Minutes of the January 2009 Monthly Meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall on Tuesday January 6th at 6:30 p.m.

Councillor Gerry Flynn, Meara Bhaile, presided.
Present were Councillors, Duff, McKee, McCarthy, Hillery,  Mulcahy, McMahon and McLoughlin.
 In attendance Mr. Gerard Dollard – Town Manager, and Tomás Mac Cormaic  - Town Clerk.
Apologies from Cllr. Lambert.

1/01/09 Minutes of December 2008 Meeting

Proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. McLoughlin and resolved;
"that the minutes of the December 2008 monthly meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall on Tuesday November 25th 2008, having been circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile."

2/01/09 Minutes of Adjourned Budget Meeting

Proposed by Cllr. McKee, seconded by Cllr. Duff and resolved;
"that the minutes of the Adjourned Budget Meeting to consider the Town Council Budgets for 2009 held in the Town Hall at 6.30 p. m. on Tuesday December 2nd 2008, having been circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile."

3/01/09 Minutes of Community Grants Distribution Meeting

Proposed by Cllr. McKee, seconded by Cllr. Duff and resolved;
"that the minutes of the meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Town Hall on Tuesday December 2nd 2008 immediately after the Adjourned Budget Meeting to consider the distribution of the 2008 Community Grants, having been circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile."

4/01/09 Correspondence

Notice from Clare County Council that the Draft South Clare Local Area Plan 2009 – 2015, including amendments, is available for inspection in various areas throughout the county including the Shannon Town Hall, Sean Lemass Library and the County Council’s Website www.clarecoco.ie was noted.
A letter from Circus Gerbola seeking permission to use the area behind Tir na nOg Playground for a Circus on Wednesday  13th and Thursday 14th of May 2009 was read and noted. Permission was given to the Circus to locate in this area on the specified dates subject to the work on the proposed Skate Park being completed before those dates.
3. A letter from Tralee Town Council requesting support for the following resolution adopted by Tralee Town Council was read, noted and fully supported by the Shannon Town Council;
"To request that the Minister for Health introduce a 24 hour 7 day social work service nationwide as soon as possible in line with the recommendations of the Committee of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child."

4  A letter from Killarney Town Council deploring the cancellation of the proposed Cervical Cancer Vaccination Program for teenage girls was read, noted and supported by the Shannon Town Council.
Letters from Macroom Town Council and Portlaoise Town Council relating to Educational Cut-backs were read and noted.
A letter from Laois County Council relating to Affordable Houses was read and noted.
7. A letter from Shannon Family Resource Centre acknowledging the Community Grant was read and noted.

5/01/09 Allocation of Allotments in Shannon

The Town Manager informed the meeting that approximately 30 allotments would be rented out to people who had indicated an interest in them. These Allotments would be in the vicinity of Illaunmanagh Cemetery and would be initially cultivated by the County Council and handed over to the individuals possibly before the end of March.

6/01/09 Report from December Area Council Meeting

The Meara Bhaile reported on matters concerning the Town discussed at the December Area Council Meeting.  This information is available on the Council’ Website.

7/01/09 Reports from M.P.C. Chairs

Cllr. Duff reported that his committee would be meeting almost immediately to commence preparations for the 2009 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  There was no report from Cllr. McMahon.

8/01/09 Shannon Town Boundary Alteration

Statutory Instruments 557 and 558 of 2008 had been circulated to members relating to the Shannon Town Boundary Alteration which came into effect on January 1st 2009.  A publicity scheme will be implemented prior to the Local Elections to ensure that residents of the new areas in the town would be aware of which polling booths they should use.

9/01/09 New Shannon Area Depot

Plans are going ahead to construct a new Shannon Area Depot at the rear of the Town Hall which would bring together the Town Hall, the Shannon Fire Station and the Shannon Area Depot.

10/01/09 Town Park

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved;
"that an update on the status of the Town Park be made available to the Town Council."
  The Town Manager stated that the take over of the Town Park from the Developer is imminent. Some difficulty about lighting has to be sorted out. Members asked the various accesses to the park would be highlighted.

11/01/09 Chemfloc

Proposed by Cllr. Mulcahy, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved;
"that Shannon Town Council seek a report from the Environmental Protection Agency outlining the results of their investigation into an incident at Chemfloc in Smithstown which resulted in the release of olumes of pungent yellow smoke in Summer 2007."

12/01/09 Crossing of Bothar na Luchra to St. Aidan’s School

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy and resolved;
"that Clare County Council, in view of the apparent disregard by motorists of the Controlled (Lollipop) crossing for St. Aidan’s School, as a matter of urgency take whatever action is necessary to highlight and make people aware of the need to be aware of this controlled crossing and obey the person in charge."

13/01/09 Extend Lighting to Ballycasey Roundabout

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. McMahon and resolved;
"that in view of the recent announcement in relation to the extension of Shannon Town Boundary Clare County Council extend the lighting from the Bothar na Loiste Junction on the R471 to the Ballycasey Roundabout"

14/01/09 Compulsory Evidence Refuse Collection from all Residences

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. McLoughlin and resolved;
"that Clare County Council advise in writing what policy they have in place to deal with all accommodation with no refuse collection in place."
  The Town Manager informed the meeting that Bye Laws are soon to be in place which will deal with this matter.

15/01/09 Shannon Gymnastics Club

Proposed by Cllr. McLoughlin, seconded by Cllr Hillery and resolved;
"that Shannon Town Council recognise the achievements of Shannon Gymnastics Club who competed in Greece in European Competitions with huge success, winning 4 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze and that the Council consider giving them a donation towards their trip to Bulgaria in March where they will be again competing."
  It was agreed by the members that the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Town Manager would arrange to make a contribution to the travel costs of the Gymnastics Club.

16/01/09 Liosta na Laochra

The Town Clerk announced that the following people had been nominated for the annual Liosta na Laochra awards.

Laura Linnane a member of Clare All Ireland Camogie Champions
Kathy Halley also a member of this team
Regina Fennessy a member of the Clare Ladies Football Team who competed in the Intermediate Ladies Football All Ireland Final.
4. & 5. Darren O’Connell and Alan Mullen who competed in 12 Marathons in 12 different countries in aid of Cystic Fibrosis
  Fran Mintor who coached the members of Shannon Meteors Trampoline Club to a number All Ireland Victories.
7. Elaine Ryan of Shannon Gymnastics Club.  
Under Elaine’s Guidance the Shannon Gymnastics Club have competed in International Competitions in Greece where they won four gold, one silver and one bronze medals. They are now invited to compete in further international competitions in Bulgaria next March.
The members approved this list