2023 Minutes

Minutes of Meeting of Sligo Local Community Development Committee Wednesday 28th June 2023 at 2.30p.m. (Council Chamber, City Hall & MS Teams)


Members Present

  • Councillor Dara Mulvey (Chamber), Local Government Member, Sligo County Council
  • Councillor Tom Fox (Chamber), Local Government Member, Sligo County Council
  • Councillor Joe Queenan (Chamber), Local Government Member, Sligo County Council
  • Martin Lydon (Chamber), Local Government/CE, Sligo County Council
  • John Kennedy (Online), State Agency, Dept. Of Employment Affairs & Social Protection
  • Cara O’Neill (Online), State Agency, Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan HSE
  • Aidan Doyle (Chamber), Business Interests, Sligo Chamber of Commerce
  • John Feerick (Online), Local Development Sector, Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG
  • Billy Gallagher (Chamber), Community & Voluntary, PPN
  • Kathleen Henry (Online), Farming / Agriculture Interests, Farming / Agriculture Pillar
  • Patrick Benson (Chamber), Community & Voluntary, PPN
  • Brendan Lynch, Social Inclusion, PPN

 

Apologies /Absent

  • Peter Egan, State Agency, MSLETB
  • Ms Connie Nell, Environmental Interests, Environmental Pillar (PPN)
  • John Reilly, Local Government / LEO, Sligo County Council

 

In Attendance

  • Dorothy Clarke (Chamber), Chief Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Margaret McConnell (Chamber), Senior Executive Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Mary Boylan (Chamber), Senior Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Kate Gibbons (Chamber), Senior Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Geraldine Timlin (Chamber), Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Emer McGrath (Chamber), Clerical Officer, Sligo County Council

 

The Chair Councillor Dara Mulvey welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted the apologies.

 

1. Declarations of Interest

There were no Declarations of Interest.

 

2. Minutes of meeting 25th May 2023

Proposed by: Councillor. J. Queenan
Seconded by: Councillor. T. Fox

and agreed.

 

3. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

 

4. SICAP

(a) SICAP 2023 Mid – Year review – for approval by LCDC

Reports submitted by Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG and circulated to members in advance of the meeting as follows:

(i) Action Progress Report / Lot Summary Report
(ii) LCDC Checklist / Pobal Review / Financial Reports
(iii) Recommendation of SI & SICAP Monitoring Subcommittee

Ms. Margaret McConnell advised Members that a meeting of the Social Inclusion & SICAP Monitoring Committee was held on 22nd June to consider the 2023 Mid-Year review. SLPCLG uploaded reports as required by the DRCD and Pobal, and LCDC support staff undertook the Mid-Year review. Feedback from Pobal was incorporated into the LCDC Checklist report.

(i) Action Progress Report.  Circulated to members in advance of the meeting.  Mr. J. Feerick noted that work was progressing well on Actions under Goal 1 and Goal 2.  Targets will be met and exceeded on many Actions by the end of 2023.

Discussion.
In response to a query form Councillor. T. Fox, J. Feerick agreed to investigate if Coillte land could be used as gardening space for Men’s Sheds in the county.

Mr. M Lydon referred to the Building Opportunities in Construction event held in the MSLETB NZEB Training Centre, Collooney and queried if the Employer Engagement Officers found it difficult to recruit attendees and if the rates of pay are equitable.  J. Feerick confirmed that it was difficult to recruit attendees and that rates of pay are a big challenge.

In response to a query from Councillor. J. Queenan as to which agency is responsible for ensuring Ukrainian people are eligible for and have access to CE schemes, J. Feerick and J. Kennedy confirmed that this is under the remit of the Intreo Office. 

(ii) LCDC Checklist Report. Circulated to members in advance of the meeting and outlined by Ms. Kate Gibbons, who advised that SLP CLG had achieved over 40% for Goal 1 and Goal 2 and are on track to meet all targets for 2023. It was also noted that feedback from Pobal was positive following their Mid-Year Review. The Pobal review also noted that as this is the last year of the current SICAP programme there will be no opportunity to carry over underspend into 2024. They advised that Local Development Companies should maximise the spend in the second half of 2023.

(iii) Recommendation Report of the Social Inclusion & SICAP Monitoring Committee Circulated to members in advance of the meeting and outlined by Ms. M. McConnell.

Approval of the 2023 Mid-Year Review:

Proposed by: Mr. M. Lydon
Seconded by: Councillor. J. Queenan and agreed.

 

(b) Update on SICAP 2023 to date

Mr. J. Feerick confirmed that under SICAP Goal 1, 63% of the annual target had been achieved. Under SICAP Goal 2, 77% of the annual target had been achieved. 

 

(c) Site Verification Visits – Q3 2023

Mr. J. Feerick proposed two site verification visits as follows:

  • Start Your Own Business Course – Tuesday 18th July (online)
  • Sailing Summer Camp, Rosses Point – Wednesday 19th July 2023

 

5. To note update on PPN

Report circulated to members in advance of meeting.  Mr. P. Benson outlined the report and brought the following work / collaborations to the attention of the members:

  • As part of the EU50 programme Sligo PPN working in conjunction with Sligo FRC and Europe Direct, hosted a “Celebrating the EU Community” event on 16th
  • Day in the Life Initiative – filming has begun looking at everyday barriers faced by the disabled community when accessing services in Sligo.
  • PPN / Community position papers on housing presented to SPC1
  • Working with other counties in the border region to develop a pilot PPN model to be trialled in Northern Ireland

 

6. To note update on the Sligo Healthy Ireland Programme Round 4 & Endorse Sub Committee Clarifications to Pobal

Report circulated to Members in advance of meeting.  Overview as follows:

Ms. A. Smyth advised that Healthy Ireland Sub Committee of the LCDC met on 20th June and reviewed and agreed responses to Pobal clarifications on the Programme.  The report circulated to LCDC Members outlined subcommittee recommendations for LCDC approval in relation to Training in Decider Skills along with LCDC endorsement to Sub Committees selection of Caltragh as a pilot area for working with disadvantaged families and young people.

In respect of the youth mental health action, it was advised that the HSE endorsement of this now requires further discussion within the Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Service.

In terms of the evaluation of the Healthy Ireland Programme members were advised that since the last LCDC meeting on 25th May 2023, Pobal had notified Coordinators that revisions had been made to the Healthy Ireland Procedures and Reporting Manual to reflect Tutors / Facilitators / Consultants, as an eligible spend. 

Discussion
In relation to the Youth Mental Health project, Cara O’Neill agreed to seek further clarification from HSE colleagues.

Members were advised that ideas for all activities set out under the HI Programme were derived from the in-depth consultation process undertaken involving key stakeholders and agencies and the Healthy Sligo Sub Committee was also made up of key representatives and decision makers from key agencies including HSE, TUSLA, SSRP etc.

C. O’Neill offered that it may be beneficial to LCDC members to have a presentation at a future date from the HSE on the Youth Mental Health Project.

With regard to funding for the evaluation of the programme, it was agreed that Pobal would be contacted to clarify if funding is to come from existing programme costs, or if it will be funded separately.

Endorsement of Item 3, points b & c of Sligo Healthy Ireland Report:

Proposed by: Councillor. Tom Fox
Seconded by: Councillor. J. Queenan

 

7. To note update on the development of the Sligo PEACEPLUS Co-designed Local Community Action Plan

Report circulated to Members in advance of meeting.  Ms. A. Smyth provided an overview as follows:

  • Sligo PEACEPLUS Partnership – Co-design Process – a working group was established to consider ideas submitted and to create a shortlist of projects ideas to be developed for the Sligo Co-designed Local Community Peace Action Plan
  • Public Co-Design Consultation. The online survey created for this stage of the consultation process received 39 responses and 32 projects ideas were received via written submissions.  The contracted consultants are now assessing the responses and submissions for consideration by the Sligo PEACEPLUS Partnership.
  • Official Call from the SEUPB – the call for Investment Area 1.1 – Co-designed Local Community Peace Action Plan has been issued with a final closing date of 14th December 2023.
  • Members were also advised of a number of other PEACEPLUS funding calls issued during June 2023.

 

8. Correspondence

Correspondence was outlined by Ms. M. McConnell and noted by members.

 

 

9. Date for next LCDC/LAG meeting – Thursday 21st September 2023 – 9.30a.m.

 

10. Any Other Business

M. McConnell advised members that Mr. P. Egan had submitted an update e-mail on a collaboration between MSLETB and ATU on new National Tertiary Pilots.  E-mail to be circulated to members for information, after the meeting.

 

Meeting concluded at 15.10p.m.

 


Meeting Date 28/06/2023