July 2008 Monthly Meeting
Cllr. B. Hanrahan, Cathaoirleach presided.
In attendance:
Clare Co. Co.
Cllrs. P. Considine, J. Crowe, B. Hanrahan, M. Kelly, M. Lafferty, P. McMahon and M. Taylor-Quinn.
Limerick City Co.
Cllr. M. Byrne, J. Cronin, G. Fahy, J. Houlihan, P. Kennedy, and L. Wallace.
Limerick Co. Co.
Cllrs. R. Brennan, E. Creighton, L. Enright, J. Houlihan, C. Hurley, E. Wade and L. Walsh.
North Tipperary Co. Co.
Cllrs. T. Berkery, W. Kennedy, J. Ryan, M. Ryan, J. Sheehy and M. Smith.
Committee of the Regions.
Cllr. C. Crowe.
Also Present.
Mr. L. Conneally, Director.
Mr. T. Coughlan, Clare Co. Co.(deputising for Mr. A. Fleming, Designated Manager)
Mr. S. Treacy, Staff Officer.
1. Minutes (A) Monthly Meeting and (B) Finance/Conference Sub Committee meeting held on 3rd June 2008.
The Minutes of (A) Monthly Meeting and (B) Finance/Conference Sub Committee meeting held on 3rd June 2008 were proposed by Cllr. J. Sheehy, seconded by Cllr. M. Lafferty and agreed as presented.
2. Correspondence.
The Members noted the following correspondence copy of which had been circulated with the Agenda.
(A) Letter dated 6th June 2008 from Carlow Co.Co. re variation of Carlow co. Development Plan.
(B) Letter dated 17th June 2008 from Mayo Co. Co. re Mayo Co. development Plan 208-2014.
(C) Letter dated 3rd June 2008 from Tullamore Town Council re: Proposed Variation No.4 to the Tullamore Town and Environs Development Plan 2004-2010.
(D) Letter dated 9th June 2008 from Tullamore Town Council re: Proposed Variation No.4 to the Tullamore Town and Environs Development Plan 2004-2010.
(E) Letter dated 4th June2008 from Limerick City Co. re: Proposed Variations to Limerick City development Plan 20043-2010.
(F) Reply dated 30th May 2008 from the NRA regarding the N18 Gort to Crusheen and the Oranmore to Gort road schemes.
3.Committee of the Regions (COR)-Update report from Cllr. C. Crowe.
Cllr. C. Crowe gave a report on the COR, copy of which was circulated at the meeting.
He outlined the main activities of the COR in 2008.
He stated that the Irish Delegation had urged voters to support the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and was disappointed with the result, which is likely to have negative consequences for the representations of Irish interests in the EU.
He then answered questions from the Members. In reply to Cllr. P. Considine he agreed to get details of the amendments the Irish Delegation had succeeded in making to the Integrated Maritime Policy.
Cllr. Crowe informed the meeting that the Dublin Regional Authority had hosted a reception in Brussels to showcase the Dublin Region. He proposed that the Mid West Regional Authority host a reception in Brussels, in conjunction with the Irish Regions Office to showcase the tourism and industrial potential and unique culture of the region. He was supported by Cllr. J. Cronin.
The Director stated that he would discuss the issue with Dublin Regional Authority and report back to the Authority.
4. Proposed development of Docklands Area of Limerick.
A copy of the Report by Tom Kirby, Independent Chairman, was circulated at the meeting.
In reply to request from Cllr. J. Cronin, the Director stated that Tom Kirby would not be available to make a presentation on the Report to a meeting of the Regional Authority, until the Report had been discussed by the Board of Shannon Foynes Port Company.
Cllr. M. Taylor/Quinn requested that a representative from the Health and Safety Authority address a meeting of the Authority on the Seveso Directive.
5. N24 Prioritisation Study-Presentation by Mr. L. Conneally, Director.
The Director gave a report on the N24 Priority Study, which was a collaborative Report between the South East and the Mid West Regional Authorities and Local Authorities. He referred to the importance of the N24, which links the Atlantic Gateway Cities of Limerick and Waterford and pointed out that this route had not been included in Government’s Transport 21.
He stated that Colin Buchanan and Partners had been engaged to carry out the study. He stated that the Report identifies problems with the existing route and assesses it against current NRA appraisal guidelines.
He informed the meeting that the Cathaoirleach and Director from the two Regional Authorities and the Designated Manager from the South East Regional Authority would formally present the study to Mr. Fred Barry, NRA on 10th July 2008.
It was agreed to circulate the Report and place it as an agenda item for adoption at the next meeting.
6. The Milwaulkee Festival 2008.
The members noted the letter dated 3rd June 2008 from Cllr. Flan Garvey, Clare Tourist Council (copy of which was circulated with the agenda) regarding the Milwaulkee Festival, which will be held from 14th to 18th August 2008 at Milwaulkee, Wisconsin USA. Many Members referred to the benefits that would accrue from the Authority being represented at the Festival in particular the promotion of the tourism offer of the Mid West region.
It was proposed by Cllr. J. Sheehy, seconded by Cllr. C. Crowe and agreed unanimously that the Cathaoirleach and the Director should represent the Authority at the Festival.
7. Conferences.
(A) Annual Conference 2009.
The Director informed the meeting that the Conference/Finance sub committee were due to meet before the monthly meeting but would now meet after the meeting.
(B) Attendance at Conferences.
The attendance of Members at the following conferences was noted and approved:
McGill Summer School and Arts Week 12/19July 2008 Glenties, Donegal-Cllrs. E. Wade and C. Hurley.
Local Government Planning Service Conference on the 4/6th July 2008 in West Cork Hotel, Skibereen-Cllrs. James Houlihan (City) and G. Fahy.
FLAC Seminar on 20thJune 2008 in the Morrison Hotel, Dublin-Cllr. M. Lafferty.
Douglas Hyde Summer School, Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon on 4/6th July 2008-Cllr. P. Kennedy.
8. A.O.B.
Cllr. C. Hurley referred to the Limerick/Clare Munster Hurling Championship match which was played in Thurles and pointed out the game should have been played in Limerick to facilitate both sets of supporters.
The Director informed the meeting that the D.O.E.H. & L.G. had encouraged that the Review of the Regional Planning Guidelines should commence in September 2008.
He stated that the majority of the Regional Authorities had employed staff in house in 2004 to prepare the RPG’s/RES and they also intended to engage staff to carry out the Review of the RPG’s/ RES. The Director advised that the recruitment of inhouse staff to complete this statutory function was the most efficient and effective way of proceeding in terms of cost and quality control
He stated that he was in discussion with the Designated Manager regarding the recruitment of person at Senior Executive Planner level and would advise the Regional Authority on the progress of this work.
The Members agreed to this course of action.
The Director informed the meeting that Mr. Brendan Kenny, Limerick City Regeneration wished to keep the Authority advised and informed of developments in relation to the Limerick City Regeneration Project.
It was agreed to invite Mr. Kenny to address the September meeting of the Authority.
Some Members queried the number of houses purchased in the adjoining Local Authorities to accommodate residents whose houses were demolished as part of the regeneration programme.
It was agreed to await the presentation by Mr. Kenny at the September meeting and queries can then be addressed to Mr. Kenny.
The Director advised the Members that a Conference would be held on 25/26 September 2008 in the Old Ground Hotel Ennis as part of the Citizen First Project. The Theme of the Conference is “Citizen First-Using Technology to include ALL Citizens” and the fee for the Conference is €60.00.
He requested the support of the Members at the Conference.
This concluded the business of the meeting.
