4th April 2011
Under item No 8, tonight I also mentioned two significant events that are taking place within Leitrim within the Coming weeks which have huge significance for a County like Leitrim being at the forefront of unleashing creativity and innovation in this a particularly difficult recession.
I feel these events are extremely important, as many transformations in the art world and society have come about during hard times and Art during previous recessions has contributed to society’s resilience and recovery. Historically, recessions have unleashed greater creative activity and we need innovation and creative thinking to assist our recovery. The transformations and expectations in western society, during previous ‘down-turns’, like the Great Depression in American in the 1930′s and the Second World War and the stock market collapse of the late 1990s, proves that not only has Art a vital role to play in society and cultural development but it also has a major role to play in reviving the economic climate.
Research shows that the cultural and creative sector can be one of the most dynamic areas of our troubled economy, the Arts do not just reward us aesthetically, it is merely not just a luxury, it is a key source of jobs, culture and community identity and there is a real incentive of economic return attached to the Arts within every Country and County and that is why I was trying to highlight that Leitrim, even with the limited funding available has undertaken to commence the first ever Leitrim Arts Awards night, to acknowledge and pay tribute to those who have used their talent in the Arts, at the highest level promoting our county at National and International level, often for little or no money. We need to acknowledge their contributions and promote their significance.
Also, this year, The Dock, in Carrick on Shannon will, for the first time, exhibit the Honors Degree Fine Art Show, from the Institute of Technology Sligo. This show is the “end of year” exhibition of work by the Visual Artists who will be graduating from the Honors Degree in 2011. This show, which for the past number of years took place in Sligo, will for the first time be exhibiting outside of the County and in County Leitrim. In previous years the Degree Show has attracted interests from all over the province and indeed the country, as it is an opportunity to view and indeed purchase the Art of graduates before they move on to bigger stages. All of this has only been made possible by the commitment of Siobhan O Malley and The Dock and the commitment of Artist Ronnie Hughes and his colleagues in the Arts Department in Sligo Institute. There will be a number of Leitrim native graduates this year and its a really big deal!!!! if you could find time to highlight
Thanks a million
Sinead.
Motions and Questions on Behalf of Cllr Sinead Guckian April 4th 2011
MOTION: At the April meeting of Leitrim County Council, I will ask the Director of Services, Roads and Infrastructure to investigate the current structure and state of the Bridge in Drumsna and provide a detailed report of findings on same for the next meeting.
REPLY: A detailed structural inspection of the Drumsna bridge is to be carried out this year as part of a survey of all Regional Road bridges, in eleven counties. Funding for this Bridge Inspection Scheme has been provided by the Department of Transport. As soon as this report becomes available, it will be made available to the Councillors.
Response by Cllr Sinead Guckian . In response to the Directors reply Cllr Guckian welcomed the Directors report that a structural inspection on Drumsna Bridge will be undertaken, following her additional questions she ascertained that the inspections will be carried out within two to three months.
Cllr Guckian outlined that the bridge in Drumsna is of huge importance, both as an historical monument and as a special feature of the village. The bridge has historical significance as well as it practical significance.
Cllr Guckian outlined that she felt that an inspection would produce a recommendation that works would be carried out and she requested that these works would be listed as a priority by Leitrim County Council. She also requested that when the works were being carried out, that the Council would ensure that the temporary ‘breeze blocks’ that were used in repairing the bridge in the 1980′s would be removed and replaced with cut stone.
QUESTIONS 24; AT the April meeting of Leitrim County Council I will ask the Director of Services, Roads and Infrastructure to investigate the possibility of re-aligning the junction at the Bridge in Jamestown, connecting to the Rue Road. It has been brought to my attention that vehicles exiting and entering the Rue road are not stopping at the junction with the bridge and the current alignment of the same encourages the vehicles to travel straight off (or onto) the Rue road when travelling across the bridge. While speed is of course a factor in this situation, the limited width of the Rue road means that no matter what speed a large vehicle is exiting and entering the road, the alignment of the junction lends itself to encouraging vehicles to continue straight ahead across the road without stopping.
REPLY: “The re-alignment of the junction at Jamestown Bridge would need significant funding which is not presently available. The junction could be considered for a possible future Low Cost Safety Scheme, to improve road markings and road signs, but it must be pointed out that this junction is located within a 50KM Speed Limit and if the speed limit is adhered to, there should be no problems at this junction”.
Response by Cllr Sinead Guckian.
Cllr Sinead Guckian requested that a “low cost safety scheme” would be applied for with a view to addressing the safety concerns at this junction. Cllr Guckian also outlined that whether the speed limit is being adhered to or not does not alter the fact that the road is too narrow for two cars to pass safely on.
Question 25: At the April meeting of Leitrim County Council I will ask the Director of Services, Roads and Infrastructure to request the Roads Design Department to revisit the design of the new ramps erected in St Patrick’s Park Carrick on Shannon, with a view to ensuring that the ramps are rebuilt to an adequate height to address the speeding in the area. The current structures are not appropriate for their intended function.
REPLY: The ramps at St Patricks Park will be revisited with a view to addressing the concerns raised in the Councillors question.
Response by Cllr Sinead Guckian Cllr Sinead Guckian welcomed the report that the issues would be addressed and requested that this would be done without delay.
