PrintMinutes of June Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council Held on the 8th June 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush
In Attendance:
- Cllr. Christy O’Malley, Méara.
- Comhairleoirí: Tom Prendeville, Deirdre Culligan, Stephen O'Gorman, Marian McMahon-Jones, Liam O'Looney, Tom Clyne, Jack Fennell
- Ms. Bernadette Kinsella, Town Manager
- Ms. Fiona Mooney, Town Clerk
- Mr. Liam O'Connor, Staff Officer.
- Ms. Geraldine Quinn, Assistant Staff Officer.
- Adoption of Minutes of May Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 11th May 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Gorman cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville:-
The Minutes of the May Monthly Meeting were duly adopted.
- Adoption of Minutes of Special Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 22nd May 2006 at 5:00 p.m., to mark the passing of the late William O'Looney, Snr.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. McMahon-Jones:-
The Minutes of the Special Meeting were duly adopted.
Cllr. O'Looney took the opportunity on behalf of his mother and family to thank the elected members for their sympathies and support on the death of his father, William O'Looney.
- Set date for A.G.M.
It was agreed that the A.G.M. of Kilrush Town Council be held on Monday 19th June 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in The Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Clyne:-
It was agreed that the July Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council be brought forward to be held on Thursday 6th July 2006 at 4:00 p.m.
- Liam O'Connor, Staff Officer addressed the members regarding the Annual Financial Statement of Kilrush Town Council and Cappa Pier Harbour Authority for the year ended 31st December 2005.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Fennell cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Gorman:-
The following Resolution was adopted -
"That the council hereby adopt the Annual Financial Statement for Kilrush Town Council for the year ended 31st December 2005”
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Clyne:-
The following Resolution was adopted -
"That the council hereby adopt the Annual Financial Statement for Cappa Pier Harbour Authority for the year ended 31st December 2005”
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Gorman:-
The following Resolution was adopted -
"That pursuant to the provisions of Section 104 of the Local Government Act 2001, additional expenditure in the amounts set out below in respect of the Programme Groups listed is hereby approved for the year ended 31st December 2005 :-
Programme Group 1 : Housing & Building €31,706
Programme Group 4 : Development Incentives & Controls €23,202”
Ar Moladh Cllr. Clyne cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville:-
The following Resolution was adopted -
"That transfers to reserves in the amounts set out below in respect of the Programme Groups listed is hereby approved for the year ended 31st December 2005:-
Programme Group 1 : Housing and Building €135
Programme Group 2 : Road Transportation and Safety €52,401
Programme Group 4 : Development Incentives and Controls €55,395
Programme Group 7 : Agriculture, Education, Health & Welfare €4,235
Programme Group 8 : Miscellaneous Services €24,866
Programme Group 9 : Support Services €19,000
- Overdraft Accommodation for the 6 month period 1st June 2006 to 31st December 2006
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Gorman:-
The following Resolution was adopted :
"That the Council hereby approves of the temporary borrowing by Kilrush Town Council in the sum of €175,000 for the Town Council's Municipal Account, FÁS Job Initiative Account, FÁS Rate for the Job Project Account and Vandeleur Walled Garden Enterprises Ltd. Account for the period 1st June 2006 to 31st December 2006.
At this point Cllr. Prendeville proposed that Martina Troy and the FÁS team be commended for the excellent work carried out by them throughout the town and this was unanimously agreed.
- Scheme for Assistance of Community Projects
- Scheme for Grant Assistance to the Arts
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Gorman:-
The elected members confirmed their agreement with the recommended figures as outlined in the report of John Kelleher, Senior Staff Officer dated June 1st 2006 as circulated by the town clerk. A total of 13 applications were received under these schemes and the town clerk pointed out that Kilrush Town Council will be in a position to support all 13 applicants.
Cllr. Prendeville enquired if all funds have been used up and the town clerk advised that there is still a small amount unallocated. Cllr. Prendeville advised that an application will be forthcoming from Comoradh Senan Naofa.
- Kilrush Town Council Standing Orders
The town clerk said she would circulate the Kilrush Town Council standing orders and if members had items they wished to have reviewed, asked to confirm this by 30 th June.
- Special Olympics Flame of Hope/Torch Run: advance notice of ceremony on Saturday 17th June at 11:30 Venue: Vandeleur Walled Garden
The town clerk advised the members that the reconvened portion of the 2003 Special Olympics Committee had made arrangements for the Torch Run. For the ceremony on the 17th June it is hoped to greet the athletes along a route into the garden.
- Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Fennell:-
"That this Council would wish to be associated with the mounting of a plaque on Scattery Island commemorating the islanders who lost their lives during the Great Wars."
Following discussion, it was unanimously agreed that Kilrush Town Council should support the mounting of a plaque on Scattery Island to commemorate islanders and everyone from the parish who had lost their lives during the Great Wars.
- Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Gorman:-
"That this Council would ask An Taoiseach to declare a National Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Great Famine 1845 - '49."
It was agreed that a letter be sent to An Taoiseach along the lines of this notice of motion because of the strong connections the people of Kilrush have with the great famine. It was felt that the Council should commemorate and acknowledge these victims. It was further agreed that the letter to An Taoiseach should be copied to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & The Islands and all councils.
- Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Gorman:-
"That this Council would request the Town Engineer to conduct a survey of footpaths and public lighting in the urban area and report back to the members by the July meeting 2006."
The town clerk read the contents of the response of Anthony McNamara, Senior Executive Engineer dated 8th June 2006 :
"A survey is carried out annually prior to adoption of the Roadworks Programme. An interim survey can be carried out in due course as time permits in the town engineer's busy schedule. It is unlikely that the report will be completed prior to the July meeting."
It was agreed that every place in the town needs to be looked at as a unit with regard to lighting and footpaths.
- Ar Moladh Cllr. McMahon-Jones cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Gorman :-
"That Kilrush Town Council agrees to submit evidence to the Independent Review, established by the Health Service Executive into acute hospital services in the mid-western region; that such evidence will emphasise the importance to the people of Kilrush and west Clare of upgrading Ennis General Hospital and retaining acute medical services and 24 hour consultant led A&E."
It was unanimously agreed that Kilrush Town Council would submit a case to the Independent Review in accordance with this notice of motion, as 24 hour consultant led A&E is vital at Ennis General Hospital.
- Ar Moladh Cllr. McMahon-Jones cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville:-
"That Kilrush Town Council will encourage Clare County Council and the Town Councils in County Clare, to submit evidence to the Independent Review."
It was agreed that Clare County Council and the Town Councils in County Clare be requested to support Kilrush Town Council in this matter and correspond with the Independent Review.
- Ar Moladh Cllr. McMahon-Jones:-
"That this Council could find how often the FÁS Scheme maintain the Shanakyle graveyards."
The town clerk said that the FÁS JI scheme linked to the Council is not responsible for maintaining the Shanakyle graveyards but that a local graveyard committee was in existence and it submits applications to Clare County Council for priming grants to carry out maintenance work.
Speaking as a member of the local graveyard committee Cllr. Prendeville advised the meeting that the time has come for families to take responsibility for their own plots and that contributions from the families would be helpful. He advised that a meeting regarding the up-keep of the graveyards did take place, but it wasn't very well attended. It was suggested that perhaps another meeting could be called to get more interest from the public and maybe a church gate collection could be organised to raise much needed funds for up-keep and maintenance. Tony McNamara, Senior Executive Engineer and his team, together with Flan Carmody and Cllr. Sweeney were commended for their work to date regarding the graveyards. The mayor commended Cllr. Prendeville and his graveyard committee for their ongoing work in maintaining the graveyards.
- Ar Moladh Cllr. Clyne cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville:-
"To ask this Council to support my motion, as to the unfair system whereby ‘Non Party Candidates’ have to go through at election time. That non-party candidates have to have 15 assentors is unfair. I feel that the status quo of early years was the fairest system. I would like this council to circulate my motion to all Councils of Ireland."
It was unanimously agreed that this notice of motion be forwarded to all councils and also to the A.M.A.I.
- Ar Moladh Cllr. Clyne cuidithe ag Cllr. O’Gorman:-
"To ask this council for an update on when signage and road markings will be put in place at Pella Cross. Also traffic calming from Pella cross via Shanakyle Rd. The road surface is in poor state at this cross as well."
The town clerk read the contents of the response of Anthony McNamara, Senior Executive Engineer dated 8th June 2006 :
"Improvements to the Pella Rd. junction are scheduled for inclusion in the current years Roadworks Programme and the work will be carried out in due course pending on availability of resources and as contractor schedules dictate. Traffic calming on Shanakyle Rd. is not included in the current years Roadworks Programme.”
At this point Cllr. Clyne conveyed the thanks of the residents for the work carried out at Brews Bridge and the town manager confirmed that she would pass this on.
- Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney cuidithe ag Cllr. O’Gorman:-
"That this Council would hold a special meeting to discuss Clare County Council’s and the ESB’s Retrofit Project proposals for the installation of traffic-calming measures within the Kilrush urban area."
Cllr. Prendeville undertook to put a motion on the agenda for the next West Clare Area meeting asking for a joint meeting on this matter and the members agreed that this needs to be done sooner rather than later.
- Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney :-
"That this Council would ask the Town Engineer to give the elected members a time schedule on the agreed Roadworks Programme for 2006."
The town clerk read the contents of the response of Anthony McNamara, Senior Executive Engineer dated 8th June 2006 :
"The Roadworks Programme will be implemented in due course in tandem with Clare County Councils Roadworks Programme. It is impossible to give a timeframe for completion due to availability of county council resources and schedules of contractors.”
Cllr. Sweeney enquired if a temporary measure could be put in place on Fahy’s Road as a matter of urgency.
- Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Looney:-
"That the Manager would consider making application to the Department of the Environment and Local Government to replace the council's existing stock of houses at St. Senan's Terrace."
The town clerk said that arising from previous motions, a submission had been made to the Department regarding funding to refurbish the local authority rented stock on St Senan’s Terrace and this had been approved and improvement works were completed in some cases and underway in others.
The town clerk also said that 1 St Senan’s Terrace was the subject of a Part 8 planning process and it would be a demolish and infill new build in time.
- Correspondence
The following correspondence was read and noted :
- Advance Notice of 18th National Tourism Conference to be held at the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon on 24th and 25th November 2006. Cllrs. O'Malley and Sweeney are the delegates to attend on behalf of Kilrush Town Council.
- Letter dated 17th May 2006 from the Office of the Ombudsman regarding Accident & Emergency at Ennis General Hospital. Cllr. Fennell indicated that he would write in a personal capacity to the Ombudsman.
- Letter dated 18th May 2006 from Confederation of European Councillors regarding a seminar in the Ferrycarrig Hotel, Wexford on 23rd June 2006.
- Letter dated 19th May 2006 from Ballina Town Council regarding junk mail. It was proposed by Cllr. O'Malley and seconded by Cllr. Prendeville that this motion would receive the support of the elected members of Kilrush Town Council.
- Letter dated 19th May 2006 from Ballina Town Council regarding TV/Radio licence fees. It was proposed by Cllr. O'Gorman and seconded by Cllr. Prendeville that this motion would receive the support of the elected members of Kilrush Town Council.
- Acknowledgement Card received from the family of the late Carmel Hannon.
The elected members thanked An Post for the provision by them of disabled access at their premises in Frances Street. It was agreed that the banks should be written to seeking their proposals for the provision of disabled access to their premises.
Votes Of Sympathy
It was agreed that a vote of sympathy should issue to the following :
- Mr. Michael Taylor, Crawford Street, Kilrush on the death of his brother Jo Jo Taylor.
- Mrs. Peggy O'Looney, John Street, Kilrush on the death of her husband William O'Looney.
- Mr. Patrick Maguire, Shannon Heights, Kilrush on the death of his wife Mary Maguire.
- Mr. Michael Maguire, c/o Halvey's Pub, Half Way House, Lisdeen, Kilkee on the death of his father Patrick Maguire.
- Ms. Katherine Melican, John Street, Kilrush on the death of her sister Joanne (Josie) Melican of Leadmore.
- Ms. Frances Guerin, St. Senan's Terrace, Kilrush on the death of her husband John Guerin.
- Mr. Michael Black, Brew's Bridge, Kilrush on the death of his brother Donal Black in England.
- Mrs. Tessie O'Grady, Tullabrack, Cooraclare, Kilrush on the death of her husband Vincent O'Grady.
The meeting then concluded.
Signed : ______________________________
Cllr. Stephen O'Gorman
Mayor
Signed : ______________________________
Fiona Mooney
Town Clerk
Dated this the day of 2006.