Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of the Mid West Regional Authority held at 1.30 P.M. on Wednesday 6th January 2010 in the Council Chamber, Clare County Council, Ennis.

Cllr. L. Walsh, Cathaoirleach presided.

Present:

Clare County Council:

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

 

Limerick City Council:

Cllrs. M. Hourigan, J. Leddin, K. Leddin and D. Mc Carthy.

 

Limerick County Council:

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

 

North Tipperary County Council:

(Budget Meeting)

 

Committee of the Regions: Cllr. C. Crowe.

 

Apologies: Cllrs. S. Hanafin and M. Ryan

 

Absent: Cllrs. R. Butler, P. Bugler, G. Darcy, G. Fahy, M. Lowry, V. O’Dowd, S. Scanlon and D. Scully,

Also Present.

Mr. T. Mackey, Designated Manager.

Mr. S. Treacy, Staff Officer.

Ms. M. Collins, E.U. Project Manager.

 

Apology: Mr. L. Conneally, Director.

 

At the outset of the meeting the Cathaoirleach proposed a vote of sympathy to the Liam Conneally, Director, on the recent death of his uncle.

 

1. Minutes.

The Minutes of (A) monthly meeting held on the 2nd December 2009 (B) Special meeting held on the 2nd December 2009 and (C) Finance/Conference sub-committee meeting held on the 2nd December 2009 were proposed by Cllr. J. Leddin seconded by Cllr. M. Hourigan and agreed as presented.

 

2. Matters Arising.

Cllr. P. J. Kelly requested that he provided with a copy of the submission on the Draft Planning Bill 2009 sent from the Regional Authority to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The Cathaoirleach referred to the meeting of the deputation with Aer Lingus representatives on the 16th December 2009. He said the deputation consisted of the Cathaoirleach, Director and four representatives from the Regional Authority and the four Mayors/Cathaoirligh.

He outlined the main issues raised by the deputation such as:

 

• Shannon Airport is a key economic driver in the region.
• Business and Tourism connectivity through the airport is vital to support the economic stability and future growth of the region.
• The region’s transport and infrastructure plans support and anticipate growth at the airport.
• Aer Lingus is central to the future of Shannon airport.
• Need for an early morning Aer Lingus service to the U.S.
• Need for competitive ticket pricing.
• Cost base at Shannon now competitive.
• Shannon well known positive brand in the USA.
• Extra based short haul aircraft potential for Shannon.
• Unified support exists in the region for Shannon Airport.

 

 

The Cathaoirleach stated that the meeting with the Aer Lingus representatives

had been very positive and the Members would be updated on the future

developments.

The delegation was complimented on their presentation. The need for autonomy

for Shannon Airport was raised.

 

3. Correspondence.

There was no correspondence for this meeting.

 

4. Regional Planning Guidelines (RPG’s)/Regional Economic Strategy

(RES)- Update Report.

The Members noted the schedule setting out the Legislation and Progress to date

regarding review of the Regional Planning Guidelines, copy of which had been

circulated with the agenda.

S. Treacy stated that advertisements had been placed in the Clare Champion,

Limerick Leader, Nenagh Guardian and Tipperary Star stating that Draft

Regional Planning Guidelines, an Environmental Report and a Habitats Directive

Assessment for the administrative areas of Clare County Council, Limerick City Council, Limerick County Council and North Tipperary County Council had been prepared.

Public Authorities, Community Organisations, Public and Private Agencies and the public generally are invited to make submissions regarding the Draft Regional Planning Guidelines, Environmental Report and Habitats Directive Assessment.

The closing date for receipt of submissions is Monday 1st March 2010.

He stated that a Director’s report on submissions received will then be prepared.

The report will in accordance with SI 100 of 2009:

(A) List the persons or bodies who made submissions under section 24 of the Act

as well as any persons or bodies consulted by the Regional Authority.

(B) Summarise the issues raised in the submissions and during the consultations

 as appropriate.

(C) Give the opinion of the Director on the issues raised taking account of the

proper planning and sustainable development for the whole of the region, the

statutory obligations of any local authority in the region and any relevant policies

or objectives for the time being of the Government or any Minister of the

Government, including the National Spatial Strategy and

(D) State the Director’s recommendations on the policies to be included in the

draft regional planning guidelines.

 

This report will then be submitted to the Members for their consideration.

Following consideration of the report the Members may issue directions to the

Director.   Any directions given by the Members must take account of the

proper planning and sustainable development for the whole of the region, the

statutory obligations of any local authority in the region and any relevant policies

or objectives for the time being of the Government or any Minister of the

Government, including the National Spatial Strategy and the Director shall

comply with such directions.

 

Cllr. P J Kelly stated that Clare County Council were currently reviewing their

Development Plan and would be making a submission as the Draft Regional

Planning Guidelines were hostile to the Clare County Development Plan.

 

5. Combating Antisocial Behaviour.

Cllr. J. Egan raised the issue of antisocial behaviour, which is now occurring in

every town and village and rural areas. He commiserated with the families of the

recent tragedies in Lissycasey and Longford. He stated that there was an urgent

need for a designated agency to take responsibility for the co-ordination of the

responses of the various bodies responsible for dealing with antisocial behaviour

such as the Gardai, HSE, Housing Authorities etc.

 

There was a long discussion on the problem of antisocial behaviour in particular

which agency is responsible for dealing with the problem. 

Amongst the issues raised were:

• Whether the housing of families under the Limerick Regeneration Project was causing problems in the adjoining Local Authorities.
• Who was responsible for problems (eg frozen pipes) occurring in houses where tenants are re-housed under the Limerick Regeneration Project.
• Antisocial behaviour is also occurring in privately purchased houses.
• The need to change the current rostering system for Gardai (need for greater numbers on duty at week-ends, outside Disco’s and Fast Food outlets etc.).
• The need to make greater use of the Auxiliary Garda Force.
• Who is responsible for vetting of tenants to be re-housed under the Limerick Regeneration Project.
• Problem will only be solved by providing sufficient funding to Community Groups, Gardai, H.S.E., Housing Authorities, Educational Authorities etc. to tackle the cause of antisocial behaviour.
• Lack of parental control is a cause of antisocial behaviour.
• The long delay in dealing with crimes committed.
• Punitive Code needs to be changed. Fear of punishment does not exist.
• Need for community work rather than prison to be imposed for antisocial behaviour.
• Alcohol/Drug abuse a major cause of antisocial behaviour.
• Suggestion that there should be a debate on the introduction of the capital punishment for certain crimes.
• The need for a study on the effect of the Limerick Regeneration Project on rural communities.

 

There was general agreement that antisocial behaviour was a nationwide problem.  It was pointed out that only a small percentage of the population was causing the problem.

The Designated Manager stated that the causes of antisocial behaviour/criminality are very complex and difficult to resolve. He pointed out the need to differentiate between criminality and antisocial behaviour. He referred to the need for integration of communities.  He stated that antisocial behaviour was still a major problem in countries where there was a higher percentage of imprisonment for antisocial behaviour.

 

The Cathaoirleach thanked the Members for their input into the discussion.

 

As this was an important issue the Members agreed to leave this item on the agenda for the next meeting for further debate.

 

 

6. Waste Management in the Mid West Region.

Cllr. B. Meaney requested that the Regional Authority should write to the

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government requesting that

the Regional Waste Plan areas under the Waste Management Act 1996 should

coincide with the Regional Authority areas.

Cllr. C. Crowe referred to the need to carry out an audit of how local authority

tenants in the four local authority areas dispose of their refuse.

Cllr. G. Flynn referred to the need for municipal waste to be retained/disposed

of within the region to make landfill sites in the region more economically viable.

 

It was agreed to leave this item on the agenda for the next meeting as Members

From North Tipperary County Council were not present due to a Budget meeting.

 

7. Committee of the Regions-Update report.

A Committee of the Regions Annual Report dated November 2009 from Cllr. C.

Crowe was circulated at the meeting.

Cllr. Crowe pointed out that Committee of the Regions members are nominated

for four year terms with the current mandate running until the end of January

2010.  He also stated that at present Ireland had nine Members but with the

adoption of the Lisbon Treaty the membership will reduce to eight.

 

It was agreed that Members would raise any queries they had on the report at

 the next meeting.

 

8. Conferences.

(A) Annual Conference 2010.

S. Treacy stated the Mid West Regional Authority annual conference will be held

on the 4/5th February 2010 in the Greenhill’s Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick.  The

theme of the conference is “Environmental Designations-Barriers or

Opportunities”.  A preliminary notice of the conference has been circulate to all

Regional Authorities, Regional Assemblies, Local Authorities and Town

Councils. The full list of speakers will be finalise and circulated in the next few

days.

 

He also stated that a meeting of the Finance/Conference sub-committee will be

arranged in the near future to promote the conference.

He also requested all Members of the Regional Authority to promote the

conference among their fellow Members around the country.

 

(B) There were no nominations for attendance at conferences at this meeting.

 

9. A.O.B.

It was agreed to place Local Authority responses to recent adverse weather

conditions (A) Flooding and(B) Frost/Snow and the lessons to be learned from

these events as an agenda item for the next monthly meeting.

 

 

This concluded the business of the meeting.