Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of the Mid West Regional Authority held at 11.00 A.M. on Friday 4th June 2010 in the Council Chamber, Limerick City Council, City Hall, Limerick.

Cllr. L. Walsh, Cathaoirleach presided.

Present:

Clare County Council:

Cllrs. G. Flynn, O. Garry, P. Keane, P.J. Kelly, P. McMahon , B. Meaney and S. Scanlon

 

Limerick City Council:

Cllrs. G. Fahy, M. Hourigan, J. Leddin and K. Leddin, 

 

Limerick County Council:

Cllrs. M. Donegan, N. Gleeson, S. Keary, W. O’Donnell and L. Walsh.

 

North Tipperary County Council:

Cllrs. P. Bugler, G. Darcy, S. Hanafin, M. Lowry, V. O’Dowd and M. Ryan.

 

 

Absent: Cllrs. R. Butler, J. Egan, D. Mc Carthy and D. Scully.

 

Also Present.

Mr. L. Conneally, Director

Mr. S. Treacy, Staff Officer.

 

Apology:

Mr. T. Mackey, Designated Manager.

 

At the outset of the meeting it was proposed by Cllr. P. Keane, seconded by Cllr. G. Darcy and agreed unanimously that Standing Orders be suspended and that the June Monthly Meeting be held at 11.00 A.M. on Friday 4th June 2010.

1. Minutes.

The Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on the 5th May 2010 were proposed by Cllr. W. O’Donnell, seconded by Cllr. S. Keary and agreed as presented.

 

2. Matters Arising-  None.

   

3. Correspondence.

The Members noted the following correspondence schedule, copy of which had been circulated with the agenda:

(A) Letter dated 11th May 2010 from Mr. Tony Killeen T.D., Minister for Defence, re removal of €10 Travel Tax.

(B) Letter dated 11th May 2010 from Mr. Timmy Dooley T. D. re removal of €10 Travel Tax.

(C)Letter dated 12th May 2010 from Mr. Pat Breen T.D. re removal of €10 Travel Tax.

(D) Letter dated 12th May 2010 from Mr. Joe Carey T.D. re removal of €10 Travel Tax.

(E) Letter dated 14th May 2010 from Ms. Jan O’Sullivan T.D. re removal of €10 Travel Tax.

(F) Letter dated 4th May 2010 from Galway County Council re: Notification to Public Authorities of Publication of Western River Basin Management Plan.

(G) Letter dated 5th May 2010 from Carlow County Council re: Southern River Basin Management Plan.

(H) Letter dated 10th May 2010 from Carlow County Council re; Variation Carlow County Development Plan 2009.

(I) Letter dated 13th May 2010 from the NRA regarding litter on national roads.

(J) Letter dated 4th May 2010 from Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurance and the attached Audited Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet for the year ended 31st December 2009.

(K) Letter dated 11th May 2010 from Mr. Peter Power T.D., Minister of State, re removal of €10 Travel Tax.

(L) Letter dated 11th May 2010 from Mr. John Cregan T.D. re removal of €10 Travel Tax.

(M) Letter dated 20th May 2010 from North Tipperary Co. Co. re Review of County Development Plan 2010-2016.

(N) Letter from Dell Redundant Workers Association re Seminar in Limerick for Public Representatives on Saturday 12th June 2010.

(O) Reply from the National Transport Authority regarding the Rosslare-Waterford-Limerick rail line.

(P) Letter dated 24th May 2010 from Mr. Michael Noonan T.D. re removal of €10 Travel Tax.

(Q) Letter dated 26th May 2010 from Mr. Joe Carey T.D. re removal of €10 Travel Tax.

 

The Members also noted the following correspondence.

(A) Letter dated 2nd June 2010 from Kerry Co. Co. re Notice of Variation No. 3 of Kerry County Development Plan 2009-2015.

(B) Letter dated 1st June 2010 from Mr. Timmy Dooley T.D. re Removal of €10 Travel Tax.

(C) Letter dated 26th May 2010 from Flan Garvey, P.R.O. of Clare Tourist Council regarding Milwaulkee Irish Festival on the 19th/21st August 2010.

It was proposed by Cllr. M. Ryan, seconded by Cllr. S. Scanlon and agreed that the Cathaoirleach and the Director should represent the Regional Authority at the festival.

 

4. Regional Planning Guidelines (RPG’s)/Regional Economic Strategy (RES).  Update Report from Workshop held on the 2nd June 2010.

The Director stated that the November 2009 Draft Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022 will be amended to take account of the issues raised by the Members at the Workshop on the 2nd June 2010 and the Revised Draft Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022 will be presented at the July monthly meeting.

  

5. Office Accommodation- Mid West Regional Authority.

 

The Members noted the Director’s Report on Office Accommodation for the Mid West Regional Authority, copy of which had been circulated with the agenda.

Some Members again expressed dissatisfaction at the proposal to move the offices from Nenagh to Limerick while others welcomed the proposal. Queries were raised regarding the heating, cleaning and caretaking costs in both the existing and proposed locations.

Following a discussion it was agreed that the Director should attempt to  renegotiate with the existing landlord and check if he is prepared to match the offer of Limerick City Council of €12,000 per annum and report back to the next meeting. 

Queries were raised regarding the need for a resolution to change the base of the Mid West Regional Authority from Nenagh and whether a two thirds majority was required to amend an existing resolution.

The Director agreed to check out the requirement for a two thirds majority to amend an existing resolution.

 

6. Staffing –Mid West Regional Authority.

The Director advised the Members of the difficulties he has encountered in getting approval to replace Regional Authority Staff because of the embargo on staff recruitment.

It was agreed that a delegation consisting of the Cathaoirleach, Director and Cllr. B. Meaney should meet Mr. John Gormley T.D. Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to resolve the issue.

 

7. Rail Infrastructure in the Mid West region.

The Cathaoirleach stated that he had requested that this item be place on the agenda but that the matter had, in the meantime, been addressed at the RPG Workshop on the 2nd June 2010 and will be included in the RPG’s.

Some Members referred to the importance of protecting the rail routes in the local authority development plans.

 

8. Agree date of AGM.

It was agreed that the AGM would be held on Wednesday 14th July 2010.

 

9. Attendance at Conferences.

The attendance of Members at the following conferences was noted and approved.

WSNTG conference on the 26/28th May 2010 in the Majestic Hotel, Tramore, Co. Waterford-Cllr. M. Ryan.

 

10. A.O.B- None.

 

This concluded the business of the meeting.