“That Roscommon County Council in compiling Budget 2024 would set aside the required sum of money for the purchase of mechanical footpath sweepers for each of the 6 Engineering Areas to facilitate the outdoor staff in the maintenance and cleaning of our towns and villages in the County”

“That Roscommon Co Council in compiling Budget 2024 would set aside the required sum of money for the purchase of mechanical footpath sweepers for each of the 6 Engineering Areas to facilitate the outdoor staff in the maintenance and cleaning of our towns and villages in the County”

The Meetings Administrator read the following reply:

In light of the significant investment in public realm projects throughout the county in recent years, it is proposed that a specialised team with the necessary equipment will be set up to maintain this infrastructure. It is intended that this will be of benefit to towns and villages throughout the county. This is being examined as part of the 2024 Budget process.

Cllr. Cummins said a lot of projects had been delivered to the county but it was regrettable that a percentage of the funding provided is not allowed to be ring-fenced for the ongoing  maintenance of the projects such as the Lough Key cycleway and all of these projects must be maintained to a certain standard. The outdoor workers in the Areas are stretched to provide ongoing maintenance. His motion will provide some assistance in this matter in the towns and villages throughout the county.

The Members also supported and spoke in favour of the motion:

·        Sweepers with universal applications to grit paths and remove chewing gum were suggested by members and the best equipment must be bought.

·        The introduction of sweepers would significantly improve the maintenance of footpaths and streets and would provide a significant boost to the work of the Tidy Towns groups.

·        A number of towns and villages are fortunate to have the assistance of Tús and CE scheme workers but it is becoming more difficult to get people for these schemes due to the eligibility criteria.

·        An appeal was made for advance notice to be given to communities within towns in advance of road sweeping to minimise inconvenience caused by parked vehicles.

·        Thanks to the ongoing work of the Regeneration Team, many projects have been delivered and national funding should be made available to maintain the infrastructure.

·        The purchase of the velocity patchers was a game changer – this could have the same impact.

·        Will the Council be using this equipment or will it be available to Tidy Towns committees or the Tus and or rural social scheme?

·        Compulsory retirement from TUS or CE scheme eligibility at 66 should be extended to 70. The restriction on minimum 12-month period on the live register should also be reduced.

·        This is a good motion and good for businesses and tourism to have clean towns and villages.

·        Would grants be available to purchase such equipment?

·        Gritting of streets and paths in wintertime need also to be considered.

Responding, Acting Director of Services Greg O’Donnell said he agreed with the need for kerbside sweepers but said it would have significant budget implications including how many villages and how often they could be serviced and need to be realistic about what can be done within the resources available. The crew would be doing only a defined work programme.  He said it was a possibility ‘salting teams’ could be used for maintenance in off-season but said research was required in securing the equipment that was most efficient and cost effective.

The Chief Executive said the Council had to maintain its resources, but said it wasn’t simply about resourcing extra equipment. He acknowledged the work of community employment scheme workers, claiming they were a vital support to the outdoor work of the Council.

Cllr. Cummins thanked the CE and A/DOS for their replies to his motion and asked if designated maintenance teams, on foot of the reply to his notice of motion would be deployed for the whole county or as a team in each Engineering Area.

The Acting Director of Services said it was envisaged a team would be deployed to each Municipal District.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr Cummins

SECONDED by Cllr. Leyden

It was AGREED that Roscommon County Council propose that national funding be made available for the maintenance of new projects for the first few years of their construction at least.

 On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Kelly

SECONDED by Cllr. Callaghan

It was AGREED that Roscommon Council write to the Department of Social Protection make the TÚS and Rural Employment schemes more accessible for people to qualify. The community groups in the county benefit greatly from the workers on these schemes but is becoming increasingly more difficult to get people to avail of the scheme as many are financially worse off if they avail of the scheme.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Byrne

SECONDED by Cllr. Crosby

It was further AGREED that the a letter be sent to the Department requesting an extension to the retirement age for Rural Employment Scheme and TUS scheme , from the current 66 years of age cut-off to 70 years of age.