There were no declarations of interest from the Members.

Roscommon Municipal District Meeting – 27^th May, 2024

Roscommon Municipal District Annual Meeting – 27^th June, 2024

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

            SECONDED by Cllr. McDermott

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of the Roscommon Municipal District Meeting of 27^th May, 2024

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Scahill

            SECONDED by Cllr. McDermott

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of the Roscommon Municipal District Annual Meeting of 27^th June, 2024

Updates were sought on the following matters arising from the meeting of 27^th May, 2024 -

·         The absence of a timetable at Roscommon bus stop

·         The difficulty for buses to turn within Cashel Park housing estate in Castlerea and the safety issues at the Square in Castlerea where children are alighting from the buses

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

            SECONDED by Cllr. Scahill

It was AGREED to investigate options for making the turning area within the Cashel Park housing estate bigger so that buses can turn within the estate in addition to looking at an alternative area off the Square in Castlerea or within the Square so that buses can pull in safely and allow passengers alight and cross the road safely

·         Road works required at Meelickaduff on the N60

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

·         The National Transport Authority has allocated a significant amount of money for the upgrade of bus stops and timetables will be erected in due course

·         The Active Travel Team will be implementing this scheme and before any works commence proposals will be brought to the members

·         There was no update on Meelickaduff

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

·         A meeting has been arranged with the Tourism Officer, Lisa Joy to progress plans for the proposed Christmas Festival

·         Plans are underway for a weekend festival around Global Rossie Day which is scheduled for 22^nd September

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

·         The Castlerea Town Team are engaging with Roscommon County Council regarding Global Rossie Day as each town will be given a particular area of focus

·         They are busy preparing for the Castlerea Rose Festival

·         They are hoping to be successful in their application under the Climate Action Funding towards a complete retrofit of d’Gaff Community & Youth Centre in Castlerea

·         The new basketball ring and sound system in addition to the new seating at Somers Park has been welcomed by the children in the area

·         They are putting up bunting and signs to support Aoife O’Rourke who will be taking part in the Olympics

·         They are helping out with Castlerea swimming pool and the disability lifter that the Town Team funded last year is working out well

·         They are hoping to progress a bursary scheme to subsidise the training of young people who wish to train as life guards

·         Good luck wishes were sent to Aoife O’Rourke in her Olympic journey and Rochelle Timothy who is taking part in the Paralympics Games

Tom McDermott, Municipal District Co-Ordinator informed the members that an additional €361,550 was allocated for the Roscommon MD 2024 Roads Programme.  This funding will be divided as follows:

Roscommon Operational Area - €172,000

Castlerea Operational Area - €189,550

This additional money will allow the areas complete the original roads programme as approved by the members in March due to prices coming in very expensive this year.  Without this funding, it would not be possible to complete the original programme. 

The members welcomed the additional funding but voice concerns regarding the delays the delays in verge trimming are disappointing.  Tom McDermott explained that there are now four hedgecutters working in the Roscommon MD with priority given to junctions, national and regional roads.

Request from Councillor Waldron:

“That Roscommon County Council honour at the next civic reception Danny O’Shaughnessy and Martin Conroy from Ballintubber who won the All-Ireland Golden Masters B Doubles Handball Championship in June 2024.”

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

            SECONDED by Cllr. McDermott

It was AGREED that Roscommon County Council honour the following at the next civic reception -

Danny O’Shaughnessy and Martin Conroy from Ballintubber who won the All-Ireland Golden Masters B Doubles Handball Championship in June 2024.

Letter from Local Link re. 37.24

There were two items of correspondence -

Response from the Local Link re. 37.24

Tom McDermott read the letter from Local Link e-mail as circulated.  The members expressed their disappointment that no local link service was planned for Cloontuskert.

Response from the TII re. 35.24

Tom McDermott read the e-mail from TII.  The members discussed their disappointment at the response from TII and their unwillingness to address the pedestrian crossing points in Castlerea as amended by the members during the Part 8 process

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

            SECONDED by Cllr. Scahill

It was AGREED that the TII should visit Castlerea and go through the various elements of the scheme on the ground.

Tom McDermott suggested that he speak with John Freeman in our Roads Department about carrying out a feasibility and options report just for the pedestrian crossing and submitting it to TII and will report back to the members on this.

Mark Keaveney, Director of Services confirmed that Castlerea is now a Town Centre First Town and Roscommon County Council have funding to carry out a Town Centre First Plan for Castlerea. This plan may address some of the issues such as the potential for additional off-street car parking that could enable the TII standards for the road to be achieved.   

A vote of sympathy was sent to the O’Mahony family and a minute's silence was observed as a mark of respect to the late John O’Mahony who distinguished himself as a great footballer, GAA Manager, T.D. and Senator.

A vote of sympathy was also sent to the Lynch family on the passing of Paddy Lynch recently.

Votes of congratulations were sent to the Castle in Communities Group in Ballintubber as they welcome back the American students for another term in addition to Ballintubber Development Association and Ballintubber Kayaking Club on turning the sod for phase two of the Waterways Ireland project at Dundermot, Ballymoe.

Congratulations were also sent to Roscommon Town Twinning Committee and Roscommon County Council on the very successful event held to welcome the visitors from Chartrettes.

The following issues were raised:

·         Speeding on the Derrane road

·         Update on the proposed footpath between Hannon’s Hotel and the Golf Links Road

·         Update requested on the safety issue at Gorthaganny National School and request for Trien National School to be inspected due to similar safety issues

·         Safety in the towns and villages and the new Department of Transport, type B raised crossing points which are more visible and are a safer option with requests to allocate funding for a programme of works  for these and also to include extending the footpaths on the outskirts of some villages, for example out to housing estates and out to the playground in Cloonfad and

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

            SECONDED by Cllr. McDermott

It was AGREED that Roscommon Municipal District seek funding in the budget for additional footpaths and crossing points in our towns and villages

·         Request to speak to the owners of private car parks in areas such as Castlerea town with a view to having these areas dedicated for public use on an annual basis with Roscommon County Council responsible for maintaining them

Tom McDermott, Municipal District Co-ordinator and Mark Keaveney, Director of Services responded to the issue raised:

·         Speeding is an issue on many roads and is enforced by An Gardaí Siochána, the speed limit on Derrane road will be reduced to 60 km/hr in November which may help the situation

·         The project planned for the works between Hannon’s Hotel and the Golf Links Road is at detailed design stage with hopes that it will get through the Part 8 process this year and subject to funding should go to construction in 2025

·         There is no further update on Gorthaganny National School and Trien National School needs to apply for the Safe Routes to School Active Travel Programme

·         Any future increase in the budget for footpaths and crossing points will come before the members through the main plenary budget meeting