The Elected members welcomed the update reports from the Directors of Services and raised the following matters:

·         Importance of the Local Enterprise Office that is providing support to the small business at this time. The Project Ireland 2040 needs to be reconsidered as a result of the COVID Pandemic where rural living has to be given a new priority but emphasised the need for improvement in Broadband facilities across rural Ireland that would allow many people to live and work from home. Every village should have hub to facilitate remote working.

·          Ringfence funding for projects from MD funding in 2020 for community employment schemes.

·         Preserve and allocate Amenity Grant funding in 2020

·         Take in Charge of roads resurfaced under LIS schemes.

·         Can facilities in Áras an Chontae be made available to second level students studying for leaving cert?

·         Many older people who are cocooning have a difficulty in getting household waste to amenity site that they normally use – can any assistance be provided to them?

·         Who checks that social distancing guidelines are being implemented in shops that are open?

·         While tidy town competition is cancelled, communities are anxious to continue to keep their local areas tidy.

·         Complement the people of Roscommon for the low level of CODID-19 currently in the county.

·         Need to support local communities and pay grants as soon as possible.

·         The increasing incidence of illegal waste dumping is a national scandal and legislators are failing to deal with the matter in terms of inadequate fines and penalties. What is particularly disappointing is the amount of waste being dumped that can be recycled.

·         Is it possible to extend and promote an Adopt the Road project, in light of all those walking now who could participate.

·         When will the WEE Recycling programme be available?

·         There is a need to consider the extension of planning permissions that are about to expire by a period of one year.

·         The level of Broadband service from Eir has reduced due to the number of people working from home and the challenge is to mat least maintain the same level of service.

·         Compliment the level of service currently provided by the Council staff and in particular the Community Helpline that is a vital resource for over 70’s.

·         Thanks to the frontline staff for all of their work in very difficult circumstances. Thanks to the communities for all of their help to the vulnerable in their local areas.

·         On the assumption that the restrictions will continue until the end of the year, can projects that need to be finished by year end resume as soon as possible when it is safe to do so.

·         With Government formation talks ongoing, it is important that rates, subsidy grants are put in place as soon as possible and EU funding is directed to the regions.

·         Government need to ensure PPE supply for family carers.

·         There is currently illegal camping on the Suck Valley Way.

·         The Government need to concentrate on helping small businesses in reopening when they are due to open in the National Roadway.

·         Appeal to everyone to shop local and support local businesses.

·         Thanks to all groups assisting in the Community forum.

·         Need to look at provision of WIFI outside our buildings.

In response to queries raised, the Directors of Services replied as follows:

·         The Department have issued an outline of the 2020 Local Improvement Scheme that are consistent with other years but there are some specific stipulations that have been highlighted on completion of a project or beneficiaries should be notified that the responsibility of the local authority has ended and all future maintenance of the works is their responsibility in line with Section 81.5 of the Local Government Act 2000 where Local Authority works are completed should not subsequently be taken in charge by the Local Authority.  Roscommon County Council have made significant inroads in the Local Improvement scheme.  A review of the schemes on hand to see e which of those schemes would comply with the criteria which those that may no longer be required and that would give us a very good visibility for 2021 and revert with a report to the relevant SPC later in the year.  

·         Our broadband officers continuing to work with broadband providers to help accelerate and facilitate the roll out of broadband in the county. The national broadband plan is the only route for what are deemed to be the non-viable areas for commercial activity. The commercial activity in the county at this point has provided about 52% of premises with broadband and the remainder will have to be rolled out  under the Broadband Ireland Scheme. 12 Public access points connection points will be installed in remote areas of the county. We as a Local Authority have secured the four Wi-Fi vouchers which will allow us to install  Wi-Fi in a lot of our towns and villages and this is currently going through the tendering process.

·         In relation to persons cocooning who cannot travel to their civic amenity site, they should contact the Community Call forum. The WEE recycling programme is facilitated by the bulky goods collection from time to time but some of this electrical waste can be brought back to the retailer. A programme for will be developed for this facility.

·         The Adopt a Road scheme is a part of the National Spring clean initiative that is currently suspended and is subject to funding becoming available.

·         The 24 Hour Community call helpline was set up on 1^st April is being operated 24/7 with Roscommon County Council on duty from 8am to 8pm and An Garda Síochána 8pm to 8am. A number of local organisations are involved in the forum including community groups, Leader, Dept. of Social protection, An Post, the PPN and the farmers association. Six forum meetings have been held under the Chairman Mr. Eugene Cummins and to date 1,560 calls have been received. Services provided include collection and delivery of groceries, prescriptions, pensions.

·         Guidelines in relation to social distancing and sanitising of trolleys etc. is the responsibility of the individual shops and customers. However this will be become a more pressing issue and employers including shopkeepers have a responsibility as individuals expect to be safe when entering any premises. This has been and will continue to be raised at the forum and they will endeavour to get a strong message out on this matter.

·         The Joint Policing Committee is expected to be established shortly.