Adoption of Minutes

·         Minutes of Athlone Municipal District Meeting on 7^th May, 2019

·         Minutes of Athlone Municipal District Annual Meeting on 17^th June, 2019

The Vice Chair, Cllr. Kilduff welcomed everyone to the meeting

On the                                  PROPOSAL of Councillor John Keogh

                                                SECONDED by Councillor John Naughten

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of the Athlone Municipal District Meeting held on 7^th May, 2019.

On the                                  PROPOSAL of Councillor Laurence Fallon

                                                SECONDED by Councillor Ivan Connaughton

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of the Athlone Municipal District Annual Meeting held on 17^th June, 2019.

Parkway Site

Members welcomed all developments to date at the site and requested a progress report from Roscommon County Council on specific time schedules regarding the site.

Paul Browne advised the members that a contractor was appointed to carry out the works. Current issues include disposal of materials that have been dumped on the site. Members will be advised of a time frame at a later date.

Part 8 - Tuam Road

Members requested an update on the Part 8 on the new Tuam Road on the process on the division of two phases.

Paul Browne advised the Members that Roads Department are currently compiling a Part 8 to include the screening and design, environmental impact assessment for Phase 1 of the project which does not include a roundabout.

Survey at Ganleys Roundabout

Cllr Fallon requested a time frame from the Consultants that were appointed to submit their report.

Paul Browne informed the Members that Roads Officials in conjunction with TII have monthly meetings. Roscommon County Council are in discussion with Westmeath County Council about a joint strategy study for Athlone as a regional growth centre. The N61 as far as New Park junction to St. Brigid’s GAA Pitch is included in the study area but this study could take up to 18 months.  

Paul Browne instructed the Members that following on from a presentation from Frank Guckian, Head of Information Systems at a recent plenary meeting regarding the new Case Management System that in order for this system to work effectively, Councillors need to log calls with the MD Office, initially by email. All calls will be logged through the CMS, which will then in turn generate a case number. Self-Service will be live in August whereby all Councillors can log calls directly through the website.

Members welcomed the new CMS but questioned the following queries:

·         Is the MD office adequately staffed to ensure the CMS is rolled out effectively?

·         When is the system live in order to be enabled by mobile phones?

·         Can GPS coordinates be recognised on the CMS?

Paul Browned informed the Members of an update on the Roads Programme, which is currently near completion.

Members welcomed the progress currently being made with the Road Programme.

Points that were mentioned by the Members:

·         Verge trimming needs to be urgently addressed to seek additional funding;

·         Patcher is very effective;

No Correspondence

·         6.19 – Cllr. Tony Ward – Road and Junctions on N61

·         7.19 – Cllr. Donal Kilduff – Public Safety on N61

Notice of Motion 6.19 - Cllr Tony Ward - Deferred

Notice of Motion 7.19 - Cllr. Donal Kilduff

(a)  “That Roscommon County Council calls on Transport Infrastructure Ireland in the strongest possible terms to engage seriously with the local authority in a rigorous process of problem solving the N61 which is now a major public safety issue and

(b)  that Roscommon County Council calls on the Minister for Transport to facilitate public representation on the board of Transport Infrastructure Ireland in order to ensure accountability and responsiveness to public safety issues at the state funded agency.”

The Meeting Administrator read out the following reply:

a)    Eugene Dwyer attends monthly meetings with TII to discuss ongoing issues including junctions on the N61 between Ganly’s and St. Brigid’s GAA Kiltoom. TII are only interested in looking at the situation at the filling station not the school and junctions. At a recent meeting it was agreed to help with a brief for consultants. RCC is in discussions with Westmeath County Council about a joint transport study for Athlone as a regional growth centre, the N61 as far as Newpark Junction to St. Brigid’s GAA pitch is included in the study area. These documents have been issued to consultants for pricing recently but the study could take up to 18 months or longer. TII agreed at a recent meeting that this was too long and they would allow a separate study that could feed into the larger plan.

b)  The composition of the Board of the TII is set in legislation. Board members recruited through pas and appointed by the minister (Virginia O’Dowd ex Tipperary Councillor) Seamus Neely current Chief Executive Donegal.

The TII board may comprise up to fourteen members - thirteen ordinary members and a chairperson - appointed by the Minister of Transport. Members are appointed on the basis of their experience in relation to roads, transport, industrial, commercial, financial, or environmental matters, local government, and the organisation of workers or administration. They are directly responsible for the exercise of TII’s functions under the Act, but can delegate these functions to committees with the approval of the Minister.

The current board members are -

Mr. Cormac O'Rourke (Chairman)

Mr. Michael Nolan

Ms. Jacqueline Cross

Mr. Gary Comiskey

Mr. Joe O'Mahony

Ms. Virginia O'Dowd – North Tipperary County Council

Mr. Seamus Neely – Donegal Chief Executive

Ms. Mary O’Donovan

     Mr. Aebhric McGibney

On the PROPOSAL by Cllr. Kilduff

        SECONDED by Cllr. Keogh

It was AGREED that Athlone Municipal District of Roscommon County Council write to the Minister to revise legislation to amend the composition of the Board of TII so that it includes the appointment of Public Representatives

On the PROPOSAL by Cllr. Fallon

        SECONDED by Cllr. Connaughton

It was AGREED that Athlone Municipal District of Roscommon County Council write to the TII to invite a representative from TII to monitor the situation at the Church and the School located at Kiltoom between 8.45am and 9.30am.

·         04.19 – Cllr. Tony Ward – Lough Funshinagh Flooding

·         05.19 – Cllr. Tony Ward – Road Survey on N61

Questions

·         4.19 - Cllr Tony Ward - Deferred

·         5.19 - Cllr Tony Ward - Deferred

There were no Votes of Congratulations of Sympathy

Council Depot

Cllr Naughten expressed the Council depot at Junction 13 reflects badly on Roscommon County Council as it is an eyesore and would it be possible in the long term to landscape around it.

Residents in Westpoint Business Park

Members conveyed their concerns regarding significant noise coming from vehicles doing wheelies. Recommendation of a barrier being erected was suggested to alleviate the problems. An Garda Siochana needs to monitor the situation.

On the PROPOSAL by Cllr. Naughten

        SECONDED by Cllr. Keogh

It was AGREED that Athlone Municipal District of Roscommon County Council write to the Management Company of the Westpoint Business Park Estate to make them aware of the significant noise issues coming from vehicles at this location.