Agenda and minutes

Councillor Brendan Barry raised an item from the minutes regarding the “Election of Cathaoirleach” at the Annual Meeting.  He stated that in the draft minutes of the meeting, he is recorded as having seconded the nomination of Councillor McGloin as Cathaoirleach of Ballinamore MD and that this was not the case. Councillor Barry requested that the minutes be amended to record the name of the Councillor that seconded the proposal. 

Ms. Sinead Flynn informed the meeting that she would review the matter with Ms. Sinead Ni Thiarnain, Meetings Administrator for the June meeting and that the minutes of the meeting can be updated to correct the record.    

It was agreed that the minutes could be adopted subject to the amendment as detailed above.

Proposed by Councillor Paddy O’Rourke, Seconded by Councillor Brendan Barry and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED:

“That the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Ballinamore Municipal District meeting held on Thursday, 23^rd June, 2022 be adopted.”

Proposed by Councillor Brendan Barry, Seconded by Councillor Gerry Dolan and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED:

“That the Minutes of Ordinary Meeting of Ballinamore Municipal District meeting held on Thursday, 23^rd June 2022 be adopted.”

Ms. Sinead Flynn informed the members that there were no items of correspondence.  She outlined that she would review all correspondence issued from the Ballinamore Municipal District meetings in 2022 to ensure that all replies have been received.

I call on Ballinamore Municipal District to move the speed limit sign on the Ballinamore Road out of Drumshanbo, as the current sign is too close to the ‘Shane McGettigan Park’.   In my view it needs to be placed about 100 meters further out.

Report by Roads

"This speed limit location can be reviewed under the next national speed limit review but in the meantime an application can be submitted to the Department under a Low-Cost Safety Programme for 2023, for the provision of advanced signage informing motorists that a 50km/hr speed limit is ahead."

Councillor Enda McGloin noted the reply and asked Ms. McKeon to consider the submission of an application for a Low-Cost Safety Scheme.

Councillor Gerry Dolan and all members supported this proposal.

I call on Ballinamore Municipal District to carry out maintenance works on ‘The Wooden Bridge’ at Drumherrif, Drumshanbo, along the L-3378 which crosses the River Shannon into Co Roscommon. The bridge needs urgent attention as there is a lot of vegetation and even a tree growing out of it.

Report by Roads

"The Design Office will liaise with Roscommon County Council to agree which local authority will take responsibility for the proposed works on this bridge. A structural assessment can then be carried out and necessary works applied for, as part of the Bridge Rehabilitation Program in the responsible authority."

Councillor Enda McGloin welcomed the reply to his Notice of Motion.

Councillor Gerry Dolan commented that there needs to be more signage to alert road users to the narrow bridge.

Ms. McKeon agreed to this request.

I call on Ballinamore Municipal District to arrange to have the markings indicating the “Disabled Parking Bay” on Main Street, Carrigallen (beside Credit Union) renewed, as it is not clear at present and is causing difficulties for those requiring its use.

Report by Roads

"We will have our Road Marking Contractors re-mark the “Disabled Parking Bay” on Main Street, Carrigallen (beside Credit Union) the next time they are in the area."

Councillor Paddy O’Rourke welcomed the reply to his Notice of Motion. He stated that the lack of visibility of the “Disabled Parking Bay” was causing hardship for those who needed to use it.

I call on Ballinamore Municipal District to repair an area of the R201 in townland of Kilbrackan.  Some subsidence has occurred on a corner travelling towards Carrigallen, just after the junction L5540.

Report by Roads

"We will have our Blacktop Contactor carry out repairs to this section, this work will be completed by the end of the summer."

Councillor O’Rourke welcomed the reply to his Notice of Motion.

I call on Balliamore Municipal District to send out the Patching Unit to Local Road No L13731 in Aughawillan.

Councillor Paddy O’Rourke proposed the moving of the Notices of Motions in the name of Councillor Caillian Ellis in his absence.

Report by Roads

"We will have our local Patching Unit Crew attend to repairs on this local road L-13731-0 as soon as resources allow."

Can I ask Ballinamore District Office when do they intend to start cutting the grass at road junctions, so as to improve sight distance.

Report by Roads

"Our Contractor is on site for the last fortnight in South Leitrim, they continue to work through the annual grass cutting of junctions with regional roads, so all these junctions will be treated shortly."

I request an update on the street lights at Lahard, Ballinamore up to Kevin Murphy’s house, Ballinamore.

Report by Roads

"Council staff have recently completed the installation of ducting and a micro pillar at this site. Our Public Lighting Contractors will be following on to install the public lighting very shorty."

Councillor Ita Reynolds Flynn welcomed the reply to her Notice of Motion. She also enquired about the possibility of having the footpath extended in this area.

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor Enda McGloin outlined that Councillor Brendan Barry had a Notice of Motion on this item on the agenda and that the matter could be discussed under the specific agenda item.

I wish to request that the Annaghmore Road, L1609-2 be maintained.

"We will have our local patching unit crew attend to repairs on local road L-1609-2 as soon as resources allow."

Councillor Ita Reynolds Flynn welcomed the reply.

I request that Ballinamore Municipal District carry out resurfacing works on the R208 in Drumshanbo, from beside the Mayflower roundabout to Mahanagh.

Report by Roads

"This road is not part of our current 3 Year Roads Programme 2022 to 2024. We will consider it for the next Roads Programme and continue to maintain it with the Patching Unit Crew in the interim. Also, in the interim, we will seek out opportunities for other funding streams, particularity for the area around the roundabout at the Mayflower."

Councillor Brendan Barry acknowledged the reply to his Notice of Motion and requested that alternative potential funding streams to carry out these works be considered having regard to the condition of the road and the roundabout at the Mayflower in Drumshanbo.

Councillors Gerry Dolan and Councillor Enda McGloin supported the Notice of Motion.

Ms. McKeon outlined that if any funding becomes available before 2024, consideration will be given to carrying out works at this location.

I request that Ballinamore Municipal District extend the public footpath along the R199 in Lahard/Kildorragh, Ballinamore and to also consider the provision of digital speed display boards, early warning signs and road markings to make this area, which has a 60km speed limit, safe.

Report by Roads

"This proposal of extending the footpath on the R199 at Lahard/Kildorragh has been discussed with the Active Travel Department. They will include this in an Active Travel submission to NTA in 2023 and it will be progressed, subject to funding approval."

Councillor Brendan Barry referred to correspondence received from the Residents Association seeking to have the footpath extended at this location. Councillor Barry noted the reply but requested that the Council consider the installation of warning signs at this location to slow down traffic.

Ms. McKeon agreed to look at the provision of signage in this area.

While I welcome the new Croi Conaithe Fund being launched for grants for vacant/derelict buildings, it really should be broadened to include houses or properties in rural areas.  This would be a major help to first time homeowners in our area and help to revitalise Leitrim.

I am calling on Ballinamore Municipal District to write to Minister for Housing , Local Government and Heritage and the Minister for Rural and Community Development to amend these grants to include rural dwellings and properties and not just in towns and villages.

“While I welcome the new Croi Conaithe Fund being launched for grants for vacant/derelict buildings, it really should be broadened to include houses or properties in rural areas.  This would be a major help to first time homeowners in our area and help to revitalise Leitrim.

I am calling on Ballinamore Municipal District to write to Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Minister for Rural and Community Development to amend these grants to include rural dwellings and properties and not just in towns and villages.”

Councillor Gerry Dolan informed the meeting that he welcomed the Croi Conaithe Fund, however, he outlined that the terms of the scheme need to be expanded so that properties in rural areas could benefit from the scheme.  Councillor Dolan suggested that the scheme could assist first time buyers to purchase dwellings in more rural locations within the county and that this would assist in revitalising Leitrim.

Councillor Dolan also proposed that the scheme should have a clause inserted preventing persons benefitting from the scheme, selling their properties within a relatively short time frame.

Councillor Paddy O’Rourke also expressed his disappointment with the schemes eligibility criteria by excluding rural dwellings and he also supported Councillor Dolans Notice of Motion calling on the Minister to expand the remit of the scheme.

Councillor Brendan Barry noted that the urban areas need over 500 of a population to qualify and this would rule out most villages in Co. Leitrim.

Councillor Enda McGloin said many young people in Leitrim are struggling to build a house, but they could buy an old house and renovate it to meet their housing requirements.  He stated that if young people can’t build on their own land, then, they need to be given other opportunities to encourage them to live locally.  Councillor McGloin suggested that the feasibility of the scheme needs to be reviewed to consider the rural nature of the counties like Leitrim.

Councillor Ita Reynolds Flynn referred to young professional people who are looking to build their own homes in the locality.  She outlined that difficulties in obtaining planning permission is preventing these households from establishing their own homes and they are then forced to rent or purchase dwellings in urban areas in the county.

Councillor Brendan Barry stated that the scheme seems to be promoting the concept of people selling their rural homes to move into towns and that this would be in keeping with the Green Party’s policies on rural living.

Councillor Dolan concluded by stating that the people of Leitrim must fight to keep their rural communities alive.

Proposed by Councillor Gerry Dolan, seconded by Councillor Paddy O’Rourke and unanimously supported that:

“While I welcome the new Croi Conaithe Fund being launched for grants for vacant/derelict buildings, it really should be broadened to include houses or properties in rural areas.  This would be a major help to first time homeowners in our area and help to revitalise Leitrim.

I am calling on Ballinamore Municipal District to write  ...  view the full minutes text for item BMD.108.21

I call on Ballinamore Municipal District to write to the Minster for Agriculture to ask him to revise the BVD Payment Scheme for animals affected.  Currently the value given for affected animals is too low and needs to be revised.

Councillor Gerry Dolan gave an outline of the scheme and referred to the low amount of funding received by farmers impacted by BVD in their herds. He also referenced the lengthy timeframe for payments to be processed to farmers.

Councillor Paddy O’Rourke commented that the scheme has been successful in dealing with animals affected however, he agreed that the level of compensation of €500 paid to farmers for each animal affected is not an adequate sum to offset the loss of the animal. 

Councillor Brendan Barry stated that he didn’t consider that the scheme is working well. He stated that from the outset that the payments made to farmers under the scheme were not sufficient to compensate them for their loss.

Proposed by Councillor Gerry Dolan, seconded by Councillor Brendan Barry and unanimously supported that

“I call on Ballinamore Municipal District to write to the Minster for Agriculture to ask him to revise the BVD Payment Scheme for animals affected.  Currently the value given for affected animals is too low and needs to be revised.”