No Disclosures

Minutes of Meeting held on 20^th May, 2026

Minutes of Annual Meeting held on 16^th June, 2026

The Cathaoirleach Cllr. E Kelly welcomed everyone to the meeting.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr T Ward

         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 May, 2026.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr D Connolly

         Seconded by:   Cllr V Duffy

It was AGREED by the Members to adopt the minutes of the Athlone Municipal District Annual Meeting held on 16^th June, 2026.

No Matters arising.

There were two Questions for noting.

Is there any update on the Joint Athlone Plan particularly regarding the next stages and dates for these? Will this be completed in 2026?

Is there any update on the Joint Athlone Plan particularly regarding the next stages and dates for these? Will this be completed in 2026?

Response:

Work is continuing the preparation of a Joint Strategy for Athlone (being undertaken by consultants on behalf of the Roscommon and Westmeath County Councils), in conjunction with the preparation of individual land use zoning frameworks by Roscommon and Westmeath for the respective areas of Athlone. As detailed in a previous joint meeting of Members of RCC’s Athlone MD and WCC’s Athlone – Moate MD, this revised approach has been necessitated by changes to legislation, resulting from the commencement of Part 3 of Planning and Development Act 2024, in late December 2025.

The next stage of activity (following conclusion of environmental reports etc. as part of the process) will be the co-ordinated commencement of public consultations on Proposed Variations to the respective County Development Plans in order to incorporate the Joint Strategy and respective land use zoning frameworks into same.  A date for the co-ordinated commencement of the respective processes of further Variations to the individual County Development Plan has not yet been finalised. Once the Variation processes commence, the timeframe to completion will be in accordance with Section 58 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended).  

The possibility of updating 'School Ahead' road signs painted onto our South Roscommon roads before the new school year in August?

The possibility of updating 'School Ahead' road signs painted onto our South Roscommon roads before the new school year in August?

Response:

Where ‘School Ahead’ road markings require renewal we will work with our road marking contractor to programme these works prior to the return of schools in late August. Please provide a list of school where you have been made aware that this may be an issue.

There were two extension requests for MD Funding Grants.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr L Fallon

             Second by:   Cllr J Keogh

It was AGREED by all the Members to an extension request until 31^st December, 2026 by Roscommon Women’s Network Cycle Up textiles.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr T Ward

         Seconded by:   Cllr V Duffy

It was AGREED by all the Members to an extension request until 31^st October, 2026 by Tisrara Community Centre.

No Votes of Congratulations/Sympathy

·        Uisce Eireann - correspondence to Minute Item 18.26

Uisce Eireann- correspondence to Minute Item 18.26 was circulated.

(a)   The decision of Roscommon County Council Planning Department to refuse Lidl planning permission for the Monksland Area was received with great disappointment by Members  and residents of Monksland and the wider south Roscommon area.  Monksland is a rapid developing area that requires additional local services. The Monksland/Bealnamulla Local Area Plan (LAP) 2016-2022 has expired  and Members expressed the need to expedite the  plan for the area  as a matter of urgency.

Members requested  that  the Planning Department work together with applicants and councillors to assist with any potential future applications in the area.

Caitlin Conneely, Director of Services informed the Members that Representatives of the Executive are precluded from commenting on any planning application during the statutory appeal period.

(b)   Members noted that the tender has been published for the Monksland Strategic Road Project-Engineering  Consultancy Service.  Members requested an update on the project for the next MD meeting including timelines for the project.