Minutes:
1. January Newsletter from the County Leitrim Society of New York
2. Email of 17th January 2022 from Strategic Rail Review acknowledging receipt of submission from Leitrim County Council
3. Email of 18th January 2022 from Victor Boylan with report attached titled “Travelling in a Woman’s Shoes”.
4. Letter from Sligo County Council of 18th January 2022 regarding Strategic Rail review
5. Email of 25th January 2022 from the HSE in regard to resolution passed by Leitrim County Council regarding respite services
6. Resolution from Sligo County Council dated 25th January 2022 calling on the HSE and the Department of Health to end the practice of pursing patients including cancer patients with private commercial debt collection agencies.
7. Resolution from Galway County Council dated 25th January 2022 in regard to the Epilepsy Ireland Campaign.
8. Email of 8th February 2022 from the Office of the Minister for Health in relation to resolution passed by Leitrim County Council regarding Orthopaedic services for children with Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus.
9. Resolution from Cork County Council dated 24th January 2022 calling for Special Parking Spaces at schools to be provided for persons with hidden disabilities.
10. February Co Leitrim Society of New York Newsletter
11. Email of 10th February 2022 from the Office of the Minister of Housing regarding housing grants for derelict buildings.
12. Resolution from Sligo County Council dated 11th February 2022 regarding housing grants.
13. Resolution from Sligo County Council dated 11th February 2022 calling for Sligo Airport to be supported with Capital investment on a level playing field in line with funding given to other airports.
14. Acknowledgement from An Taoiseach’s Office dated 15th February 2022 on foot of resolution from Leitrim County Council in regard to state owned utilities or bodies.
15. Resolution from Tipperary County Council dated 17th February 2022 supporting the women of honour campaign within the defence forces.
16. Letter of 24th February 2022 from the Office of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports & Media regarding outdoor dining scheme funding.
17. Resolution from Kerry County Council dated 28th February 2022 calling on Minister Ryan to objecting to the Bill brought forward in relation to the granting of planning permission for LNG infrastructure in Ireland.
Playground in Gortletteragh
Councillor Ita Reynolds Flynn highlighted that Gortletteragh Community Group have been awarded funding of €62,000 for a playground, however the cost of insurance is prohibitive, and Leitrim County Council have come back with a cost element for the insurance from IPB which is not feasible for the community group to pay. Councillor Ita Reynolds Flynn queried why any parent would have to pay for this service in Gortletteragh when it provided free elsewhere.
Councillors McGowan, Stenson, Ellis and Mulligan supported this issue, and a discussion took place amongst all the members concerning the difficulty community groups are experiencing in meeting insurance costs for important facilities such as playgrounds. Members noted that it is difficult for volunteers of community groups to make funding applications for projects and on making a successful funding application to be hindered by insurance costs
The members asked Leitrim County Council to reconsider this matter and put in place a scheme that will cover the insurance costs for community groups such as the one in Gortletteragh.
Ms Mary Quinn acknowledged the comments of the members and recognised the efforts made by the community in sourcing funding. Ms Quinn referred members to the Playground Policy, as adopted by the elected members of Leitrim County Council, which refers to community playgrounds stating maintenance and insurance costs rest with the community. It is the responsibility of the community groups that their projects are sustainable into the future and in this regard they are responsible for the provision of adequate insurance cover and on-going repair of their facilities including playgrounds.
Ms Quinn stated that oversight and maintenance of Council owned playgrounds is budgeted for by the Council. Weekly inspections are carried out on Council owned playgrounds and where equipment upgrades, or further development is required, applications are made under national funding streams.
Ms Quinn referred to previous discussion at the November Meeting where the issue for Community Group failing to secure insurance on the private market was raised. Ms Quinn confirmed that further to the matter been raised by the Members, the issue was discussed with IPB and while the Council’s insurance policy is generally available for property owned by Leitrim County Council, IPB indicated that the playground could be included in the Council policy. The associated cost of this arrangement are approx. €3,200 per year and these costs would have to be borne by the community group.
Mr. Lar Power said Leitrim County Council acknowledged the problems faced by community groups. Mr Power said part of the LEADER Funding application process is that Community groups show they can get insurance, and this has been the difficulty for Gortletteragh Community Group. Mr Power said Leitrim County Council currently do not have a policy or provision in place of providing insurance cover to community playgrounds. He advised Members that a provision can be put in next year’s budget but members will have to carefully consider what community facilities are included and what is not included, if such a provision for insurance cover is made.
Councillor Enda Stenson said that this issue should be re-visited at the next budget.
Cathaoirleach, Cllr Paddy O’Rourke proposed that the community group seek an extension to the deadline for the drawdown of funding from LEADER, pending the allocation of funds through the LCC budget 2023.
Councillor Mary Bohan stressed it is important not to disillusion people and give false hope in this regard. Unless Leitrim County Council get a special allocation, money will have to be set aside for this and members will have to decide what services are cut to make a budget provision for playground insurance.