There were no declarations of interest from the Members.

Roscommon Municipal District Meeting – 19^th January, 2026

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Holland

            SECONDED by Cllr. Conboy

It was AGREED to adopt the minutes of the Roscommon Municipal District Meeting of 19^th January, 2026.

There were no matters arising.

Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended), Planning & Development Regulations (2001) (as amended). Presentation of the Chief Executive's Report on Specified Development Part 8 – Bennett’s Walled Garden, Demesne, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon - PT8RN320

Maria O’Mahony, Regeneration presented the Part 8. 

The members welcomed the Part 8 for the conservation and rehabilitation works on a 200-year-old walled garden in Castlerea and paid tribute to Cllr. Fitzmaurice for all his work on the project.  The inclusion of gates to facilitate access for machinery was agreed.  Members asked whether any provisions had been made for essential services such as water, electricity and public lighting in the area.

Cllr. Fitzmaurice spoke about his own submission on the Part 8 and his view that the footpaths could be linked to the Demesne and Ballindrimley Road, but these lands cannot be included in the Part 8 as they are owned by Castlerea Towns Trust. 

Cllr. Fitzmaurice made the following comments -

·        That the walls of the house on the site be included for repairs as structural works are necessary from a safety point of view

·        That the two glasshouse walls on the site be retained

·        That the pond walls be included within the Part 8

·        That the pear tree be retained as it is 100 years old

·        That a maintenance plan be considered going forward

·        That the back gate entrance be retained and the path going to it be reinstated

·        Proposal to divert the footpath at the northwest corner of the orchard so as not to interfere with the pear tree

Damien Loughnane, Regeneration replied to the questions and informed the meeting that all the walls in the orchard will be maintained, and paths will be realigned as necessary to avoid removal of any trees but unfortunately this Part 8 does not include any provision for lighting or services.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

                             SECONDED by Cllr. Holland

It was AGREED by all the members to approve the Part 8.

Declaration of public road within the housing development at Hillside, Ballintubber

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Holland

                              SECONDED by Cllr. Dineen

It was AGREED by all the members that the road within the housing development at Hillside, Ballintubber be declared a public road.

Tom McDermott, Municipal District Co-ordinator presented the Draft Schedule of Municipal District Works including the Roads Programme for 2026.

A general discussion regarding the Draft Roads Programme took place.  The members welcomed the funding for 2026 and made the following comments –

·        Disappointment that the N60 at Meelickaduff is not included for works in 2026, however the Director of Services for Roads is hoping to raise this issue at the meeting with the TII in Dublin today

·        Calls for the TII to carry out urgent works at the Cloonfad junction

·        Request that works be carried out to the L66081

·        The increased potholes caused by flooding and the opportunity to carry out additional drainage before resurfacing

·        Resurfacing is required for the car park at Ballintubber Church, and both this car park and the Roscommon Church car parks must be formally dedicated to public use to facilitate any works

·        Concern over the reduced public realm budget and the challenge this presents in sustaining service standards

·        Plans to rent a suitable machine for cleaning the footpaths in Castlerea with the hope of securing a budget in 2027 to purchase one

·        Extend best wishes to all employees who retired recently

·        Request for soft ramps to be installed when Ballintubber village is being resurfaced and the need for a Road Safety Audit to be carried out for Ballintubber village as a first step to securing a low-cost safety scheme for the village

Tom McDermott, Municipal District Co-ordinator responded to the above comments

·        The Castlerea Area Office have given a commitment to carry out works to the L66081

·        A low-cost safety scheme will be required before ramps can be installed for Ballintubber village

·        A hot wash machine is required to wash footpaths, not just sweep up the rubbish and these machines could cost in the region of €130,000

·        The Cloonfad junction is on the TII radar

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor McDermott

            SECONDED by Councillor Conboy

It was AGREED by all the members to adopt the Schedule of Municipal District Works including the Roads Programme for the Roscommon Municipal District for 2026.

Change of Municipal District Grant from storage shed to three picnic tables for the jetty area at Dundermot, Ballymoe and video and signage to promote kayaking on the Suck Valley Way

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Holland

            SECONDED by Councillor Conboy

It was AGREED by all the members to approve the changes to the Municipal District Funding grant from a storage shed to three picnic tables for the jetty area at Dundermot, Ballymoe and video and signage to promote kayaking on the Suck Valley Way.

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

• The Roscommon Town Team had a successful review meeting with the Community Department of Roscommon County Council regarding their activities of 2025.

Cllr. Fitzmaurice gave an update from the Castlerea Town Team

• Another public meeting took place in relation to the Castlerea Town Centre First Plan.

Request from Councillor Fitzmaurice:

“That Roscommon County Council honour Castlerea Community School U19 boys basketball team and their Manager, Thomas Callaghan at the next Civic Reception as they won the All-Ireland U19 basketball final in Cork.

Request from Cllr. Fitzmaurice

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

            SECONDED by Cllr. Holland

It was AGREED by all the members that Roscommon County Council honour Castlerea Community School U19 boys basketball team and their Manager, Thomas Callaghan at the next Civic Reception as they won the All-Ireland U19 basketball final in Cork.

Tribute was paid to their fantastic Manager, Thomas Callaghan and his predecessor Joe Henry that was the backbone of basketball in Castlerea Community School down through the years.

E-mail from TII re. 67.25

Tom McDermott read one item of correspondence as circulated - Email from TII re. 67.25

The members expressed their disappointment with the reply as Castlerea are willing to accept the loss of parking for the pedestrian crossings and Mark Keaveney, Director of Services will raise the issue with the TII at the meeting in Dublin today.

Votes of congratulations were conveyed again to Castlerea Community School U19 boys basketball team on winning the All-Ireland U19 basketball final in Cork.

The following comments were made

·        Appreciation to Roscommon County Council and Irish Rail for works at Clooneygrasson railway crossing