Minutes of the April 2007 Monthly Meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall on Tuesday April 3rd 2007 at 6.30 p.m.

Councillor Tony McMahon. Meara Bhaile, presided.
Present were Councillors, Flynn, McCarthy, Lambert, McKee, Duff, Hillery, Mulcahy and McLoughlin.

In attendance : Mr. Gerard Dollard – Town Manager and Tomás Mac Cormaic - Town Clerk

1/04 /07 Minutes of March 2007 Meeting.

Proposed by Cllr. McLoughlin, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved;
“that the minutes of the March 2007 meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday March 6th 2007, having been circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile.”

2/04/07 Meeting with Shannon Chamber.

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved;
“that the memorandum of a meeting between representatives of Shannon Chamber of Commerce and the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall at 6.00 p.m. on Tuesday March 6th 2007 be noted.

3/04/07 Dog Warden

At the invitation of the Town Council the County Dog Warden, Mr. Frankie Coote, gave a presentation to the Council where he stated that County Clare is the Black Spot in Ireland as regards stray dogs and both Shannon and Kilrush are the black spots in Clare. He recommended that dog owners should be advised to have their pets neutered and he also indicated that the job of the Dog Warden could be much improved if a law was introduced compelling dog owners to have their dogs fitted with an identifying micro-chip.
It was proposed by Cllr. McKee, seconded by Cllr. Duff and resolved; “that Shannon Town Council will ask the government to introduce legislation compelling dog owners to have an identifying micro chip fitted to their pets.”

4/04/07 Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge

Eimear Ni Fhlairtheartaigh, Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge with Clare County Council gave a brief presentation on Sceim na Gaeilge within the County Council. Every Department now has at least one person who can deal with the public “as Gaeilge”. The following services are also now available through Gaeilge, Motor Tax, Library Service and I.T. Service.

5/04/07 Correspondence

1. A comprehensive letter from Clare County Council dealing with Estate Management was noted. A copy of this letter would be circulated to members.
2. An acknowledgement of a motion to the Dept. of Social and Family Affairs was noted.
3. An acknowledgement by Shannon Olympic of a Community Grant was noted.
4. A “thank you” letter from Kieran O’Gorman who on the occasion of his eightieth birthday was given a presentation by the Meara Bhaile was noted.
5. A resolution adopted by Naas Town Council concerning an Annual Peace Day was noted.
6. A letter from Sean O’Nunain requesting that the Council Annually hold some formal ceremony to commemorate the 1916 Rising was read and discussed. It was agreed to hold a special meeting in the Town Hall at 7.00 p.m. on Wednesday April 11th 2007 to consider this suggestion.

6/04/07 Boundary Extension

Three amendments have been received to the original proposal. Each of these suggested the inclusion of land in the Ballymurtagh area which would include the Traveller Residential Area currently outside the Town Boundary. These amendments were submitted by Cllrs. Mulcahy, McMahon and Flynn. Following comments from Clare County Council after the statutory period these amendments will be considered.

7/04/07 Social and Communities Facilities Capital Scheme 2007

The Council agreed to support the Shannon Leisure Centre’s application for this Grant.

8/04/07 Agenda 21 report on Green Spaces and Shannon Wetlands

Separate reports on Green Spaces and Shannon Wetlands were noted and would be circulated to members.

9/04/07 Reports from M.P.C. Chairpersons

Cllr. Duff Chairperson of the M.P.C. with responsibility for Environment and Community Affairs complemented all involved in organising the St. Patrick’s Day Parade which was again a great success. The Funday at the Leisure Centre to celebrate 25 years of Local Government in Shannon was also very successful and all involved should be congratulated with special praise for the Youth Officer and the Gardai for their assistance. He expressed disappointment that there has been no development in a formal dinner to mark the occasion. This would be considered at the special meeting scheduled for April 11th.

10/04/07 Report from Area Council

The Meara Bhaile read a written report from the March Area Council meeting on matters relevant to Shannon Town. This information is also available on the Town Website.

11/04/07 Calming Measures in Corrib Drive

Proposed by Cllr. McLoughlin, seconded by Cllr. Lambert and resolved;
“that Shannon Town Council request Clare County Council to provide traffic calming measures in Corrib Drive in the interest of safety.”
During the debate on this motion it became obvious that the Councillors do not want ramps installed on Corrib Drive.
Instead more warning signs about excessive speed might help or consideration might be given to introducing a 30Km speed limit on Corrib Drive.

12/04/07 Riverside Walks

Two notices of motions submitted by Cllrs. McLoughlin and Flynn were taken as a composite motion proposed by Cllr. McLoughlin and seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved;
“that Clare County Council be asked to repair and resurface the footpaths on the Riverside Walks and to upgrade the sections of the footpaths which have become overgrown and are in a dangerous condition which could lead to accident.”

13/04/07 Airport Signs

Proposed by Cllr. Hillery, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved;
“that pictograms depicting the Airport on signs of Bothar Mor and Bothar an Aerfort.”

14/04/07 Grass Cutting Contract

Proposed by Cllr. McMahon and seconded Cllr. McCarthy and resolved;.
“that Clare County Council insure that grass cutting does not result in grass being scattered over footpaths, laneways and roadways and left in an unsightly and dangerous condition.”

15/04/07 Removal of Overgrown Trees

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved;
“that Shannon Town Council be given a comprehensive written report from the Town Manager concerning the future plans for the removal of overgrown trees throughout Shannon which are posing a health and safety threat to residents in the various Housing estates in Shannon.”

16/04/07 Signs for An Post Depot in Smithstown

Proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. McKee and resolved;
“that S.T.C. call on An Post to improve the signage in relation to the depot on the Smithstown Estate.”

17/04/07 Protecting the Burren

Proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved;
“that S.T.C. support the call made by the Heritage Council for the urgent introduction of a national landscape management plan following a report that concludes that the Burren is seriously under threat from scrub.”

18/04/07 Support for Small Towns and Villages

Proposed by Cllr. Hillery, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved;
“that the Minister for Employment, Trade and Equality would introduce an incentive so that shops and businesses serving small towns would be maintained so that a financial viable return can be sustained.”

19/04/07 Suspension of Standing Orders

Proposed by Cllr. Mc Kee, seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy and resolved;
“that Standing Orders be suspended to allow the meeting continue for an extra fifteen minutes to complete the Agenda.”

20/04/07 Skycourt Parking

Proposed by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved;
“that a meeting be sought with the management of Skycourt to discuss the introduction of car park charges proposed for July.”

21/04/07 Road between Inis Beag and Inis Ri

Proposed by Cllr. McKee, seconded by Cllr. And resolved;
“that Clare County Council permanently repair the stretch of road between Inis Beag and Inis Ri”.
(This is included in the 2007 roads program.).

22/04/07 Flooding between 44 and 41 Cronan Gardens

Proposed by Cllr. McKee, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved;
“that Clare County Council alleviate the flooding at the footpath between 44 – 41 Cronan Gds.”

Sínithe ag : _________________________ ar an _______________
Méara Bhaile

Sínithe ag Tomás Mac Cormaic __________ ar an 11/04/07
Cléireach an Bhaile