There were no declarations of interest from the Members.

John Mockler, Senior Engineer and John Freeman, Senior Executive Engineer, Roads informed the members of the bye laws procedure as follows –

·         Reach agreement with the MD elected members

·         Produce draft byelaw maps

·         Send maps to the TII for approval

·         Await TII letter of consent

·         Seek formal approval from the members at the Plenary meeting either in December or January

·         Agree a date when new byelaws will come into force allowing a three to four-month period to prepare a signs schedule and signage installation.

John Freeman presented the proposed map based byelaw, resulting from the workshops that were held with the members in accordance with the 2015 guidelines for setting and managing speed limits in Ireland.  This process is ongoing in Roscommon since 2018.  Roscommon is the last local authority to update speed limit bye laws based on the 2015 review. Many of the original speed limits remain in place as shown in blue and the proposed amendments are shown in red. 

The proposed amendments include –

·         Knockcroghery – TII amended proposals for Knockcroghery agreed at the workshop, to include additional advisory sign, F401 before the existing limits on the Athlone side

·         Roscommon town- Circular road speed limits will remain as they are.  Proposal to move the 60km/hr speed limit on the Athlone road and the Ballyboughan Industrial Estate on the Racecourse road

·         Racecourse road – Speed limit decreasing from 100km/hr to 80km/hr from Ballyboughan to Cloverhill which facilitates the introduction of a 50km/hr periodic speed limit starting before Cloverhill National School, increasing again to 80km/hr for a distance of 300 metres after the school before returning to 100km/hr

·         Replace existing 60km/hr speed limit signs on the Roscommon side of Ballymoe with 50km F401 warning signs advising motorists that they are approaching a 50km/hr zone.  This will be replicated on the Castlerea side of Ballymoe.

·         On the N60 Castlerea to Ballymoe road, introduce an 80km/hr speed limit out past the Halting Site

·         On the N60 Castlerea to Ballinlough road, extend the 80km/hr speed limit by 200 metres

·         Introduce 60km/hr periodic speed limit on the Ballyhaunis side of Ballinlough at the National School

·         On the Ballyhaunis road as you exit Cloonfad the proposal is to reduce the speed limit to 80km/hr

The members welcomed the proposed speed limits and thanked the Roads Department for holding the workshops and guiding the process.  Cllr. Fitzmaurice queried the absence of speed limits at Fairymount. 

John Mockler explained that Fairymount is covered under the Regional and Local Roads speed limits which was last adopted in 2020.

Roscommon Municipal District Meeting – 22^nd September, 2022

Roscommon Municipal District Budget Meeting – 20^th October, 2022

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Leyden

            SECONDED by Cllr. Shanagher

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of the Roscommon Municipal District meeting of 22^nd September, 2022.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. McDermott

            SECONDED by Cllr. Dineen

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of the Roscommon Municipal District Budget meeting of 20^th October, 2022.

The members raised the following items- 

·         A query was raised regarding changing the apertures on the town bins

·         A request was made to replace the bins in Castlerea that were previously removed

·         An update was requested on the design for Castlerea following the TII survey that took place

·         An update was requested on the line marking that was discussed at the September meeting

Neal Geraghty responded to the issues as raised –

·         New bins have been procured with a view to replacing the bins as it more cost effective

·         The bins will be reinstated in Castlerea.

·         The Roads Department are in the process of working on the design for Castlerea

·         The line marking requested in both instances are on national roads which is carried out by the TII through a national contract.  The issue was raised with the TII and their reply stated that we cannot deviate from what is in place already.  Therefore, the only option is to put forward a capital project to widen the road and provide a dedicated right turning lane at the Four Mile House junction.  It may take a few years to go through the whole process and there are various other safety schemes ahead of it for approval. The proposed new speed limit on the Racecourse road may have a positive impact on driver behaviour at this location.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and Article 81 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) that Roscommon County Council proposes carrying out the following works:

Provision of a Public Realm Enhancement Scheme in Cloonfad Village to include:

• New footways to include new pedestrian access points, paved hard surface areas along with cladding of existing blockwork walls with stone.
• Covered outdoor space, to consist of a Tensile Canopy Type Structure.
• Soft landscaping to include, trees, shrubs, hedging, flowers & grass.
• Provision of age friendly seating, decorative lighting, pedestrian railing & hanging flower baskets
• Resurfacing, Line Marking & Signage of Existing Carpark
• All associated Site & Ancillary Works.

Specified Development in accordance with Section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and Article 81 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) that Roscommon County Council proposes carrying out the following works:

Provision of a Public Realm Enhancement Scheme in Cloonfad Village to include:

• New footways to include new pedestrian access points, paved hard surface areas along with cladding of existing blockwork walls with stone.
• Covered outdoor space, to consist of a Tensile Canopy Type Structure.
• Soft landscaping to include, trees, shrubs, hedging, flowers & grass.
• Provision of age friendly seating, decorative lighting, pedestrian railing & hanging flower baskets
• Resurfacing, Line Marking & Signage of Existing Carpark
• All associated Site & Ancillary Works.

John Quigley, Executive Engineer outlined the details of the project to the members including the procedure that was followed as outlined in the Chief Executive’s report (included with the Agenda).  There were no third party submissions and John Quigley confirmed that the community groups in Cloonfad have agreed to carry out the ongoing maintenance of this area.

The members all welcomed the proposed development and

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

             SECONDED by Cllr. Dineen

It was AGREED to proceed with the specified development without amendment as outlined in the Chief Executive’s report.

Neal Geraghty, A/Municipal District Co-ordinator informed the members that the results of the survey at the Walk were compiled.  

Roscommon County Council installed survey cameras at each end of the Walk, 50 metres east of the junction along the Walk from the Circular road and at the far end of the Walk before the junction for Greenfields out on to the national secondary road.  This was done to establish the volume of traffic in the area and monitor the speed of the vehicles. The results show that –

·         There are over 1700 vehicles on average travelling on this road daily which is substantial for this local secondary road

·         A lot of the journeys are short

·         The results clearly show a drop off in the traffic the further you go out the Walk as people living on the Walk may only have passed one of the cameras

·         The camera installed 50 metres away from the Circular road junction shows that speeding is not an issue at this location.

·         To confirm position about speeding at this end of the Walk a second survey may need to be carried out

·         The camera at the far end of the Walk confirmed that 19% of the volume of traffic were exceeding the speed limit of 60km/hr

·         As a result of the findings, Roscommon County Council has applied for funding to install a safety scheme on the Walk

·         The most suitable approach will be decided in conjunction with the Road Design office and may involve control measures such as a pinch points or speed cushions to slow down traffic

·         The scheme will also have to take account of any remaining roadside drainage issues up along the Walk 

·         The Low Cost Safety Scheme application for the Walk in 2023 has been prioritised

The members welcomed the result of the survey on the Walk and any future safety measures for the area.  

Cllr. Fitzmaurice gave an update from the Castlerea Town Team –

·         Castlerea Sustainable Energy Community was launched

·         The process of erecting the Christmas lights has started

·         Phase two of the CCTV project is ongoing to regularise the scheme with An Garda Siochána and the Towns Trust and then it will go back to the JPC for approval

·         Renovation works are still ongoing at the Gaff and it is used a lot especially by youth groups and after school groups

·         The town team was involved with the promotion and organising of the homecoming event for Aoife O’Rourke

·         Castlerea Town Team are looking forward to new projects which will be starting up next Spring

Cllr Leyden and Cllr. Shanagher gave an update from the Roscommon Town Team:

·         The Roscommon Town Team have a number of concerns and requests clarity on a few matters

·         Why were 2022 accounts required for drawdown before year end?

·         Has there been a policy change regarding the carryover of funds and if so will it be brought before the SPC?

·         When will Roscommon Town Team receive the €10,000 funding from 2022? 

·         When will the new Town Team Liaison Officer be appointed?

·         There is currently a lot of upset and frustration among the Roscommon Town Team members and people not feeling valued

·           The Christmas market is going ahead and the Town Team are happy to give funding to it again this year

·           The Ranelagh project is ongoing and the Artist continues to work on the sculptor

·           The leader funding for the skate board park and Edenville House has still not come through

Majella Hunt, Director of Services responded to the issues raised –

·         The Town Teams are set up as a Limited Company

·         The 2021 accounts for Roscommon Town Team was not reconciled and that is why payment of funds was delayed

·         There is no change to the carry-over of funds from one year to another

·         Roscommon County Council requested the programme of works for 2022 and the spend to date and did not request accounts for 2022

·         The 2022 payment to Roscommon Town Team will be paid in 2022.

·         The appointment of a Town Teams Liaison Officer was delayed due to staff shortages and delays with recruiting staff.   The Town Team was set up as an independent company and function of the liaison officer is to support and monitor the management and operation of the town teams.

·          The town team are organising the Christmas market in Roscommon Town again this year. Roscommon County Council will assist with the security for the event. The west side of the Square will be closed that weekend for safety reasons

The members all agreed that the Town Teams carry out great work and called for future funding to be restored to €16,000 annually.

Request from Councillor McDermott:

“That Roscommon County Council honour at the next civic reception the Roscommon U16 Camogie Team who won the All-Ireland U16 Camogie Final”

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. McDermott

             SECONDED by Cllr. Shanagher

It was AGREED that Roscommon County Council honour at the next civic reception the Roscommon U16 Camogie Team who won the All-Ireland U16 Camogie Final.

There were no votes of congratulations or sympathies.

The following items were raised under AOB –

·         Cllr. Shanagher acknowledged the line marking at the Library and thanked the Roscommon Operational Area for carrying out the work and having it in place for Stand Up Awareness Week.

It was agreed that thenext Roscommon MD Meeting will be held on 19^th January, 2023 at 2 p.m.