Area Council Meetings: Replies to Notices of Motion January 16th 2007

With reference to Notice of Motion no 7, submitted by Cllr. J. Crowe for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 16th January, 2007,

Car Parking in Sixmilebridge.-to alleviate parking in the centre of Sixmilebridge I propose a survey to be carried out across from Dumphy Auction Rooms. There is scope for additional parking in this area if the soft margin was properly tarred and lined.

I wish to reply as follows:-

This area has been gravelled by the Council and cars park there. The provision of a D.B.M surface and lining for car parking would encourage car parking there. I agree that this should be done by the Council and we will try to have this included within the road works carried out next year.

Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Shannon Civic Offices

With reference to Notice of Motion no 8, submitted by Cllr. T. Mulcahy for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 16th January, 2007,

That Clare County Council give an update on new signage and when they are being erected

I wish to reply as follows:-

An order was placed with a sign manufacture last October to supply and deliver 60 street name signs for Shannon town. A number of issues relating to the design of the signs had to be resolved before the manufacturing process could commence and unfortunately this has resulted in a delay in Clare County Council erecting the new street name signs. I am expecting delivery of these signs on Thursday 18th January 2007 and I will arrange for them to be erected the following week.

Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Shannon Civic Offices

With reference to Notice of Motion no 9, submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 16th January, 2007,

That Clare County Council provide Local Authority housing in Newmarket on Fergus

I wish to reply as follows:-

Council have for some time been actively seeking land suitable for houses in order to build a scheme of local authority housing. This has included examination of a number of potentially suitable sites as well as seeking expressions of interest for land swapping arrangements and an option for turnkey developments. The Council is very anxious to provide further tenancy in Newmarket on Fergus and will continue to purchase land acquisition for this purpose.

Vincent O Halloran
Administrative Officer,
Housing Section.

With reference to Notice of Motion no 10, submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 16th January, 2007,

I am requesting Clare County Council property section to withdraw the letter of consent for the commercial development of a crematorium in Shannon on council land zoned ‘Open Space’

I wish to reply as follows:-

It is not proposed to withdraw the letter of consent given to the developers of the proposed crematorium in Shannon. The Planning process will determine the suitability or otherwise of the site in question and any party aggrieved by the decision of the Planning Authority on the planning application can appeal to An Bord Pleanala.

Michael McNamara,
Senior Executive Officer
Corporate Services

With reference to Notice of Motion no 11, submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 16th January, 2007,

That the Council undertake an immediate assessment of the concrete roads in Drumgeely and put in place a programme of remedial works.

I wish to reply as follows:-

All roads in Shannon Town are assessed each year in order to prioritise roads for resurfacing as part of the Councils Road Works Programme. The amount of funding available for resurfacing this year is not known as the Department of Environment grants have not yet been notified to the Council. When the level of funding is known I will be prioritising the roads for resurfacing in Shannon Town. As part of this process I will be carrying out an assessment of the concrete roads in Drumgeely. It is anticipated that further funding will be available in 2008 and subsequent years under the programme for resurfacing of non-national roads funded by the Department of Environment. I am confident, therefore, that the Council will be in a position to ensure that all the roads including the concrete roads in Drumgeely are resurfaced as the need arises.

Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Shannon Civic Offices

With reference to Notice of Motion no. 12, submitted by Cllr J. Crowe, for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 19th December, 2006,

To ask Clare County Council to line and resurface the car park at the back of the Church Car Park in Sixmilebridge

I wish to reply as follows:-

This car parking area provided rear access to some houses and provides car parking for Church related use. The car park is used very little apart from church related activities, as it is too remote from the town centre. It would be difficult to justify the scale of expenditure, which would be involved in resurfacing the car park in view of its limited use. Storm water drainage would have to be provided first and this would likely require a substantial allocation also.

Donal Hogan,
Senior Executive Engineer,
Shannon Civic Offices.

With reference to Notice of Motion no 14, submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 16th January, 2007,

I am requesting Clare County Council to cut back trees that are protruding on to the old slabbed footpath to the rear of the Airport House on the old N19 roadway to the Airport.

I wish to reply as follows:-

I will arrange to have appropriate trimming carried out at this location as soon as possible.

Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Shannon Civic Offices

With reference to Notice of Motion no 15, submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 16th January, 2007,

That the Council provide a copy of the schedule of cleaning/litter picking in the Drumgeely area.

I wish to reply as follows:-

Litter bins are emptied twice weekly with the exception of the bins at the Cross Roads area which are emptied three times per week. There is a suction sweeper full time in the Shannon Electoral area. Approximately 50% of the time involves working in the Shannon Town area. As outlined previously manpower resources for litter picking are limited. The Town Council has contracted with the Social Economy Scheme to provide manpower re litter picking for 15 hours per week. The Town Council has recently provided the finance to increase this to 30 hours per week. The increase in hours has been discussed with the Social Economy Group and it is expected to be implemented shortly and will allow for litter picking over a wider area. The Council continues to encourage local resident associations etc to help keep their own areas litter free.

Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Shannon Civic Offices

With reference to Notice of Motion no 16, submitted by Cllr. J. Crowe for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 16th January, 2007,

To ask Clare County Council to expand the existing Bottle recycling facility to include Plastic bottles and cans in Sixmilebridge.

I wish to reply as follows:-

The existing bring centre in the church car park in Sixmilebridge has containers for glass bottles, aluminum (drink) cans, and textiles. Provision of additional containers for plastic bottles and steel (food) cans would generate a significant continuing cost for servicing of the extra facilities. Due to budgetary constraints, it is not proposed to expand the range of facilities at the Centre.

Facilities for steel cans and plastic bottles will be provided at the new Shannon Recycling Centre at Smithstown, which is expected to be in operation during the second half of 2007.

Sean Ward,
Senior Engineer,
Environment Section.

With reference to Notice of Motion no 18, submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 16th January, 2007,

I am calling for a report from the engineer in relation to the re-surfacing on the Tullyvarraga Hill road and the main service road to Gleann na Smól, Inis Sioda and other estates in that area. This action by the Council has already been approved and awaiting a start date.

I wish to reply as follows:-

Sections of these two roads are in need of resurfacing as outlined in reply to Notice of Motion at the Electoral area meeting in July 2006. It is envisaged that details of Department of Environment grants for resurfacing works in 2007 will be notified to the Council shortly. The Roads Works Programme for 2007 will then be drawn up and brought before the Council for approval. As the allocation for resurfacing of roads is not yet know I am not yet in a position to propose any particular roads for resurfacing in 2007.

Donal Hogan,
Senior Executive Engineer,
Shannon Civic Offices.

With reference to Notice of Motion no 19, submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 16th January, 2007,

That the Council provide a progress report on the footpath improvement programme and also provide details of the schedule for the remaining works.

I wish to reply as follows:-

The contract for reconstruction of footpaths – generally replacement of concrete slabs with cast in-situ concrete – funded by Shannon Development as part of the take over of services in September 2004 is now almost completed. The Council has also provided funds for footpaths in Cronan Park, Bealach Brí, Bothar na Luachra, Drumgeely Road and Smithstown etc. Footpath improvements have been carried out at Bothar Linne and Bealach Brí on foot of special grants from the Department of Environment (for former Town Commissioner’s areas) with at least 1/3 of the cost provided by the Council. A further special grant is anticipated this year for the upgrading of footpaths on the Gort Road and Bothar na Rinne. The Council will endeavour to ensure that a significant level of funding is provide for footpath improvements in Shannon over the coming years.

Donal Hogan,
Senior Executive Engineer,
Shannon Civic Offices.