Minutes 2020
Minutes of Meeting of Sligo-Drumcliff Municipal District held on Monday 20th July 2020 at 2.00 p.m. in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo
COUNCILLORS PRESENT:
- Councillor Thomas Walsh (Chair)
- Councillor Tom Fox
- Councillor Dónal Gilroy
- Councillor Thomas Healy
OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:
- Ciarán Hayes, Chief Executive
- Frank Moylan, Senior Executive Planner
- Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services
- Marie Whelan, Head of Finance
- John Clancy, Head of IT
- Nigel Carter, IS Project Leader
- Kevin Colreavy, Administrative Officer
- Clodagh Quinn, Staff Officer
- Pauline Lavelle, Staff Officer
APOLOGIES/ABSENT:
- Councillor Marie Casserly
CATHAOIRLEACH:
The Cathaoirleach, Councillor Thomas Walsh, welcomed all present to the meeting.
Before the meeting commenced, Mr Kevin Colreavy, Administrative Officer told the Members that a section of the SCC website is to be designated specifically to MD Meetings, minutes, press releases etc and he asked the Members for feedback and suggestions in this regard.
Mr Colreavy also asked the Members to discuss suggestions for the design of a Chain of Office for the Sligo/Drumcliff Municipal District which can be ordered once agreed among the Members.
1. MINUTES OF MEETING OF MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF SLIGO-DRUMCLIFF HELD ON 20TH JANUARY 2020:
Proposed by Councillor T. Fox
Seconded by Councillor D. Gilroy
AND AGREED
“To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Municipal District of Sligo-Drumcliff held on 20th January 2020”.
2. MINUTES OF MEETING OF MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF SLIGO-DRUMCLIFF HELD ON 17TH FEBRUARY 2020:
Proposed by Councillor T. Walsh
Seconded by Councillor T. Fox
AND AGREED
“To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Municipal District of Sligo-Drumcliff held on 17th February 2020”.
3. MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF SLIGO-DRUMCLIFF HELD ON 19TH JUNE 2020:
Proposed by Councillor T. Fox
Seconded by Councillor T. Walsh
AND AGREED
“To confirm the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting Meeting of the Municipal District of Sligo-Drumcliff held on 19th June 2020”.
4. MATTERS ARISING:
None.
5. POSITIVE IMPACT OF ICT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC:
The Chief Executive, Mr. Ciarán Hayes stated that changes in the ICT Sector in Sligo have been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and Sligo County Council will take a leadership role in the development of this. The CE will look at budgets around training for Members in this area, as growing digital services will have an impact on the role of the Elected Members.
Mr. John Clancy, Head of IT went through the detail of the Report circulated to the Members, detailing the role of the ICT Sector in promoting the Covid-19 Response Forum through multiple public channels.
Mr. Nigel Carter spoke about the Telecom Infra Project, an ICT project being rolled out nationally and which is initially being piloted in Sligo County Council and Dublin City Council. The aim of this Project is to ensure that sufficient broadband coverage is provided in all areas of the country to meet growing demand. The project will be funded through Facebook connectivity.
The Members welcomed this initiative as it will be particularly beneficial in areas that currently have poor broadband coverage.
6. STRUCTURAL REPAIRS AT ROSSES POINT PROMENADE:
This item was deferred.
7. POTHOLES ON N15 AT LEITRIM BORDER:
This item was deferred.
8. SIGNAGE AT N15 OLD BUNDORAN ROAD JUNCTION HEADING NORTH:
This item was deferred.
9. UPDATE ON SAFETY ASSESSMENT AT GLEN CROSSROADS, COLLOONEY:
Proposed by Councillor T. Walsh
Seconded by Councillor T. Healy
AND AGREED
“To ask Sligo County Council for an update on a safety assessment to take place at Glen Crossroads, Collooney and provide an outline of any proposals and a timeline for same”.
Director of Services Mr. Tom Kilfeather advised that verges and hedges at this junction are cut twice yearly. Sligo County Council will engage with the landowner regarding clearing of boundary trees and shrubbery to improve visibility.
10. UPDATE ON ASSESSMENT OF FLOODING ON ‘THE LONG STRETCH’ ON THE R287:
Proposed by Councillor T. Walsh
Seconded by Councillor T. Healy
AND AGREED
“To ask Sligo County Council for an update on an assessment of flooding levels along ‘The Long Stretch’ on the R287 (Ballintogher to Carraroe) and provide a report on same”.
Director of Services, Mr. Tom Kilfeather, advised that any works on the river bed would be damaging from an environmental point of view and would, therefore, not be feasible. Another option would be to raise the road level but this may also have an impact on the local environment and would cost a significant amount of money and the road could subsequently sink further due to the increased weight of the road and poor road conditions.
11. IMPACT ON WILDLIFE FROM PROVISION OF FENCE ON N15 AT RATHCORMAC:
This item was withdrawn by Councillor Gilroy as the works had already taken place and he complimented the Council for same.
12. SPEED LIMIT SIGNAGE AT CARNS SCHOOL AND CASTLEGAL SCHOOL:
Proposed by Councillor D. Gilroy
Seconded by Councillor T. Fox
AND AGREED
“To call on Sligo County Council to contact T.I.I. and inform members of this Municipal District when signage to incorporate the Periodic Special Speed Limit Signage at Carns School and Castlegal School will be installed in accordance with the Sixth Schedule of the Speed Limit Bye Laws that came into effect on January 28th 2020 and to ensure that T.I.I. carry out this work before the re-opening of schools in September 2020”.
Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, reported that these signs should be in place by September 2020 and an update will be sought from the TII in this regard.
13. NAMING OF PART OF L3202 FROM SPANISH ARMADA MONUMENT TO BACK STRAND AT STREEDAGH:
Proposed by Councillor D. Gilroy
Seconded by Councillor T. Fox
AND AGREED
“That Sligo County Council considers naming the part of the L3202 from the Spanish Armada Monument to the Back Strand at Streedagh in memory of Fr. Austin Conway, former Curate at Grange, to mark the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the road to the Back Strand which was a project led by Fr. Conway”.
Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, informed Members that the Roads Department has no objection to this proposal.
It was agreed that the issue would be forwarded to the Placenames Committee for their consideration.
14. TO THANK VARIOUS SERVICES FOR THEIR RESPONSES DURING RECENT STORMS:
Proposed by Councillors T. Walsh
Seconded by Councillor T. Healy
AND AGREED
“To note and thank Sligo County Council Outdoor/Roads Staff, Private Contractors, members of An Garda Síochána, Sligo Fire Service, ESB staff and Sligo Ambulance Service for their work during the recent unprecedented storms. To correspond with all staff accordingly to thank them for their efforts in keeping people of this County safe and for dealing with emergencies promptly as they occurred”.
Letters of thanks issued to Sligo County Council Outdoor/Roads staff, ESB staff, An Garda Síochána and Sligo Ambulance Service to thank them for their work and efforts during the recent storms.
15. PROVIDE SIGNAGE TO SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC ON R278 CALRY ROAD AT TOP OF TWO MILE HILL AT COLGAGH, CALRY:
Proposed by Councillor T. Fox
Seconded by Councillor D. Gilroy
AND AGREED
“I call on Sligo County Council to make the necessary arrangements to provide signage to slow down traffic on the R278 Calry Road at the top of the Two Mile Hill located at Colgagh, Calry, County Sligo”.
Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, reported that the Area Engineer will arrange to erect appropriate signage at this location.
16. SAFE PASSAGE FOR CYCLISTS & PEDESTRIANS ON N15 AT BRANLEY’S YARD, RATHCORMACK:
Proposed by Councillor T. Fox
Seconded by Councillor D. Gilroy
AND AGREED
“I call on Sligo County Council to make the necessary arrangements to provide a safe passage for cyclists and pedestrians at the traffic calming on the N15 opposite the entrance to Branley’s Yard situated at Rathcormack, County Sligo”.
Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, reported that the matter will be referred to the Area Engineer and Road Design section for inspection, and also to the TII for consideration.
17. ERECT WARNING SIGNAGE ON COLLOONEY TO COOLANEY ROAD:
Proposed by Councillor T. Healy
Seconded by Councillor T. Walsh
AND AGREED
"To call on Sligo County Council to put a number of signs on the Collooney to Coolaney road which would include 'Deer Crossing', 'Dangerous Bend Ahead' and 'Narrow Bridge Ahead".
Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, reported that the matter will be referred to the Area Engineer for investigation and appropriate signage will be erected as resources allow.
18. APPLICATION FOR FUNDING UNDER LOW CAST ACCIDENT SCHEME FOR FOOTPATHS ON KNOCKBEG ROAD IN COLLOONEY:
Proposed by Councillor T. Healy
Seconded by Councillor T. Walsh
AND AGREED
“To call on Sligo County Council to make an application for funding under the Low Cost Accidents Scheme for footpaths and safety measures on the Knockbeg Road in Collooney and also to receive an update from Sligo County Council on what progress has been made on road frontage that will be needed for continuation of footpath under health and safety”.
Councillor T. Healy gave the background to this Motion.
Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, stated that this scheme will be included for consideration in the 2021 Non National Road Safety Improvement Scheme application. It will, however be dependent on discussions with the landowner and meeting relevant criteria.
19. UPDATE ON REPAIRS TO ROADS DAMAGED BY THUNDERSTORMS ON 25TH – 27TH JUNE 2020
Proposed by Councillor D. Gilroy & Councillor T. Healy
Seconded by Councillor T. Fox
AND AGREED
“To ask Sligo County Council for an update on when the roads damaged on the weekend of 25th to 27th June 2020 by thunderstorms will be repaired and replaced, namely:
- Mountain Road at Lyle, Grange above water intake used for Agricultural, Turf Cutting and Tourist Access
- Iron Bridge Road at Ballynagalliagh, Drumcliff where private housing was in danger of flooding”.
Councillor D. Gilroy gave the background to this Motion. The Members suggested holding a meeting with residents to discuss the issues at these locations. Mr. T. Kilfeather stated that the immediate issues would need to be clarified first.
Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, stated that inspections will be carried out at both locations and a cost estimate prepared for the repair works necessary, but he stated that the costs will be significant and that there is no funding in the current roads programme to carry out these repairs. Emergency funding will be requested from DTTAS.
20. URGENT REPAIRS TO N15 AT CLIFFONEY VILLAGE:
Proposed by Councillor D. Gilroy
Seconded by Councillor T. Fox
AND AGREED
“That Sligo County Council report on when the urgent repairs to the N15 at Cliffoney village will be carried out by TII. This road was subject to a major restoration works project in recent years and the surface appears to have completely decomposed.
The constant noise of heavy vehicles bouncing off the road all night is making life unbearable for local residents who live on the main street.”
Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, stated that the area will be surveyed and repair works at this location will be included on future national roadworks programmes.
21. PROVISION OF ACCESS FROM CAR PARK AT STREEDAGH BEACH TO MAIN BEACH:
Proposed by Councillor D. Gilroy
Seconded by Councillor T. Healy
AND AGREED
“To ask Sligo County Council for an update on provision of access from the car park at Streedagh Beach to the main beach to make the beach accessible to all and especially parents with children and people with disabilities”
This was previously asked at the Meeting of Sligo County Council on 1st July 2019 and the problems of access still exist. There is a similar access path provided by Donegal County Council at Murvagh Beach and this may be a template to solve the issue at Streedagh”.
Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, stated that this matter has not been progressed due to budgetary constraints, and a budget would need to be identified for any proposed works. Similar works carried out by Donegal County Council can be investigated in this regard.
22. REPAIRS ON THE L7404, CULLAGHBEG, DRUMCLIFF:
Proposed by Councillor T. Walsh
Seconded by Councillor T. Fox
AND AGREED
“To ask Sligo County Council to assess and carry out immediate repairs on the L7404, Cullaghbeg, Drumcliff and to ask Sligo County Council to include same on future roads programme”.
Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, stated that this section of road will be included in the pothole repair programme. It is not included in the 2019-2021 multi annual restoration improvement programme but will be considered for inclusion if additional funds become available.
The meeting was then adjourned as two Members had to leave due to prior engagements and as there was no longer a quorum present.
The next of the Sligo/Drumcliff Municipal District meeting was set for Monday 21st September 2020.
The business of the meeting concluded at 3.25 p.m.
Meeting Date 20/07/2020