PrintMinutes of February Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 11th February 2009 at 4.00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush
Presiding:
- Cllr. Liam O'Looney, Méara
Councillors present:
- Tom Prendeville
- Deirdre Culligan
- Stephen O'Gorman
- Colie Sweeney
- Marian McMahon-Jones
- Tom Clyne
- Christy O'Malley
Officials present:
- Ms. Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Service and Town Manager
- Mr. John Corry, Town Clerk
- Mr. Derek Troy, Executive Engineer
- Ms. Geraldine Quinn, Assistant Staff Officer
Apologies:
- Cllr. Jack Fennell
Item No. 1: Adoption of Minutes of January Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 15th January 2009 at 7.00 p.m.
Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Malley cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Gorman :
The Minutes of the January Monthly Meeting were duly adopted.
Item No. 2: Joint Policing Committee.
The town clerk updated the members by advising that the three community representatives need to be nominated to the Joint Policing Committee and that the Chief Superintendent will be recommending the two Garda representatives. It was agreed that an advert should be placed in The Clare Champion or the Parish Newsletter inviting those interested to come forward to represent their community.
It was proposed by Cllr. Prendeville, seconded by Cllr. Clyne and agreed that the Joint Policing Committee should be chaired by the outgoing Mayor until June 2009 and then the chair should change to the incoming Mayor thereafter.
Item No. 3: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Sweeney :
“That this Council calls on An Taoiseach and the Ministers for Finance, Education and Science to maintain investment levels in education at primary and secondary levels and to adhere to the principles enshrined in the Education Act which guarantee all children equality of opportunity and access to quality education services in these economically challenging times and asks that copies of this resolution be circulated to other town councils in Clare.”
The unanimous support of the members was received for this motion as the members felt that cutbacks in education are immoral and offensive, particularly to the disadvantaged. It was agreed that we need to fight strong and aggressively against any cutbacks and in this regard it was agreed to invite our Oireachtas members to a joint meeting (maybe in committee or otherwise) with the members of Kilrush Town Council. It was further agreed to circulate this motion to An Taoiseach, the Minister for Education and Science, the Minister for Finance.
Item No. 4: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Sweeney :
“To ask the Manager whether there are any funds available to publish an annual report listing this council’s activities for 2008.”
Cllr. Prendeville referred back to the last report on this matter which was published in 2004 and he sought the support of the members for a publication now to highlight the achievements of the current council over the last 4/5 years; that it is a good P.R. exercise and a way of communicating with the people of the town. Cllrs. O'Gorman, Sweeney, O'Looney, Clyne and O'Malley supported Cllr. Prendeville while Cllrs. Culligan and McMahon-Jones were against the publication of the report as they saw it as spending money foolishly and as a means of seeking publicity in an election year. Furthermore, Cllrs. Culligan and McMahon-Jones felt that the costs of this publication should be spent on something else and Cllr. Culligan suggested that it be spent on improving sports facilities in the town. Cllr. McMahon-Jones advised that she would support such a publication if it was on an annual basis. The town manager advised that all the information for the publication of this report is readily available.
Item No. 5: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Sweeney :
“That this Council supports in principle the call from the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), in its ‘Vote at 16-a New Age in Voting’ campaign, for the extension of the voting franchise to young people under the age of 18.”
This motion received the support of the elected members as it was felt that we should extend the franchise to the young who should be welcomed and encouraged as they are the lifeblood of our nation. It was agreed that this motion be copied to the National Youth Council of Ireland and all local authorities in Clare. It was also suggested that this motion be included in the annual report/newsletter referred to at Item. No. 4 above.
Item No. 6: Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Looney :
“I am asking the Manager and my colleagues for the council's approval to host the 93rd anniversary celebration of the 1916 Rising on this coming Easter Sunday, April 12th."
Cllr. Sweeney, as Chairman of the 1916 Rising organising committee, sought and received the approval of the members to go ahead with the anniversary celebrations which also involves the purchasing and laying of a wreath and hiring of the sound system.
Item No. 7: Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney :
“I am asking this council to complain to Clare County Council for discouraging householders to recycle their waste with the introduction of a €4 recycling charge at Lisdeen Amenity Site as this will act as a disincentive and could lead to indiscriminate dumping in public places and affect our prospects in the National Tidy Towns Competition."
Following discussion on the matter it was unanimously agreed that a letter issue to Clare County Council requesting that the recently introduced recycling charge of €4 at Lisdeen be rescinded as it is perceived as penalising people for recycling. It was noted that there has been a decline in the use of Lisdeen recycling facility and people are using the bring-banks in the car park in Kilrush, which incidentally still do not cater for food cans.
The members informed the town clerk that on a number of occasions they have requested a representative from Environment section of Clare County Council attend a meeting of Kilrush Town Council regarding recycling facilities in the town. The town clerk confirmed that he will go back on the replies as given previously and familiarise himself with the matter.
Cllr. Prendeville thanked the town clerk and staff for the removal of rubbish at Aylevaroo and it was noted that the rubbish is accumulating again at this location.
Item No. 8: Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville :
“I am calling on the Government not to cut funding of disability services despite the many pressures on public spending and that this council calls on John Moloney TD, Minister for State with responsibility for disability to be a strong and vocal advocate for the disability section of social partnership."
Following discussion on the matter the members felt that cuts in funding of disability services would affect the most vulnerable in our society and it was agreed to forward this motion to John Moloney TD, Minister for State and also circulate it to all local authorities in Clare for support. It was further agreed to include this motion on the agenda for the forthcoming meeting with our Oireachtas members.
Item No. 9: Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Gorman :
“That this Council would ask the Engineer to verify are the lights to be installed in Wilsons Rd., included in the traffic calming."
In a written reply circulated dated the 11th February 2009, Derek Troy, Executive Engineer reported that :
"I wish to confirm that public lighting was not detailed as part of the Kilrush Traffic calming measures. A footpath from the Ennis road junction for a distance of 140m is to be installed, and it is normal practise that public lighting be provided where footpaths have been constructed. It is my intention to complete all remaining aspects of the proposed traffic calming measures in 2009."
Cllr. O'Gorman was satisfied with the reply as given and was also advised that the footpath at Wilson's Road is to be installed in 2009.
Item No. 10: Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Gorman :
“That this Council would ask the Manager to give a feedback on any progress of the 2nd phase of John Paul Estate Remedial/Regeneration Programme."
In a written reply circulated dated the 11th February 2009, John Corry, Town Clerk reported that :-
"An application was made to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for funding for a continuation of remedial works in John Paul Estate under the Remedial Works Programme for 2009. I am presently still awaiting a written response from the department as to the status of this application. However, they have today verbally indicated that the application is presently being examined and that they will shortly be writing to us with regard to our application for a continuation of remedial works in the estate."
The town clerk informed the members that the Regional Housing meeting has been scheduled for the same date as the March monthly meeting of Kilrush Town Council. Therefore, it was proposed by Cllr. Prendeville, seconded by Cllr. O'Looney and agreed that the March monthly meeting of Kilrush Town Council be held on Friday 13th March 2009 at 4.00 p.m.
Item No. 11: Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Gorman :
“That this Council would see fit to fill in the pot holes on the road entrance to the Vandeleur Walled Gardens, also at Nos. 13 and 14 Sycamore Drive."
In a written reply circulated dated the 11th February 2009, Derek Troy, Executive Engineer reported that :
"I wish to confirm that Clare County Council road maintenance staff have been instructed to repair these areas immediately."
Cllr. O'Gorman informed the engineer that he is not satisfied with the work that has been carried out. He advised that some potholes have not been filled and the ones that have been filled need a better job done.
Item No. 12: Correspondence
E-mail from Coillte dated 15th January 2009, together with copy of our letter to them of the 18th December 2008. The members welcomed this very positive correspondence from Coillte.
Letter dated 15th January 2009 from Macroom Town Council regarding road tax.
Letter dated 19th January 2009 from Timmy Dooley TD regarding school cutbacks, together with copy of our letter dated the 14th January 2009.
Letter dated 19th January 2009 from Timmy Dooley TD regarding Joint Policing Committee.
Letter dated 16th January 2009 from Pat Breen TD regarding Joint Policing Committee.
Letter dated 19th January 2009 from Joe Carey TD regarding budget cutbacks in education, together with copy of our letter dated the 14th January 2009.
Letter dated 19th January 2009 from Ballina Town Council regarding planning laws.
Letter dated 20th January 2009 from Joe Carey TD regarding Joint Policing Committee.
Letter dated 21st January 2009 from the Office of the Minister for Education and Science regarding cutbacks in education, together with copy of our letter dated the 14th January 2009. Cllr. Culligan expressed her view that this letter is not worth the paper it is written on.
Letter dated 22nd January 2009 from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding road tax.
Letter dated 26th January 2009 from the Department of Health and Children regarding mammography screening and HPV vaccine, together with copy of our letters dated the 10th October 2008 and 22nd January 2009. Cllr. Culligan expressed her disappointment with this correspondence.
Letter dated 27th January 2009 from Mullingar Town Council regarding TV licence fee.
Letter dated 27th January 2009 from Pat Breen TD regarding mammography screening and HPV vaccine, together with copy of our letter dated 22nd January 2009.
Letter dated 29th January 2009 from Tony Killeen TD regarding mammography screening and HPV vaccine, together with copy of our letter dated 22nd January 2009.
Notification of Seminar for Councillors - "Local Government and Renewable Energy" to be held from 15th to 17th February 2009 at Sligo Park Hotel, Pearse Road, Sligo.
Notification of Training Seminar for Councillors - "Election 2009:The Challenges" to be held from the 25th to 27th February 2009 at the Ballsbridge Inn, Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Preliminary Notice of Training Seminar for Councillors - "Environmental Management:The Challenges for Councillors" to be held from the 1st to 3rd April 2009 at Killashee House Hotel, Killashee, Naas, Co. Kildare.
Cllr. Prendeville expressed his annoyance and disappointment at the withdrawal of the early morning and late night Kilkee/Ennis bus service as it puts extra hardship on people travelling to Dublin for hospital appointments. Cllr. Prendeville advised that he would put a motion to this effect on the agenda for the March monthly meeting.
Votes of Sympathy:
It was agreed that a vote of sympathy should issue to the following :
Mr. Vincent Crowley, Ennis Road, Kilrush on the death of his wife Mrs. Susan Crowley.
Mr. P. J. Clancy late of Moore Street, Kilrush on the death of his mother Mrs. Margaret Clancy late of Moore Street.
Mrs. Joan Lyons, Moyadda, Kilrush on the death of her husband Mr. John Lyons.