Agendas 2023

Agenda of December Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council to be held Monday, 4th December 2023 at 10 a.m.


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

071-9111111

28th November 2023

TO:      THE CATHAOIRLEACH AND EACH MEMBER OF SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL

The Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council will be held:

ON:      Monday, 4th December 2023

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 Meeting of Corporate Policy Group (CPG) held on 26th April 2023 (Copy attached).
  2. To confirm minutes of Meeting of SPC 1 Group (Housing & Corporate) held on 13th June 2023 (Copy attached).
  3. To confirm minutes of Meetings of the SPC 3 Group (Planning, Community & Economic Development, Arts & Culture) held on (a) 30th March 2023, (b) 28th June 2023 and (c) 13th September 2023 (Copies attached).
  4. To confirm minutes of Meetings of Sligo-Drumcliff Municipal District held on (a) 18th September 2023 and (b) 22nd September 2023 (Copies attached).
  5. To confirm minutes of Meeting of Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District held on 18th September 2023 (Copy attached).
  6. To confirm minutes of Meeting of the SPC 4 Group (Climate Change) held on 19th September 2023 (Copy attached).
  7. To confirm minutes of Special Meeting of the Corporate Policy Group (CPG) Meeting held on 2nd October 2023 (Copy attached).
  8. To confirm minutes of Budget Meeting of the Corporate Policy Group (CPG) held on 9th October 2023 (Copy attached).
  9. To confirm minutes of Sligo-Drumcliffe Municipal District Budget meeting held on 31st October 2023 (Copy attached).
  10. To confirm minutes of Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District Budget meeting held on 1st November 2023 (Copy attached).
  11. To confirm minutes of Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council held at 10.00am on 6th November 2023 (Copy attached).
  12. To confirm minutes of Adjourned Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council held at 2.00pm on 6th November 2023 (Copy attached).
  13. To set a date for the January 2024 Monthly meeting.
  14. To appoint one Member to the ATU Sligo Drug & Alcohol Task Force Committee (REACT) following the resignation of Councillor Marie Casserly.
  15. To consider correspondence from Uisce Éireann with regards to setting a meeting date for a water services workshop with Elected Members (Copy attached).
  16. To approve, pursuant to Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the disposal of lands at Bellaghy, Co Sligo to Lorna Normanly (Report previously circulated).
  17. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the lease of property and forecourt known as Grange Courthouse, Grange, Co Sligo to Grange & Armada Development Association (Report previously circulated).
  18. 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 €179,944 to CENA Culturally Appropriate Homes Company Limited by Guarantee in respect of 38 Rathbraughan Park, Sligo (Report previously circulated).
  19. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the lease of the former Garda Station, Cliffoney, Co. Sligo to Cliffoney Men’s Shed (Report previously circulated).
  20. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the lease of property at Finisklin Road, Sligo to L.M.S. Fuels Limited (Report previously circulated).
  21. To consider the Material Contravention of the Sligo County Development Plan 2017-2023 (as varied and extended up to 2024) in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief’s Executive’s Report to grant permission to the proposed development of 127 residential units at Second Sea Road, Sligo (PL.23/60226) (Report attached).
  22. To note the 2023/2024 Winter Maintenance Plan (Report attached).
  23. To note the preparation of County Sligo Biodiversity Action Plan 2024-2030 and establishment of a Sligo Biodiversity Working Group (Report attached).
  24. To note, pursuant to the requirements of Section 2 of the 179A of the Planning and Development Act as amended, whereby:
    The Chief Executive of the local authority shall inform the members of the local authority in relation to the development and shall provide documents, particulars or plans relevant to the development to the members,
    Notice is hereby given that Sligo County Council proposes to carry out a housing development at Geldof Drive and Benson Court Cranmore, Sligo, as set out in attached report (Report attached).
  25. To note, pursuant to the requirements of Section 2 of the 179A of the Planning and Development Act as amended, whereby:
    The Chief Executive of the local authority shall inform the members of the local authority in relation to the development and shall provide documents, particulars or plans relevant to the development to the members,
    Notice is hereby given that Sligo County Council proposes to carry out a Group Housing Development of 3 no. dwellings at Glenview Park, Ash Lane, Rathquarter TD, Sligo, as set out in the attached report (Report attached).
  26. To consider the Draft County Sligo Heritage Strategy 2023-2030 (Report & Draft Strategy attached - AA screening to follow).
  27. To consider Placenames Proposals (Report attached).
  28. To note the Monthly Management Report for November 2023 (Report to follow).

 

DEFERRED  MOTIONS

  1. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “Sligo County Council writes to Housing minister Darragh O’Brien asking for a meeting regarding the housing crisis in County Sligo.”
  2. 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 G. O’Boyle:
    “Sligo County Council calls on the government to stop proposed categorising of disabled persons for welfare payments in Ireland.”
  2. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “Sligo County Council writes to the Minister for Social Protection and ask why people are being refused domiciliary allowance even after multiple medical reports.”
  3. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “That Sligo County Council write to Minister Ryan and request an urgent meeting between the Minister and a delegation from Sligo and Mayo local authorities and the various stakeholders in the region to highlight the urgency of releasing capital funding to expediate the upgrade of the N17. Can this motion be sent to all Government TD's in Sligo and Mayo.”
  4. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “That Sligo County Council write to Irish Rail to request that the catering facilities be reintroduced on all Sligo Dublin train journeys as soon as possible. Can we also request that a 'Quiet Carriage' be introduced for passengers with sensory issues and those wishing to work in a quiet environment”. 
  5. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “To ask for Sligo County Council to write to the Minister for Education to ask that Sligo be included in the new Counselling in Primary Schools Programme as soon as possible.”
  6. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Healy:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to write to Irish Rail to add additional intercity services on the Sligo to Dublin line and to put a lot more focus on the needs to developing a daily service from Longford to Sligo and improve rail service in the North-West.”
  7. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Healy:
    “To call on Sligo County Council and the Irish Government to take notice at a recent meeting held on Thursday 23/11/23 a group of concerned homeowners met to discuss the ongoing concerns with Pyrite defective blocks in their homes they were very angry at the pace in which Co Sligo is at regarding the inclusion in the defective blocks scheme. The Sligo Pyrite action group are calling on Sligo County Council, the Government and all local representatives to once and for all have Sligo included onto the scheme.  The homeowners across this county feel that they are being discriminated against and also feel that their concerns are not being listened to or addressed.”
  8. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to write to TFI and Bus Éireann for a report on customer satisfaction. Given the amount of routes and services that have failed to be delivered in Sligo, what action is being taken to restore confidence in their service?”
  9. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “To call on this local authority to ask the government to take seriously the issue of housing vacancy and dereliction at this time of this housing crisis.” 
  10. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “That this local authority calls on this government to take seriously the funding of mental health services.”
  11. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That a report be provided indicating the number of valid applications received from Council tenants for housing adaptation works in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the estimated cost of the works involved, the number of those cases in each year where the adaptation works have been completed, the number of cases where work has yet to commence, and the funding allocation provided to the Council by the Department in 2021, 2022 and 2023.”
  12. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “Horrified by the brutal and senseless attack on children and their carer outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, Parnell Square, Dublin, on Thursday 23rd of November, and appalled by the subsequent violence and looting fuelled by the far right in pursuit of a racist agenda; this Council expresses its concern with the unacceptable and unprecedented collapse in policing on the night, and further expresses its deep concern with the failure of government to challenge the activities of far right extremists who are orchestrators of hate, constantly ratcheting up people's fears and deliberately scapegoating minorities.” 
  13. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “That Sligo County Council call on the FAI‘s Board of Management to get its act together and to start investing in the League of Ireland and soccer clubs across the country. 
    In addition, that we encourage the Minister for Sport to appoint a member to the FAI Board of Management and to begin a phased investment in soccer.”
  14. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “To call on the Minister for Justice to undertake a complete review of the legal aid system in this country to ensure those who continuously commit offences do not obtain monies from the exchequer towards their legal costs;
    To note that Criminal Legal Aid expenditure amounted to €81.2 million in 2022 for offences that included or could have included Murder/manslaughter, Rape, Theft, Fraud, Assault, Road traffic offences, Offences against the state.”
  15. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to provide an update on all dangerous junctions on national primary and secondary routes in county Sligo.”
  16. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “That Sligo County Council write to the EU and The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to request that every Council in Ireland is given a European Funding Officer to provide the specialist skills required to ensure that every Council gets balanced regional funding from the EU.”
  17. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “That Sligo County Council members are provided with a list of the 10 No. Work in Progress (WIP) Schemes on the National Roads Network within County Sligo and to include when they will be completed as we have been previously told that they must be closed out prior to looking at any new safety scheme proposals.”
  18. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “That Sligo County Council Members are provided with a list of the Special Areas of Conservation within County Sligo and to identify what benefits have been achieved by such designation and if changes need to be made to protect these areas and also to allow for the large numbers of visitors who may be causing damage to these special areas of conservation, and how we best manage the visitor impact.”
  19. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Healy:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to write to the Government to set up an insurance scheme for local community groups. This would be a vital service to keep playgrounds and community services in place.”
  20. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That the meeting be provided with a report outlining the Councils proposals, if any, to increase shipping in the port of Sligo.”
  21. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “In light of the many businesses that are struggling to keep the doors open, I call on this local authority to urge the communities of Co. Sligo to shop local this Christmas and give our local businesses a fighting chance to carry on trading into the future.”
  22. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. Mullaney:
    “To call on the Director Services for Infrastructure to investigate the possibility of providing car parking spaces north and south of Sligo Town with a shuttle bus to the centre.”
  23. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Mulvey:
    “That Sligo County Council should write to the Minister Eamonn Ryan and Junior Minister Jack Chambers seeking an update on new driving test examiners for Sligo due to recent figures showing that 716 people are currently on the waiting list to sit their driving test. Some young people are having to wait months for a driving test.”
  24. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “That Sligo County Council call on the Garda Commissioner to provide an update on the provision of an Armed Support Unit base for County Sligo.
    That this motion be relayed to the Minister for Justice, the Chief Superintendent in Sligo, Leitrim and the 4 Oireachtas members.”
  25. Votes of Sympathy.
  26. Votes of Congratulations.
  27. To approve the Conferences/Training events as circulated.
  28. To note the summary of proceedings of conferences attended in accordance with Section 142(5) (f) of the Local Government Act, 2001.
  29. Correspondence:
    1. Email dated 1st November 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage in relation to Housing adaptation grants for Older People and People with a disability scheme, in respect of private houses.
    2. Acknowledgement email dated 2nd November 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Education regarding school transport.
    3. Acknowledgement email dated 2nd November 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Justice regarding anti-social behaviour.
    4. Acknowledgement letter dated 31st October 2023 from the Office of An Taoiseach in relation to extension of the free school books scheme to secondary schools.
    5. Acknowledgement letter dated 31st October 2023 from the Office of An Taoiseach in relation to roll out of the hot school meals scheme to all primary and Post primary schools within the state.
    6. Acknowledgement letter dated 31st October 2023 from the Office of An Taoiseach in relation to classroom overcrowding.
    7. Acknowledgement letter dated 31st October 2023 from the Office of An Taoiseach in relation to anti-social behaviour.
    8. Acknowledgement letter dated 31st October 2023 from the Office of An Taoiseach in relation to endometriosis national framework.
    9. Acknowledgement letter email dated 2nd November 2023 from the Office of An Taoiseach in relation to exemption for first time homeowners from property tax for the first five years after purchase.
    10. Acknowledgement email dated 8th November 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Transport regarding N17 Knock to Collooney project.
    11. Email dated 8th November 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Education in relation to staffing difficulties.
    12. Acknowledgement email dated 8th November 2023 from the Office of the Minister of State at the Department of Transport.
    13. Letter from TFI Local Link in relation to (a) review of the bus services travelling from all the main villages to Sligo Town, and (b) overcrowding on Local Link and Bus Éireann buses.
    14. Acknowledgement email dated 9th November 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth regarding de-congregation strategy within the disability sector.
    15. Acknowledgement letter dated 9th November 2023 from the Office of An Tánaiste regarding government allocation for the N17 Knock to Collooney project.
    16. Acknowledgement email dated 13th November 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Finance in relation to making permanent the short-term measures announced to address children's needs in the recent budget.
    17. Acknowledgement email dated 13th November 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Finance regarding revisiting budgetary provisions for disability services.
    18. Acknowledgement letter dated 13th November 2023 from the Office of the CEO, HSE regarding start date for the 42-bed medical block at Sligo University Hospital.
    19. Acknowledgement letter dated 13th November 2023 from the Office of the CEO, HSE regarding nationwide campaign on the dangers of synthetic opioids.
    20. Acknowledgement email dated 14th November from the Office of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding support for Macra na Feirme efforts to ensure that the youth will have a future in rural Ireland.
    21. Acknowledgement email dated 14th November from the Office of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding measures to alert motorists to the dangers of deer crossing on roads.
    22. Acknowledgement email dated 14th November 2023 from the Office of the Minister of State for Disabilities regarding de-congregation strategy within the disability sector.
    23. Email dated 20th November 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Justice regarding anti-social behaviour.
    24. Acknowledgement letter dated 17th November 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Social Protection regarding criteria for Community Employment Schemes.
    25. Email dated 23rd November 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Finance in relation to phased restoration of rates of excise duty on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil.
    26. Letter from the HSE dated 24th November 2023 in relation to information campaign on the dangers of synthetic opioids.
    27. Letter dated 24th November 2023 from the HSE in relation to national campaign on the use of synthetic opioids.
    28. Email dated 27th November 2023 from the Office of the Minister for Agriculture in relation to youth having a future in rural Ireland.
  30. Matters arising from Minutes.
  31. Any other business.

 

 


Meeting Date 04/12/2023