Agendas 2023

Agenda of March Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council to be held on Monday, 6th March 2023 at 10 am


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

071 911 1111

28th February 2023

TO:  THE CATHAOIRLEACH AND EACH MEMBER OF SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL

The Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council will be held:

ON:  Monday, 6th March 2023

AT:  10.00 a.m.

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

You are requested to attend.

Jennifer Burns
A/Meetings Administrator

 

CLÁR

  1. To note the Minutes of Meeting of Corporate Policy Group held on 13th January 2023 (Copy attached).
  2. To confirm minutes of Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council held on 13th February 2023 (Copy attached).
  3. Presentation by Comhairle na nÓg.
  4. To adopt the North-West Homelessness Action Plan 2023-2028 (Report attached).
  5. To consider holding a Civic Reception for the Sligo Rovers Team that won the League Cup of 1998 on their 25th anniversary. 
  6. To nominate 4 Members of Sligo County Council to the Culture Team (Report attached).
  7. To nominate a Member to the ‘Building Europe with Local Councillors’ network.
  8. That Sligo County Council being satisfied of their general public utility declare the Roads named below to be public roads in accordance with Section 11(1) of the Roads Act, 1993.”

    Road No. Location and Terminal Points
    L-35038-0

    The road serving development known as “Scáth na Sléibhe, Strandhill, Co. Sligo.
    L-45036-0, L-45036-1, L-45036-2, L-45036-3, L-45036-4 and L-45036-5 The Roads serving development known as “Fairways” Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo
    (Report attached).
  9. To approve, pursuant to Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the disposal of the freehold interest in property at Shannon Oughter, Co. Sligo to Sonia Gilmartin (Report previously circulated).
  10. To approve, pursuant to Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the disposal of property at 23 Willow Park, Maugheraboy, Sligo to Gerald Wynne (Report previously circulated).
  11. To approve, pursuant to Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the disposal of the freehold interest in property at No. 11 Pearse Crescent, Pearse Road, Sligo to Gerard Forde (Report previously circulated).
  12. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the disposal of Property at Curry, Co Sligo to Margaret Walsh (Report previously circulated).
  13. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the disposal of lands at Adelaide Street, Sligo, to the Housing Agency (Report attached).
  14. To note the Monthly Management Report for February 2023 (Report to follow).

 

DEFERRED MOTIONS

  1. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “That this local Authority Calls on the Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, The Greens and soft Independents Government (Department of Finance) to bring about much needed reforms to the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme.”
  2. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to prepare a report on the Council’s first-time housing schemes.

    How many applications were received in 2022?  How many applications were approved?

    To call on the Minister for Housing to give a breakdown county by county on approved applications.”
  3. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “To ask for a progress report on upgrading the landing facility on Inishmurray Island.”
  4. To conider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “Sligo County Council calls on the government to extend the eviction ban for 2 years.”
  5. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to prepare a report on Local authority home loan. How many was applied for? How many was granted in 2022?  To be eligible for a Local Authority Home Loan you must: be a first-time buyer and be aged between 18 and 70 years, and to call on the Minister for Housing to give a breakdown county by county.”
  6. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “How many ghost estates in Sligo county.”
  7. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “To add this to the new county development plan:

    The use of the following chemicals as a processing agent shall not be permitted as part of any proposed processing operation located above or adjacent to surface or ground waters, or which could potentially impact such waters regardless of their location - mercury, cyanide or cyanide compounds, breakdown products of cyanide, or sulfuric acid. These present an unreasonable risk of environmental harm due to the toxicity of such chemicals and their demonstrated potential to cause damage to the environment.”

 

MOTIONS

  1. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “To call on the Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, The Greens and the soft Independence to fully implement the recently passed Sinn Fein motion in the Dáil that would reform and resource Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. (CAMHS).”
  2. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “To call on this council to write to the FF minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien to explain why there was a €1 bn underspend on housing in his Dept in 2022.” 
  3. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “To call on the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, The Greens and the soft Independence for the introduction of mortgage interest relief to support struggling borrowers.”
  4. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “I propose that Sligo County Council write to both the Assistant Secretary General with responsibility for Disability and the Secretary General in the Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth to enact/expedite the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

    This international Convention was ratified by the Houses of the Oireachtas in March 2018 and has only been partially implemented to date.”
  5. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Mulvey:
    “I ask Sligo County Council if a survey can be carried out on dangerous trees such as large Ash and Chestnut which are dying and are in danger of falling out on traffic passing by and these trees removed.”
  6. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “To write to the Minister for Justice, The Policing Authority and the Garda Commissioner to seek explanations as to why The Garda Operating Model that was introduced as part of A Policing Service for the Future, which is the implementation plan based on the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, has failed to achieve what it set out to achieve and what evaluation had occurred to address this.”
  7. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor S. Maguire:
    “That this council will conduct a survey of speeds around all national schools in the county.”
  8. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor S. Maguire:
    “This Council write to Minister for Health asking him to make the CF medication Kaftrio available to all patients who require it within the State.”
  9. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor S. Maguire:
    “Given the alarming rates of violence against women in the country and the increasing number of murders of women that this council call on the Minister for Justice for urgent action to be taken to reduce this worrying trend.  This motion asks this Council to write to the Minister seeking that a report be prepared together with recommendations as to how these shocking statistics can be reversed.”
  10. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. Mullaney:
    “That this Council write to the Minister for Agriculture requesting he provides targeted support of €30/ewe to sheep farmers by building on the supports already announced in the Sheep Improvement Scheme of €12/ewe for this year.”
  11. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That the meeting be provided with a report on homeless services and emergency accommodation for people on the Housing Waiting list who present themselves as homeless, the report to include: (A) details of emergency accommodation; (B) the number of persons who sought and were provided with emergency accommodation in 2022; (C) if there are plans to expand the homeless services in the current year.”
  12. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That the meeting be provided with a report including details on the number of Northern Ireland registered vehicles which received Fixed Charge Notices for illegal parking in 2021 and in 2022, and which failed to pay the parking fine; the number that were referred to the company which the Council engages to collect such fines, and the number which subsequently paid the fines.”   
  13. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That a report be provided indicating (A) the sum of money paid to private landlords under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme in 2022 (B) the sum of money paid to private landlords under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) Scheme in 2022 (C) the sum of money paid to private landlords under the Long-Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme in 2022.”
  14. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “In light of our festival and events Strategy being at draft stage and the recruitment of our festival and events manager which is now imminent, that this Council set up a festival and events committee comprised of the many stakeholders which would input to reforming and driving this sector in Sligo.”
  15. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “A new pilot mental health programme for adolescents was commissioned by the HSE in Sligo, Leitrim. Resources including staff (psychologist, therapist, social worker, business support). Funding for the programme has now been withdrawn.

    That this Council writes to the Minister for Health, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People and the CEO of the HSE for a direct response on the following:

    Why was this funding withdrawn? Who made this decision? Where has this funding been moved too? What service is in place for those on a CAMHS waiting list in Sligo, Leitrim?”
  16. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor J. Queenan:
    “Ask the Director of Services Housing how much funding is allocated for A housing grants - adaptation grants, older people and disability; B maintenance or Council stock 2023.”
  17. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “That Sligo County Council seeks answers as to why critical services for children in St Cecilia’s and St Joseph’s Schools in Sligo have been taken away. Services such as speech and language, occupational therapy, physio, therapeutic services. That these services be reinstated in the school setting or a fast-track referral system be put in place for children with additional needs.

    That this council write to the CEO of the HSE, the CEO of the SAOLTA Group and the manager of the Childrens Disability Network Team for CHO.”
  18. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “That Sligo County Council report to members on what date the appointment of Consultants Jacobs Engineering to carry out the Local Transport Plan and how long after Variation No. 1 to the current County Development Plan this was advertised and the Consultants appointed.”
  19. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “Based on the response to motion 28 at January 2023 meeting that tenants must apply in writing for permission to keep any dog. Can Sligo County Council report on
    • How many Tenants have applied in writing for permission to keep a dog in each of the following years. 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
    • How many have been approved and how many have been refused permission
    • What percentage of the total housing stock have the owners been given permission to keep a dog.”
  20. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “Based on reports that local authority housing is being sub-let in a neighbouring council area. Can Sligo County Council report on what actions are being taken to ensure that no local authority dwellings are sub-let or used as a permanent place of residence by any person other than the person to whom the dwelling was awarded and their immediate dependants.”
  21. Votes of Sympathy.
  22. Votes of Congratulations.
  23. Conferences/Training.
  24. To note the summary of proceedings of conferences attended in accordance with Section 142(5) (f) of the Local Government Act, 2001.
  25. Correspondence:
    1. Email dated 10th February 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Health in relation to VAT on COVID-19 test kits.
    2. Acknowledgement email dated 13th February 203 from the Office of the Minister for Health regarding child maintenance services.
    3. Acknowledgement letter dated 10th February 2023 from the Office of An Taoiseach in relation to engagement with the retained fire service to solve the ongoing crisis in the service.
    4. Acknowledgement letter dated 10th February 2023 from the Office of An Taoiseach in relation to increase in Section 39 workers pay to the same rate of pay as their counterpart Civil servants holding similar positions of responsibility.
    5. Acknowledgement letter dated 10th February 2023 from the Office of An Taoiseach in relation to the Fuel Allowance in relation to those in receipt of a Working Family Payment.
    6. Acknowledgement letter dated 10th February 2023 from the Office of An Taoiseach in relation to set up of statutory child maintenance service.
    7. Acknowledgement letter dated 10th February 2023 from the Office of An Taoiseach in relation to nationalisation of private hospitals.
    8. Letter dated 14th February 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding receipt of payments under an agri-environment scheme in 2023.
    9. Email dated 15th February 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Health in relation to categories of breast density.
    10. Acknowledgement letter dated 13th February 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Social Protection regarding Child Maintenance Service.
    11. Letter dated 16th February 2023 from the HSE in relation to home birth services.
    12. Letter received from the Office of the Minister for Social Protection regarding the Fuel Allowance in relation to those in receipt of a Working Family Payment.
    13. Email dated 22nd February 1023 from the Office of Marian Harkin TD in relation to inclusion of SUH as a 6th Surgical Hub.
    14. Acknowledgement email dated 23rd February 2023 from the office of the Minister for Health in relation to medical cards for people with a people with a cancer diagnosis.
    15. Copy of resolution passed by the Members of Kerry County Council regarding award of medals to the veterans of Jadotville.
    16. Acknowledgement email dated 23rd February 2023 from the Minister for Justice in relation to traceability of social media accounts.
    17. Acknowledgement email dated 23rd February 2023 from the office of the Minister for Health in relation to inclusion of SUH as a surgical hub.
    18. Email dated 24th February 2023 from the Office of Colm Markey MEP in relation to traceability of social media accounts.
    19. Acknowledgement letter dated 24th February 2023 from the Department of Transport in relation to NCT backlogs.
    20. Acknowledgement email dated 23rd February 2023 from the Minister for Justice in relation to the Abhaile Scheme.
    21. Email dated 27th February 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Health in relation to medical card eligibility.
    22. Email dated 27th February 2023 from the HSE/Saolta Group in relation to provision of additional step-down beds in the catchment area of Sligo University Hospital.
    23. Email dated 28th February 2023 from the Minister for Justice in relation to traceability of social media accounts.
  26. Matters arising from Minutes.
  27. Any other business.

 


Meeting Date 06/03/2023