The Cathaoirleach Cllr. Emer Kelly welcomed everyone to the meeting. She thanked Caitlín, Susan and all the team from Athlone MD for the significant amount of work carried out this year.

 

Sean Mullarkey, Head of Finance presented the Chief Executive report regarding the General Municipal allocation and the draft Budgetary Plans for Athlone Municipal District 2024.

 

The total proposed General Municipal Allocation for Athlone Municipal District is €863,670 this represents an increase of €53,070 on last year’s allocations.

 

Sean Mullarkey said the increase in the budget is attributed in the main to the retention of the Local Property Tax rate of 15% which is unchanged from the previous year.

 

The allocation for Community and Enterprise projects is €85,000 for each MD Area an increase of €10,000 on last year’s allocation.

 

The River Suck drainage programme allocation is €90,000, €40,000 is apportioned to the Athlone MD and the remainder allocated to Roscommon MD.

 

Funding for the roads is allocated on the same basis as last year, (33.3% Population, 33.3% KM Roads, 33.3% condition).

 

 €12,500 has been allocated to each Town Team an increase of €2,500 on last year’s allocation.

 

 

 

The Members thanked Seam Mullarkey, Head of Finance for his presentation of the Draft Athlone MD Budget 2024.

 

Members welcomed the increased allocation for Athlone MD 2024.

 

 

On the Proposal of:    Cllr. J Naughten

         Seconded by:    Cllr. L Fallon

 

The Members agreed to allocate €13,600 from the Local Roads General Maintenance allocation for 2024 to go towards one of the outstanding LCSS applications that were still awaiting approval for funding. They agreed to review this again next year.

 

Members requested that the 2024 Road Programme Allocation be issued earlier in year, in order to secure contractors to get work completed.

 

Cllr J Keogh requested that the Graveyard grants be paid out to voluntary groups in Jan/Feb 2024.  Sean Mullarkey said he would arrange for this.

 

On the Proposal of;    Cllr D Kilduff

          Seconded by;   Cllr J Keogh

 

Proposed that equalisation of all three MD’s be examined. Cllr E Kelly said she was happy to take it back to the CPG.

 

On the Proposal of:    Cllr L Fallon

          Seconded by:   Cllr E Kelly

Members agreed to write to Minister Ryan and request that Active Travel funding be targeted more towards smaller towns and villages.

 

 

Cllr J Naughten requested an update for the next MD meeting regarding Cornafulla NS application for funding under the Safe Route to School Programme.

 

On the Proposal of:    Cllr J Naughten

         Seconded by:    Cllr J Keogh

The Members agreed to send a letter to the National Parks and Wildlife service to request an assessment of the significant increased number of non-native wild deer in the Athlone MD area which are causing major damage and road accidents, with a view to cull back the numbers.

 

 

Members thanked the Athlone team for the delivery of projects and road programme during 2023.

 

On the Proposal of:    Cllr L Fallon

          Seconded by:   Cllr J Keogh

 

Members agreed to adopt the Draft Budget 2024 for Athlone Municipal District with the following Adjustment. €13,600 to be allocated towards an outstanding application for Low Cost Safety Scheme taken out of the Allocation for Local Roads General Maintenance.

 

 

Civic Reception Request by Cllr T Ward:

 “I am calling on Roscommon County Council to honour The Roscommon Team who represented Connaught in the Clay Pigeon shooting competition beating the other three provinces for the first time in the history of the competition.  Ronan Morris, Fred Jaeger and Damien O’Briene.”

 

On the Proposal of;     Cllr T Ward

            Seconded by:    Cllr L Fallon

It was agreed to honour The Roscommon Clay Pigeon Shooting team at the next Civic Reception.

 

AOB

 

On the Proposal of:         Cllr J Keogh

          Seconded by;          Cllr J Naughten

 

The Members agreed to send a letter to Bus Eireann to request that they revert back to original Bus Stop Athlone Town Centre Schools, as the new location near the Athlone Town Stadium is unsupervised and unsafe for students who have to walk to this bus stop and wait to be collected. The Members agreed that Bus Eireann should liaise with Schools Authorities and Parent Associations to resolve this matter urgently.

 

 

On the Proposal of:         Cllr J Keogh

           Seconded by:        Cllr l Fallon

Members requested that Bus Eireann is called upon to suspend their decision to move the Athlone Town Centre bus stop. A letter to be sent to the Regional Manager of Bus Eireann.

 

 

 

On the Proposal of:         Cllr J Naughten

           Seconded by:        Cllr J Keogh

 

The Members agreed that a letter should also be sent to the Athlone MD, Westmeath Co. Co. in relation to the above matter expressing their support to have this matter resolved.

 

On the Proposal of:         Cllr E Kelly

           Seconded by:        Cllr J Keogh

 

Request a meeting with Athlone MD, Westmeath Co. Co. to work together along with School Authorities and Parent Associations of the Schools involved to address the issue.