Agendas 2024

Agenda of October Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council to be held on Monday, 7th October, 2024 at 10 am in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


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

071-9111111

1st October, 2024

TO:  THE CATHAOIRLEACH AND EACH MEMBER OF SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL

The Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council will be held

ON:  Monday, 7th October, 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 note Minutes of Corporate Policy Group Meetings held on a) 8th July 2024 and b) 6th August 2024 (Copies attached) 
  2. To note Minutes of the Sligo-Drumcliff Municipal District Meeting held on 15th July, 2024 (Copy attached)
  3. To note Minutes of the Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District Meeting held on 29th July, 2024 (Copy attached).
  4. To confirm Minutes of Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council held on 9th September, 2024 (Copy attached).
  5. To approve pursuant, to Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the lease of Conlon House, Humbert Street, Tubbercurry to Foróige the National Youth Development Organisation CLG (Report previously circulated).
  6. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the disposal of land at Belladrehid TD, Ballysadare, Co. Sligo to Carty Contractors Limited (Report previously circulated).
  7. To approve in accordance with Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992, and Regulations thereunder, provision of assistance in the form of CALF Loan in the amount of €41,250 to iCARE Housing Company Limited by Guarantee in respect of property at No. 6 Temple Manor, Ballinacarrow, Co Sligo (Report previously circulated).
  8. Presentation by National Broadband Ireland.
  9. To consider setting a local adjustment factor to the Local Property Tax for the period from 1st November 2024 (Report attached).
  10. To set date for Budget 2025 Meeting and dates for Municipal District Budget meetings.
  11. To seek approval to borrowing a sum not exceeding €15m by way of temporary overdraft for the 12 months from 1st January 2025 to 31st December 2025 (Report attached).
  12. Appointment to “The Model”.
  13. To appoint Traveller Representatives to the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (Report attached).
  14. To note the Quarterly Management Report for Q3 2024 (Report to follow).

 

DEFERRED MOTIONS

  1. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. MacSharry:
    “That Sligo County Council call on the Government to establish a victims of crime compensation fund in the interests of Justice.”
  2. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to write to the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien, to seek immediate action on providing application forms for Sligo's homeowners who are affected by Pyrite, and to provide Council staff to ensure those applications are dealt with in a timely fashion.”
  3. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Healy:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to write to the Minister of Housing to include affordable houses in any housing scheme where we are building social housing on local authorities land in the county as this is not the case at present.”
  4. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “Sligo County Council writes to the Minister for Health and Taoiseach asking why we are still waiting on an overhaul of CAMHS.”

MOTIONS

  1. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Mulvey:
    “I ask Sligo County Council to write to Eamonn Ryan T.D. Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications to deal with the backlog of applications in SEAI with the Warmer Home Scheme.”
  2. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “That Sligo County write to Irish Rail and/or Dublin Bus to request the introduction of a direct and dedicated regular shuttle bus from the new Broombridge train stop, timetabled to the Sligo/Dublin/Sligo train service, to facilitate passengers travelling on the Sligo Dublin line by shortening journey times from the North West to Dublin Airport. Such a service would encourage greater use of the rail service.”
  3. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillors D. Gilroy and M. Clarke:
    “That Sligo County Council add a new classification of roads that ensures there is adequate funding for maintenance of roads that form part of the Wild Atlantic Way and that the roads to viewing points are maintained in a way that allows safe movement of Tourists, Farmers and local traffic throughout the year.”
  4. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Healy:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to write to the government to make sure that a percentage of the 13 billion from the Apple tax is invested in Capital project infrastructure like the railway from Claremorris to Collooney N59, N15, and the N17, and housing as a matter of urgency as we are a region in transition.”
  5. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “That the RSA be requested to release accident data to the TII in order for local authorities to have access to this through a change of legislation.”
  6. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Mulvey:
    “I call on Sligo County Council to write to write to the Minister for Social protection to address the issue of many trades people involved in the construction industry who are suffering with ailments such as bad backs, Hips, Arthritis etc yet have to continue working until 66 to draw a state pension.

    The contributory State pension is only paid to people from the age of 66 who have made enough (PRSI) contributions during their working life. The non-contributory State pension is paid out to people who do not qualify for a contributory pension or who only qualify for a reduced contributory pension based on their PRSI contributions. It is means tested and is paid out from the age of 66.

    The State Invalidity pension is ONLY payable to individuals who satisfy the necessary PRSI contribution conditions and have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and are likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months or are permanently incapable of work again or are over age 60 and have a serious illness or incapacity.  Some of these trade people cannot afford to work part time and if a scheme were in place to allow them to draw even a partial pension and reduce their work hours this would be a great help to them.”
  7. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Mulvey:
    “I call on this government to support the establishment of a new court for Small Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to fast-track debt recovery. Many small businesses across the country frequently struggle with the costly burden of pursuing outstanding payments owed to them - an issue that can make or break a small business. Unpaid invoices and late payments can have a crippling effect on them. The current legal system fails to provide an efficient and cost-effective means for small businesses to recover smaller debts. For instance, the Irish Small Claims Court does not even handle debt claims and caps awards at a mere €2,000.”
  8. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “That Sligo County Council install Compostable Toilets and encourage the use of Compostable Toilets by amenity providers (Coillte, Leader etc.) at selected locations throughout County Sligo where traditional waste disposal is currently facilitated by Portaloo’s and Chemical Toilets.

    These toilets are useful as an alternative to flush toilets particularly in off grid locations.

    These would ultimately lead to cost savings in the cost of rental and servicing and all the waste is composted away in a short time with the composted materials being used as fertilizer that could be used to replace chemical fertilizers.”
  9. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “That Sligo County Council detail to members the appeals process for any Croi Cónaithe Grant applicants that are initially rejected/refused by the Vacant homes Officer and further rejected on Appeal.”
  10. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “Given the great success of the recent Taste of Sligo Food Festival, can the Dept of Community and Enterprise actively work on a Christmas Market in Queen Maeve Square in December 2024.”
  11. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “This local authority calls on the Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys to extend the fuel allowance scheme to family in receipt of the working family payment.”
  12. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillors D. Bree, G. O’Boyle, A. Gibbons and T. Healy:
    “That this Council, in light of the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice on the illegality of Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territories, calls on the Government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill, to cut Irish trade ties with Israeli goods and services produced in theses illegal settlements.”
  13. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “To ask Sligo County Council to consider allocating a baseline fund in the next budget to Sligo Summer Festival Ltd in order for it to develop 3 diverse festival weekends in Queen Maeve Square in 2025 for the benefit of our town centre economy and our county.”
  14. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “That Sligo County Council provide at update on the provision of the funded outdoor water based activity centres.”
  15. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor F. Nealon:
    “That this Council requests an update from both Sligo ATU and the Local authority on the current progress of the sale of Council lands to the ATU for student accommodation purposes.”
  16. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor J. Queenan:
    “To ask the Director of Services to give update report on RRDF projects in the county.”
  17. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor J. Queenan:
    “To ask the Director of Housing to report how many social houses have commenced construction 2024 and will in 2025.”
  18. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor J. Queenan:
    “To ask the C. E. what plans have Sligo County Council for tourism in 2025.”
  19. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “That this local authority calls on the Minister of the Environment to initiate the following, as part of the licensing condition for Domestic refuse collectors that all waste collection companies would be required to have a local Direct complaints and enquiries phone service to accommodate genuine public concerns from their Customers and the local community.”
  20. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor E. McSharry:
    “Sligo County Council to write to Minister of Transport Eamon Ryan and the Minister of State for Transport, James Lawless to request support for the submission made by Sligo Airport seeking operational funding. The airport is the nominated base for 24hours Safety and Rescue services and requires funding for mandatory safety training.”
  21. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor E. McSharry:
    “Sligo County Council to write to the Minister of Health to inform him that the primary care Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service for CHO1is operating at 50% of its staff quota. The regional health forum west has reported the 7 vacant positions have not been filled since the lifting of the embargo and there are no plans to recruit while the waiting lists for initial assessment and ongoing treatment has risen by over 200% in the last year. To request that the Minister intervene with the CEO of the RHFW to rectify this unacceptable situation as a matter of urgency.”
  22. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor E. McSharry:
    “To ask Sligo County Council what plans have they in place to support and ensure the provision of student accommodation in Sligo town.”
  23. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “Noting (a) the €13 billion in unpaid taxes collected from Apple Inc; (b) the consistent underinvestment in critical enabling infrastructure in this region (c) the fact that this region now ranks 218th out of 234 regions in terms of infrastructure in the 27 countries which make up the European Union; this Council calls on the Taoiseach and the Government to provide the necessary funding for the re-opening of the 47 mile section of the Western Rail Corridor linking Claremorris with Collooney, and the upgrading of our road network including the N16 to Enniskillen and Belfast; the N17 to Galway and the N15 to Letterkenny.”
  24. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “Cognisant of the fact that the Council adopted a motion at its meeting in February this year asking the Executive to 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, this meeting requests an update and progress report on the matter.”
  25. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor N. Cosgrove:
    “That Sligo County Council establish a response team to work with Sligo County Childcare Committee in order to identify and, where possible, prevent future closures in the Early Years and School-Aged Care sector.”
  26. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor N. Cosgrove:
    “That Sligo County council write to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth requesting the time frame of when Section 39, 10 and 56 agencies will receive into their bank accounts the guaranteed 8% pay agreements for workers for 2024”.
  27. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor N. Cosgrove:
    “2024 marks the 50th year of the Dublin- Monaghan bombings. May 17th 1974 was the single worst day of the Troubles where 34 people were killed, including an unborn baby. 258 people were also injured that day.

    Anne Marren from Sligo was one of those killed on the day in Dublin while she was on the way to catch a train back to Sligo. No one has been charged in connection with the bombings. Relatives of the victims, and many others, believe the killers were assisted and protected by members of the British security forces.

    There are two investigations into the Glennane Gang, the notorious loyalist group which has been linked to more than 120 murders during the 1970s.  The first is Operation Denton headed up by Independent English police officers and Gardaí have provided intelligence material to assist in this inquiry.

    The second enquiry Operation Newham is headed up by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. To date An Garda Síochána have not responded to several requests for the same intelligence material from the Police Ombudsman for NI who is investigating allegations of collusion and failings in RUC investigations into killings linked to the Glennane gang.

    I am requesting that Sligo County Council write to the Taoiseach Simon Harris and to the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to ask the reason why An Garda Síochána has failed to provide intelligence information in relation to Operation Newham”.
  28. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. Mullaney:
    “That this Council writes to the Minister for Education requesting that it would be included in the curriculum that students would be encouraged to register their votes in transition year.”
  29. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “Sligo County Council calls on the Minister for Justice and Taoiseach to invest in Cold Case Files and a DNA database.”
  30. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “Sligo County Council calls on the Minister for Agriculture to bring in a law banning fox hunting and cub hunting.”
  31. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “That Sligo County Council write to the HSE, the Saolta Regional CE, the Minister for Health, the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste to ask them what plans are in place for a community paramedic team for the county of Sligo.

    That this motion be copied to the 4 Oireachtas members in Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal.”
  32. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor P. Taylor:
    “That Sligo County Council assign a member of the traffic Warden staff to cover illegal parking in rural areas and urban areas outside the Sligo Town Centre to deal with illegal parking at Scenic areas, Schools and on Cycle lanes.”
  33. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor P. Taylor:
    “To ask this Council to question some of the submissions made to the Development Plan from Uisce Eireann, OPR & the OPW and to explore the accuracy of such submissions & report back with particular attention to the submissions on PAZ – 63.”
  34. Votes of Sympathy.
  35. Votes of Congratulations.
  36. To approve the Conferences/Training events as circulated.
  37. To note the summary of proceedings of conferences attended in accordance with Section 142(5) (f) of the Local Government Act, 2001.
  38. Correspondence:
    1. Letter, received via e-mail, dated 4th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment re. Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s Warmer Homes Scheme,
    2. Letter dated 9th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth re. draft regulations for Childminders,
    3. Copy of resolution passed by the Members of Leitrim County Council re. reduction of V.A.T. rate for the hospitality sector,
    4. Copy of resolution passed by the Members of Leitrim County Council re. Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve,
    5. Copy of Resolution agreed by the Members of Roscommon County Council regarding reduction in match funding,
    6. Copy of Resolution agreed by the Members of Roscommon County Council regarding illegal dumping charges,
    7. Copy of Resolution agreed by the Members of Roscommon County Council regarding V.A.T. rate for the Hospitality Sector to Minister Chambers,
    8. Copy of Resolution agreed by the Members of Roscommon County Council regarding V.A.T. rate for the Hospitality Sector to Minister Martin,
    9. Acknowledgement dated 18th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Finance regarding strategic review of funding for national and international athletes and coaches,
    10. Acknowledgement dated 18th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Finance regarding reducing the V.A.T. rate for the Hospitality Sector,
    11. Acknowledgement dated 19th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Transport regarding safety improvement works,
    12. Acknowledgement dated 19th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Health regarding dental services for Medical Card holders,
    13. Acknowledgement dated 19th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Health regarding Sligo-Galway cancer bus service,
    14. Acknowledgement dated 19th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Transport regarding provision of greenway linking Collooney with Bellaghy,
    15. Acknowledgement from the Office of the Minister for Health dated 19th September, 2024 regarding Home Support Services,
    16. Acknowledgement dated 19th September, 2024 from the Office of the Office of the Taoiseach regarding Cloonamahon Native Woodland Park,
    17. Acknowledgement dated 18th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Agriculture re. ‘Forgotten Farmers’,
    18. Acknowledgement dated 19th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Health regarding post-natal care for women in Ireland,
    19. Acknowledgement dated 19th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Transport regarding upgrading of the N15 route,
    20. Acknowledgement dated 18th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Rural and Community Development regarding additional funding for playgrounds and recreational spaces,
    21. Acknowledgement dated 18th September, 2024 from the Office of the Tánaiste regarding Cloonamahon Native Woodland Park,
    22. Acknowledgement dated 18th September, 2024 from the Office of the Tánaiste regarding review of Community Employment Schemes,
    23. Acknowledgement dated 18th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Justice re. laws for use of e-scooters,
    24. Acknowledgement from the Office of the Minister for Justice dated 18th September, 2024 regarding sentencing in criminal matters,
    25. Letter dated 20th September, 2024 from the Disability Federation of Ireland outlining details of their role and Sligo’s Disability Profile,
    26. Acknowledgement dated 18th September, 2024 from the Office of the Taoiseach re. redress scheme for Mother and Baby Homes,
    27. Acknowledgement dated 18th September, 2024 from the Office of the Taoiseach re. Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty,
    28. Acknowledgement dated 18th September, 2024 from the Office of the Taoiseach re. database of available grants,
    29. Acknowledgement dated 18th September, 2024 from the Office of the Taoiseach re. review of Community Employment Schemes,
    30. Acknowledgement dated 25th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform re. upgrading of N15 route,
    31. Acknowledgement dated 25th September, 2024 from Transport Infrastructure Ireland re. upgrading of the N15 route,
    32. Letter, via e-mail, dated 25th September, 2024 from Iarnród Éireann regarding catering on board Sligo services,
    33. Letter, via e-mail, dated 30th September, 2024 from the Office of the Minister for Health re. Home Support Services and
    34. Letter dated 26th September, 2024 from the Office of the General Manager of Services for Older Persons re. Physiotherapy Services.
  39. Matters arising from Minutes.
  40. Any other business.

 


Meeting Date 07/10/2024