Dec 2016 Meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District Meeting
Notice of Motions in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian
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.
