There were no declarations of interest from the Members.

Roscommon Municipal District Meeting – 25^th September, 2023

Roscommon Municipal District Budget Meeting – 19^th October, 2023

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Shanagher

            SECONDED by Cllr. Leyden

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of the Roscommon Municipal District Meeting of 25^th September, 2023

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Leyden

            SECONDED by Cllr. McDermott

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of the Roscommon Municipal District Budget Meeting of 19^th October, 2023

·         Enquiries regarding the accessibility aspect of the playground equipment currently being tendered for Loughnaneane Park and request for a more detailed description of this equipment

·         Update on plans for pedestrian crossings for the Circular road

·         Query regarding the ongoing problems with the pedestrian crossing at Roscommon Garda Station

·         Update requested on the progress of works at the Walk

·         Query regarding a response from the Roads Design Office and the TII concerning the new section of the N60 at Oran

·         Update requested on the proposed pedestrian crossings and traffic lights as part of the safety scheme planned for Castlerea town.

Tom McDermott, Municipal District Co-ordinator responded to the issues raised –

·         The contract is now signed for Loughnaneane Park and we will forward details of the equipment to the members

·         The roads department have been in contact with the TII regarding the pedestrian crossings on Circular road but as of yet we have no further information on this

·         The existing solar pedestrian crossing at Roscommon Garda Station has been fixed twice and is very problematic.  Our Assets Department are considering replacing the solar lights with electric powered lights

·         The contractor expects to have the ramps at the Walk completed within the next two weeks

·         We sent a letter to the TII concerning the new section of the N60 at Oran but have not received a response from them.  We have e-mailed the response from the Roads Design office directly to the members

·         A Part 8 for the safety scheme in Castlerea town will be advertised this week and put on public display

Presentation from Maria Hall, Hub Planning

Maria Hall, Hub Planning presented the Draft Local Economic & Community Plan 2023- 2029. This is a six-year plan that sets out objectives and actions to promote economic development and improve the quality of life for local communities.  Supported by a two-year implementation plan it is aligned with national and regional strategies. The framework document was informed by extensive consultation across County Roscommon. Six high level goals identify the objectives for implementation of the plan.  We are currently at the end of stage 3 of the process and following approval of the Members today the draft will hopefully go before the members at the December Plenary meeting for final approval.

The members welcomed the draft LECP, thanked Maria for her presentation and made the following comments:

·         The Local Community Safety Plan will replace the existing JPC and community safety partnerships will be formed with more community representatives

·         The importance of linking the health and wellbeing section with the sustainability section to encourage people to have allotments, produce their own food, think more about what they are eating and take ownership of their own health

·         The need to look at small active travel schemes in our towns and check out other ways of funding them

·         The need to assess the situation in County Roscommon as regards foreign direct investment and look at what is currently working in other Local Authorities

·         The need to set up an Economic Development Forum in County Roscommon and appoint an Economic Development Officer to ensure that we have targeted engagement with the IDA

·         The need to protect local businesses on the main streets of our towns and be able to access them easily

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Shanagher

            SECONDED by Councillor Leyden

It was AGREED by all members to approve the Draft Local Economic Community Plan (LECP) which aligns with the Roscommon County Development Plan.

Section 11 (2) (b) of the Roads Act 1993 and Roads Regulations 1994, Part 2 Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), Section 180 Local Government Reform Act 2014 Schedule 3

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Leyden

            SECONDED by Councillor Shanagher

It was AGREED that the road within the housing development at Knights Court, Roscommon town be declared a public road.

Section 11 (2) (b) of the Roads Act 1993 and Roads Regulations 1994, Part 2

Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), Section 180 Local Government Reform Act 2014 Schedule 3

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Shanagher

            SECONDED by Councillor McDermott

It was AGREED that the road within the housing development at Anvil Court, Roscommon town be declared a public road.

The poor condition of the footpaths in Ballyleague was discussed and the importance of this as it is a prominent tourism location in County Roscommon.  Tom McDermott, Municipal District Co-ordinator agreed that substantial works were required to the footpaths in Ballyleague and stated that the trees will have to be removed first as they are uprooting the paths and making them inaccessible.  He informed the members that he has already contacted our Roads Department and requested funding for 2024 out of the Irish Public Bodies allocation.  A contractor has already submitted prices for a section of footpaths but the amount of work we can carry out will be dependent on the funding we can secure. 

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

·         The Roscommon Town Team are very busy with planning the Christmas markets in collaboration with Roscommon County Council and various volunteers.  The lighting up of Loughnaneane Park this year is another exciting addition to the programme.  The town team would also like to acknowledge funding from Roscommon Leader Partnership towards the Christmas Markets this year

·         An Edenville town team subcommittee meeting took place to put a steering group together and work out terms of reference for management of any future Edenville projects.  This group hope to meet in December

Cllr. Dineen and Cllr. Fitzmaurice gave an update from the Castlerea Town Team:

·         The Castlerea Town Team are looking for a new development plan for Castlerea town

·         The town team were very involved in the preparations for the Pride of Place awards for Somers Park but unfortunately they were not successful in the health and wellbeing category on this occasion, however, Castlerea Town Team acknowledges the great work and investment by Roscommon County Council in Somers Park and Castlerea swimming pool and the ongoing support of Harmac Medical

·         Castlerea are also involved with the Christmas markets in Roscommon town this year

Congratulations were expressed to Seamus Duke, Bernie Kearney and all involved with Roscommon’s only community radio station, ROSFM who won three major awards recently at the annual CRAOL (Community Radio Forum of Ireland) conference. “Our Friends From Ukraine” programme won a gold award and was also selected for a standout award for being one of the best radio programmes on community radio nationally.

Congratulations were sent to Castlerea St. Kevin’s team who won the Connaught Club intermediate football final recently.

Congratulations were also sent to Creggs Rural Development group on winning a National Pride of Place award and Williamstown Tidy Towns on being crowned national winner of the Heritage Award.  This is a great achievement for these areas which are part of the Suck Valley Way.

There were no votes of sympathy.

·         Compliments were given to Roscommon County Council on the success of the civic awards reception evening in the Arts Centre

·         A request was made to repaint the Abbeytown pedestrian crossing with the rainbow colours to show that we are inclusive and continue to support the LGBT community 

·         The matter of the dangerous junction on the N61 past Kilbride as you turn off for the R368 to Strokestown was discussed as this issue remains unresolved even though the TII was notified of this previously.  The continuous white line was replaced with a broken line and the “Do not pass” sign was removed. 

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Leyden

            SECONDED by Councillor Shanagher

It was AGREED that a request be made for a feasibility report to be submitted to the TII requesting safety works at this junction and referring to the possibility of a low cost safety scheme to include a lane for turning right, reinstatement of the continuous white line and replacement of the “Do not pass” sign.

·         Similar issues at the Red Bridge junction on the N60 Ballymoe to Castlerea road and the junction near Cloverhill School were also discussed where the continuous white lines were also removed by the TII

·         Updates on signage for the Lough road

·         Request for “Children at Play” sign to be erected at the apartments behind Regan’s in Roscommon town

·         Update requested on the timescale for completion of the ongoing work at Roscommon town square

·         The matter of significant deliberate damage on different occasions to signs in the Ballintubber, Castlecoote and Creggs area was discussed and Cllr. Fitzmaurice requested that Roscommon County Council make a formal complaint to Castlerea Garda Station

·         Update requested on “Putting the spoke back in the wheel” project

·         Update requested on Active Travel project from the Golf Links road to Hannon’s hotel

Tom McDermott and Mark Keaveney responded to the issues raised:

·         Tom McDermott agreed to discuss the Strokestown junction with our roads department and seek advice on how best to approach the TII on this matter and will advise the members accordingly

·         We will erect signage on the Lough Road and at the apartments behind Regan’s

·         The latest update from the contractor indicate that the works at the town square will be finished before Christmas

·         Tom McDermott agreed to make a formal complaint to the Gardai in Castlerea regarding the damage to signs in the Ballintubber area

·         The “Putting the spoke back in the wheel” project is now at the detailed design stage and it will probably be mid 2024 before any works commence

·         The project from the Golf Links road to Hannon’s hotel is at detailed design stage and funding will be made available in 2024 under active travel to complete this design with construction probably not commencing until 2025