Mr. Shane Tiernan reported on his Directorate as follows:

Significant resources for remote working have been mobilised in the delivery of essential services in the NRRO, Emergency Services, Building Control, Health and Safety and Human Resources departments.  Staff are also attending offices through rotation arrangements with outdoor and emergency service staff being deployed where necessary. Across all Directorates, everything is being done with health and Safety as paramount in complying with Government Directives and HSE Guidelines. The Health and Safety department continue to develop Risk Assessed Safe Systems of work taking account of HSE guidelines in the context of COVID-19 and are supporting all departments in the safe delivery of essential services including PPE supplies, office safety, outdoor safety and staff support and advice.

Emergency Services & MEM

Under the Western Region MEM Framework where the principal response agencies of the Local Authorities, HSE and An Garda Síochána from counties Roscommon, Galway and Mayo collaborate on major incidents, I am chairing a COVID -19 response Group consisting of senior officials from all three principal response agencies. This consists of weekly webinar meetings and ensuring that the HSE is fully supported by the other agencies in whatever way possible to allow a fully collaborative response to this crisis. This involves examination of the emerging numbers, pressure points in the health service facilities, testing centres support, communications with the public and ensuring compliance with national guidelines. The Local Authority is providing support through the Emergency Services Department by having a plan for mortality management and Civil Defence are assisting in areas such as test sample transfer to test laboratories and intermediate patient transfer between care facilities. We are collaborating with Leitrim County Council in this regard to ensure the mandatory number of paramedics are available for ambulance operation.

Fire stations continue to respond to emergency calls via the 999/112 system.

Human Resources

The HR Department continues to operate in the delivery of staff support functions, payroll and superannuation administration, HRM System pilot development and workforce planning. Some essential appointments have been completed including the Art Officer Post, Housing Liaison Officer, and Healthy Ireland Coordinator.

Roads and Transportation

The Roads Quarterly Report as detailed in the Management Report to members gives a full update on roads projects throughout the county.

Our National Regional Roads Office continues to administer and progress significant Roads Infrastructure Projects in the county.

Roads capital and restoration projects continue through planning, design and contracts stages subject to restrictions on construction following Government direction.

The Roads Programme is currently suspended but emergency road repairs are being attended to with our velocity patchers. Roads crews are also attending to emergency verge trimming where road safety may be hampered. Area staff are attending to public waste bins and street cleaning and monitoring bottle banks. Civic Amenity sites continue to be manned in a safe manner.

The Local Improvement Scheme will proceed on the same policy basis as last year, including the maximum 10% administration costs to be claimed by each Local Authority and the €1,200 cap on the local contribution per individual household/landholder.  Applications under this Scheme are being examined and a return will be made to the Department by 24^th April 2020 for review.   The Department has asked the Council to note an amendment with regard to eligible and non-Eligible road projects and in particular placing the onus on individual applicants to submit the required documentation in support of their eligibility. Reference is now also made to providing documentation in cases where the occupier is not the registered owner.

Also in circumstances where beneficiaries express an interest in undertaking part of the work themselves or through a third party that this is covered however, in exercising such discretion, a Local Authority will have due regard to its obligations under health & safety legislation. Section 11 also prohibits Roads where LIS works are completed being subsequently taken in charge by the Local Authority.

Broadband

The Broadband Officer continues to work on a number of initiatives and contracts as detailed in the management report.

Building Control

The Building Control Department has continued to operate with Fire Safety Certificates, commencement notices and completion certs being applied for, assessed and granted.