Agendas 2024

Agenda of February Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council to be held Monday, 12th February 2024 at 10 a.m.


Sligo County Council
Corporate Services,
County Hall,
Riverside,
Sligo

071-9111111

6th February 2024

TO: THE CATHAOIRLEACH AND EACH MEMBER OF SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL

The Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council will be held:

ON:      Monday, 12th February 2024

AT:      10.00 a.m.

IN:       Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo.

You are requested to attend.

Sinéad Branley
Meetings Administrator

 

CLÁR

  1. To confirm minutes of Meetings of Sligo Borough District held on (a) 17th July 2023, (b) 18th September 2023, and (c) 20th November 2023 (Copies attached).
  2. To confirm minutes of (a) Special Corporate Policy Group Budget Meeting held on 6th November 2023 at 9.00am and (b) Meeting of the Corporate Policy Group held on 6th November 2023 at 9.30am (Copies attached).
  3. To confirm minutes of Meeting of Sligo-Drumcliff Municipal District held on 13th November 2023 (Copy attached).
  4. To confirm minutes of Meeting of Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District held on 20th November 2023 (Copy attached).
  5. To confirm minutes of Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council held on 15th January 2024 (Copy attached).
  6. To approve in accordance with Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, and Regulations thereunder, provision of assistance in the form of the Capital Assistance Scheme Loan in the amount of €197,513 to Focus Housing Association Company Limited by Guarantee in respect of 29 Rusheen Ard, Caltragh, Sligo (Report previously circulated).
  7. Delegation to attend St. Patrick’s Day Engagements in New York (Report attached).
  8. NOAC Local Authority Performance Indicator Report for 2022 (Report to follow).
  9. To consider and adopt the draft LA Climate Action Plan Draft Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 (Reports previously circulated).
  10. Update on the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund Process/Procedures
  11. To note report of Ethics Registrar under Section 174 (b) of the Local Government Act, 2001 (Report attached).
  12. Policy on Remote Attendance at Council Meetings (Report attached)
  13. Presentation by the Northern & Western Regional Assembly.
  14. To note the Monthly Management Report for January 2024 (Report to follow).

 

DEFERRED  MOTIONS

  1. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to seek an update on the defective block scheme from the Minister for housing.”

 

MOTIONS

  1. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “That funding be sought and allocated for increased resources to allow all TFI Sligo bus routes be added to the list of roads in the Winter Service Plan.”
  2. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillors T. Walsh and D. Gilroy:
    “Concern in relation to the level of resources allocated to Sligo County Councils annual Winter Maintenance Plan
    ‘Winter maintenance on national roads is carried out by Sligo County Council for the TII and is funded by the TII. Winter maintenance on Non-National Roads is funded by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Sligo County Council. The winter maintenance season for the current term is from Monday 16th October 2023 to Sunday 28th April 2024. All of the above is subject to the availability of resources. Resources include finance, salt, plant and labour’.
    Noting the above, That Sligo County Council undertake a review of the Winter Service Plan and hold a consultation with members and stakeholders in relation to the same. As the plan (annually) is subject to the availability of resources, that the review will explore the need as identified against the resources in situ and that any additional resources required to meet the need are sought by this Local Authority.”
  3. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “Sligo County Council utilises lands where planning permission has been granted but no works have taken place to erect modular or prefabricated housing for the needs of emergency accommodation as a matter of urgency.”
  4. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Healy:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to write to TII regarding funding that has been spent in the County to date on the following roads N59, N15, N17, N16, N4, all these are National roads and what investment is coming into our region? There is concern with the lack of funding spent on the N17, N59, N15, and has the budget for TII reduced over the last number of years in this region?”
  5. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Healy:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to write to TII to address active Travel deficiencies in villages throughout the County within the 60kph speed limit zones on all the national routes in the county in the interest of health and safety.”
  6. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. MacSharry:
    "That Sligo County Council calls on the Government to re-introduce the 9% Vat rate for the Hospitality sector with immediate effect.”
  7. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. MacSharry:
    "That Sligo County Council calls on the Government to abolish hospital parking charges.”
  8. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Mulvey:
    “In light of the recent storms, has Sligo County Council ever carried out a survey of dangerous trees in the county as we saw recently that many roads were blocked, and we were lucky there were no fatalities. Due to the recent storms, there are many large old dying trees that hang out over our local and regional roads that must be taken down safely and unfortunately this doesn't happen until there is a storm. Has correspondence ever been received back from government on possible assistance for landowners to cut back and remove these dangerous trees as the cost can sometimes be very high for this work to be carried out.”
  9. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Mulvey:
    “To ask Sligo County Council if an assessment of the level of vacancy over commercial premises has / is being undertaken in towns throughout county Sligo to identify what can be brought back into residential use for people seeking rental accommodation and to promote the grants available from the Croí Cónaithe funding stream to carry out these works.”
  10. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillors J. Queenan and M. Clarke:
    “A list is provided of polling booths to be used within County Sligo for the upcoming referendums”.
  11. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor S. Maguire:
    “Following my motion which was passed unanimously last year regarding this council supporting the establishment of a women's refuge in Sligo to address the increase in rates of domestic violence and provide this much needed facility in our county. This motion seeks an update be provided regarding the progress of the establishment of a women’s refuge for Sligo and a date set for the stakeholder meeting to ensure all necessary parties are fully engaged in this important facility.”
  12. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor J. Queenan:
    “To ask the Director of Service to outline what plan is in place to drive tourism numbers in County Sligo in 2024.”
  13. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “That this local authority Calls on the government urgently revise the vacant property refurbishment grant.”
  14. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “That this local authority calls on the Government, to ensure: The new Deposit Return Scheme has transformative potential, but measures must be taken to ensure that it is fair and competitive.”
  15. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to provide a report on future active travel schemes (A) what schemes are expected to proceed in 2024 (B) what schemes are expected to proceed in 2025. “
  16. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “That Sligo County Council request a meeting with Minister Jack Chambers and TII at the Minister’s Office to discuss the urgent need for resources for the N15 National Primary Route.
    This Road from Hughes Bridge to the County Boundary with Leitrim urgently requires upgrading and needs to be made safer for all road users. This road appears to no longer be maintained to an acceptable National Primary Route standard and has no timeline as part of National Development Plan for a substantial upgrading.
    And that Sligo County Council send a strong representative group of Members, Management and Officials to convey how serious the regression of the route in National Planning is having on County Sligo and the ability of the county to prosper successfully.”
  17. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “That Sligo County Council issue a report to members on how the Dog Fouling Regulations are enforced in County Sligo and what resources are available to deal with dog fouling in each of the Municipal Districts with regard to roadside, footpaths, walkways and cycle lanes.”
  18. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to outline what action it will take to address the trees along every public road with ash die-back that are dangerous and are littering the county.”
  19. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That this Council endorses the reports by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories that show Israel is committing the crime of apartheid against the Palestinian people; and further noting that the United Nations has declared apartheid a crime against humanity under the ‘The International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid’; this Council, in line with our commitment to the principles of international law, declares itself an Apartheid Free Zone, and in doing so, fully supports and endorses the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement for freedom, justice and equality.”
  20. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That the Council executive seek a meeting with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Office of Public Works with a view to investigating the possibility of developing public access to the Neolithic monument located above the Fox’s Den on Cairns (Carns) Hill.”
  21. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That we be provided with a report indicating each property the Council is renting in the town and county, the annual rent paid on each property, and the proposals, if any, which the Council may have to develop offices in the old Agricultural Committee/VEC property at Riverside.”
  22. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “That this council support the establishment of a child maintenance agency.”
  23. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “That Sligo County Council write to the Minister for Social Protection to make some financial supports available to families of secondary school children who have turned 18 and still in full time education. The supports that were announced in the budget do not come into effect until September 2024.” 
  24. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “To request further supports from the Departments of Justice and Transport to make more road safety workshops and campaigns available to every second level school in the country by way of providing more resources to An Garda Síochána Roads Policing Units.”
  25. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “Given the recent report which has found that the uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine had fallen to 87pc among junior infant schoolchildren, along with the four in one vaccine, that Sligo County Council write to the Minister of Health to ascertain what urgent strategy is being put in place to encourage uptake of the vaccine and prevent an outbreak of Measles.
    That the same correspondence be copied to the Chief Medical Officer and the Area Director of Public Health: Dr Áine McNamara, Department of Public Health - HSE West and North-West.”
  26. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “Given the huge shortage of HSE office space, in multiple Departments, across Sligo, Leitrim currently, that this council contact the HSE Estates Office, the Minister for Health and our four Teachta Dála in SLWC and ascertain why the former Markievicz House Building on Barrack Street, Sligo, (Listed Building) continues to sit there idle. And that we be provided with an update on the expected Capital Submission - €100,000 for refurbishment of the building.”
  27. Votes of Sympathy.
  28. Votes of Congratulations.
  29. To approve the Conferences/Training events as circulated.
  30. To note the summary of proceedings of conferences attended in accordance with Section 142(5) (f) of the Local Government Act, 2001.
  31. Correspondence:
    1. Copy of resolution passed by the Members of Offaly County Council regarding selling of state lands where renewable energy projects have taken place.
    2. Copy of resolution passed by the Members of Offaly County Council regarding international support for Gaza.
    3. Copy of resolution passed by the Members of Offaly County Council regarding immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
    4. Copy of resolution passed by the Members of Mayo County Council in relation to procedures in place for hosting of refugees/international protection applicants.
    5. Copy of resolution passed by the Members of Carlow County Council regarding funding for sports clubs in non-clár areas throughout the country.
    6. Copy of resolution passed by the Members of Wexford County Council regarding enactment of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 and the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023.
    7. Acknowledgement email dated 31st January 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding the new regional vet laboratory in Sligo.
    8. Acknowledgement email dated 31st January 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Health regarding adequate for cancer patients to heat their homes.
    9. Acknowledgement email dated 31st January 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage in relation to selection of areas for the septic tank and wastewater treatment upgrade grant.
    10. Acknowledgement email dated 31st January 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Finance regarding the burden on parents with childcare costs.
    11. Acknowledgement email dated 31st January 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Education regarding the inclusion of Sligo in the Counselling in Primary Schools programme.
    12. Acknowledgement email dated 31st January 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Rural and Community Development in relation to funding for Women’s Sheds.
    13. Acknowledgement email dated 1st February 2024 from the Garda Corporate Services office in relation to lack of available spaces at the current Garda Station in Sligo town.
    14. Acknowledgement email dated 1st February 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Environment, Climate & Communications regarding prioritisation of the elderly and people with disabilities in relation to applications for warmer homes/energy retrofitting
    15. Acknowledgement email dated 2nd February 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Transport regarding additional bus services from Dublin Airport to Sligo.
    16. Acknowledgement letter dated 31st January 2024 from the Office of An Taoiseach regarding proposed referendum on public ownership of water.
    17. Acknowledgement letter dated 31st January 2024 from the Office of An Taoiseach regarding call for Government to initiate/join proceedings initiated by South Africa at the International Court of Justice.
    18. Acknowledgement letter dated 31st January 2024 from the Office of An Taoiseach regarding easing of burden on parents with childcare costs.
    19. Acknowledgement letter dated 31st January 2024 from the Office of An Taoiseach regarding legislation on use of electric bicycles/e-scooters.
    20. Email dated 6th February 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Transport in response to correspondence issued following resolution agreed at the January monthly meeting regarding provision of additional bus services from Dublin Airport to Sligo at night.
  32. Matters arising from Minutes.
  33. Any other business.

Meeting Date 12/02/2024