Shannon Town Hall on February 5th 2008 at 6.30 p.m.
Councillor Sean McLoughlin, Meara Bhaile, presided.
Present were:Councillors, Flynn, Duff, Lambert, McCarthy, Mulcahy, McMahon and Hillery.
In attendance:
Mr. Gerard Dollard – Town Manager and Tomás Mac Cormaic - Town Clerk.
Also in attendance for the first item of the Clár Oibre were Mr. Chris Monaghan and Ms. Ester Connellan, two executives from the H.S.E.
Apologies: Cllr. Mike McKee.
1/02/’08 Discussion with HSE Executives.
An open discussion on services in the Shannon Health Clinic took place. The members sought some clarification on the frequency and adequacy of certain services and also asked if the provision of other services was hampered by lack of funds.
The HSE representatives confirmed that additional funds would always help to improve services. They outlined some services to which additional personnel are to be assigned. They also stated that any future general queries from the Council would be responded to without delay. They cannot and will not discuss queries about private individuals
2/02/08 Suspension of Standing Orders.
Proposed by the Meara Bhaile, seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy and resolved;
that Standing Orders be suspended to allow a fifteen minute adjournment of the meeting as a mark of respect to the late Dr. Brendan O’Regan.”
3/02/08 Minutes of January Meeting.
Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Hillery and resolved;
“that the minutes of the January meeting of the Shannon Town Council, having been circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile.”
4/02/08 Correspondence.
- A letter from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in thanks for a donation was read and noted.
- A letter from the Competition Authority in relation to the connection between D.A.A. and S.A.A. was read and noted. This letter to be circulated to the members.
- Letters from Joe Carey T.D. and Pat Breen T.D. were noted.
- A letter from Shannon Leisure Centre seeking financial support for the provision of outdoor facilities to include a Skate Park, Tennis Court, Basket Ball, and space for five aside soccer was read and noted. The Manager suggested that plans for this development be presented at the Council’s Seminar on February 19th and subject to the Councils approval of these plans, considering the Council’s commitment, when Tir na nOg was opened for young children, to further develop the area behind Tir na nOg to provide some facilities for older children, he would recommend a grant of €50,000 be made available for the project. It was proposed by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved “ that subject to the approval of the plans the Town Council accept the Manager’s suggestion”.
- A letter from Portlaoise Town Council in relation to water charges for schools was read and supported.
5/02/08 Report from January Electoral Area Council Meeting.
As the Meara Bhaile did not attend this meeting Cllr. Flynn gave a verbal report on matters relevant to Shannon Town discussed at the meeting, which included the effectiveness of ESB maintenance, flooding, footpaths and roads, the Arts Centre and the patrolling of the river bank by the O.P.W. All this information is available on the website.
6/02/08 Reports from M.P.C. Chairpersons.
- Cllr. Flynn said that Information Maps would be placed at strategic locations in the town after the signage program is completed. An open meeting is planned for February 25th in the Oakwood Arms Hotel to promote tourism objectives which will encourage tourists using Shannon Airport to spend more than one night in the town.
- Cllr. Duff said that plans are well advanced for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and he has the full co-operation of Skycourt for the use of the Town Square for the reviewing stand. The next planning meeting will be held in the Town Hall at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday February 12th. All Council members are encouraged to attend.
7/02/08 Footpath Program for 2007.
A priority list of footpaths for repair and new footpaths to be installed has been agreed by the Council with the Area Engineer.
It was proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy and resolved
“that based on this priority list application to the Department of the Environment for grant aid to towns who formerly had Town Commission Status be approved.”
8/02/08 2007 Financial Statement.
A report from the Manager on the Financial Statement for 2007 had been circulated to members which indicated that although overall expenditure for 2007 was within budget there were overspends in some areas. The report explained the reasons for these overspends. It was proposed by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. Hillery and resolved; “that this Council note the completion of the Financial Statement for 2007 and approves the overspends where these have occurred”
9/02/08 Staffing in Shannon Civic Offices
Proposed by Cllr. Mulcahy, seconded by Cllr. Duff and resolved;
to ask the Manager and Clare County Council to confirm a date for the appointment of a Project Officer at Grade VI in the Shannon Civic Offices.”
10/02/08 Freehold Purchase in Drumgeely.
Proposed by Cllr. McLoughlin, seconded by Cllr. McMahon and resolved;
that Shannon Town Council request Clare County Council to put in place a group scheme so that the Residents of Drumgeely can purchase the freehold of their property and that this group scheme price to cover all legal costs and Land Register Fees.”
11/02/08 PSO for Shannon Airport
Proposed by Cllr. McLoughlin, seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy and resolved;
“that Shannon Town Council writes to the Minister for Transport to ask him to get the government to apply to the European Commission for Public Service Obligation (PSO) for Shannon Airport for daily flights between Shannon and Dublin with the first flight to depart from Shannon at 5.00 a.m. and the last flight to depart from Dublin after 10.00 p.m.”
12/02/08 Cystic Fibrosis Patients.
Proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy and resolved;
“that Shannon Town Council calls on the HSE to provide accommodation for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients in single rooms in private hospitals as an interim solution to cater for CF patients until the planned opening of a new 120 bed unit at St. Vincent’s Hospital in 2010”
This resolution to be circulated to all local authorities in the country for their support.
Dated:
Meara Bhaile
Signed: Dated : Feb. 8th 2008
Town Clerk |
