RTE’s Week in Politics
Spoke on the RTE Programme the week in politics highlighting the changes in the electoral Areas and the reduction of democracy across the country.
Fairtrade Awareness Campaign
Delighted to attend & support the Fairtrade Awareness Campaign this morning in Leitrim. The Fairtrade Committee in Carrick on Shannon, lead by Sr Nora, held a parade through the town along with the teachers & pupils from the National Schools, to highlight the importance of supporting fairtrade products & producers. Very interesting speech from a visiting producer from Central America. Alex, from El Salvador, outlined to listeners the impact of recognising the Fairtrade brand when purchasing products & the positive impact of supporting their brands. Please continue to support & select products with the FAIRTRADE mark.
Unveiling of the Plaque for the Carrick 400 Time Capsule
The Carrick on Shannon Heritage Group held an unveiling of the Plaque for the Carrick 400 Time Capsule, in the Famine Graveyard, Carrick on Shannon today.The event marks the “Wrap up” of the Carrick on Shannon 400 celebrations and this, with their event tonight, completes a very busy and successful year for the Committees. Well done to all involved.
Annaduff/Drumsna/Jamestown Defibrillator Group
Over 30 volunteers trained up, it’s a training you & others could be glad you have. Annaduff/Drumsna/Jamestown Defibrillator Group Re-validation’s now taking place. Full Training & Re-certifying will take place very soon. All new volunteers welcome to keep our communities Heart Safe! Updates in Local notes & www.drumsna.com
Drumsna Comhaltas’ Christams session
Thank you to everyone who came along to Drumsna Comhaltas’ Christams session on St Stephens evening & night. Particularly the musicians, singers & strawboys(strawgirls!) & Elf-ettes. As Drumsna CCE have officially lodged their application to host the 2014 Leitrim County Fleadh, all proceeds raised from the raffle will be going towards the Fleadh in April. (L-R) Chairperson Sinead Guckian, Treasurer Fionnuala Maxwell, Secretary Edwina Guckian.
Launch of Volunteer in Leitrim Website
www.volunteerinleitrim.ie officially launched tonight. The ‘Volunteer in Leitrim’ website will provide an online co-ordination of volunteering opportunities in our County. There is an abundance of people in Leitrim willing to dedicate some time for voluntary purposes, now there is a dedicated website where people can find out about volunteering opportunities. Similarly, community groups and organisations looking for volunteers now have an online outlet to invite people to join them.The purpose of the ‘Volunteer in Leitrim’ website is to match volunteers with community groups/organisations and vice-versa. The process is a simple registration for volunteers and/or groups and voluntary organisations.This project received grant aid from the Leitrim Development Company Rural Development Programme.
Billy’s World Launch
Attending the Launch of Billys World at the Landmark Hotel, Carrick on Shannon. An amazing, ambitious and wonderful undertaking by Cora & Tony Byrne to develope a place of fun and excitement for the whole family to holiday at.
Billys world will be a break away for the WHOLE family! Ireland’s first holiday centre to cater 100% for special needs children and their families.
Aughameeney Residents Association’s Action Plan
Delighted,tonight, to attend the launch of the Aughameeney Residents Association’s Action Plan. This plan is the result of hard work and a strong community spirit. It is a credit to the committee and an important document for Aughameeney going forward. It is a great achievement by all involved. Now we need all the key agencies to support the plan and I certainly will be working with the Council to ensure they fulfil their role.
Property owners of vacant commercial buildings in Leitrim facing huge additional cost
Property owners of vacant commercial buildings in Leitrim and the rest of the country are facing huge additional cost imposed by the Government
New legislation being proposed by Government will mean that any commercial premises in Leitrim which is currently vacant will be levied with a bill of 50% of the full rates payable. Currently the situation is that all commercial properties in Leitrim do not pay commercial rates if they are vacant. The legislation will come into effect in 2014.
The pending Local Government legislation refers to changing the current process of waving commercial rates on business properties that are vacant. This new proposal is referred to in “Part 5, section 31″ of the pending legislation.
“This is huge, not just for a county like Leitrim but for every county.
“It will now mean that Local Authorities will start charging the owners of vacant business properties 50% of the commercial rate they would pay if trading. in this economic climate it will crush towns and villages leading to in some cases buildings being demolished”.
I am calling on the government to remove this from the proposed legislation.
A small number of large urban local authorities, have historically had separate legal provision enabling a refund of 50% of rates on vacant properties. While the same criteria for refunds apply, 50% of the rates paid is refundable to the owner of vacant premises in these cities. These legislative provisions are
- section 71 of the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930;
- section 29 of the Limerick City Management Act 1934; and
- section 20 of the Cork City Management (Amendment) Act 1941.
The majority of local authorities are, however, subject to the provisions of the 1946 Act.
The amalgamation of Limerick City requires that the relevant Management Act is being repealed which means that the legislation governing the refund regime in the county (100%) will apply across the new amalgamated Limerick City and Council.
The Local Government Bill 2013 (section 31(b)) currently reduces the 100% refund regime to 50% for all local authorities bringing it to the same level as Dublin and Cork cities by amending the 1946 Act.
Acknowledgement to some of our counties tidy towns volunteers
A worthy acknowledgement to some of our counties tidy towns volunteers in the Dock, by Leitrim County Council. The Cathaoirleach performed the presentation to six Tidy Towns groups, from, Dromahaire, Drumkeerin, Drumshanbo, Carrick on Shannon, Newtowngore and Drumsna. The initiative, which was ran by the environment Dept of LCC in conjunction with Shannonside FM, selected the six groups from submissions received, to participate in a public awareness campaign, involving radio interviews, discussing the issues facing them in their work. Special congratulations to all the volunteers in each group.
Connect with me
