·         Minutes of Athlone Municipal District Meeting on 8^th June, 2021;

·         Minutes of Athlone Municipal District Annual Meeting on 21^st June, 2021

The Cathaoirleach Cllr. Laurence Fallon welcomed everyone to the meeting.

On the PROPOSAL OF:        Cllr Tony Ward

           SECONDED BY:        Cllr.Emer Kelly

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of Athlone Municipal District meeting held on 8^th June, 2021.

On the PROPOSAL OF:        Cllr. John Naughten

            SECONDED BY:       Cllr. Emer Kelly

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of Athlone Municipal District Annual meeting held on the 21^st June, 2021

Cllr J Naughten requested clarification on a question he had submitted at a previous meeting in relation to Cloonakilla N.S., although the answer was comprehensive, there was no proposal on works or CPO for roundabout, looking for a timeframe for these works.

Paul Browne A/MD Co-ordinator agreed to contact the Roads Department and get a response for timeline.

Cllr T Ward raised his concerns about reply to his Notice of Motion from last meeting in relation to Cornafulla N.S. road safety issue.   He said there are no signs or road markings to highlight Cornafulla N.S.

Paul Browne A/MD Co-ordinator stated that road markings and signs are in place along the section R446 adjacent to the school.   He said he would engage a contractor to enhance the road markings. Roscommon County Council will apply for a low cost safety scheme in 2022 to enhance the warning signs and road markings at this location.

Correspondence from TII in relation to the N61 road safety issues.

On the Proposal of:  Cllr D Kilduff

         Seconded by:   Cllr L Fallon

All Members agreed to send another letter to TII stating they were unhappy with the reply received.

Correspondence from Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine in relation to compensation for farmers due to flooding of lands at Lough Funshinagh.

On the Proposal of:  Cllr T Ward

          Seconded by:  Cllr J Keogh

It was agreed to reply to the correspondence received from the Minister requesting a three-year funding provision for flood to lands and fencing for the affected farmers.

On the Proposal of:  Cllr J Naughten

          Seconded by:  Cllr J Keogh

 It was agreed to send a letter to the Taoiseach’s office to seek his intervention on the matter of compensation for the affected farmers.

There were four Notice of Motions for discussion

The following Notice of Motions and replies were read into the record and following a brief discussion took place in relation to the following:

Update on additional Bus Shelters for Bealnamulla/Monksland:

“That Roscommon County Council provide an update on when additional Bus Shelters will be provided for Bealnamulla/Monksland area as they are urgently required.”

“That Roscommon County Council provide an update on when additional Bus Shelters will be provided for Monksland/Bealnamulla area as they are urgently required.”

Reply

The Covid pandemic hindered previous attempts to have an onsite meeting with the NTA to discuss Service Expansion and improvements in the West Athlone Area.  RCC is in discussions with the NTA about re-arranging the meeting.

On the Proposal of:         Cllr L Fallon

             Seconded by;      Cllr T Ward.

It was unanimously agreed that Bus Shelters in Monksland needs to progress before winter comes.

Re-Opening of Curraghboy Offices:

“I am calling on Roscommon County Council and Roscommon Leader Partnership Company to reopen the Curraghboy office.   The Curraghboy office served all of South Roscommon which has a catchment area of twenty thousand people.”

“I am calling on Roscommon County Council and Roscommon Leader Partnership Company to reopen the Curraghboy office.   The Curraghboy office served all of South Roscommon which has a catchment area of twenty thousand people.”

Reply

This requires a resolution by the members of the Athlone MD.

On the Proposal of:         Cllr J Keogh

           Seconded by:        Cllr J Naughten

It was unanimously agreed that the offices should be re-opened, several groups would benefit from use of the office space.  Support and help with funding applications etc is needed in the area.

On the Proposal of:         Cllr T Ward

           Seconded by:        Cllr J Naughten

It was unanimously agreed to send a letter to CEO of the Roscommon Leadership Partnership Company Martina Earley to request the re-opening of Curraghboy Offices.

Install speed signs on R357 through Four Roads:

“That Roscommon County Council install speed signs which display the drivers speed along the R357 road passing through the crossroads at Four Roads. There is a 50km speed limit currently in place in the section of road approaching and passing through the village. The road is regularly used by children attending school. The junction at the cross roads also has poor visibility for drivers making it difficult to proceed through the crossroads.”

“That Roscommon County Council install speed signs which display the drivers speed along the R357 road passing through the crossroads at Four Roads. There is a 50km speed limit currently in place in the section of road approaching and passing through the village. The road is regularly used by children attending school. The junction at the cross roads also has poor visibility for drivers making it difficult to proceed through the crossroads.”

Reply

RCC will apply for a Low Cost Safety Scheme in 2022 to the Department of Transport to enhance the warning signs and road markings at this location. 

On the Proposal of:  Cllr L Fallon

              Seconded by;          Cllr J Keogh

It was unanimously agreed that the junction is dangerous and welcome any measure to reduce speed.  Application for LCS in 2022 will be submitted

Flood remediation and Resurfacing required at Rahara Village:

“Roscommon County Council has carried out some very welcome enhancement works in Rahara Village. There still remains an issue of street flooding in heavy rain and the resurfacing of the area outside the Church. I am calling on Roscommon County Council to carry out the necessary flood remediation and resurfacing as soon as possible.”

“Roscommon Co Co has carried out some very welcome enhancement works in Rahara Village. There still remains an issue of street flooding in heavy rain and the resurfacing of the area outside the Church. I am calling on Roscommon Co.Co.to carry out the necessary flood remediation and resurfacing as soon as possible.”

Reply

Although not in the original scope of works, RCC will carry out additional drainage and surfacing works, subject to agreement with the adjacent landowner and the necessary resources becoming available.

            On the Proposal of:  Cllr D Kilduff

                     Seconded by:   Cllr T Ward

It was unanimously agreed that there is a need to carry out drainage at Rahara Village and when RCC are resurfacing, it was welcomed that it would include area outside the church and markings for parking to improve safety.

There were four questions for noting

Timeframe for further Traffic Calming Measures on Old Tuam Road:

“Can Roscommon County Council outline when they expect to undertake further traffic calming measures on the Old Tuam Road as it is urgently required.”

“Can Roscommon County Council outline when they expect to undertake further traffic calming measures on the Old Tuam Rd. as it is urgently required.”

            Answer:

Ancillary traffic calming measure will be installed by the end of Q4 2021.

Timeframe for Directional Signage to be erected off Taughmaconnell Rd L2026:

“Can Roscommon County Council outline when they will have erected directional signage at all junctions off the Taughmaconnell Road (L-2026).”

“Can Roscommon County Council outline when they will have erected directional signage at all junctions off the Taughmaconnell Road (L-2026).”

Answer:

The remaining junction ahead warning signs will be installed by the end of Q4 2021 on the LP2025.

Safety Issue on the N61 any further updates from Consultants:

“Can the Director of Services please inform the meeting if the consultants that were appointed by TII, have examined the safety issues regarding to the N61 from Ganly’s roundabout to the turn for the L7554-0 for the St. Brigid’s GAA Centre and into the village of Carrowmurragh-purts and Moyvannion?  Has there been any further update in relation to this?”

“Safety Issues on the N61 – Can the Director of Services please inform the meeting if the consultants that were appointed by TII have examined the safety issues regarding to the N61 from Ganly’s roundabout to the turn for the L7554-0 for the St. Brigid’s GAA Centre and into the village of Carrowmurragh-purts and Moyvannion?  Has there been any further update in relation to this?.”

Answer:

SYSTRA Ltd, in association with J.B. Barry Transportation, have been commissioned by Westmeath County Council (in partnership with Roscommon County Council) to assist them in developing an Area Based Transport Assessment (ABTA) for the Regional Centre of Athlone Town.  The study includes the following junctions N61/LP2018, N61/ LS-7553-0 and the N61/LS-7554-0/ LS-7556-0. 

SYSTRA Ltd, forecast the Area Based Transport Assessment will end in Mar/April 2022.

Funding required for Regional Road R362 at Cloonakilla NS:

“Regional Roads R362 - Can the Director of Services please inform the meeting if the funding is in place to carry out the necessary works at Cloonakilla N.S.?   The road needs to be resurfaced with the installation of footpaths, a Pedestrian Crossing and a roundabout at this location.   Will these works be completed in the second half of 2021? This issue is ongoing since 2009.”

“Regional Roads R362 -Can the Director of Services please inform the meeting if the funding is in place to carry out the necessary works at Cloonakilla N.S.?   The road needs to be resurfaced with the installation of footpaths, a Pedestrian Crossing and a roundabout at this location.   Will these works be completed in the second half of 2021?. This issue is ongoing since 2009.”

Answer:

Following a review of the Cloonakilla to Bealnamulla R 362 Road Improvement Scheme, Roscommon County Council has engaged the services of an architectural consultant to carry out a high level design of all lands under our control in the general Monksland area.  This brief includes the R362 between the M6 and Cloonakilla National School and it is envisaged that this overarching architectural concept will feed into the final design for the improvement of the R 362 within the urban environment.

In addition to this the Roads and Transportation unit has managed to secure funding from the National Transport Authority to develop the final design on the R362 Improvement Scheme through Active Travel funding and the NTA are very eager to see this project through to completion. This design work will commence when the architectural concept design is finalised.

In the interim, the Roads & Transportation unit, in conjunction with the Municipal District, has already commenced works on upgrading existing footpaths, public lighting and road markings in the area. We are also looking to develop a low cost safety scheme in the area around Cloonakilla National School which we will bring to the members once a feasibility study is carried out.  

The Members extended a vote of sympathy to the family of Martin Finan, RIP a former employee of Roscommon County Council.

The Members also extended a vote of sympathy to Francie Quine, GSS Athlone MD and the Quine family on the untimely passing of his father Micky, RIP.

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On the Proposal of:  Cllr J Keogh

          Seconded by:  Cllr J Naughten

It was unanimously agreed to propose going to the CPG to request the opportunity to attend MD Meetings remotely going forward.

Roscommon Swift Colony Creative Project prepared by Nollaig Feeney, Heritage Officer was presented to the members, requesting approval to put up swift nesting boxes and caller system on the back of the Roscommon County Council offices in Monkland.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr T Ward.

         Seconded by:   Cllr J Keogh

It was unanimously agreed to install the boxes and caller system on the back of the Roscommon County Council offices in Monkland.

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