No Disclosures

·         Minutes of Meeting held on 21^st November,2023.

·         Minutes of Meeting held on 11^th January, 2024.

On the Proposal of:  Cllr L Fallon

         Seconded by:   Cllr J Naughten

It was AGREED by the Members to adopt the minutes of Athlone Municipal District meeting held on 21^st November, 2023.

On the Proposal of:  Cllr J Keogh

         Seconded by:   Cllr J Naughten

It was AGREED by the Members to adopt the minutes of Athlone Municipal District Special meeting held on 11^th January, 2024.

Enda Mulryan, Acting Senior Engineer and Damien Loughnane, Senior Executive Technician Regeneration Department presented the Chief Executive report to the Members.

Part 8 – Permission for the proposed development of a Community Park in Monksland, which will include the following.

1.  A Public Amenity Area with Car parking.

2.  Shared Surface and Walking pathways.

3.  Play Areas to include playground apparatus, micro skate park and multipurpose  

     play areas.

4.  Outdoor performances area with tiered seating.

5.  Public Lighting and Park Furniture to include shared seating dwell areas, picnic

     tables, seating and benches, cycle stands and signage and site boundary fencing

6.  Soft and Hard landscaping to include top soiling, grass seeding along with shrub, 

      Hedge and tree planting.

7. All other ancillary site works.

Members expressed their thanks to all involved in the preparation of the Plan and welcomed the Proposed Development as the first steps towards the strategic vision to develop facilities for the growing population of Monksland.   Cllr. J Keogh requested that the tiered seating for the outdoor performance area represent an amphitheatre style seating and not linear as in the Plans.  Enda Mulryan agreed to consider this change in the final plan.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr. J Naughten

         Seconded by:   Cllr. J Keogh  

It was AGREED by all the Members to approve the Part 8 for the Development of a Community Park in Monksland, Athlone. 

The following issues were raised by the Members:

1 An update on the Survey requested at the last MD Meeting to be carried out on the condition of footpaths in older estates in Monksland and the wider Athlone MD area, many are in need of repair and replacement.

2. Missing section of footpath on the Curraghboy side of Athleague, request to consider including it in the programme of works for footpaths 2024.

3.The timeframe for erection of the remaining reflective signage for the R363. It was also requested that reflective signage on the road from Ballyforan to Brideswell be considered.

4. Request to carry out verge reinstatement on the Cam, Brideswell R363 road, and also between 4 Roads and Dysart.

5. Cllr L Fallon proposed that a proportion of Planning & Development charges received from quarry developments be retained to help with the cost of reinstating damaged road verges  due to large volume of heavy vehicles using the road.

On the Proposal of:  Cllr L Fallon

          Seconded by:  Cllr T Ward

Members AGREED to send a letter to Planning Section requesting that a proportion of Development levies from quarry developments be retained to reinstate damages road verges from large volumes of Heavy Vehicle use.

6. The survey on the Coolusty Bridge, is it completed.

Members discussed the reply from NWPS in relation to the culling back of deer numbers in Athlone MD area. NWPS advised that the Motion would be best directed to Department of Agriculture as they can only manage the deer herds within the National Parks border.

Caitlín Conneely, Director of Services informed the Members that NWPS did replied to the Motion forwarded to them and that a National Programme is being put in place at the moment.

On the Proposal of: Cllr J Naughten

           Seconded by: Cllr L Fallon

Members AGREED to send a letter to the Minister of Agriculture requesting him to intervene as a matter of urgency, as this is a serious matter of increasing numbers of wild deer roaming freely that needs to be addressed immediately  in Athlone MD, Roscommon area, as the National Programme to be rolled out could take a year or more.

On the Proposal of: Cllr L Fallon

          Seconded by:  Cllr J Keogh

Members also AGREED to send a letter to the Minister for Forestry in relation to the large number of wild deer leaving the forest area, which are presenting a serious danger to road users in the Athlone MD area.

Susan Loughnane, Athlone MD Co-Ordinator informed the Members:

1. That footpath reinstatement funding is included in the general roads budget programme  funding and job code will be set up in Q1 of this year to progress with the works.

2 Signage on the R363 will be completed as soon as resources to do so is available, works had been delayed as works due to flooding and storm damage had to be prioritized.

3. The Location in question will be examined and emergency works completed where needed.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.24

Three Notice of Motions for discussion.

“I am calling on Roscommon County Council to liaise with the Department of Social Protection to develop a community employment (CE) scheme for the area of Ballyforan, Dysart, Four Roads and Mount Talbot”

“I am calling on Roscommon County Council to liaise with the Department of Social Protection to develop a community employment (CE) scheme for the area of Ballyforan, Dysart, Four Roads and Mount Talbot”

RESPONSE:

Roscommon County Council does not manage Community Employment Schemes in any area of the County. As part of its role and functions, the Council works with communities on an ongoing basis developing and maintaining local areas.

On the Proposal of:  Cllr E Kelly

        Seconded by:    Cllr J Naughten

Members supported the Motion, They agreed that it was important to Community groups to help fund projects in their area. They acknowledged that the terms of the CE scheme needs to be revised. Income threshold needs to increase to give incentive for people to take up a position, extend the 12 month term to 3 years with no age limit and remove the requirement to be from farming background.

On the Proposal of:  Cllr T Ward

           Seconded by; Cllr E Kelly

Members AGREED to send a letter requesting that they consider revising the terms of CE scheme as outlined above.

On the Proposal of:    Cllr D Kilduff

          Seconded by;   Cllr E Kelly

Members AGREED to write to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Heather Humpreys, to request the following: Where an area is eligible for a CE scheme but cannot fill posts, that groups can use the funding allocated for the CE scheme to procure the required services, which would otherwise have been carried out by CE participants, from the private sector.

Caitlín Conneely, Director of Services informed the Members that the CE Scheme is run by department of Social Protection as an employment incentive, for long term unemployed and may not be compatible to change the terms of the Scheme as requested.

Cllr E Kelly thanked the Members for their support and will work with the Community Groups to see how they can develop a CE Scheme in their villages.

“I am calling on Roscommon County Council to immediately requested TII to install an additional filter lane onto the East Bound Carriageway of M6 at Junction13 to alleviate the significant traffic congestion on a daily basis, between the Daneshill Roundabout and the Junction 13 Roundabout.”

“That Roscommon County Council immediately requested TII to install an additional filter lane onto the East Bound Carriageway of M6 at Junction13 to alleviate the significant traffic congestion on daily basis, between the Daneshill Roundabout and the Junction 13 Roundabout.”

RESPONSE:

The above NOM requires a resolution by the members of the Athlone MD to write to TII.

The Motion was discussed by the Members. They agreed that the volume of traffic coming in to the Roundabouts at junction 13 entering and exiting M6 motorway has increased significantly over the last few years and needs to be addressed.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr J Naughten

         Seconded by:   Cllr J Keogh

Members supported the Motion

Members  AGREED to send a letter to TII requesting on foot of the report “Athlone Transport Based Study” to address the traffic congestion by putting in an extra lane for traffic entering the roundabout from Daneshill side to exit  onto the M6 .

“I am calling on Roscommon County Council to resurface the carpark area at Taughmaconnell cemetery and also resurface the road into the cemetery and install footpaths.   I am also calling on the council to check the trees in the cemetery, if the trees have dry rot and decay I want the council to remove them in the interest of safety”

“I am calling on Roscommon County Council to resurface the carpark area at Taughmaconnell cemetery and also resurface the road into the cemetery and install footpaths.   I am also calling on the council to check the trees in the cemetery, if the trees have dry rot and decay I want the council to remove them in the interest of safety?”

RESPONSE:

The works requested are substantial and will require significant funding and resources. Additional funding, beyond what is currently available to the Athlone MD for graveyards, will be required to carry out these works in totality. The cost of the works will be calculated to determine if any portion of the works required can be addressed within the currently available funding. 

Members discussed the condition of the Road and carpark into the graveyard in Taughmaconnell Cemetery, Roots of trees have risen up along the driveway in and along the outer pathways. There is an urgent need to have the trees surveyed to identify how many need to be removed in the interest of safety. There is substantial funding needed to be sourced to carry out the works involved.

Susan Loughnane informed the Members that quotes would be sought for a tree survey to be carried out.  Where resources and funding are available, works would be carried out on a phased basis.

On the Proposal of:  Cllr T Ward 

           Seconded by: Cllr J Keogh

Members supported the Motion.

On the Proposal of:  Cllr D Kilduff

          Seconded by:  Cllr J Naughten

Members AGREED to send a letter to the Minister for Rural and Community Development to request funding for the works required at Taughmaconnell Cemetery.

Two Questions for noting

Can Roscommon County Council provide an update on funding under the Safe Route to School Programme applied for by Cornafulla N.S.  To date they have received no funding to carry out urgently required works to improve safety for pupils and parents surrounding the school?

Can Roscommon County Council provide an update on funding under the Safe Route to School Programme applied for by Cornafulla N.S.  To date they have received no funding to carry out urgently required works to improve safety for pupils and parents surrounding the school?

RESPONSE:

Cornafulla NS was not selected in Round 1 or 2 of the Safe Routes to School programme, however Cornafulla NS is on the overall schools list and may be chosen as part of further SRTS rounds.

Can Roscommon County Council provide a detail report on the outcome of the Active Travel Survey that was carried out between Cloonakilla N.S. and Colaiste Chiarain, including a timetable for provision of integrated walking and cycling routes between the schools?

Can Roscommon County Council provide a detail report on the outcome of the Active Travel Survey that was carried out between Cloonakilla N.S. and Colaiste Chiarain, including a timetable for provision of integrated walking and cycling routes between the schools?

RESPONSE:

The Creation, Enhancement and Integration of Active Travel Assets in Athlone West Preliminary Options Assessment Draft Report has been prepared. This report is with the NTA for comment prior to being finalised.

The implementation of any recommendations within the report is subject to funding. The NTA have yet to publish the allocation for 2024.

Athlone MD funding extensions requested by seven groups

On the Proposal of:  Cllr T Ward

          Seconded by:  Cllr J Naughten

Members AGREED to an extension of 6 months for all seven projects until end of July 2024.

Athlone MD 2024 funding has now been advertised in the Roscommon Herald 30^th January, 2024.

1. NWPS - reply to motion Oct 2023 –assessment of Wild Deer numbers  

2. Westmeath Co Co – reply to motion Oct 2023 - revised school bus pick up stop

3. OPW – reply to motion Nov 2023 –funding to raise the Clonown Rd.

4. TII –reply to motion Nov 2023- aquaplaning on M6 Kilbegley overbridge to 

                                                      Junction 14.

Four correspondence noted.

Correspondence from the NWPS was discussed by the Members under matters arising.

No Civic Reception Requests

No Votes of Congratulations/Sympathy

Members expressed their thanks to the Community & Enterprise Staff of Roscommon County Council for their information evening in relation to the launch of the Knockcroghery, Lecarrow, Rahara Community and Economic Plan 2023 – 2028.

Next Athlone MD meeting agreed for Tuesday 12^th March, 2024

Members expressed their thanks and appreciation to Seamus Lough, Executive Engineer for all his work and co-operation with the Members and public during his time with Athlone MD office, they wished him well in his new position in Active Travel.