Ballymote-Tubbercurry Minutes 2020

Minutes of Meeting of The Municipal District of Ballymote-Tubbercurry held on Monday 27th July 2020 at 15.00 p.m. in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo

COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

Councillor Martin Baker
Councillor Michael Clarke (Cathaoirleach)
Councillor Martin Connolly
Councillor Gerard Mullaney
Councillor Dara Mulvey
Councillor Joseph Queenan
Councillor Paul Taylor

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

Ciarán Hayes, Chief Executive
Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services
Marie Whelan, Head of Finance
Frank Moylan, A/Director of Services
John Clancy, Head of I.T.
Nigel Carter, I.S. Project Leader
Paddy Hughes, Senior Executive Engineer
Dessie Sloyan, Executive Engineer
Kevin Colreavy, Administrative Officer
Clodagh Quinn, Staff Officer

CATHAOIRLEACH:

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor Michael Clarke, presided and welcomed those present to the meeting.

OPENING OF THE MEETING:

Before proceedings got underway, Mr. Kevin Colreavy, Administrative Officer, advised Members that the Corporate section of the Council website is being re-modelled to include a specific section dedicated to Municipal Districts. Members’ co-operation is sought in this regard and input welcomed.

1. MINUTES OF MEETING OF MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF BALLYMOTE-TUBBERCURRY HELD ON 17^TH FEBRUARY 2020:

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor P. Taylor

AND AGREED

“To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Municipal District of Ballymote-Tubbercurry held on 17^th February 2020”.

2. MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF BALLYMOTE-TUBBERCURRY HELD ON 19^TH JUNE 2020:

Proposed by Councillor G. Mullaney
Seconded by Councillor M. Connolly

AND AGREED

“To confirm the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Municipal District of Ballymote-Tubbercurry held on 19^th June 2020”.

3. MATTERS ARISING:

There were no matters arising.

4. POSITIVE IMPACT OF ICT DURING THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY:

Before handing proceedings over to Mr. John Clancy, Head of I.T., the Chief Executive, Mr. Ciarán Hayes, advised Members that the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the requirement for Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The Digital Strategy currently being prepared by the Council and which will be presented to Members in the coming months, takes account of this fact and will strive to position and promote Sligo as a Smart City/County.

Mr. Clancy then went on to outline the contribution ICT made to the Council’s capacity to continue the provision of services during the pandemic which included the following:

Enabled in excess of 200 no. staff to work from home
Promotion of Covid-19 safety messages through the website and social media
Provision of support for the Community Response Forum
Set-up of facilities to allow virtual meetings to take place
Set-up of facilities and support to allow Council meetings to be convened in I.T. Sligo

Mr. Clancy informed Members of the increase in the use of the Council’s online services during the emergency, particularly in the areas of motor tax, BID payments and housing rents and loans. He advised of the future development of digital services within the Council before handing over to Mr. Nigel Carter, I.S. Project Leader, to explain a telecoms infra project which the Council is currently involved in.

Mr. Carter described the initiative as “connecting the unconnected” as it involves the provision of wi-fi hotspots in locations which experience mobile signal issues or slow broadband speeds. Dublin and Sligo are currently being used as a testbed for evaluating new connectivity approaches for cost effectively improving the network capacity. The project is being funded by Facebook Connectivity and will trial in Strandhill shortly. Mr. Carter advised that Coolaney is also another area in which future trials could be undertaken due to broadband inconsistencies in the area.

In conclusion, the Chief Executive, Mr. Ciarán Hayes, highlighted to Members the various online programmes being provided to businesses by the Local Enterprise Office and the recently announced funding by Enterprise Ireland of the Digital Futures Manufacturing Centre in the Market Yard which will also help to define Sligo as a Smart City destination.

Members thanked Mr. Clancy and Mr. Carter for their respective contributions and welcomed the above connectivity initiative as they remarked on the various difficulties experienced with rural broadband by many households in the County.

5. UPDATE ON PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS FOR ENNISCRONE & TUBBERCURRY:

Mr. Frank Moylan, A/Director of Services, outlined the various projects being progressed in both Enniscrone and Tubbercurry as a result of the allocation of circa €1.5m in funding received by the Council through various funding streams.

In respect of Enniscrone, the following projects were outlined to Members:

Fáilte Ireland Tourism Destination Town which sees €666,483 in capital investment into the core of the town. The project will deliver a vibrant pedestrian friendly public realm and will act as a catalyst for the sustainable renewal of the town centre.

Cliff Bath House Project involves the re-development of the Cliff Bath House, the replacement of the Pavilion building in the Hollows with a modern landmark building and the provision of a significant public realm intervention involving the public footpaths and promenade which link the two sites. Total project funding is €175,000.

Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) will enable the upgrading of the building fabric of Waterpoint aqua facility as well as upgrading the efficiency of the building to ensure its future viability and sustainability. Total project funding is €450,000.

The Tubbercurry Regeneration Project 2020 focuses on transforming Wolfe Tone Square to include the provision of wider footpaths, relocation of car parking spaces, safer pedestrian crossings etc. Other enhancements include the provision of a tourist information office, publicly accessible “smart benches”, enhanced town park, improvements to St. Brigid’s Community facility etc. Project funding for the aforementioned works is €296,000.

Members welcomed Mr. Moylan’s report and the investment in the region and complimented the Executive on securing the funding for the various projects.

6. INCLUSION OF ROAD AT EMLAGH, BALLYMOTE ON RESURFACING PROGRAMME:

Proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey
Seconded by Councillor G. Mullaney

AND AGREED

“To ask Sligo County Council to include the road at Emlagh, Ballymote on a resurface programme”.

On behalf of Mr. Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, Mr. Paddy Hughes, Senior Executive Engineer, informed the meeting that the L-1806 at Emlagh is not included in the current Multi-Annual Restoration Improvement Programme but will be considered for the next programme commencing in 2022. In the meantime, the road will be maintained in a reasonable condition and potholes will be filled etc.

7. INSTALLATION OF SPEED DETECTOR POLES ON R295:

Proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey
Seconded by Councillor G. Mullaney

AND AGREED

“To ask Sligo County Council if there is any update on the installation of speed detector poles on the R295 – Keash Road out of Ballymote”.

On behalf of Mr. Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, Mr. Paddy Hughes, Senior Executive Engineer, stated that the Council have recently completed traffic counts on the R295 which included the recording of vehicle speeds. The results have just been received and traffic calming measures will be required. The Roads Department will revert in relation to details of same.

8. REMOVAL OF BOAT FROM ENNISCRONE PIER:

Proposed by Councillor M. Clarke
Seconded by Councillor M. Baker

AND AGREED

“To call on Sligo County Council to recover and remove a boat called “Saoirse” off Enniscrone pier”.

Mr. Paddy Hughes, Senior Executive Engineer on behalf of Mr. Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, informed the meeting that the Council are corresponding with the owner of the boat to have it removed from the pier. To date, no agreement has been reached.

9. PROVISION OF PERMANENT BUOYS IN ENNISCRONE BAY:

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor M. Baker

AND AGREED

“To ask Sligo County Council to put permanent buoys in the bay in Enniscrone to improve safety for all water users and to further aid the development of open water swimming facilities for the area”.

On behalf of Mr. Pete Murtagh, Water Safety Development Officer, Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, reported that at present, the Council deploys temporary buoys to mark out the bathing area during the bathing season and the provision of permanent buoys is being investigated further. Mr. Kilfeather stated that advice is awaited from Water Safety Ireland in the matter and added that preliminary investigations indicate that the cost of the provision of permanent buoys and their maintenance would be quite significant and a budget for same would be required.

10. FEASIBILITY & TECHNICAL STUDY FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF ENNISCRONE PIER:

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor M. Clarke

AND AGREED

“To ask Sligo County Council to seek funding for a feasibility and technical study for the future development of Enniscrone pier”.

On behalf of Mr. Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, Mr. Paddy Hughes, Senior Executive Engineer, stated that approximately ten years ago funding was sought for an enhancement study for Enniscrone harbour which proved unsuccessful.

However, Mr. Hughes said that the ongoing operation and protection of the harbour and coastal area will be included in any coastal protection plans and strategies for the County.

11. UPDATE ON PROPOSED 5G MAST AT FRANKFORD, ENNISCRONE:

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor M. Clarke

AND AGREED

“To ask the Chief Executive to indicate if there is any update regarding the proposed 5G mast at Frankford, Enniscrone”.

Mr. Frank Moylan, A/Director of Services, informed the meeting that Sligo County Council issued a decision to grant planning permission for a 20m high telecommunications monopole at Frankford, Enniscrone on 11^th July 2019. An application for leave to appeal this decision was refused by An Bord Pleanála on 26^th August 2019 and a final grant of permission issued on 10^th October 2019.

Mr. Moylan informed members that the Council has had no further contact from the applicants on the matter since the issuing of the grant of permission.

12. STIMULUS PACKAGE FOR ‘WET PUBS’:

Proposed by Councillor M. Clarke
Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan

AND AGREED

“Given that the wet pubs won’t open until August 10^th at the earliest and that 60% of the turnover will be lost to the sector, I call on the Government to put in place a stimulus package that will give a lifeline to this sector”.

The item was discussed with Members supporting the call for a stimulus package for publicans under the current circumstances.

13. RE-SURFACING OF ROAD AT DRUMEE:

Proposed by Councillor M. Baker
Seconded by Councillor G. Mullaney

AND AGREED

“To ask Sligo County Council to resurface the road at Drumee”.

On behalf of Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, Mr. Paddy Hughes, Senior Executive Engineer, advised that the L-5204 at Drumee is not included in the current Multi-Annual Restoration Improvement Programme but will be considered in the context of the next programme commencing in 2022. Mr. Hughes confirmed that in the meantime, the road will be maintained in a reasonable condition.

14. RE-SURFAING OF ROAD AT COOPERSHILL, RIVERSTOWN:

Proposed by Councillor M. Baker
Seconded by Councillor G. Mullaney

AND AGREED

“To ask Sligo County Council to address the surface on the road at Coopershill, Riverstown”.

On behalf of Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, Mr. Paddy Hughes, Senior Executive Engineer, advised that the L-1401 at Coopershill is not included in the current Multi-Annual Restoration Improvement Programme but will be considered in the context of the next programme commencing in 2022. Mr. Hughes confirmed that in the meantime, the road will be maintained in a reasonable condition.

15. PROVISION OF FOOTPATH FROM GEEVAGH N.S. TO GAA GROUNDS:

Proposed by Councillor G. Mullaney
Seconded by Councillor M. Baker

AND AGREED

“To call on the Director of Services for Infrastructure to provide a footpath along local road L5102-3 from Geevagh National School to Geevagh GAA Grounds in the interest of public safety”.

On behalf of Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, Mr. Paddy Hughes, Senior Executive Engineer, said that the Council will consider the location in future depending on available funding. He stated that the current footpath enhancement grant is used for the repair of existing footpaths in the Ballymote engineering area but the existing grant would not be sufficient to complete the 450m of footpath required at the location.

16. PROVISION OF SIGNAGE AT FOYOGES BRIDGE ON R284:

Proposed by Councillor G. Mullaney
Seconded by Councillor M. Baker

AND AGREED

“To call on the Director of Services for Infrastructure to provide signage at Foyoges Bridge on the R284 to enable school children to access the bus in safety”.

On behalf of Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, Mr. Paddy Hughes, Senior Executive Engineer, stated that the location will be inspected and consideration given to the requirement for signage.

17. CORRESPONDENCE:

None.

18. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

Councillor Baker raised the issue of safety for children boarding and alighting buses on busy roads when schools return in September.
The Cathaoirleach proposed a vote of sympathy to the family of the late Jack Charlton R.I.P which was unanimously seconded by Members.

Proposed by Councillor M. Baker
Seconded by Councillor G. Mullaney

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to the family of the late Henry Rowan, Annagh Lodge, Geevagh, Co. Sligo”.