Minutes of the October 2008 Monthly Meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall on Tuesday October 7th 2008 at 6:30 p.m.

Councillor Gerry Flynn, Meara Bhaile, presided

Present were

Councillors, Duff, Lambert, McKee, McCarthy, Hillery,  Mulcahy, McMahon and McLoughlin.

In attendance

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

Also present were Michael Collins and Noel Fitzpatrick – two engineers from the Office of Public Works.

1/10/08 River Banks

Michael Collins from the Office of Public Works briefed the members on the history of the River Banks preventing flooding from the Shannon.       The original banks were built by the Vikings and later in the eighteenth century were extended by a Dutch group. In the nineteenth century the embankment from Bunratty to Rineanna was constructed to a crest of about 21 feet above OD (Poolbeg).

Further refurbishments were carried out in the period 1958 to 1960 raising the crest of the banks from 21 feet to 24 feet. Major refurbishment works were again carried out in the years 1996, 1997 and 2003.  The banks are patrolled every two weeks. The highest recorded tide was in 1961 when after hurricane Debbie the water came to within three feet from the crest.

There is no significant wave action in the vicinity of the banks reducing the possibility of an overflow. The banks are made from ‘Esturine Silt’ which though weak has excellent waterproofing properties and which prevents seepage through the banks.

A government directive has been issued relating to all flood risk areas to formulate a ‘Floods Risk Management Plan’. This plan must be formulated before the end of 2015 and should commence for the River Shannon within the next 12 months.

Mr. Collins took questions from the members in relation to the current safety of the banks and told the members that while there are no absolute guarantees the Office of Public  Works is satisfied that all necessary precautions are being taken.

The Meara Bhaile thanked the Office of Public Works Engineers for their attendance and informative presentation.

2/10/08 Minutes of September Meeting.

Proposed by Cllr. McKee, seconded by Cllr. McMahon and resolved;

"that the minutes of the September monthly meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall on Tuesday September 3rd 2008, having been circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile."

3/10/08 Minutes of Special Meeting

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Hillery and resolved;

"that the minutes of a special meeting with Shannon Gardai followed by a presentation by Tourism Accommodation Providers on a proposed river bank walk which was held in the Town Hall at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday September 16th 2008, having been circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile."

4/10/08 Correspondence.

1. A letter from the Parish Priest of Corpus Christi Parish in Limerick taking issue with comments made by certain councillors at the September meeting and which had been circulated to the members was noted.

Cllr. Duff disassociated himself from the comments referred to.

2. A letter from the Department of Education acknowledging the receipt of the text of a resolution adopted by this council relating to third level education fees was read noted.

3. A letter from Bantry Town Council concerning the Cork Swansea Ferry was read and noted.

4. A letter from Ballinasloe Town Council concerning children from Belarus visiting Ireland was read and noted.

5. The Town Clerk informed the members that a request from this Council to have an Air Ambulance located in Shannon is not going to happen. Instead the Air Ambulance will be located in Kerry Airport.

6. The Town Clerk informed the members that two developers interested in a project in TC2 or TC3 invite the Councillors to a briefing session on the project in the Oakwood Arms Hotel at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday October 16th 2008.

5/10/08 Report from September Area Council Meeting.

The Meara Bhaile gave a verbal report on issues discussed at the September Area Council meeting relevant to Shannon. These included the Arts Centre, Roads issues, recent flooding, new housing policy, HSE rent subsidies and the take-over of roads and footpaths in areas of the town.  All this information is available on the web.

6/10/08 Reports from M.P.C. Chairs.

Cllr. Duff reported that in conjunction with the Youth Officer, the Family Resource Centre, the Gardai and Shannon Tidy Towns a plan is being formulated to provide entertainment for children and teenagers on Halloween in order to divert them from the lighting of multiple bonfires and the possibility of some anti social behaviour. Cllr. Duff asked that the members support this venture and requested a donation from the Council of €500.00 towards prizes for various activities that will take place on the Halloween. It was proposed by Cllr. McLoughlin, seconded by Cllr. Hillery and resolved "that the Town Council would donate €500.00 to the venture."

Cllr. McMahon reported that the Industrial, Tourism and Development Committee had no meeting in the past month.

7/10/08 Completion of 2007 Audit.

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Lambert and resolved;

"that it be noted that the Audit of the Accounts of the Shannon Town Council has been completed and that a copy of the Auditor’s Opinion had been circulated to each member."

8/10/08 Tradaree Court Flats.

Proposed by Cllr. Mulcahy, seconded by Cllr. Lambert and resolved;

"that Clare County Council would update Shannon Town Council on the Tradaree Court Flats regeneration project and the current security maintenance carried out in the area."

9/10/08 Bothar na Luachra – Sli an tSionaig – Tullyvarraga Road Junction.

Proposed by Cllr. McLoughlin, seconded by Cllr. Lambert and resolved;

"that Shannon Town Council ask Clare County Council to look at the possibility of putting a Roundabout at the junction of Bothar na Luchra and Sli an tSionaig/Tullyvarraga Road as traffic movements in this area are causing many difficulties for local residents."

The Town Clerk reported that the relevant Roads Engineer agreed that there is a problem at this junction but would consider, because of the amount of pedestrian traffic at the junction, Traffic Lights might be more appropriate than a roundabout.

10/10/08 Trees at Illaunmanagh Cemetery.

Proposed by Cllr. Hillery, seconded by Cllr. Duff and resolved;

"that Clare County Council would ensure that corrective treatment on the young trees at Illaunmanagh be carried out this winter."

11/10/08 EU Transport Working Group.

Proposed by Cllr. McLoughlin, seconded by Cllr. Lambert and resolved;

"that Shannon Town Council seek a meeting with the ‘EU Transport Working Group’ who will be visiting Shannon on a fact finding mission and that the Town Council also make a written submission to them."

12/10/08 Inspection of Foreign Aircraft in Shannon.

Proposed by Cllr. Duff and Seconded by Cllr. McMahon;

"that Shannon Town Council support the demand of the Irish Human Rights Commission for a system of inspection of foreign aircraft to ensure that Ireland is never again, even unwittingly, an accessory to rendition or torture."

There were objections from some members to the use of the word ‘again’ in the motion and when the proposer  agreed to have the offending word removed the motion was resolved as follows:-

"that Shannon Town Council support the demand of the Irish Human Rights Commission for a system of inspection of foreign aircraft to ensure that Ireland is never, even unwittingly, an accessory to rendition or torture."

13/10/08 Honouring All Ireland Camogie Champions from Shannon.

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy and resolved;

"that Shannon Town Council acknowledge the achievements of the Shannon Players who were part of the All Ireland Junior Camogie Team and also acknowledge the members of the of the All Ireland Intermediate Football Team from Shannon and that the Town Council Members decide on what is appropriate."

The Council agreed that these girls, Laura Linnane and Cathy Hally from the Camogie Team and Regina Fennessy from the Football team be honoured at the annual Liosta na Laochra awards presentations.

A letter of congratulations also to be sent to each of these girls.

The success of the Tidy Towns Committee in increasing, by 12 points, the overall points for Shannon in this year’s competition was also acknowledged, as was the victory by Wolfe Tones Junior A Hurling team in the final of the 2008 Clare County Junior A Championship.