Area Council Meetings : Replies to Notices
of Motion March 22nd 2005
With Reference to Notice of Motion No. 4 submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 22nd March, 2005.
"That Clare County Council address the movement of heavy traffic
due to deliveries and reversing of heavy vehicles in the Lough Ash road,
in the vicinity of the main entrance to Kilnasoolagh Park, as children
could be at risk."
I wish to reply as follows:
I am aware that delivery lorries, some of which are quite large, service
the supermarket in the Kilnasoolagh area. These lorries need a large turning
area. Local shops such as those in Kilnasoolagh do not usually have turning
areas for these lorries. In this particular instance the lorry drivers
turn their vehicles at the junction nearby. I do not consider this to
be a major problem for the following reasons:-
- There are footpaths on all approaches to this junction
- There is very good visibility at the junction
- The road is lightly trafficked
- Traffic speeds are generally low
- The number of lorries turning here is low
______________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure
With Reference to Notice of Motion No. 5 submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn for
the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 22nd March, 2005.
"That Clare County Council give a report on the current status
of the Cappa Rossmanagher Group Water Scheme, Sixmilebridge, now that
local residents are connected to the Council supply:-
(a) What measures will be taken to remove old pipework?
(b) Will Clare County Council cover the cost?"
I wish to reply as follows:
"The installation of pipework for the Cappa Rossmanagher Group Water
Supply Scheme is fully complete and the permanent road reinstatement has
also been completed. The only remaining items to be completed are the
connection of 3 houses at the railway bridge and the completion of the
snag list. The Group are currently engaged in sensitive talks with a prospective
contractor to complete the remaining snag list."
(a) What measures will be taken to remove old pipework?
"It is not custom or practice to remove old pipework and the removal
of such pipework is not grant aidable from the Department of Environment
Heritage and Local Government."
(b) Will Clare County Council cover the cost?
"Clare County Council will not cover the cost of the removal of
the redundant pipework. The Group Scheme Programme is devolved from the
DoEHLG but all grant aid administered is subject to strict DoEHLG guidelines
and approvals. The removal of redundant pipework is not grant aidable
under the Group Water Scheme Programme."
_____________________
Cyril Feeney
Executive Engineer
Group Schemes Section
With Reference to Notice of Motion No. 6 submitted by Cllr. G. Duff for
the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 22nd March, 2005.
"That Clare County Council provide an update in relation to their
plans for the provision of a Transient Halting Site in the Shannon Electoral
Area."
I wish to reply as follows:
Clare County Council has no proposals in its draft Traveller Accommodation
Programme 2005-2008 for a Transient Halting Site in the Shannon Electoral
Area.
______________________
Madeleine McCarthy
Administrative Officer
Traveller Accommodation Section
With Reference to Notice of Motion No. 7 submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 22nd March, 2005.
"That an update be provided on what progress, if any, has been
made in finalising the Cappa / Rossmanagher Group water scheme."
I wish to reply as follows:
"The installation of pipework for the Cappa Rossmanagher Group Water
Supply Scheme is fully complete and the permanent road reinstatement has
also been completed. The only remaining items to be completed are the
connection of 3 houses at the railway bridge and the completion of the
snag list. The Group are currently engaged in sensitive talks with a prospective
contractor to complete the remaining snag list."
_______________________
Cyril Feeney
Executive Engineer
Group Schemes Section
With Reference to Notice of Motion No. 9 submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 22nd March, 2005.
"To ask Clare County Council to upgrade the footpaths in the Kilnasoolagh
Park area as they are in great need of repair."
I wish to reply as follows:
Footpath resurfacing has recently been carried out in Newmarket on Fergus
at Main Street, Limerick Road and Kilnasoolagh. Further footpath resurfacing
will be carried out as part of the 2005 Road Works Programme which includes
an allocation of €10,000 for improvements to footpaths in Newmarket
on Fergus.
___________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure
With Reference to Notice of Motion No. 10 submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 22nd March, 2005.
"That Clare County Council investigate if the conditions attached
to the Quarry entrance on the old Ennis Road, leading towards Dromoland
Castle, Newmarket on Fergus, were met."
I wish to reply as follows:
"Planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanala for the development
of a Quarry at Minister's Cross, Ballynacragga, Ennis Road, Newmarket
on Fergus. The Planning Authority is satisfied that quarrying works ceased
on the opening of the Newmarket By-Pass in accordance with Condition 2
of the permission granted by the Board.
The Planning Authority is satisfied that the conditions of planning permission
are being complied with. At present the developers are complying with
the condition requiring the rehabilitation and restoration of the site
and this requires some use of the former access to the site. This work
should be fully completed by end March 2005."
_____________________
Carmel Greene
Senior Executive Officer
Economic Development & Planning
With Reference to Notice of Motion No. 11 submitted by Cllr. G. Duff for
the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 22nd March, 2005.
" That Clare County Council introduce guidelines which will refuse
planning permission to developers who have a history of not properly finishing
housing estates"
I wish to reply as follows:
"Section 35 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 sets out situations
and the procedures to be followed in order for a Planning Authority to
refuse planning permission for past failures to comply with previous planning
permissions. The Planning Authority must form an opinion the there is
a real and substantial risk that the development in respect of which permission
is sought would not be completed in accordance with such permission or
a condition of such permission. The Planning Authority must then apply,
by motion on notice to the person to whom the opinion concerned relates,
to the High Court for authorisation to refuse permission. Such application
to the High Court must be made within 8 weeks of the receipt of the planning
application."
I attach herewith copy of Section 35 of the Planning and Development
Act 2000 for your information.
_____________________
Carmel Greene
Senior Executive Officer
Economic Development & Planning
With Reference to Notice of Motion No. 12 submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 22nd March, 2005.
"That the area between the rear of House No's 1-6 Caragh Park and
13-18 Slaney Park be cleaned up and widened so that delivery vehicles can access
the rear of the houses without destroying the grass verges."
I wish to reply as follows:
The access road at the rear of these houses is not wide enough for delivery
vehicles etc. A similar situation pertains in a number of other housing
estates in Shannon following the take over from Shannon Development. It
is desirable that these rear access roads be widened. However there is
no allocation in the 2005 Road Works Programme for this work. Nonetheless,
when the various improvement works for which specific funding is available
have been completed, I will be endeavouring to schedule these other desirable
works. The widening of these rear access roads comes within this category
of works.
_____________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure
With Reference to Notice of Motion No. 13 submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 22nd March, 2005.
"To ask Clare County Council for the safety works to be initiated
as soon as possible at the GAA grounds, in Newmarket on Fergus, due to
the all teams having started back training."
I wish to reply as follows:
An allocation of €12,000 is available for a pedestrian crossing
incorporating a speed table at the entrance to the G.A.A. Complex in Newmarket
on Fergus. I will arrange to have this work carried out as soon as possible.
_______________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure
With Reference to Notice of Motion No. 14 submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 22nd March, 2005.
"That Clare County Council draw up a planned programme of work
that will enhance Rossbracken Estate in the areas of Housing, green areas
and lighting, which will improve the overall appearance of the estate."
I wish to reply as follows:
The Council has prepared the Action Plan for Social & Affordable
Housing 2004-2008. This Action Plan will be beneficial to Clare County
Council and the Town Council’s in identifying priority needs over
the coming years and providing a coherent and co-ordinated response across
all housing services including estate management proposals and proposals
for remedial works/regeneration of run down estates.
A total of 28 housing schemes in the County have been identified as in
need a remedial works/regeneration scheme. An audit of all housing schemes
has been carried out which shows that an investment of €14.35M is
required. This will give rise to a qualitative improvement in lives of
approximately 560 residents. An initial meeting has taken place with the
Department Inspector and it is proposed that the following housing schemes
be prioritised for remedial/regeneration works in 2005/2006.
Rossbracken Estate, Shannon,
Inis Ealga Estate, Shannon,
Millstream, Killaloe.
The scale and extent of works to be carried out will depend on Departmental
Approval and the allocation of resources from the Department of the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government for such works.
______________________
Josephine Cotter Coughlan
A/Director of Service
Housing & Social Services
With Reference to Notice of Motion No. 15 submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 22nd March, 2005.
"That a report be presented on the reasons for the delay in finalising
the Affordable Housing Scheme in Shannon."
I wish to reply as follows:
The completion of the construction of 12 No. Affordable Housing Units
was delayed because of inclement weather conditions which pertained at
the time for completion of the contract.
While the houses were practically complete at the end of December 2004,
some outstanding issues such as landscaping and decoration were not complete.
It is anticipated that the Cul na Greine Housing Scheme will be handed
over to the Council in the next 2 weeks.
____________________
Josephine Cotter Coughlan
A/Director of Services
Housing
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