2024 Minutes

Minutes of Meeting of Sligo Local Community Development Committee Wednesday 11th December 2024 at 9.30a.m. (Council Chamber, City Hall)


Members Present

  • Councillor Donal Gilroy (Chamber), Local Government, Sligo County Council
  • Councillor Fergal Nealon (Chamber), Local Government, Sligo County Council
  • Mr. Martin Lydon (Chamber), Local Government/CE, Sligo County Council
  • Mr Liam Kiely (Chamber), Local Government / LEO, Sligo County Council
  • Mr. John Feerick (Chamber), Local Development Sector, Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG
  • Mr. Pat Fallon (Online), Trade Union Interests, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
  • Ms. Kathleen Henry (Online), Farming / Agriculture Interests, Farming / Agriculture Pillar
  • Mr. Amro Hamid (Chamber), Environment, PPN
  • Mr. Pat Benson (Chamber), Community & Voluntary, PPN
  • Ms. Cara O’Neill (Online), State Agency, Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan HSE

Apologies /Absent

  • Mr. John Kennedy, State Agency, Dept. of Social Protection
  • Mr. Peter Egan, State Agency, MSLETB
  • Mr. Aidan Doyle, Business Interests, Sligo Chamber of Commerce
  • Mr. Billy Gallagher, Community & Voluntary, PPN
  • Ms. Bernadette Maughan, Social Inclusion, PPN
  • Ms. Noelle O'Gara, Social Inclusion, PPN

In Attendance

  • Ms. Dorothy Clarke (Chamber), Chief Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Margaret McConnell (Chamber), Senior Executive Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Aisling Smyth (Chamber), Administrative Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Mary Boylan (Chamber), Senior Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Tracy Ferguson (Online), Senior Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Geraldine Timlin (Chamber), Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Geraldine Healy (Chamber), Clerical Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. June Murphy (Chamber), Programme Manager (SICAP), County Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG

Councillor Donal Gilroy, Chairperson of Sligo LCDC and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

1. Declarations of Interest

There were no Declarations of Interest.

 

2. Minutes of meeting 23rd October 2024

Proposed by: Mr. John Feerick.
Seconded by: Councillor Fergal Nealon and agreed.

 

3. Matters Arising.

There were no Matters Arising.

 

4. SICAP

Ms. M. McConnell provided a recap of the 2025 Annual Plan and 2024 Annual Performance Review timelines and advised members that a meeting of the SI & SICAP subcommittee would take place in February 2025 to agree recommendations to the LCDC at the next meeting on 26th February 2025.

a) Update on SICAP 2024 to date & Case Study

SICAP Reports circulated to members in advance of the meeting, were outlined by Ms. J. Murphy and included the following:

  • Budget Spend – 87% of total budget expended
  • Overview of Annual KPI Targets and Actuals – KPI Targets exceeded
  • Ongoing work and intervention under Goals 1 & 2
  • Work with New Communities
  • SICAP Case Study 2024 – MenoWell Women’s Health Equality Project

b) Verifications/Site visits Q4: 2024 & Q1: 2025

Ms. J. Murphy suggested the following site visits for LCDC members:

  • Book launch in January 2025 – a collaborative project in conjunction with Kids Own Publishing and Tusla. Date to be confirmed.

Discussion

It was noted that versions of the MenoWell programme were being delivered by SLP CLG under SICAP and by the Healthy Ireland Sligo programme.  Mr. M. Lydon noted that considerations should take place across programmes to ensure that duplication is avoided.

Ms. J. Murphy advised that the SICAP element was different in that it was being delivered online in conjunction with FRCs in Tubbercurry, Ballymote and Enniscrone, with an in-person session at the commencement and end of the programme. 

 

5. To note update on PPN

Report circulated to members in advance of the meeting.  Mr. P. Benson provided an overview of ongoing projects and events which Sligo PPN are currently involved in / working on, as follows:

  • Sligo PPN Plenary and 10-year anniversary event scheduled for Friday 6th December was postponed due to Storm Darragh. To be rescheduled to early 2025. 
  • Nominations for PPN SPC seats undertaken with all eligible nominations submitted to SCC.
  • Budget increase for 2025 – additional €14,840 provided by DRCD.

 

6. To note update on the Sligo Healthy Ireland Programme Round 4

Report circulated to members in advance of the meeting.  Overview provided by Ms. M. McGarry, as follows:

  • Budget of €75,000 allocated for 2025 HIF Activities.
  • Evaluation of the Stronger for Longer programme – evaluation has been completed and circulated to the Healthy Sligo subcommittee for comments.
  • Programme updates on Physical Activity and Mental Health and new programmes currently being considered / developed in collaboration with other organisations.

Discussion

In response to a query from Councillor F. Nealon with regard to offering the Stronger for Longer programme in Sligo, Ms. M. McGarry advised that this would be a decision for Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership who are responsible for the programme. She advised that the Healthy Ireland Sligo programme had added the nutrition and mindfulness elements to the programme delivered in Tubbercurry and North Sligo.

Ms. C. O’Neill advised that the HSE await details on Youth Mental Health Development Funding for 2025.  She also advised that a national consultation around Young Peoples Social Prescribing was taking place on 11th December with CYPSE, TUSLA and the HSE.

In response to a query from Mr. P. Benson regarding the age profile of young people in Caltragh involved in programmes, and if it could be expanded, Ms. McGarry confirmed that it ranged from 10 – 16 years, and that a lot of ground work had been done across all age groups through various programmes, including Sligo Springboard and Sligo Woodland School. 

Councillor N. Cosgrove queried the referral process to programmes offered in Caltragh.  Ms. McGarry advised that Foróige and the Cranmore Resource House refer young people, and that direct contact is also made with families.

 

7. To note update on the Sligo PEACEPLUS Plan

Report circulated to members in advance of meeting.  Ms. T. Ferguson advised members as follows:

  • Letter of Offer has been received.
  • Possible that the programme with extend to 2028 as the Monitoring Audit Team and Capital Procurement Officer are not yet in place
  • Sligo PEACEPLUS launch –work is underway with LCDC to be updated as this develops.

 

8. To agree the process for implementation of the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025.

Report circulated to members in advance of the meeting with overview provided by Ms. A. Smyth in terms of Background, Structure of the Fund and Recommendation to Sligo LCDC on implementation of the Programme.  Key points as follows:

  • Programme launched on 7th November 2024 by the DRCD, with €144,393 allocated to Sligo as follows:
    • €123,765 towards Capital Related Grant Aid
    • €20,628 towards Current (Operational) Related Grand Aid.
  • Online application process developed on SCC Grant Portal – applications open from 10th – 21st February 2025.
  • Assessment of applications by staff to take place from 24th February – 10th March 2025
  • Sligo allocations to be submitted to DRCD by Thursday 27th March 2025
  • LCDC asked to consider and approve establishment of a Task Group to approve allocation proposal from staff, as the first meeting of the LCDC for 2025 will take place on 26th February 2025, which will be ahead of the staff assessment process, and facilitate submission of Sligo allocation to the DRCD by Thursday 27th March 2025.
  • Allocation agreed by Task Group to be presented to LCDC for retrospective endorsement at the LCDC meeting on 16th April 2025.

Discussion

Ms. A. Smyth advised that in previous years in excess of 150 applications had been received for this fund. The report issued to members outlined the proposed process along with membership of the proposed Task Group to be agreed at this meeting.

It was agreed that membership of the Task Group be representative of the sectoral pillars of the LCDC, with the following members agreed:

  • Private Sector – Mr. Pat Fallon
  • Local Government – Councillor Donal Gilroy
  • State Agency – Ms. Cara O’Neill
  • Community & Voluntary – Mr. Amro Hamid

The Task Group will meet on Thursday 13th March 2025 and agree an allocation recommendation to the DRCD on behalf of Sligo LCDC by deadline of Thursday 27th March 2025.  It was also agreed to table the allocation for retrospective endorsement at the LCDC April 2025 meeting.

Proposed by: Mr. Martin Lydon
Seconded by: Councillor Fergal Nealon and agreed.

 

9. Correspondence

Correspondence circulated in advance of the meeting and noted as read by members in advance. 

 

10. Provisional Schedule for LCDC / LAG meetings 2025

Noted and agreed by members.

 

11. Date for next LCDC/LAG meeting.

Wednesday 26th February 2025 – 9.30a.m.

 

12. Any Other Business

Mr. Pat Benson congratulated Ms. Dorothy Clarke, DoS, on her retirement and thanked her for her support for Community Groups during her tenure with Sligo County Council.

 

Meeting concluded at 10.30 a.m.


Meeting Date 11/12/2024