Shannon Town Council Functions

• Municipal Policy Committees
• Town Twinning
• Financing
• Language Laboratory
• Playground
• Bye-Laws

Municipal Policy Committees

Environment and Community Affairs Committee

An Environment and Community Affairs Committee which includes in it's brief Education and Welfare, Estate Management, Recreation, Amenity and Environment Protection. There are four members of the Town Council on this committee and also a one representative from each of the following: Tidy Towns Committee, County Development Board and somebody to represent the voluntary and disadvantaged in the community.

Industrial Tourism and Development Committee

An Industrial Tourism and Development Committee whose brief contains General development issues such as housing and building, planning, traffic, Town Twinning etc. There are also four members of the Town Council on this committee with Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Shannon Development Co. and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Each of the Municipal Committees is Chaired by a Town Council Member and the Méara Bhaile is an ex officio member of both M.P.C.s.
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Town Twinning

In 1990 the Town of Shannon signed an official Twinning Charter with the town of Guingamp in Northern Brittany. This twinning while promoted by the two town councils was really a twinning of the people of both towns. Guingamp is a town similar in population to Shannon with about 10,000 residents surrounded by a number of small towns or villages. Agriculture would be the main industry of the area but the town also has an industrial estate possible about the same size as Smithstown Estate.

Relationships have also been developed between the Town of Shannon and that of Elizabeth New Jersey and since 1996 Shannon has been represented at a number of St. Patrick's Day Parades in New Jersey. This has had the affect of promoting the Town of Shannon and Shannon Airport in New Jersey and New York.

Negotiations are at present taking place between representatives of the Town of Roissy in France with the relevant Municipal Policy Committee in Shannon to form an alliance between the two towns. Roissy is a small town very near Charles de Gaulle Airport and like Shannon is very dependant on the Airport.
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Financing

Because the Town Council is not self-financing it depends on Clare County Council for all it's finance. A budget is prepared each October, submitted to Clare County Council who recover the money paid to the town council by including a special town charge in their annual rate demand to the commercial section of the town. The Town Council includes in their annual budget amounts to assist local voluntary groups. In 2001 eighteen such groups got financial assistance from the council. In allocating these community grants the councillors favour assisting those groups working with the youth of the town and those promoting cultural activities. A separate grant is given to the Shannon Tidy Towns Committee to enable them continue with improvements to the town's environment.
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Language Laboratory

The Town Council in co-operation with the County Library has provided a "Language Laboratory" in Seán Lemass Library where students can study any language of their choice.

The Town Council, aided by a grant from Eircom have also provided a number of computers in Seán Lemass Library which are available to residents to use for letter writing, keeping of accounts, research, email, internet and study.

Playground

The Council has been putting aside some money each year towards the provision of a childrens' playground in the town and hope to have the playground developed in 2003.

Bye-Laws

The Town Council introduced a bye-law in 2002 prohibiting the consumption of Alcoholic Drink in Public Places within the Town.
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