Minutes of the monthly meeting of the Mid West Regional Authority held at 1.30 P.M. on Tuesday 5th May 2009 in the Council Chamber, Limerick City Council, City Hall, Limerick.

Cllr. B. Hanrahan, Cathaoirleach presided.

In attendance:

Clare Co. Co.

Cllrs. P. Considine, J. Crowe, B. Hanrahan, M. Kelly and P. McMahon.

Limerick City Co.

Cllr. M. Byrne, J. Cronin, G. Fahy, P. Kennedy, and L. Wallace.

Limerick Co. Co.

Cllrs. E. Creighton, C. Hurley, E. Wade and L. Walsh.

North Tipperary Co. Co.

Cllrs. W. Kennedy, M. Ryan, J. Sheehy and M. Smith.

Apology: Cllr. J. Houlihan (Limerick Co.)

Absent: Cllrs. T. Berkery, R. Brennan, C. Crowe, L. Enright, J. Houlihan (Limerick City), M. Lafferty, J. Ryan and M. Taylor-Quinn.

Also Present.

Mr. L. Conneally, Director.

Mr. T. Mackey, Designated Manager

Mr. S. Treacy, Staff Officer

1. Minutes.

The Minutes of the monthly meeting held on 7th April 2009 were proposed by Cllr. P. Kennedy, seconded by Cllr. J. Sheehy and agreed as presented.

2. Correspondence.

The Members noted the following correspondence copy of which had been circulated with the Agenda:

(A) Letter dated 3rd April 2009 from Clare Co. Co. re Planning and Development Acts 2000-2006- Proposed Material Amendments to the Draft West Clare Local Area Plan 2009-2015.

(B) Letter dated 3rd April 2009 from Kinsale Town Council re: Notice of publication of Amended Draft Kinsale Town Development Plan 2009-2015.

(C) Acknowledgement dated 20th April 2009 from the Office of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of correspondence concerning Pallaskenry Agricultural College.

(D) Letter dated 27th April 2009 from RPS Consulting with written responses to queries raised at the monthly meeting on the 7th April 2009 regarding the Water Supply Project for the Dublin Region.

(E) Letter dated 21st April 2009 from Coillte requesting nominations for inclusion on the District S1 (includes South Limerick) Social and Environmental Panel.  The Director stated that the panel will have six to eight people, selected by an independent committee in association with Coillte from the nominations received.  It was agreed that Cllr. E. Wade would be the nomination for district S1.

The Director also stated that it is expected that nominations will be requested for the other Coillte Districts in the Mid West region.

The Members also noted:

 Letter dated 28th April 2009 from Longford Town Council re: Proposed Amendments of the Draft Longford Town Development Plan 2009-2015.

Cllr. P. Kennedy referred to the volume of correspondence particularly in relation to County, City and Town Council Development Plans.  It was agreed that in future a schedule of the correspondence received would be sent with the agenda and copies of correspondence would only be sent out when deemed appropriate by the Director.

3. Finance: Auditor’s Report on Accounts for Year Ended 31st December 2007.

The Members noted the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts for year ended 31st December 2007 copy of which had been circulated with the agenda.

The Director stated that the Finance/Conference sub-committee had examined the Accounts in detail prior to the monthly meeting on the 1st April 2008 and the Accounts were adopted, as recommended by the sub-committee, at the monthly meeting.

4. Regional Planning Guidelines-Director’s Report on submissions received on Draft Issues Paper.

The Members noted the Director’s Report on the submissions received on the Draft Issues Paper, copy of which was circulated with the Agenda.

It was unanimously agreed that the Director would now proceed with the preparation of the Draft Regional Planning Guidelines to be considered by the Members at the September monthly meeting.

Cllr. P. Kennedy complimented R. Tobin, RPG Project Manager, on his work on the Regional Planning Guidelines and referred to his commitment, dedication and openness as Senior Planner, Limerick City Council.

5. Attendance at Conferences.

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

Rural Development conference in the Blackwater Learning Centre, Emyvale, Co. Monaghan on the 8th May 2009-Cllrs. B. Hanrahan and E. Wade.

Trevor Bowen Literary Week End in Mitchelstown on the 1/3 May 2009-Cllr. E. Creighton.

Rethinking the Country Conference-The Transition from Dependency to Resilience in Tipperary Institute on the 27th April 2009-Cllr. M. Kelly.

LAMA Conference in the Heritage Hotel Portlaoise on the 16/17th April 2009-Cllr. C. Hurley.

6. A.O.B.

It was agreed that the June monthly meeting will be held at 11.30 A.M. on Tuesday 2nd June 2009 (North Tipperary County Council).

Cllr. P. Considine referred to the Forfás/National Competitiveness Council “Our Cities: Drivers of National Competitiveness” report and its implication for the Mid West region.  It was agreed to circulate a copy of the Executive Summary with the Agenda for the next meeting.

This concluded the business of the meeting.