Archive for category: Council Meetings (Page 3)

Notice of Motion in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian at the October meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District

REF: CMD14/44 Repairs at the Junction of the Keshcarrigan Road 06/10/14

At the October meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District I will ask the South Leitrim Area Engineer to carry out immediate repairs at the junction of the Keshcarrigan road (L3051-1 towards Tooman (L3452-0). The junction, which is a “y” junction, is in a poor state of disrepair with loose chippings and broken road surfacing from the point of the grass edge toward where the road splits.”

Report by Director of Service, Planning, Community and Economic Development;

“The junction in question will be inspected and necessary repairs undertaken.”

Responding at the meeting Councillor Sinead Guckian stated that she had highlighted this issue at the beginning of the year and todate no works had been completed even though there were other works in the area. She asked for same to be put on the schedule of works immediately and without further delay. Councillor Sinead Guckian added that there is a simple solution regarding the surface and asked for the issue to be resolved as soon as possible.

Notice of Motion in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian at the October meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District

REF: CMD14/45 Public Lighting 06/10/14

At the October meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District I will ask the South Leitrim Area Engineer to investigate the possibility of erecting appropriate public lighting on the link road/route from the Summerhill housing estate towards the Glen Carrig estate and Aura Leisure centre. This is an important link route and should be adequately illuminated for safe passage and to discourage anti-social behaviour.”

Report by Director of Service, Planning, Community and Economic Development;

“It is this council’s policy not to erect new public lighting due to the current financial situation. However the public lighting at this location will be examined by our electrical contractor who will advise of the need or otherwise for additional lighting. We will only provide any extra public lighting if suitable funding can be sourced.”

In responding to the reply Councillor Sinead Guckian welcomed the reply and informed the meeting that a number of break-ins had happened in this area, she also stated that from her inspections the Council had already completed the ducting installation works for the provision of lighting and that there had been a previous agreement to install the actually light, when the route was created.

Notice of Motion in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian:-
At the April meeting of Leitrim County Council I will ask the Director of Services, Planning, Community and Economic Development how many houses in unfinished estates in Leitrim are to be demolished as per the announcement by Minister Jan O Sullivan. The Ministers announcement outlined that the Government were providing a fund to Local Authorities to address any unfinished estates. In the Ministers subsequent announcement in November 2013 she confirmed that 40 unfinished developments around the country would be demolished.
I will also ask how many unfinished estates in Leitrim are also included in the Minister’s Scheme for completion under the “Special Resolution Fund” and what happens, within the scheme, to an unfinished estate where a developer did not complete a submission for the fund and/or where there are no occupied units.

Reply from the Director of Services:-
Leitrim County Council is not aware of any fund designated to address the demolition of houses within unfinished estates. There has been no further communication from the Department on this matter since that referenced in the Motion. Leitrim County Council has made nine applications to the Special Resolution Fund (SRF). These applications were based upon proposals / submissions received following lenghtly awareness raising and follow up, mainly from developers who were in a position to further invest in the completion of unfinished estates, with the SRF contributing to the completion of public infrastructure.
The SRF is based upon the leverage of private sector funding and therefore no application could be made without the financial commitment of stakeholders involved. Leitrim County Council committed significant effort in time and resources to maximise the potential of the SRF for the County with only limited co-operation from the relevant stakeholders in many of the estates targeted for inclusion in the scheme. The Council is awaiting the outcome of the assessment of the proposals put forward to the Department.

Councillor Guckian in response to the Councils reply outlined her concern that there really wasn’t a plan or fund in place to address unfinished houses and estates throughout the county. “I, like many members of the public believed from the Ministers announcement and subsequent media reports, that there now was a plan in place to rectify the problem with unfinished estates and houses and that the Council were being given a mechanism to address this issue, it is quite clear from the reply received that this certainly is not the case.
Speaking at the meeting Cllr Guckian said she was shocked to hear that there was no plans or funds available to the Council to demolish any unfinished houses. She also highlighted that from her research, it was evident that if a developer of an unfinished estate did not prepare or submit a proposal to Leitrim County Council, the council could not progress a funding application to the Special Resolution Fund and did not have another mechanism available to them to address the situation where a developer was not engaging. Cllr Guckian requested that the Council immediately contact the Ministers Department and request that a mechanism is put in place where developers are not engaging with the Council.

Question in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian
At the April meeting of Leitrim County Council, I will ask the Director of Services, Infrastructure to investigate the current standard of bulbs being used to replace existing bulbs in our public lights. The light output from a number of street lights seems to be reduced. This is particularly evident in rural areas where public lighting was erected to address road and pedestrian safety at Churches, Community Centres, GAA Clubs, Schools etc. I would also ask if there are standards in “light output” that need to be met to ensure that appropriate illumination is provided, especially for persons with visual impairments. The NCIB recommend a good level of lighting be provided at locations where changes of level and direction occur, which would include all areas listed above.

RELY From the Director of Services:-
Leitrim County Council has upgraded lights in certain rural areas to energy efficient LED lights. These lights reduce energy consumption by up to 60% and are longer lasting. All lighting levels for public lights must comply with IS EN13201, the required European standard. All these LED lights comply with this standard.

In response to the reply Councillor Sinead Guckian outlined that a number of people had commented on the low level of light output from a number of public lights. It is particularly evident in a number of rural areas, at rural churches, GAA Clubs and community centres, that the current level of light output from the bulbs is lower. “the installation of many of these rural public lights often took a lot of lobbying to get erected and in some cases they had to be part funded by local monies, the level of light output now being provided is definitely lower and I would question the safety of same.”

Question in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian:-
At the April meeting of Leitrim County Council I will ask the Director of Services, Planning, Community and Economic Development to include the following Amenity Areas for improvement works under the Minister for the Environment, Community, and Local Government “once –off” funded scheme for dedicated Public Area Enhancement 2014, announced 18th March, to support local authorities’ efforts to prepare and maintain their public areas in the interest of tourism. The areas to be included, but not limited to – the Shannonside Walk Drumsna, the Cross on Sheemore, the Selton Hill Monument and the Arch in Jamestown.

REPLY From the Director of Services:-
We are currently reviewing priorities under this Scheme. Schemes identified as potential priorities include Dromod, Drumshanbo and Manorhamilton.

Cllr Guckian highlighted that the request in the question was not addressed in the reply received. She outlined to the meeting that these areas were important sites in the context of our culture and tourist industry. She advised that each of the sites met the criteria of this once off fund that had just be awarded to the Council. Cllr Guckian, proposed by resolution, that the Shannonside Walk Drumsna, the Cross on Sheemore, the Selton Hill Monument and the Arch in Jamestown would be considered under the fund, this was seconded and agreed.

ITEM RAISED UNDER CORRESPONDENCE By Cllr Sinead Guckian:  100^th Anniversary of Cumann Na mBan

At the February meeting of Leitrim County Council, under the item of correspondence, I highlighted my surprise that there was no correspondence from any Government Department with regard to any plans to commemorate the 100^th Anniversary of the founding of Cumann na mBan. .

“With less than two months until the Anniversary” I raised my concern over “the lack of engagement by the government on how this anniversary is to be marked by the state”.

“There is a lack of recognition by the state of the role of women in Irish Life and in the struggle for Independence. The fact that currently there is no plan by the government to honour the 100th anniversary of the founding of Cumann Na mBan in the same way as the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Irish Volunteers is a continuation of the lack of recognition.”

“With much of the work and activities of the Cumann na mBan women having been forgotten or overlooked, 2014 provides an opportune moment to highlight the contributions of Irish women to the Independence struggle”, therefore I called on the support of elected members to mark this anniversary in our county.

“There are very few public buildings, bridges, parks or roads named after women and women’s organisations in the state. This is a short coming of Irish society given the vital role of women in our country and in our county”.

I proposed that the Council consider marking the 100^th Anniversary in Leitrim by naming, a currently unnamed public building, road, bridge or park after Cumann Na mBan or a member of Cumann Na mBan most relevant to our county.

I welcomed the agreement of members to request our SPC committee to investigate and recommend an appropriate structure within the County for renaming, and I also welcomed the support of all my elected colleagues in marking this important anniversary in Leitrim.

“It is fitting and appropriate that the Council recognise the role of women in Irish life and those women of Cumann Na mBan who played such a vital role in the struggle for independence”.

BRIEF HISTORY OF CUMANN NA MBAN

Cumann Na mBan was founded in Wynn hotel on the 2nd of April 1914.  Cumann Na mBan played a key role in the 1916 Rising, the majority of the women worked as Red Cross workers, were couriers, or procured rations for the men. Members of Cumann Na mBan also gathered intelligence on scouting expeditions, carried despatches and transferred arms from dumps across the city to Volunteer strongholds.

Other Cumann Na mBan members like Constance Markievicz for example fought alongside the Irish Volunteers and the citizen’s army during the opening phase of the hostilities. Another member of Cumann Na mBan Helena Moloney was among those who attacked Dublin Castle.

A number of Cumann Na mBan members died in the Rising, including volunteer Margaretta Keogh who was shot dead outside the South Dublin Union.

Revitalised after the Rising and led by Countess Markievicz, Cumann na mBan took a leading role in popularising the memory of the 1916 leaders, organising prisoner relief agencies and later in opposing conscription, and canvassing in the 1918 general election, in which Countess Markievicz was elected TD. Jailed at the time, she became the Minister for Labour of the in the first Dáil Cumann Na mBan members were critical to the success of the War of Independence. They hid arms and provided safe houses for volunteers, helped run the Dáil Courts and indeed were central to the running of local authorities.

In the Irish elections of May 1921, Markievicz was joined by fellow Cumann Na mBan members Mary MacSwiney, Dr. Ada English and Kathleen Clarke as Teachtaí Dála.

Motion for February meeting of Leitrim County Council in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian

:-At the February meeting of Leitrim County Council, I will ask for the support of the members in calling on the Minister for Primary Care, Alex White TD and the Minister for Health Dr James Reilly TD, to immediately take steps to address the waiting lists in the HSE for Occupational Therapy. Children with development delays, who have been assessed and require the aid of an occupational therapist, can have to wait, up to twelve months, to receive their treatment. It is extremely frustrating for parents to wait for such long periods when they can see how the delay in treatment is having long term effects on their children.

Speaking at the meeting Cllr Guckian advised that it was her understanding that, nationally, thousands of children with behavioural problems and developmental delays are waiting, some, more than a year, to see specialists and receive their required treatment. These children’s conditions, according to the HSE own reports, vary from conditions effecting basic functionality such as walking. to those who have conditions such as autism.

Cllr Guckian advised that it is extremely frustrating for parents to wait for such a long time and to have to watch and live with the effects on their children, because of the delays in treatment and the size of the waiting lists. “A year is a long time in a child’s life, losing twelve months of their development at any age has a huge impact and effect on children, in the short term and in the long term. Their lives and their families’ lives are put ‘on hold’. These delays result in children, particularly those in school, often being ill-equipped or unable to cope in their environment”.

“I’ve been advised by the HSE that waiting lists for Occupational therapists are currently been managed on a priority basis and I understand that they have to manage the resources available to them but surely all Children requiring treatment should be a priority”.

Cllr Guckian welcomed the support of all members of the Council for her motion calling on the Ministers to address this issue and she asked that Government party Councillors would lobby their senior TD’s too, to have this matter addressed urgently.

Question in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian at the February 2014 meeting of Leitrim County Council.

At the February meeting of Leitrim County Council, I ask the South Leitrim Area Engineer to carry out immediate repairs to the footpath in Belmount, Drumsna, particularly the section in front of Farrell’s to O’Dowd’s houses which is in a terrible state of disrepair. Last year following my question, (No.44 08/04/2013) I was advised that the footpath would be inspected and the necessary repairs, if required, would be carried out in conjunction with other works later in the year. To date no work has been carried out and this footpath is in a dangerous state.

Reply Received: - This matter will be the subject of consideration at the forthcoming Road Works meetings.

Councillor Sinead Guckian welcomed the reply and requested that this matter would be given priority at the roads work meeting – 03/02/2014

Question in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian at the February 2014 meeting of Leitrim County Council.

At the February meeting of Leitrim County Council, I ask the South Leitrim Area Engineer to carry out immediate repairs to the Effrinagh roads, L7434-0 Ardloughter to Lisdromarea and LT -74351-0 towards Lisduff. Sections of these roads have been severely damaged during the winter months and there are a number of large potholes.

Reply Received: - Routine maintenance will be undertaken as required.

Councillor Sinead Guckian welcomed the reply.

Notice of Motion in the Name of Cllr Sinead Guckian 7/10/2013

At the October meeting of Leitrim County Council I ask the Director of Services, Infrastructure to outline to Members the up-to-date position with regard to the taking over of Group Water Schemes throughout the County and also if he could clarify what will be the position for schemes that will not be taken over when Bord Gais (Irish Water) get control of our public water network, as there still seems to be a lot of confusion as to whether group water scheme members will become collectors for the State, with no local authority assistance to fix leaks, set prices or make arrangements for upgrading and monitoring of their water.

REPLY:

From the 1st of January next Leitrim County Council will cease to be ‘The Water Authority’ for County Leitrim and all of our water and waste water assets,liabilities and responsibilities will transfer over to Irish Water. Leitrim County Council will continue to run the service under a Service Level Agreement for Irish Water for a number of years. What this means in effect is that all of the major decisions in relation to future investment, level of service to be delivered, new connections and water charges etc will be made by Irish Water, in a regulated environment. The Council will act solely as agents for Irish Water and will only carry out whatever is included in the Service Level Agreement. Irish Water is taking control of the Public Water and Waste Water Infrastructure only and will have no responsibility for anything not in the charge of the local authority before the 1st January 2014. Group Water Schemes are privately owned and as such will not be under the control of Irish Water. The Act giving effect to this transfer of assets, liabilities and responsibilities is due to be published and enacted before the end of the year and the detail of the provisions are not yet known. It appears that the Local Authority will remain as the ‘Water Authority’ for the private group schemes, and that the Rural Water Programme will continue to be funded by the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government and administrated by the Council as before. Upgrades of existing Group Schemes will continue to be administered by the Council but extensions to the network, which will be served with public water supplied by Irish Water, will also require the approval of Irish Water before any such extension can be grant aided. The most up to date information available to this Council is that Irish Water will charge the private group schemes based on the volume of water going through the bulk meter at the start of the group scheme. This suggests a single bill and it would be up to the trustees of the group scheme to arrange collection of the monies due. This will obviously present considerable difficulty, not least in relation to how the usage can be apportioned among the various members, unaccounted for water, water passing through a group scheme into another group scheme etc. Given the very real difficulties that such an approach would present it is the Council’s view that Irish Water may have to consider alternative methods of billing in relation to the group water sector. Any suggestion that the Local Authority, as the Water Authority for the group schemes, could be billed by Irish Water for the water supplied to the group scheme and that the local authority would then collect the charges from the group scheme sector would be totally unacceptable to the local authority, and not sustainable. The situation in County Leitrim is quite different to most other Counties; the water infrastructure was built in this County on the back of the group water scheme sector. Historically there was no funding for regional schemes and so regional schemes were provided by subventing group schemes to ensure that the size of their water mains were increased in order to allow for other group schemes to connect to the original scheme. Working in co-operation with the voluntary group water scheme sector, potable water was delivered to every parish in the County. In a number of cases the group schemes were much larger than the public scheme. Because of the origins of many of the group schemes, the fact that they are all served with public water and the very real difficulty that the changeover to Irish Water will cause them, it was felt that an opportunity should be offered to allow for the takeover of such schemes before 2014. In most other Counties such schemes would already be public schemes. The fundamental requirements for taking in charge are that two thirds of the members on a scheme wish to have the group scheme taken into public charge and that agreement is reached with the Council in relation to any outstanding charges. While Leitrim County Council has contacted all of the group water schemes, there are only 10 to 15 schemes actively working with us to meet the deadline of the end of the year. After the 1st of January, Irish Water will decide whether a group scheme is taken over by them and on what conditions. In 2014 the Council will not be in a position to assist group water schemes in either leak detection or repair as it is unlikely that the service level agreement will allow for this. The setting of water charges will be a matter for Irish Water, the Regulator, and the Commission for Energy Regulation.

RESPONDING:

Councillor Sinead Guckian welcomed the detailed reply from the Director of Services but again, expressed her disappointment that the Council had not received any further information or clarity from the Government Department, to the many questions members had raised with regard to the status of Group Water Schemes, served by the public water mains, come January 2014 and the pending takeover of the public network by Irish Water/ Bord Gais.

Cllr Guckian outlined that Leitrim Councillors have been seeking clarification since early this year with regard to how Group Water Schemes served by a public mains water supply will be billed, how will they be assisted if there are problems on the scheme and if members on these schemes will be expected to become voluntary collectors for the State, expected to collect the water charges from their members, calculate the breakdown of costs to each house based on a bulk meter reading for their whole scheme. There also are a number of questions unanswered with regard to how, following the takeover of Irish Water / Bord Gais, will Group Water Schemes that are served by the Public Water Mains apply to be taken incharge and become part of the public network.   

Cllr Guckian welcomed the support of all members during the debate and expressed the urgency of this issue being addressed.

Cllr Guckian complimented the Council for their work over the past 3 months, in particular, in working with Group Schemes and advising them of the pending changes. She also highlighted the fact that, given the number of questions outstanding on the pending change to Bord Gais, group schemes can’t be expected to make informed decisions when only part of the information is being made available to them by central Government.  

Question in the name of Councillor Sinead Guckian 7/10/2013

At the October meeting of Leitrim County Council, I ask the Director of Services, Planning, Community and Economic Development to commence a new initiative of creating a Film Commission Body within the Council. The aim of this group would be to highlight and promote the potential of Leitrim’s landscape, architecture, period villages and stunning scenery for film and TV locations, while streamlining the process for film-makers too re permitting etc. Given the wonderful promotion of the County recently through the production of “Black Ice”, written and directed by Johnny Gogan, filmed on location in Dromahair, and the expected media attention when Ken Loach‘s next movie “Jimmy’s Hall” is released, which is currently being filmed in the County, the Council should create a mechanism to attract more Film Companies to use Leitrim as a location for Film Production. We already have a wealth of film industry professionals living and working within the County that may be interested in participating in the formation of this new film commission group.

REPLY:

The current Leitrim County Council Arts Plan has as an objective to ‘Work with Cinema Northwest, Screen Northwest and Leitrim Tourism to develop leitrimfilm.ie as a portal for filmmakers so that they can access information about the county, the services and supports available to filmmakers, and local and national opportunities available to the sector’. This work has already commenced. The layout of the website has been designed in collaboration with Screen Northwest and much of the material compiled. As well as providing information, it states the key point that Leitrim County Council will endeavour to ensure that making a film in the County is a simple, practical and hassle-free experience. The Arts Office already provides a key role in this regard – most recently working with the production team of ‘Jimmy’s Hall’, promoting services and locations within Leitrim, and facilitating contact between the production team and the various Council services – Roads, Fire, Area Offices etc. which were vital to the production. In addition the initiative is also intended to be a welcome to emerging and established members of the film industry who would like to become part of the burgeoning community of filmmakers who have chosen to make Leitrim their home.

RESPONDING:

Councillor Sinead Guckian welcome all the progress to date and complimented all stakeholders for this great initiative.

Question in the Name of Councillor Sinead Guckian 7/10/2013

At the October meeting of Leitrim County Council, I ask the Director of Services, Infrastructure to meet again with residents in Jamestown, who, although they reside in quite close proximity to the sewerage treatment plant for the village, their houses are not connected to it. It is my understanding that there are only four houses in total not yet connected although they are the nearest houses to the plant that services the village.

REPLY:

The Water Services Section of Leitrim County Council is available to meet with the residents in question at any time. There is however currently no funding available to extend the public sewer at this location. A group sewerage scheme may be possible but only one such scheme received funding in 2013 and Leitrim County Council has had no indication that grant funding will be available in the future. It is also unclear whether or not the Council will have any role in relation to such grants after Irish Water take charge of the water and waste water infrastructure in January 2014.

RESPONDING:

Cllr Guckian expressed her concern, that once again the Council is restricted by the lack of clarity from the proposed Irish Water take over.

Notice of Motion in the Name of Cllr Sinead Guckian

At the July meeting of Leitrim County Council I ask for the support of members in calling on the Minister to reverse the Government’s decision not to hire the additional special needs assistants, who are necessary to ensure students who require special needs help to participate in school do not see an average cut of 10% in the hours available to them in September. The Government needs to ensure additional provision is made to match the increase in demand.

Speaking at the July meeting of Leitrim County Council Cllr Guckian said

“Prior to me placing my motion there were calls nationally, by parents, teachers and concerned groups, calling on the Fine Gael/Labour Government to take two specific actions.  First, to reverse its decision not to hire the additional resource teachers who will be required in September in order that special needs students do not have to endure a 12% cut in their teaching hours.  Secondly, calling for the reversal of the Government’s decision not to hire the additional special needs assistants who are necessary to ensure students who require special needs help to participate in school do not see an average cut of 10% in the hours available to them in September.

I welcome the Minister’s announcement following the media briefing that he will reverse his decision on the employment of resource teachers.

It is crucial now that the Government also reverse its decision to cut the special needs assistance hours which will be available to high need students who qualify for and depend on the help of special needs assistants to help them during the school day. The Minister needs to apply the same treatment and criteria, to special needs assistance hours that he applied to resource teaching hours.  He needs to ensure additional provision is made to match the increase in demand for SNA’s come September.

It is my understanding that come the first week of term this September some 22,000 students will need to avail of special needs assistance in order to participate fully in school life.  The equivalent figure was 20,000 in the school year just ended.  Even though there has been a 10% increase in the number of students who qualify for special needs assistance, the Minister has not increased the number of special needs assistants he plans to hire.  That means that there will be the same number of special needs assistants in schools as last year, by and large, even though the number of students looking to avail of their services will have increased by 10%.

If the Minister’s decision is not reversed, the special needs assistants in some schools will have to spread themselves thinner and divide themselves among a large number of students and therefore students will not be able to avail of the required level of service this September.  Some students who had a dedicated special needs assistant because of their high levels of need will now have to share that assistant with another student.

I welcome the support of all my colleagues, cross party, to who indorsed my motion and hope that the Minister will address this issue of great concern, without further delay”.

Question in the Name of Cllr Sinead Guckian July Meeting of Leitrim County Council:-

At the July meeting of Leitrim County Council I will ask the Director of Services, Infrastructure to investigate the possibility of pulling back a section of the grass margin on the N4 at Fearnaght, Annaduff, to allow for better visibility of approaching N4 traffic for residents exiting the Fearnaght road onto the N4. I would also ask, as an interim measure, that the grass margin would be cut as soon as possible as it is extremely difficult to exit onto the N4 as visibility of the N4 traffic is impaired by the current grass height. It is particularly dangerous crossing the N4, with the speed of vehicles on same.

REPLY:This junction was designed in accordance with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. Sight distances at this junction are 215m in both directions as required. The grass margins are not interfering with these sight distances. However, verges along the N4 are currently being trimmed as part of our road maintenance programme. Fearnaght Road L1475 is included in the

2013 Road Works Programme. Works will include for slight widening of the junction, drainage works and the road and the junction will be overlaid and road marking restored. These works will commence later in July.

Councillor Sinead Guckian  welcomed the proposed work- 08/07/2013

Question in the Name of Cllr Sinead Guckian July Meeting of Leitrim County Council:-

At the July meeting of Leitrim County Council I will ask the Director of Services, Infrastructure, to carry out immediate repairs on the L1001, Aghnahunshin, Rooskey.

REPLY: The road in question will receive routine maintenance repairs within the confines of the limitations of the funding available.

Councillor Sinead Guckian requested that this work would be carried out as soon as possible- 08/07/2013