You are here: Home > Kilrush Town Council > Meetings > Minutes of January 2006 Monthly Meeting

Minutes of January Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held at 7.00 p.m. on Thursday 12^th January 2006

In Attendance:

Cllr. Christy O'Malley (Méara)
Cllr. Tom Prendeville (Comhairleoiri)
Cllr. Deirdre Culligan
Cllr. Colie Sweeney
Cllr. Marian McMahon-Jones
Cllr. Liam O'Looney
Cllr. Tom Clyne
Cllr. Jack Fennell

Apologies

Cllr. Stephen O'Gorman

Officials Present

Ms. Nora Kaye, Acting Town Manager
Ms. Fiona Mooney, Town Clerk
Ms. Geraldine Quinn, Assistant Staff Officer

1. Adoption of Minutes of December Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council

Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Sweeney :-
The Minutes of the December Monthly Meeting were duly adopted.

2. Adoption of Minutes of RIMS Committee Meeting held on the 9^th November 2005.

Ar Moladh Cllr. Clyne cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville :-
The Minutes of the RIMS Committee Meeting were duly adopted.

3. Attendance of Donal Griffin, Retired Manager, FÁS.

The elected members paid tribute to Donal Griffin for his tremendous and worthwhile work done for the town of Kilrush through the various FÁS schemes which have been in operation over the last number of years. It was felt that he was a great friend to the town and would be a great loss to Kilrush and west Clare.

The town clerk and acting town manager wished to be associated with the sentiments expressed by the members.

All present wished Mr. Griffin well in his retirement and the mayor made a presentation on behalf of Kilrush Town Council.

Mr. Griffin thanked everyone for their kind words and said he hoped Kilrush will go from strength to strength, as it has been doing.

It was agreed that Items 4 and 7 would be taken together :

4. Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Malley cuidithe ag Cllr. Marian McMahon-Jones :-

"That this Council immediately improves the public water supply to the Kilkee Road area residents."

7. Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Sweeney:-

"That this Council would investigate reports of low water pressure being experienced by consumers at Shannon Heights."

In a written reply dated the 12^th January 2006 the Senior Executive Engineer, Anthony McNamara, reported as follows :

"The Kilkee Road area is serviced by the Leadmore/Carnanes Group Water Supply Scheme. It is understood that works on upgrading this scheme will be carried out in 2006."

5. Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Fennell :-

"To commend Clare County Council on the very attractive architectural amenity recently put in place at Cappa Pier under the Village Renewal Scheme."

It was agreed that a letter of commendation be issued to Clare County Council for the great work carried out at Cappa Pier, including the restoration to the old railway turntable.

Cllr. Sweeney advised that he did not wish to be associated with this as he believed that the original limestone and turntable were not put back into place.

6. Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Looney:-

"That this Council would lend its support to Clare County Council's submission to the NRA for immediate funding to have the National Secondary N68 route from Moyadda to Granatouha aligned and upgraded as, in its present state, it represents a dangerous safety hazard to local residents, motorists and HGVs."

It was agreed that a letter should issue from Kilrush Town Council to Clare County Council and the NRA lending support in the hope that funds will become available to have the National Secondary N68 route from Moyadda to Granatouha aligned and upgraded.

8. Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney :-

"That the Town Engineer would report to the members on the current status of the ESB's Retrofit Traffic Management Plan which was agreed in principle recently with the Roads and Engineering Department of Clare County Council."

Cllr. Sweeney expressed his disappointment and annoyance at the level of public consultation in this matter and felt that residents have not been given sufficient input. He said that a Clare County Council representative should meet with the residents. Cllr. Sweeney proposed that a letter should issue from Kilrush Town Council to Tom Carey, County Engineer calling for public consultation on the matter.

In a written reply dated the 12^th January 2006 the Acting Town Manager reported as follows :

"Following on from the letter to Ms. B Moloney, Station Manager, ESB Moneypoint from the Planning Authority, the ESB have replied and confirmed that they will comply with the requirements of the Council as set out in its letter. The ESB has in particular confirmed the following:

Mr. Noel Murray is the Project Liaison Officer nominated by the ESB;
The movements of structural steel, ductwork, and the filtration plant materials will be shipped into Killimer;
There will be ongoing communications/meetings with the Planning Authority in order to deal with particular issues as they arise;
They have confirmed that traffic movements will be kept to a minimum, accessing site via N67/N68 route through Kilrush;
They will submit schedules of loads to the Planning Authority as required;

The Director of Service and County Engineer Mr. Tom Carey will revert to the Council to provide updates."

Other councillors supported Cllr. Sweeney in this matter and they said that it's time the lines of communication are re-opened; that the area councillors need to get involved and more public consultation needs to take place.

The acting town manager assured the members that Clare County Council is aware of the need & value of consultation and a meeting did take place on the 20^th December 2005. The manager stressed that Clare County Council had to deal with the Traffic Management Plan as submitted by the ESB, as it formed part of the planning permission. She said the Council had made certain requests to the ESB following their submission of the plan and the ESB had agreed to them.

The acting town manager was asked to ascertain if the traffic management plan was now signed off and accepted by Clare County Council.

Cllr. Prendeville advised the meeting that he would request Cllr. P. J. Kelly, chairman of Kilrush Electoral Area Committee to convene a meeting at which the ESB. and Clare County Council would be present. It was also felt that representatives from the Chamber of Commerce should be invited to attend.

9. Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney :-

"That this council be given a timescale by the Town Engineer when the new proposed speed limits will apply and if Kilrush Town Council will be given an opportunity to express its views on the proposals to reduce speeding in the urban area."

In a written reply dated the 12^th January 2006 the Senior Executive Engineer, Anthony McNamara, reported as follows :

"A county-wide speed limit review has been carried out in conjunction with the Gardaí and members and officials of Clare County Council. Proposals have been submitted to the NRA for comment where revisions to speed limits on National routes are proposed. When comments have been received proposed changes will be on display at area offices for public consultation."

Cllr. Sweeney enquired about the possibility of extending the signage further out because of anticipated development. He suggested that the senior executive engineer be invited to attend the February meeting on the matter of speed limits.

10. Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney:-

"That the Town Manager would agree to give the members a quarterly report on the progress of the John Paul Estate Regeneration Programme."

The town clerk confirmed that she would be happy to furnish the members with a quarterly report on the progress of the John Paul Estate Regeneration Programme.

It was agreed that a Housing Committee meeting take place on Monday 23^rd January 2006 at 4.00 p.m. in The Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush.

A.O.B.

A joint meeting is to be arranged between Kilrush Town Council, Kilrush Electoral Area Committee and Kilkee Town Council at a date to be agreed upon. Cllr. Prendeville proposed that this meeting be arranged to coincide with the meeting regarding the E.S.B. Retrofit Project and the H.G.V.s.

Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe at Cllr. Sweeney :

It was agreed that the February monthly meeting be held on Thursday 9^th February 2006 at 5.00 p.m. .

It was agreed that a RIMS Committee meeting be held on Monday 30^th January 2005 at 4.00 p.m. in The Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush .

Correspondence

Lama Winter 2005 Newsletter.
Letter dated 6^th December 2005 from Pat Breen TD regarding disabled access, together with correspondence from An Post and Bank of Ireland.
Cllr. Fennell enquired if the banks and post office have reverted to us on the matter of disabled access. The town clerk confirmed that they have been invited to attend the February monthly meeting.
Letter dated 7^th December 2005 from Mullingar Town Council regarding the introduction of a lo-call telephone service.
Letter dated 12^th December 2005 from Galway County Council regarding amendment to the Waste Management Act.
Letter dated 6^th December 2005 from the Major of Bagnolo San Vito. The town clerk pointed out that student exchanges are not within the remit of the Council, but said that she would seek further information on the letter received.
Letter dated 20^th December 2005 from the Office of the Minister for Education and Science regarding the allocation of a PE teacher to Kilrush schools.

Votes Of Sympathy

It was agreed that a vote of sympathy be issued to the following :

Francis Donnellan, Burton Street, Kilrush on the death of his mother Úna Donnellan.
Peggy Cahill, Dooneen Park, Kilrush on the death of her brother Bob Flanagan, Carniskey, Kilmurry McMahon.
Senan and Evan Callinan, Shyan, Kilmihil on the death of their daughter Nicola.
Sue Halpin, 14 Sycamore Drive, John Paul Estate, Kilrush on the death of her husband Chris Halpin.
Martin and Dan O'Gorman, Toler Street, Kilrush on the death of their father Nicholas O'Gorman.

The mayor concluded the meeting by wishing everyone a happy new year .

Signed :

Cllr. Christy O'Malley
Mayor