and are outside of the Licence provision whereby the Council is to be consulted on admission fees. Following feedback and subsequent meetings with the Carrick Fins club the proposed rate increases were reduced and phased over a longer period of time. The rate charged to Carrick Fins is currently a historically low rate and the operator is of the view that it is unsustainable and not equitable. The revised rates being proposed, with all clubs paying the same, are seen as reasonable on a regional basis. The operator advises that the Connaught Development Officer of Swim Ireland concurs with this view. Adjustments in method of operation by the club in order to maximise their use of the dedicated lanes would also provide for lower costs while another local club who has to avail of hours in Sligo due to the limited availability of hours at Aura could be accommodated. In conclusion the operator agreed to extend the deadline on Carrick Fins to the end of the week ie 5th May.

RESPONDING TO THE REPLY
Cllr Sinead Guckian sought clarity as to whether the reply was stating, yes or no, in response to her question. The Director of Services advised that the answer was “no” Aura were not in breach of any part of their contract, following their decision to review the hours and costs for voluntary groups.

Notice of Motions May 2017 Meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District Meeting

Notice of Motions in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian
At the May  meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District I will ask the Senior Engineer to investigate the possibility of providing traffic calming measure on the Church Road ( Church View Rd) Leitrim Village, to reduce the speed of traffic entering the village on this road.  Currently most vehicles are not reducing their speed until they reach the church

REPLY FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SERVICES:
Speed enforcement on the public road is under the charge of the Garda and we will advise them of your concern at the next monthly Garda meeting. The local community have applied for funding through the town and village scheme this year to construct a footway with public lighting linking the village with Lock No. 16. If the application is successful we will endeavour to place a ramped uncontrolled crossing which will encourage speed reduction at this point.

RESPONDING TO THE REPLY
Cllr Sinead Guckian advised the meeting she had raised concerns previously with the Gardai with regard to speeding, particularly in villages throughout the county, she outlined that the joint policing committee were developing a pilot project to be rolled out in conjunction with community groups, to create more awareness of the problem and the dangers.
Cllr Sinead Guckian welcomed the potential to resolve the issue, with the provision of funding under the “towns and villages” Scheme this year, as it it a great project by the community but she sought a commitment from the Area engineer that if this project was unsuccessful, that he would place this issue back on his programme of works with a view to resolving same.
She welcomed the support of others members and the commitment of the Area Engineer to agree to her request.

Notice of Motions in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian
At the April meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District I will ask the Senior Engineer to have maintenance and cleaning carried out on the flyover bridge, Drumsna. The flyover, which is at an important entrance to the village, has not been cleaned or maintained for many years and the surface and railings are unsightly. The work required is beyond the capability of the local voluntary tidy towns group, Drumsna Development Association, but this piece of infrastructures current state needs to be addressed prior to the annual national Tidytowns adjudication.

REPLY FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SERVICES:
The maintenance of structures on the national road network is the responsibility of the TII. We will inform the TII of your request.

RESPONDING TO THE REPLY
Cllr Sinead Guckian advised the meeting that she had previously spoke with the Senior Executive Engineer, and requested that the maintenance would be carried in 2016. She advised members that she received a verbal reply on that occasion; that the TII said it wasn’t in their 2016 schedule of works. She welcomed the support of the members in calling on the TII to ensure that this work is included in their 2017 programme. She also requested a written copy of the TII’s response to this call to ensure that the Drumsna Development Association would have a copy of same, to ensure that they were not penalised in the National Tidytowns competition for the lack of progress on this maintenance work.

Notice of Motions in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian
At the April meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District, I will ask for the support of Members to reiterate our Councils call in January, on the ETB and the Minister for Education, Richard Bruton TD, to intervene and address the current situation where students in Leitrim have no access to the Leaving Certificate Applied Course, or a dedicated YouthReach Service, in their own county. Since our request we have only received an acknowledgement from the Ministers office and meanwhile students who wish to complete the Leaving Cert Applied Course have no indication what is going to happen with their futures.

RESPONDING TO THE REPLY
Cllr Sinead Guckian welcomed the support of all members on her motion. She said it was a very worrying situation to see such little progress to date on such a serious matter.

REPLY FROM THE COUNCIL:
As agreed with all members of this Municipal District the meeting mentioned in the notice of motion was cancelled as it was apparent that all members were in agreement to provide the hard shoulder and not close a junction at this location as proposed. We have advised the TII of our position and we are currently working with our inspector to try and progress this matter.

RESPONDING TO THE REPLY
Cllr Sinead Guckian requested that the agreed solution to this issue to treated as a priority in 2017.

Notice of Motions in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian

At the February meeting of Carrick Municipal District I will ask the Director of Services, when will the proposed new signage to advertise the town centre, be erected on the approach roads to Carrick-on-Shannon. This “advanced signage” is needed to highlight the many attractions, businesses and services within the town centre. It is a necessary marketing and information asset, to encourage visitors into the town centre and its’ provision is long overdue.

REPLY FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SERVICES:
The matter of advanced signage continues to be under discussions with the Chamber through the town team process.

RESPONDING TO THE REPLY
Cllr Sinead Guckian expressed her concern, that over the past 3 years, versions of the same reply, advising that discussions were taking place were received to her motions. She advised that discussions needed to conclude once and for all, and the urgently needed signage needed to be purchased and erected in 2017.

RESPONDING TO THE REPLY
Cllr Sinead Guckian outlined to the members that she was shocked to discover that there are no Leaving Cert Applied options available to any pupil in secondary school in the whole of county Leitrim.

“This is both strange and worrying but beyond this it is wrong, as I am aware of more than one student who not only knows that the applied leaving cert would suit them better, but they have also received professional opinion on the suitability of their academic path favouring the Leaving Cert Applied course.

She advised members that the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme(LCA)is a distinct, self-contained two-year programme aimed at preparing students for adult and working life.
-”It is designed for students who do not wish to proceed directly to third level education or for those whose needs, aspirations and aptitudes are not adequately catered for by the other Leaving Certificate course.”
-”It’s about recognising the talents of students with a strong practical and vocational emphasis.

She highlighted again to members that there is NO applied leaving cert course available in this county at the moment and as she said at the outset she was aware of more than one student who has been professionally assessed and advised that their talents are best suited to this course.

-”When I researched this issue, I noted that since 2015 Leitrim has no applied leaving cert since 2015, which is hard to believe. Even if you look to our history, we have had a long tradition of talented craftsmen and women, and the practical application of their talents. In our neighbouring counties students are sitting applied leaving Cert exams, the most recent figures available to me showed that there were 149 student in Longford, 168 students in Roscommon on the course, 511 in Mayo, 267 in Sligo 878 in Donegal. ”

“-The rights of a child’s education is protected under our Constitution and the Education Act 1998 requires the Government to make sure that everyone living in the State is guaranteed “a level and quality of education appropriate to meeting the needs and abilities of that person”. It is not acceptable that young adults in this county cannot avail of the applied leaving cert in this county. And it is not acceptable that when parents query how can they address this situation, they are told try another county and if you get a place for your child make your own way there. This is what is currently happening in our county.”

Cllr Sinead Guckian outlined that the second part of my motion, which refers to the YouthReach Programme, was also very relevant in the contest of discussing young adults and their education and training..
She highlighted that in the course of trying to resolve one young person’s access to education and training, she was advised that Leitrim did not have a dedicated Youthreach office in the county.
“YouthReach is the national program set up for early school leavers and unfortunately we don’t have that either in Leitrim, no dedicated Leitrim Youthreach.”
Youthreach is a Department of Education and Skills official education, training and work experience programme for early school leavers aged 15 – 20. It offers young people the opportunity to identify options within adult life, and provides them with opportunities to acquire certification.
YOUTHREACH is funded by the Exchequer under the National Development Plan. It is a joint programme between two Government Departments – Education & Science and Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Management is through an Inter-Departmental Committee. ”
She advised members that there are 110 Youthreach centres in Ireland and not one in Leitrim.

“Now I know from speaking with parents that their young adults talents are not being provided for in this county and our early school leavers, which logically the numbers will be increased if their talents and abilities are not being provided in secondary school, have no alternative external school programmes/courses to avail of within their own county.

-She advised members that while working with one parent, they have been offered a place in Sligo but this is not a viable option for a young person to find the means, method and practical logistics to avail of a service over a 100 kms round trip, away.

-She sought the support of members, as she outlined to them that in the current climate, where we are supposed to be so conscious of mental health issues particularly the mental health of our young people, that they too should find it astonishing that young adults are been failed with their education and training in their own county.

Cllr Guckian advised that the Programme for Government states, “we must ensure that every young person leaving school can move seamlessly to a job, training or education”.
“I am calling on the Minister for Education Richard Bruton and the Dept of Education to intervene and rectify this situation and to ensure that all students have access to the Leaving Cert Applied course, irrespective of where they live and that this county has a dedicated Youthreach service for those that have already left school early.
Cllr Sinead Guckian welcome the support of members for her motion and particularly the support of members of the ETB, who advised that while the Dept of Education secondary schools have an obligation to ensure that all pupils had access to the applied leaving course in their own county and that the ETB would also assist where required.

At the December meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District I will ask the Director of Services what progress has been made, to date, with Waterways Ireland regarding the upgrading of facilities at the harbours in Drumsna and Jamestown. At the November 2015 meeting of our Municipal District, it was agreed by members that the upgrading of facilities at the Harbours, particularly the provision of toilet facilities should be in place at both harbours. It was also agreed that the council would meet with Waterways Ireland again to discuss and progress this issue, as a priority, to be addressed. Since 2009 the communities in both villages have been calling for these services to be provided, as a crucial part of a basic tourism infrastructure.

REPLY FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SERVICES:
While there may be agreement that these works would be worthwhile the harbours in question are in the ownership of Waterways Ireland and any further investment in these works are primarily a matter for the owners. However, the Council does liaise with Waterways Ireland on an ongoing basis. The provision of such facilities are subject to the availability of finance or suitability in meeting external funding criteria. The Council can raise this matter again with Waterways Ireland but the availability of funding for such works is unlikely in the short term. Waterways Ireland are currently undertaking a large scale project on the replacement of the lough gates at Rooskey lock which is an example of key maintenance works required on an ongoing basis.

RESPONDING TO THE REPLY
Cllr Sinead Guckian said the reply was very disappointing as, for many years the local voluntary community groups in both villages have been listening to this response to their calls and lobbying to have this issue resolved and they have heard little progress since 2008. She outlined that tourism and the provision of services was hugely important to both villages and that it was not acceptable that basic services were lacking at both Quays. She acknowledged that the Council can only seek to have this prioritised by the relevant agency but as tourism was one of the key priorities of the Council, the campaign had to be stepped up. She proposed that the Council seek an immediate request for a deputation to meet with Waterways Ireland and that if this meeting was unsuccessful that this deputation would then seek at meeting with the Minister. She welcomed the support of most members for this action to be taken without further delay.

Notice of Motions in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian

At the December meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District I will ask the Senior Executive Engineer, to reconsider the size and style of speed limit signs being erected in housing estates to depict the new 30km speed limit zones and if it would be cheaper and visually better to paint the speed limits on the roads.

REPLY FROM THE SENIOR ENGINEER
We are obliged, under the regulations, to erect appropriate speed signs at these agreed locations.

RESPONDING TO THE REPLY
Cllr Sinead Guckian outlined that while the initial funding for this new scheme of speed restrictions in Housing Estates was provided for by central Government, going forward the costs of same would have to be met from the Council own Roads funds. She advised members that the cost of each sign was much more expensive than having the limits painting on the road entrance. She also advised that in the smaller housing estates that the speed limit signs, being erected, can have a major visual impact on the appearance of the estates. She advised members, as Chairperson of the relevant SPC, she had sought and secured the support of the members in contacting the Dept with a view to commencing discussions on whether regulations could and should be adjusted to include an option to have the speed limits painted on the Housing Estates entrance road, which would be more economical. She thanked members for their support of her approach to have this matter reviewed and changed.

At the November meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District, I will ask the Director of Services to progress the delivery of a Blueway between the villages of Drumsna and Jamestown. Following our recent meeting with our colleagues from the Boyle Municipal District, Roscommon County Council and their positive response to the development of the Blueway between the two villages, the proposed measures will increase community-based activities, promote walking, cycling and tourism and it should be prioritised by Leitrim County Council.

REPLY FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SERVICES:
Leitrim County Council is working closely with Waterways Ireland in the development of the Blueway concept. Considerable work has been carried out between Drumshanbo and Leitrim Village and work has been ongoing in regard to the planning and development of the area from Leitrim Village towards Kilclare. Waterways Ireland are almost concluded on the further provision of water based trails south of Carrick on Shannon including Drumsna and Jamestown.

RESPONDING TO THE REPLY
Cllr Sinead Guckian welcomed the reply and outlined how important this project would be for both the villages and the surrounding area. She advised that the communities have long sought a way to connect these two beautiful Shannonside villages and struggled to find away to secure funding as the section of raod was in the adjoining county, Roscommon. She asked that the progress of the project would be given priority. Cllr Guckian welcomed the support of the other members.

November 2016 Meeting of the full Council of Leitrim County Council.

Notice of Motions in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian
At the November meeting of Leitrim County Council, I will ask for the support of members in seeking an explanation from Government and the Taoiseach, as to why Leitrim is one of 10 counties that have no representation on the newly formed Citizens Assembly and also to request an explanation as to why there wasn’t a fairer polling methodology employed to ensure all counties are represented.

RESPONDING TO THE REPLY
Cllr Sinead Guckian welcomed the support of all members and thanked them for expressing their concerns too.

At the October meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District, I will ask the Carrick Area Engineer to assist the Summerhill Residents to enhance their new 1916 Centenary garden and landscaping, by addressing the uneven surface in front of their newly erected commemorative plaque and to consider either removing or lowering the manhole in this area and or to consider creating a stone paved or gravelled area in front of the plaque, to allow for easier maintenance of the green area at the plague.

REPLY FROM THE SENIOR ENGINEER:
We will discuss with the residents a suitable solution to the location of this plaque. The manhole is the property of Irish Water and it may not be possible to relocate this manhole easily.

RESPONDING TO THE REPLY
Cllr Sinead Guckian welcomed the reply and the support of other members and requested that the workable solution  would be progressed as soon as possible.