PrintMinutes of December Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 13th December 2007 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush
Presiding
Cllr. Tom Clyne, Méara.
Councillors Present
Tom Prendeville, Deirdre Culligan, Marian McMahon-Jones, Christy O'Malley, Jack Fennell.
Guest
Cllr. Patricia McCarthy, Méara.
Officials Present
Ms. Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Service & Town Manager.
Ms. Siobhán O'Keeffe, A/Town Clerk.
Derek Troy, Executive Engineer.
Ms. Geraldine Quinn, Assistant Staff Officer.
Apologies
Cllr. Colie Sweeney.
Cllr. Liam O;Looney.
Cllr Stephen O'Gorman.
Item No. 1: Adoption of Minutes of November Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 14th November 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Malley cuidithe ag Cllr. McMahon-Jones
The Minutes of the November Monthly Meeting were duly adopted.
Matters Arising
Cllr. Culligan requested that it be noted in the November minutes that she made a request that a letter be sent to Minister Noel Dempsey requesting clarification that he had received our previous correspondence on the Shannon/Heathrow connectivity.
Item No. 2: Presentation to Cllr. Patricia McCarthy, Mayor of Clare.
The Mayor and elected members welcomed Mayor McCarthy to the meeting, referring to her family connections with Kilrush and the fact that she has been a marvelous ambassador for Kilrush and Co. Clare; that she has been a great public representative in Co. Clare for a number of years and has been to the fore on the recent issues around Shannon Airport and the hospital. The members unanimously congratulated Mayor McCarthy on her achievements and wished her well in the future. On behalf of the executive, town manager, Bernadette Kinsella, congratulated Mayor McCarthy on achieving the highest office.
Mayor McCarthy thanked the members for affording her the opportunity to attend the meeting and advised that she has always been aware of her roots in Kilrush and has followed issues in Kilrush over the years. She complimented the members on the rejuvenation of the town. She said it was a great honour to be Mayor at this particular time.
Item No. 3: Overdraft Accommodation for 6 month period from 1st January 2008 to 30th June 2008.
Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Malley cuidithe ag Cllr. Culligan
The following Resolution was duly adopted :
"That this 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 January 2008 to 30th June 2008."
Item No. 4: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Clyne
"That this Council would encourage all members of the Kilrush community to support local business this Christmas and to show a preference for quality guaranteed Irish products."
This motion was supported by the members.
Item No. 5: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville
"That this Council, in association with Coillte, would introduce suitable signposting to guide visitors on the magnificent Nature Trail amenity in Kilrush Wood."
In a written reply dated 13th December 2007, Siobhán O'Keeffe, Senior Staff Officer reported that:
"I will seek a meeting between Kilrush Town Council and Coillte in January 2008 to explore their future development plans for Kilrush Woods and explore joint project opportunities including sign posting, themed walkways. The board of Kilrush Amenity Trust has also recognised the opportunity to further enhance the amenity of Kilrush Woods and this is reflected in their development plan for the Vandeleur Demesne. A number of years ago, research was conducted on the development of themed walkways and this research is still available to Kilrush Town Council.
A recent application has been made to the Heritage Council to revitalise the town heritage trail and extend the trial to the Vandeleur project and Kilrush woods. An element of signposting is included in this funding application. An announcement regarding funding is expected in February 2008.
Kilrush Town Council are also preparing an application under the Failte Ireland - Historic Trails Funding Initiative and I will explore the opportunity to link the town trail with the woodland walks in the context of this application. The deadline for applications under this scheme is January 29th 2008."
The members thanked the senior staff officer for her reply.
Item No. 6: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville
"That this Council would agree a date in Spring 2008 with the Kilrush Electoral Area councillors for a joint meeting of the West Clare Task Force on job creation prospects for the area."
The town manager advised the members that this group hasn't yet convened but their request for a meeting will be brought to the group when convened in the new year.
It was agreed that Items 7, 8 and 9 be deferred to the January monthly meeting.
Item No. 7: Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney
"I am asking the Manager to give the members a timescale on when we can expect to see refurbishments of the council's housing stock at St. Senan's Terrace commenced."
Item No. 8: Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney
"I am asking the Town Engineer to inform the members on when the one-way system of traffic at John Street and Burton Street, approved by this council over twelve months ago, will be put in place."
Item No. 9: Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney
"I am asking the Town Engineer to report to the members on how advanced are matters relating to the planning condition that allows vehicles to exit from Place de Plouzane to High Street."
Item No. 10: Ar Moladh Cllr. Culligan cuidithe ag Cllr. McMahon-Jones
"That this Council would extend an invitation to our four Dáil Deputies to attend our next meeting for a special meeting to be convened taking into account their busy schedule - the agenda being Shannon Airport and the provision of Acute Hospital Care in the County."
It was agreed that the four Dáil deputies be invited to attend the January monthly meeting (10th January 2008) of Kilrush Town Council, but should they be unavailable for the 10th January that the monthly meeting be re-scheduled. It was agreed that an agenda of topics be submitted to the deputies prior to the meeting and the members agreed that the matter of Ennis General Hospital and Shannon Airport be on the agenda. Cllr. Patricia McCarthy suggested that the members include housing allocations and roads funding on the agenda also.
Item No. 11: Ar Moladh Cllr. Culligan cuidithe ag Cllr. McMahon-Jones
"That this Council would write to the Minister for Transport urging him to appoint the two directors to the Board of Aer Lingus representing the Government as a matter of urgency also that one of the Directors should be a representative from the Mid-West Region."
This motion received the unanimous support of the elected members.
Item No. 12: Ar Moladh Cllr. Culligan cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Malley
"That this Council would write to the Minister for Transport requesting that the planned expansion of Shannon's advance pre-customs clearance facilities for US bound passengers would be dealt with as a matter of urgency."
This motion received the unanimous support of the elected members.
Item No. 13: Ar Moladh Cllr. Clyne cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville
"To ask this council to invite the Mayor and Councillors of Shannon Town Council to one of our monthly meetings for the purpose of interlinking between councils."
Following discussion on this matter it was agreed to extend an invitation to the members of Shannon Town Council to join the members of Kilrush Town Council at a monthly meeting which would be held at the Vandeleur Walled Garden. It was agreed to formally write to the Town Clerk of Shannon and invite a proposed date for a joint meeting. The members of Shannon Town Council are to be invited to submit some common agenda items.
The town manager advised that she will revert to the members once a meeting date has been agreed with the members of Shannon Town Council.
Item No. 14: Correspondence
The following correspondence was read and noted :
Copy letter dated 6th November 2007 received from Clare County Council regarding pedestrian crossing on N67.
Copy letter dated 6th November 2007 received from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding the development of an energy efficient housing stock.
Copy Appreciation Card received from the family of the late Christena Killeen.
Copy letter dated the 21st November 2007 received from the Department of Health & Children regarding breast screening services.
Copy letter received from Ballyshannon Town Council regarding television licence fee.
Copy letter dated 29th November 2007 from the Department of Transport regarding Shannon/Heathrow connectivity.
Copy letter dated 30th November 2007 from Macroom Town Council regarding the introduction of a system of reporting in the Health Service.
Copy Preliminary Notice for 19th Colmcille Winter School 2008 from Colmcille Heritage Trust.
Copy letter dated 3rd December 2007 from Monaghan Town Council regarding cost price for medicines.
Copy correspondence from Michael Neylon regarding Census query.
Copy letter dated 4th December 2007 from the Health Service Executive regarding Ennis General Hospital. Cllr. Culligan expressed her dissatisfaction with this reply and requested that and queried why a planning permission was lodged that does make provision for a mammography unit. She also stressed that no formal consultation took place despite reference to this in the reply receive
Votes of Sympathy
It was agreed that a vote of sympathy should issue to the following :-
- Liam McNamara, Cappa, Kilrush on the death of his mother Mrs. Mary Ellen McNamara late of Kilkee Road, Kilrush.
- Mr. Martin Clancy, Henry Street, Kilrush on the death of his mother Mrs. Mary Clancy late of Henry Street, Kilrush.
The meeting then concluded.