There were no declarations from the Members.

The Cathaoirleach congratulated Aoife O’Rourke who recently won a European boxing title in Montenegro. This was Roscommon’s second European women’s boxing title.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

SECONDED by Cllr. Waldron

It was AGREED to honour Aoife O’Rourke with the Freedom of the County in accordance with S74 of the Local Government Act 2001 to honour her boxing success.

·        Minutes of Plenary Meeting on 26.09.2022

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Murphy

            SECONDED by Cllr. Callaghan

It was AGREED to adopt the minutes of the Plenary Meeting of 26.09.2022

Cllr. Fitzmaurice referred to a notice of motion tabled at the previous plenary meeting in respect of fire services supporting Castlerea town. He requested the station’s closure be reconsidered, claiming reaction times for fire call-outs to Castlerea were inadequate.  He extended his sympathies to the family of a lady who lost her life following a recent house fire in Ballaghaderreen and commended the quick response of fire units who attended the scene of the fire.

Cllr. Leyden said she and her colleagues would continue to attempt to find a solution to the delivery of fire services for Castlerea working with the Executive. Cllr. Dineen said there was an urgency to deliver a fire station to support the town’s growing population. He said there was a good fire service in the county but said the current response times to a recent fire in Castlerea were inadequate. Cllr. Waldron said he was encouraged the executive was working with local representatives to find a solution to the issue.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

·        Quarterly Report – September 2022

·         Management Report for Quarter 3 2022  noted.

·         Cllr K. Shanagher welcomed the allocation of €5,000 for the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) under the Community Safety Innovation Fund to increase digital safety awareness. She commended those responsible for making the funding application.

·         The Reports were noted by the Members.

A report on the amended Draft Derelict Sites Policy was presented to the meeting by the Chairman of the Housing, ICT and Rural Strategic Policy Committee, Cllr. Fitzmaurice:

·         The amended Draft Policy was presented and approved for recommendation to the Plenary Committee for approval at the aforementioned SPC meeting on 22^nd September.

·         The Derelict Sites Act 1990 as amended is the legislation under which the Council assesses dereliction and places a duty on owner/occupier to take reasonable steps to ensure land does not continue to be derelict.

·         The Draft Policy outlines the step by step procedure to identify and process derelict sites under the legislation:

o   The policy focuses on Towns and villages

o   A charge a derelict sites levy of 7% of site valuation on all sites as per the regulations i.e. 1^st January annually

o   Consideration of purchase of derelict site by CPO depending on site conditions and housing need.

Cllr. Naughten stated that the matter had been discussed at the CPG meeting and the policy will be of benefit to the Council to deal with derelict sites.

Acting Director of Services Fiona Ni Chuinn said an online form has been developed to report derelict sites and will be available at the end of October. 

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

SECONDED by Cllr. Naughten

It was AGREED to adopt the Derelict Sites Policy.

The Chairman of the Housing, ICT and Rural Water SPC, Cllr. Fitzmaurice presented the policy to the Members for consideration:

·         The draft policy was presented to and recommended by the members of the Housing, ICT and Rural Water SPC on September 22^nd 2022 to be forwarded to the Council for adoption.

·         The scheme is now administered by the Housing Section of the Council.

·         Under the terms of the Act whereby the owner of the dangerous site refuses to pay for works carried out by the local authority, a mark will be placed on his/her property portfolio and such dangerous sites would take precedence over derelict sites.

·         Where a person upon whom a Notice is served does not comply, Roscommon County Council, through its Law Agent (legal representatives), may make an application to the District Court in the matter.

Acting Director of Services Fiona Ni Chuinn said it was considered appropriate to have a dedicated policy in respect of dangerous sites. She said a lot of work had been carried out by the Council’s Vacant Homes Officers with owners of dangerous structures and places. There is now a form on the Council’s website for members of the public to identify any such sites.

The members welcomed the policy and discussed as follows:

·         Cllr J. Keogh said the new policy was discussed by the Corporate Policy Group and recommended for adoption and would give the Council powers to investigate any dangerous structures or sites that would endanger life or property.

·         Dangerous sites were often classified as protected buildings and said it was not easy to ‘front up’ the costs of reinstating a building.

·         Recently, Cloonshanville Cemetery where a local friary on the grounds of the Cemetery was deemed unsafe, is causing a lot of concern. This had resulted in a portion of the building and a number of graves being sealed off in the graveyard. Work was ongoing which was taking a lot of funding and time to make the building safe.  The process could be slow and merely identifying buildings as unsafe didn’t make them any safer.

·         There is a potentially dangerous building in Athleague village adjacent to a public amenity. Is it the policy of the local authority to make such buildings safe if the owner was unwilling to commit to making the building safe?

·         Is a site or building containing mica or pyrite considered a dangerous building?

Responding, Acting Director of Services Fiona Ni Chuinn said the Council’s Heritage Officer was working with groups to support refurbishment works through Heritage and Improvement grants. She said if the Council were required to carry out work, then the cost of such work would be recoupable from the owner. Interest would be at a rate of 5% per annum in respect of works.

On the issue of homes affected by mica or pyrite, Ms Ni Chuinn said the issue was a matter for an Engineers Report on the policy concerned.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

SECONDED by Cllr. Keogh

It  ...  view the full minutes text for item 151.22

Details of the new Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund Scheme were announced by Acting Director of Services Fiona Ni Chuinn.  The scheme was launched by the Government in July as part of the Government’s ‘Housing for All’ plan:

·         The initiative consists of two funding streams, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme for serviced sites or new homes. The initial stream is to provide funding for the refurbishment of vacant properties in towns and villages, which was expanded to rural areas in September.

·         The target of the scheme is to provide 2,000 homes countrywide under the scheme by 2025 which will be activated by the Council’s Vacant Homes Officer.

·         Under stream one, a maximum grant of €30,000 is available for occupation as a principal residence and can be payable up to €50,000 if the application meets certain criteria. To be eligible, properties must either be on the Derelict Sites Register or have  a Surveyors/Engineers report, stating the property is unsafe, or structurally unsound. Properties must be vacant for two years or more and built before 1993.

·         The Ready to Build Scheme under stream two in respect of serviced sites will mean local authorities will make available service sites to potential individual purchasers. Sites must be available at a discount of the market value, dependent on servicing costs, but not exceeding €30,000 for the site as a principal private residence. Priority under the scheme is for applicants who are first-time buyers or who have a particular need. The scheme is open for applications from both urban and rural areas. The scheme, will be adjudicated using criteria such as the level of vacancy, alignment with local development plans and the role of the fund as part of wider regeneration plans. There is clawback on the scheme of up to ten years. Structural works, painting, roofing and professional services are among the works considered under the grant.

·         To date, thirteen applications had been submitted. Applications for the scheme are currently being received and can be made online.

The Members welcomed the update on the scheme and discussed as follows:

·         Is the scheme open to vacant rural home owners at present and is there access to information on the Council’s website?

·         Is the local authority was receiving the maximum grant available or if the grant was only applicable to sites that are currently vacant or for sites that can be purchased.

·         Does the scheme apply to properties being considered for change of use? If so, would property owners have to apply for change of use planning if converting a property from a business to a home?

·         Is there an opportunity for the local authority to avail of other grants to refurbish vacant properties in towns and villages as vacant homes are being under-utilised.

·         There is a concern in respect of recipients moving to a town or village setting, from a rural area. There is a huge desire among many legislators to move people from rural areas with a consequently negative impact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 152.22

The Chief Executive. Mr. Shane Tiernan introduced the proposed Residential Land Zoned Tax that replaces the Vacant Site Levy and which will be collected by the Revenue Commissioners.

The onus is upon the landowner to register for tax, determine the market value of their land, file an annual tax return and pay the tax on a self-assessment basis, at a rate of 3% of the market value.

Acting Director of Services Greg O’Donnell gave a presentation to members on the aforementioned Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) which forms part of the Government’s ‘Housing for All’ strategy targeting the provision of 33,000 new homes per year.

·         The aim of the tax was to encourage the activation of zoned and serviced residential development land for housing which would replace the Vacant Site Levy from 2024, announced in this year’s budget.

·         The schedule for the new tax would begin on November 1^st with the publication of the ‘draft map’ and public notices with a deadline of January 1^st next year (2023) for the acceptance of submissions. Arising from this, the assessment of submissions and amendments of the ‘Draft Map’ would take place in March 2023.

·         Determinations would be issued to landowners on their submissions by April 1^st next year. By May 1^st, a public notice and the display of a ‘Supplemental Map’ would be published with the final date for submissions fixed for June 1^st. On August 1^st, notification would be forwarded to affected landowners of determinations with the publication of a ‘final map’ by December 1^st 2023.

·         The final step will be the activation of the measure as a taxation by the Revenue Commissioners on 1^st January 2024

·         Under the guidelines published, local authorities are responsible for identifying ‘lands in scope’, through the preparation of three stages of maps and the undertaking of public consultation as well as the assessment of submissions.

·         Roscommon County Council would be engaged with the final confirmation of ‘lands in scope’, the annual review of the map and the publication of the revised final map by January 31^st each year.

·         Appeals can be made to An Bord Pleanala against the inclusion of land on the draft map, only after notification of any determination by the local authority. The landowner’s appeal is restricted to setting out whey the land does not meet the criteria with no cost to lodge an appeal. Landowners can also appeal against determinations on the annual review map by August 1^st each year after 2024 with An Bord Pleanala deciding annual appeals within sixteen weeks.

·         The determination of ‘lands in scope’ would be in respect of lands which are ‘appropriately zoned’, that is residential or mixed use, where residential zoning is ‘permitted in principle’ and served by roads, footpaths, lighting, foul sewer and surface water drainage and water supply. Exclusions from land in scope include if residential use is not ‘permitted in principle’, if land is contaminated, contains significant archaeological remains,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 153.22

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Callaghan

SECONDED by Cllr. Naughten

It was AGREED to appoint Mr. Brian Nerney as the PPN Representative of the Boyle Municipal District to the Joint Policing Committee.

·        This matter was deferred to the November Plenary Meeting

·         This matter was deferred to the November Plenary Meeting

Tributes were paid to Cllr. Kilduff on his contribution to the Committee.

There was no Chief Executive matters for the meeting.

“That Roscommon County Council write to the Chief Executive of An Post asking him to directly intervene, where postal deliveries are being delayed to people living in Monksland and parts of wider South Roscommon area.

Residents are being informed their post was delayed because they used Co Roscommon in their address.”

“That Roscommon County Council write to the Chief Executive of An Post asking him to directly intervene, where postal deliveries are being delayed to people living in Monksland and parts of wider South Roscommon area. Residents are being informed their post was delayed because they used Co Roscommon in their address.”

Cllr. Naughten said the issue was of particular concern for residents living near the town of Athlone. He requested a letter be sent to the Chief Executive of An Post to ensure there were no further delays in post for people affected.

Members supported the motion citing similar difficulties in Curraghboy, and the border with East Galway near Ballinasloe. Some people are receiving LPT notices for Galway, despite living in County Roscommon. It was requested that any letter sent to An Post should detail other areas affected. The matter of receiving Eircodes was also raised and there are cases of locations in county Roscommon on the Eircode finder as being listed in Co. Westmeath, including the Ahlone MD office in Monksland.

Cllr. Naughten acknowledged the support of his colleagues in this matter.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr Naughten

SECONDED by Cllr Ward

It was AGREED that Roscommon County Council write to the Chief Executive of An Post asking him to directly intervene, where postal deliveries are being delayed to people living in Monksland and parts of wider South Roscommon area. Residents are being informed their post was delayed because they used Co Roscommon in their address.

“At last month's Council meeting in the reply to my notice of motion on Castlerea Fire Service, a table of figures for the number of fires or incidents attended by fire brigades in the Castlerea Area was given from 2017 to 2022. Can the elected members have the map of the area these figures related to? Can we also have the map of the fire ground are covered by Castlerea Fire Station in 2016 and the number of call outs in this area from 2017 to 2022?”

“At last month's Council meeting in the reply to my notice of motion on Castlerea Fire Service, a table of figures for the number of fires or incidents attended by fire brigades in the Castlerea Area was given from 2017 to 2022. Can the elected members have the map of the area these figures related to? Can we also have the map of the fire ground are covered by Castlerea Fire Station in 2016 and the number of call outs in this area from 2017 to 2022?”

The following reply was circulated to the Members:

The Fire Services in Roscommon town have confirmed that they do not have “the number of call outs in this area from 2017 to 2022”.  This information is held in Mayo County Council (CAMP Fire Control Centre) and by Galway County Council as they control the data for the area of County Galway previously covered by Castlerea Fire Station.    This information has not yet been received and will be issued as soon as it is available.  A map of the area these figures relate to is attached along with a map of the fire ground area covered by Castlerea Fire Station in 2016.  

Resolutions from other Local Authorities:

·        6^th October, 2022 – Resolution, Monaghan County Council

That Monaghan County Council calls on the Irish Government to establish an all-Ireland Citizens' Assembly to debate and discuss our constitutional future.

·        11^th October, 2022 – Resolution, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council

That Fermanagh & Omagh District Council supports fully the Justice for Noah campaign. This Council requests that there should be a rigorous, open and transparent police investigation, where every avenue is explored, to get justice for Noah and his family. This Council also calls on the Secretary of State to withdraw the PII (Public interest immunity) Certificate in this case.

Replies to Resolutions from Roscommon County Council:

·        28^th September, 2022 – Reply from Heather Humphries T.D., Minister for Social Protection, in response to Notice of Motion regarding Ukrainian Nationals receiving access to the TUS Scheme. 

·        The Strokestown team on winning the County Senior Football Final at the weekend.

·        The Elphin/Ballinameen team who captured the county U-20 title

·        Willie Hegarty who celebrated 25 years commentating on county finals on local radio.

·        Clannna nGael Ladies Football team on recently winning the County Senior title

·        Meetings Administrator Patricia Bohan reminded members of the new guidelines governing the administrator of the Electoral Register, which she said was now a rolling register. Ms. Bohan said there would be a national campaign to promote the changes. Any person applying to be included on the electoral register will now be included on the register with immediate effect.  Members will be informed of the changes in due course.