No Disclosures.

·        Minutes of Meeting held on 20^th January, 2026.

The Cathaoirleach Cllr D Connolly welcomed everyone to the meeting.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr E Kelly

         Seconded by:   Cllr L Fallon

It was AGREED by the Members to adopt the minutes of the Athlone Municipal District meeting held on 20^th January, 2026.

James McDermott Project Manager and David Clancy External Affairs Manager on behalf of EDF Power Solutions gave a presentation on the Taduff Solar Park. Presentation attached.

Members thanked EDF for the presentation and requested that they are kept informed on progress.  Members requested details on the Community Benefit Fund and in particular criteria for applying to the fund.  Member requested that, on appointment, the Independent Administrator for the Community Benefit Fund contact them regarding the fund.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr J Keogh

         Seconded by:   Cllr E Kelly

It was AGREED by all the Members to approve the Draft Athlone MD Road Works Scheme 2026 as part of the Schedule of Municipal District Works.

The Members thanked the staff of Athlone MD involved in the preparation of the Programme.

Members expressed their disappointed that a small number of roads will be postponed due to an increase in costs due to rising oil prices.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr L Fallon

         Seconded by:   Cllr J Keogh

It was AGREED by all the Members to write to the Minister for Transport, requesting him to provide extra funding for the 2026 Road Programme, due to increased costs due to rising oil prices.

15.26.1  Cllr E Kelly requested that another letter be sent  to the Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion  Michael Moynihan, regarding a special needs class for Ballyforan national School. Correspondence Ref 6.26 refers.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr E Kelly

         Seconded by:   Cllr T Ward/ Cllr V Duffy

It was AGREED to write to Minister Michael Moynihan clarifying that Ballyforan NS has all necessary supports in place to accommodate an extra special needs class and to appeal to Deputy Moynihan to allocate funding to resource this class to ensure the class is in place for the 2026/2027 school year.

  15.26.2 Cllr L Fallon referred to correspondence from Barna Waste in relation to minutes  no 10.26.2. Substantial progress has been made in relation to this issue. Barna Waste are liaising with Cllr Fallon regarding the use of a suitable turning area.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr J Keogh

         Seconded by:   Cllr L Fallon

It was AGREED by all the Members  to request a meeting with Barna Waste to discuss several locations in the Athlone Municipal District where residents have to bring their bins to a collection point some distance from their residence.

There were Two Notice of Motions for discussion

I am calling on Roscommon County Council to review the condition of road surface on the Cam to Coolagarry Road and provide the necessary repair works. There are numerous reports of recurrent potholes and broken surface on the road. This is causing damage to vehicles

I am calling on Roscommon County Council to review the condition of road surface on the Cam to Coolagarry Road and provide the necessary repair works. There are numerous reports of recurrent potholes and broken surface on the road. This is causing damage to vehicles

Response:

The Cam to Coolagarry Road comprises of the L-7542-28 at the southern end, transitions to the L-7539-0 linking with the L-2015 at the northern end.

A 1.1km stretch of the L-7539-0 at Curry was resurfaced in 2025. A further 1.1 km section of the L-7539-0 is included in the 2026 Roads Programme for approval at today’s meeting.

Significant pothole repair works have been undertaken on the road and necessary maintenance will continue to be undertaken as required.

Cllr E Kelly thanked the Members for their support and Athlone MD for the work done  to date on the road.

"The current water pipe serving the Carnagh west/Glanduff area is passing through private land most of it is covered in forestry.  A detailed plan for this pipe relocation was drawn up a number of years ago by Roscommon Co. Co./Water services. Should  a leak occur within this forestry area it would be imposable to fix  without serious forest damage  and cost.  I am calling on Roscommon Co. Co. to work with Irish  Water to resolve this issue as quickly as possible."

"The current water pipe serving the Carnagh west/Glanduff area is passing through private land most of it is covered in forestry. A detailed plan for this pipe relocation was drawn up a number of years ago by Roscommon Co. Co./Water services. Should  a leak occur within this forestry area it would be imposable to fix  without serious forest damage  and cost.  I am calling on Roscommon Co. Co. to work with Irish  Water to

resolve this issue as quickly as possible."

Response:

As the infrastructure in question relates to Water, Uisce Eireann are the relevant Authority to deal with this query.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr L Fallon

         Seconded by:   Cllr J Keogh

It was AGREED by the Members to write to Uisce Eireann requesting an urgent solution, should a leak occur in the forest, there is no access to repair it at the moment.

There were two correspondences which were discussed under Matters Arising.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr J Keogh

         Seconded by:   Cllr E Kelly

It was AGREED by all the Members to give an extension to MD Funding Grant of €4,500 to Clonown Heritage Group until end of September 2026.

Susan Loughnane also informed the Members that Suck Valley Way Committee has notified Athlone MD that they are not in a position to use the Grant award in 2022 for €4,500 so this money will be decommitted and returned to the Fund for 2026 allocations.

No Civic Reception requests.

Congratulations were extended to Cllr E Kelly on her recent appointment as Vice Chairperson for Local Community Safety Partnership.

Members extended their congratulation to pupils of the Community College, Roscommon on their recent award from Enterprise Ireland and best wishes as they Represent Roscommon in the next competition.

Cllr Emer Kelly raised a Motion to write to Deputy Boxer Moran regarding funding of €400,000 that has been advanced for work on the provision of sound barriers along the N6 Athlone Relief Road. TII will be involved in the delivery of noise barriers.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr E Kelly

         Seconded by:   Cllr J Keogh

It was AGREED by all the Members to write to Deputy Moran to clarify that this funding for the noise barriers will extend to the Roscommon Side of the N6 Monksland and to request clarification on how TII intend to administer the funding.