Shannon.ie - Town Council Meeting Minutes September 2010

In attendance were; Bernadette Kinsella – Town Manager & Liam O’Connor – Town Clerk

Apologies; Cllr. Seán McLoughlin

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and agreed; “That the minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall at 6.00 p.m. on Tuesday June 22nd, 2010 having being circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile”

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and agreed; “That the minutes of the July Monthly Meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall at 6.30 a.m. on Tuesday June 22nd, 2010 having being circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile”

(a) Bord Gais Cllr. Flynn noted that Bord Gais had cherry picked routes for gas mains and had no interest in connecting residents to the gas network. He suggested that the council would engage with Bord Gais and proposed that the Town Council would meet with them. This was seconded by Cllr. McCafferty

(b) E.P.A. Cllr. Flynn noted that the E.P.A. was proposing to locate an air monitoring station in Shannon for 6 months and requested that the County Council would engage with the E.P.A. so that a suitable site could be found. Cllr. Duff added that the council should engage with the E.P.A. on this matter

A debate took place regarding the issue of dealing with correspondence for council meetings. It was agreed that from now on the correspondence would not be circulated and instead it would be read out at meetings. 4. July Area Meeting The report from the July Area Meeting, having been circulated was noted. 5. Report from M.P.C. Chairs Cllr. Brennan noted that Pat Collins of Intel and Ted Germaine from the Oakwood Arms had agreed to engage with the Industrial, Tourism and Development MPC and that a meeting of the committee would be organised shortly. Cllr. Fleming told the meeting that as Halloween was approaching preparations for a fun day would be commencing soon. 6. Tradaree Court Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and agreed; “That this council calls on Clare County Council to trim back or remove where necessary the trees in the inner park areas of Tradaree Court, as some of these are dangerous, blocking light or the roots are travelling under houses with the potential for causing serious damage” Reply : Arrangements have been made to undertake tree surgery and removal works at this location in due course. Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council Cllr. McCarthy noted that she was satisfied with the response. Cllr. Flynn requested that all popular trees should be removed as they were doing a lot of damage. 7. Illegal dumping at Diamond Club Proposed by Cllr. Michael Fleming. Seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and agreed; “I am asking Shannon Town Council and Clare County Council to employ some sort of system to monitor the serious amount of dumping of domestic rubbish that is happening on the road by the diamond club, as it has become a serious problem that needs immediate attention” Clare County Council is not aware of "the serious amount of dumping of domestic rubbish that is happening on the road by the Diamond Club" in recent times. However, there were problems with illegal dumping at this location in early 2010. The illegal dumping occurred on the road leading to the Diamond Club and also in the private cark- park of the Diamond Club. A clean up of the road leading to the Diamond Club was carried out by Shannon Area based staff and the Environmental Patrol Warden. A letter issued to the owner of the car-park requesting a clean-up of the car-park and to secure the car-park from further illegal dumping. The owner complied with this request. The Environmental Patrol Warden regularly patrols Shannon town and the surrounding areas as part of his litter patrol route and this will continue. Clare County Council has installed CCTV surveillance at various areas throughout the County which has been effective in deterring littering. This area can be considered for CCTV surveillance if serious illegal littering/dumping continues to occur here. Betty Devanny, A/Senior Executive Officer. Environment & Water Services Directorate. Clare County Council Reply: Cllr. Fleming noted that there two areas near the Diamond Club had been cleaned out but that dumping was still ongoing. The elected members supported the motion and Cllr. Mulcahy suggested that CCTV surveillance should be availed of. 8. Compactor for Recycling Centre Proposed by Cllr. Michael Fleming, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and agreed; “I am asking Clare County Council to look at the possibility of introducing some sort of a compactor for general waste at the recycling facility in Smithstown as the price of the wheelie bins are to high for both senior citizens and to the majority of people who are unemployed.” Clare County Council has been granted a Certificate of Registration by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for the management and operation of the Shannon Recycling Centre at Smithstown, Shannon, Co. Clare. This Certificate provides for the acceptance of the following recyclable materials from domestic customers - glass bottles and jars, aluminium cans, steel/tin cans, plastic bottles, newspapers, magazines, books, cardboard, tetrapak, waste oil, cooking oil, oil filters, batteries, metal, textiles, waste electrical and electronic equipment, timber, grass cuttings and hedgings, hard plastic items e.g. toys, piping, empty drums etc., cds and dvds. Full details are available by contacting the staff at Shannon Recycling Centre at 061 364483. At present, Clare County Council is licenced by the EPA to accept mixed residual/general waste at the Central Waste Management Facility at Inagh, Scarriff Recycling Centre and Transfer Station and Lisdeen Recycling Centre and Transfer Station. In the current economic climate, there are no plans in place to provide waste facilities at Shannon Recycling Centre for the acceptance of mixed residual/general waste. The provision of mixed residual/general waste facilities at Shannon Recycling Centre would have considerable cost implications for Clare County Council including increased EPA licensing requirements, additional staffing resources and transport/waste contract costs. Clare County Council has not provided a domestic waste collection service for a number of years. This service is provided by private waste contractors who are regulated by waste collection permits provided by Limerick County Council for the region. Betty Devanny, A/Senior Executive Officer. Environment & Water Services Directorate. Clare County Council Reply : Cllr. Fleming noted that the cost of waste disposal was an issue for people and requested that a compactor facility would be put in place. Cllr. Flynn suggested that Clare County Council would look at the facilities provided by Galway County Council for the disposal of domestic waste. 9. Footpath at Atlantic Flight Simulation Visitor Centre Proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. Fleming and agreed; " With over 30 schools already having paid a visit in 2010 to the 'Atlantic Flight Simulation Visitors Centre' the Shannon Town Council call on the Clare County Council to explore the possibility of providing footpaths from the Visitors Centre to the Oakwood" Clare County Council planning section have conditioned, in a recent permission for a mixed use commercial development, the delivery of this infrastructure. Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council Reply: Cllr. Duff noted that the aviation centre was a very positive development for the town and should be supported. He added that the annual footpath grant might be used to fund the necessary works. The elected members requested that the planning permission alluded to above would be identified. 10. Street Lighting Proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and agreed; " The Shannon Town Council demands that street lighting along what is known locally as the black path (from Tradaree passing at the rear of St Tola's School & winding its way towards Mary Immaculate Church) be brought up to a standard that would provide its safe use by the local community" These repairs have been carried out and public lighting has been restored. Reply : Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council It was noted that this work had been completed in the last week. 11. Fencing of drain adjacent to the N19 Proposed by Cllr. Mulcahy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and agreed; “That this Council would ask Clare County Council to immediately make safe by fencing off the land drain running along the N19 from the Old Lodge almost to Aidan Park traffic lights” Clare County Council will inspect this open drain and quotations will be sought to fence off and make it secure. Works will be undertaken subject to available funding. Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council Reply : Cllr. Mulcahy noted that he was satisfied with the response. 12. Prescription Fee Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and agreed; “That this council condemn the Government decision to charge medical card holders a €5 fee for prescriptions and calls on the Minister for Health to reverse the decision” The elected members unanimously supported the notice of motion and noted that the fee would cause people hardship and may have disastrous consequences on people’s health. . The meeting then concluded

The report from the July Area Meeting, having been circulated was noted

Cllr. Brennan noted that Pat Collins of Intel and Ted Germaine from the Oakwood Arms had agreed to engage with the Industrial, Tourism and Development MPC and that a meeting of the committee would be organised shortly

Cllr. Fleming told the meeting that as Halloween was approaching preparations for a fun day would be commencing soon

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and agreed; “That this council calls on Clare County Council to trim back or remove where necessary the trees in the inner park areas of Tradaree Court, as some of these are dangerous, blocking light or the roots are travelling under houses with the potential for causing serious damage”

Arrangements have been made to undertake tree surgery and removal works at this location in due course. Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council

Cllr. McCarthy noted that she was satisfied with the response. Cllr. Flynn requested that all popular trees should be removed as they were doing a lot of damage

Proposed by Cllr. Michael Fleming. Seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and agreed; “I am asking Shannon Town Council and Clare County Council to employ some sort of system to monitor the serious amount of dumping of domestic rubbish that is happening on the road by the diamond club, as it has become a serious problem that needs immediate attention” Clare County Council is not aware of "the serious amount of dumping of domestic rubbish that is happening on the road by the Diamond Club" in recent times. However, there were problems with illegal dumping at this location in early 2010. The illegal dumping occurred on the road leading to the Diamond Club and also in the private cark- park of the Diamond Club. A clean up of the road leading to the Diamond Club was carried out by Shannon Area based staff and the Environmental Patrol Warden. A letter issued to the owner of the car-park requesting a clean-up of the car-park and to secure the car-park from further illegal dumping. The owner complied with this request. The Environmental Patrol Warden regularly patrols Shannon town and the surrounding areas as part of his litter patrol route and this will continue. Clare County Council has installed CCTV surveillance at various areas throughout the County which has been effective in deterring littering. This area can be considered for CCTV surveillance if serious illegal littering/dumping continues to occur here. Betty Devanny, A/Senior Executive Officer. Environment & Water Services Directorate. Clare County Council Reply:

Cllr. Fleming noted that there two areas near the Diamond Club had been cleaned out but that dumping was still ongoing. The elected members supported the motion and Cllr. Mulcahy suggested that CCTV surveillance should be availed of

Proposed by Cllr. Michael Fleming, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and agreed; “I am asking Clare County Council to look at the possibility of introducing some sort of a compactor for general waste at the recycling facility in Smithstown as the price of the wheelie bins are to high for both senior citizens and to the majority of people who are unemployed.” Clare County Council has been granted a Certificate of Registration by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for the management and operation of the Shannon Recycling Centre at Smithstown, Shannon, Co. Clare. This Certificate provides for the acceptance of the following recyclable materials from domestic customers - glass bottles and jars, aluminium cans, steel/tin cans, plastic bottles, newspapers, magazines, books, cardboard, tetrapak, waste oil, cooking oil, oil filters, batteries, metal, textiles, waste electrical and electronic equipment, timber, grass cuttings and hedgings, hard plastic items e.g. toys, piping, empty drums etc., cds and dvds. Full details are available by contacting the staff at Shannon Recycling Centre at 061 364483. At present, Clare County Council is licenced by the EPA to accept mixed residual/general waste at the Central Waste Management Facility at Inagh, Scarriff Recycling Centre and Transfer Station and Lisdeen Recycling Centre and Transfer Station. In the current economic climate, there are no plans in place to provide waste facilities at Shannon Recycling Centre for the acceptance of mixed residual/general waste. The provision of mixed residual/general waste facilities at Shannon Recycling Centre would have considerable cost implications for Clare County Council including increased EPA licensing requirements, additional staffing resources and transport/waste contract costs. Clare County Council has not provided a domestic waste collection service for a number of years. This service is provided by private waste contractors who are regulated by waste collection permits provided by Limerick County Council for the region. Betty Devanny, A/Senior Executive Officer. Environment & Water Services Directorate. Clare County Council Reply :

Cllr. Fleming noted that the cost of waste disposal was an issue for people and requested that a compactor facility would be put in place. Cllr. Flynn suggested that Clare County Council would look at the facilities provided by Galway County Council for the disposal of domestic waste

Proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. Fleming and agreed; " With over 30 schools already having paid a visit in 2010 to the 'Atlantic Flight Simulation Visitors Centre' the Shannon Town Council call on the Clare County Council to explore the possibility of providing footpaths from the Visitors Centre to the Oakwood" Clare County Council planning section have conditioned, in a recent permission for a mixed use commercial development, the delivery of this infrastructure. Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council Reply:

Cllr. Duff noted that the aviation centre was a very positive development for the town and should be supported. He added that the annual footpath grant might be used to fund the necessary works. The elected members requested that the planning permission alluded to above would be identified

Proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and agreed; " The Shannon Town Council demands that street lighting along what is known locally as the black path (from Tradaree passing at the rear of St Tola's School & winding its way towards Mary Immaculate Church) be brought up to a standard that would provide its safe use by the local community" These repairs have been carried out and public lighting has been restored. Reply :

Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council

It was noted that this work had been completed in the last week

Proposed by Cllr. Mulcahy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and agreed; “That this Council would ask Clare County Council to immediately make safe by fencing off the land drain running along the N19 from the Old Lodge almost to Aidan Park traffic lights” Clare County Council will inspect this open drain and quotations will be sought to fence off and make it secure. Works will be undertaken subject to available funding. Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council Reply :

Cllr. Mulcahy noted that he was satisfied with the response

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and agreed; “That this council condemn the Government decision to charge medical card holders a €5 fee for prescriptions and calls on the Minister for Health to reverse the decision”

The elected members unanimously supported the notice of motion and noted that the fee would cause people hardship and may have disastrous consequences on people’s health

The meeting then concluded