MINUTES OF MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN ÁRAS AN CHONTAE, CASTLEBAR, ON MONDAY, 12th SEPTEMBER, 2016, AT 3.00 p.m. ------
The Cathaoirleach, Cllr. A. McDonnell, was in the Chair.
The other Councillors present were:-
Cllrs. N. Cruise, G. Ginty, M. Loftus, J. Munnelly, A.M. Reape, M. Smyth, S. Weir, C. Burke, F. Durcan, B.K. Gavin, H. Kenny, M. Kilcoyne, M. McLoughlin, T. Ruane, J. Caulfield, T. Connolly, J. Cribbin, G. Murray, P. O’Brien, D. Ryan, G. Coyle, M. Holmes, T. McGuire, P. McNamara, B. Mulroy, T. Whelan.
Apology received from Cllr. J. O’Hara for inability to attend the Meeting.
The Council Staff in attendance were:-
Mr. P. Hynes, Chief Executive, Mr. J. Loftus, Dir. of Services, Mr. J. Condon, Meetings Administrator, Mr. P. Duggan, Head of Finance, Mr. T. Gilligan, Dir. of Services, Ms. J. Grehan, Dir. of Services, Mr. M. Keating, Sen. Ex. Officer, Mr. I. Moran, Senior Engineer, Ms. C. Kenny, Asst. Staff Officer. ------
ITEM NO. 1. MIONTUAIRISCI DE CRUINNIÚ COMHAIRLE CHONTAE MHAIGH EO A BHÍ AR SIÚL AR AN 18ú IÚIL, 2016, A DEIMHNIU. TO CONFIRM MINUTES OF MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 18 th JULY, 2016.
Mhol Comhairleoir D. Ryan Chuid Comhairleoir M. Kilcoyne leis Ghlacu leis an tairiscint:- “Go n-aontaiomar le Miontuairisci de Cruinniú Comhairle Chontae Mhaigh Eo a bhí ar siúl ar an 18ú Iúil, 2016”.
Proposed by Cllr. D. Ryan Seconded by Cllr. M. Kilcoyne Resolved:- “That Minutes of Mayo County Council Meeting held on 18th July, 2016, be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record”.
ITEM NO. 2. TO HEAR UPDATE ON CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SITUATION IN THE COUNTY.
Mr. T. Gilligan, Dir. of Services, outlined details of this Item to the Members.
Mr. I. Moran, Senior Engineer, gave a Presentation in relation to the Cryptosporidium situation in the County and the measures which Mayo County Council was taking in order to have the Boil Notice lifted as early as possible.
Following the Presentation, various concerns raised by the Members were replied to by Mr. Moran. - 2 -
ITEM NO. 3. TO CONSIDER VARIATION OF BASE RATE OF LOCAL PROPERTY TAX.
Proposed by Cllr. D. Ryan Seconded by Cllr. M. Kilcoyne Resolved:- “That the base rate of Local Property Tax remain unchanged for 2017”.
ITEM NO. 4. TO APPROVE OF THE RAISING OF A LOAN OF €4,200,000 FOR HOUSE PURCHASE AND IMPROVEMENT LOANS.
Mr. P. Duggan, Head of Finance, outlined details of this Item to the Members.
Proposed by Cllr. M. Loftus Seconded by Cllr. M. Kilcoyne Resolved:- “That we hereby approve of the raising of a Loan of €4,200,000 for House Purchase and Improvement Loans”.
ITEM NO. 5. TO FILL THE VACANCY ON THE CULTURAL, EDUCATION, HERITAGE, CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEE CREATED BY THE RESIGNATION OF MS. MARY HEANUE.
Proposed by Cllr. B. Mulroy Seconded by Cllr. D. Ryan Resolved:- “That Mr. Diarmuid Mulcahy, Inishturk Community Centre, Inishturk, Co. Galway (Social Inclusion), be appointed to fill the vacancy on the Cultural, Education, Heritage, Corporate Affairs and Emergency Services Strategic Policy Committee created by the resignation of Ms. Mary Heanue”.
ITEM NO. 6. TO APPROVE OF THE DISPOSAL OF LAND AT CLARE, CLAREMORRIS, CO. MAYO, TO N17 MAYO PLAZA LIMITED, GALWAY ROAD, BALLINDINE, CLAREMORRIS, CO. MAYO, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 183 NOTICE DATED 31 st AUGUST, 2016, ALREADY CIRCULATED.
It was agreed to defer this Item.
ITEM NO. 7. TO RECEIVE A DEPUTATION FROM THE IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS (THIS PRESENTATION IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE AT 5.00 p.m.)
This Item was dealt with later in the Meeting.
ITEM NO. 8. CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S MANAGEMENT REPORT.
Proposed by Cllr. M. Kilcoyne Seconded by Cllr. M. Smyth Resolved:- - 3 -
“That Chief Executive’s Management Report, as circulated, be noted”.
ITEM NO. 9. TO NOTE REPORT(S) ON CONFERENCE(S) ATTENDED BY MEMBER(S) OF THE COUNCIL.
Proposed by Cllr. T. Connolly Seconded by Cllr. D. Ryan Resolved:- “That Report(s) on Conference(s) attended by Members of the Council, as circulated, be noted”.
ITEM NO. 10. TO NOTE MINUTES OF CULTURAL, EDUCATION, HERITAGE, CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 29 th MARCH, 2016.
Proposed by Cllr. D. Ryan Seconded by Cllr. J. Cribbin Resolved:- “That Minutes of Cultural, Education, Heritage, Corporate Affairs and Emergency Services Strategic Policy Committee Meeting held on 29th March, 2016, be noted”.
ITEM NO. 11. TO NOTE MINUTES OF ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 21 st APRIL, 2016.
Proposed by Cllr. A.M. Reape Seconded by Cllr. C. Burke Resolved:- “That Minutes of Roads and Transportation Strategic Policy Committee Meeting held on 21st April, 2016, be noted”.
ITEM NO. 12. TO NOTE MINUTES OF WEST MAYO MUNICIPAL DISTRICT MEETINGS HELD ON 20 th JUNE, 2016.
Proposed by Cllr. T. McGuire Seconded by Cllr. B. Mulroy Resolved:- “That Minutes of West Mayo Municipal District Meetings held on 20th June, 2016, be noted”.
ITEM NO. 13. TO CONSIDER NOMINATING REPRESENTATIVES TO ATTEND LOCAL AUTHORITY MEMBERS ASSOCIATION AUTUMN TRAINING SEMINAR TO BE HELD IN THE WESTLODGE HOTEL, BANTRY, CO. CORK, ON 30 th SEPTEMBER AND 1 st OCTOBER, 2016.
The Council were informed of the estimated cost of sending a Delegate to this Seminar. - 4 -
Proposed by Cllr. J. Munnelly Seconded by Cllr. B.K. Gavin Resolved:- “That Cllrs. C. Burke, T. Connolly, G. Coyle, J. Cribbin, N. Cruise, R. Finn, C. Hyland, H. Kenny, M. Kilcoyne, M. McLoughlin, B. Mulroy, P. O’Brien, J. O’Hara, A.M. Reape, D. Ryan, S. Weir and T. Whelan be nominated to attend Local Authority Members Association Autumn Training Seminar to be held in the Westlodge Hotel, Bantry, Co. Cork, on 30th September and 1st October, 2016”.
AILG “In Service” Training – Galway – 6 th September, 2016.
Proposed by Cllr. T. Connolly Seconded by Cllr. D. Ryan Resolved:- “That the attendance of Cllrs. C. Burke and M. Smyth at Association of Irish Local Government “In Service” Training – “Module 4 2016 – Local Authority Housing & The National Action Plan for Housing July 2016 – A Briefing for Elected Members” – held in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Co. Galway, on 6th September, 2016, be hereby approved”.
I.P.I. Seminar – Dublin – 29 th September, 2016.
Proposed by Cllr. A.M. Reape Seconded by Cllr. M. Kilcoyne Resolved:- “That Cllrs. J. Caulfield, N. Cruise, R. Finn and D. Ryan be nominated to attend Irish Planning Institute Seminar – “Planning and Architectural Conservation Areas” – to be held in the O’Callaghan Alexander Hotel, 41 – 47 Fenian Street, Dublin, 2, on 29th September, 2016”.
NOTICES OF MOTION. ------
It was agreed to deal with Notice of Motion (f), as listed on the Agenda, first.
(f) Proposed by Cllr. T. Ruane Seconded by Cllr. G. Ginty Resolved:- “Mayo County Council calls for the immediate release of Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa from detention by Presidential Decree under Law 140 from President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to allow Ibrahim to return to Ireland immediately. This Council notes that - Ibrahim Halawa has been detained without due process in Egypt for three years since being arrested as a 17 year old child; This is an unacceptable breach of his basic human rights and that the conditions of his imprisonment are of grave concern, causing huge suffering and trauma to Ibrahim, particularly given his young age; His trial date has been adjourned fourteen times and is due to resume in October; Ibrahim Halawa has been designated by Amnesty International as a Prisoner of Conscience;
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European Parliament passed a Resolution by 566 votes to 11, calling for his immediate release; Dáil Eireann has passed a unanimous Cross Party Motion calling for his release”.
(a) Proposed by Cllr. M. Smyth Seconded by Cllr. D. Ryan Resolved:- “That the Members of Mayo County Council consider sending a Delegation to England at the invitation of the South Yorkshire Local Authority in relation to the establishment of a Local Authority controlled company that will investigate the viability and delivery of NGA (Next Generation Access) to Broadband in the rural towns of Mayo and, in particular, deliver a fibre network that will service Ireland West Airport Knock”.
(b) “That Mayo Co. Council urgently contact the Minister for Housing to review urgently the Incremental House Purchase Scheme 2016 in order to address anomalies in that Scheme”.
It was agreed to defer this Notice of Motion to the October Meeting of the Council.
(c) Proposed by Cllr. J. Munnelly Seconded by Cllr. M. Holmes Resolved:- “Requesting the Chief Executive to provide a full Report to the Elected Members of Mayo County Council on the closure of the two Landfills operated by the Council (at Rathroeen and Derrinumera) and of plans to maintain these facilities into the future”.
Mr. T. Gilligan, Dir. of Services, replied to queries raised by the Members in relation to this Notice of Motion.
(d) Proposed by Cllr. J. Munnelly Seconded by Cllr. T. Ruane Resolved:- “Requesting that Mayo County Council provide for, as part of a 3 year pilot basis, funding for the post of a Film Officer to be employed by Mayo County Council. The employment of such an Officer is an objective of the Corporate Affairs SPC of Mayo County Council, and a resolution to employ a Film Officer has received the unanimous support of this Committee”.
Mr. P. Hynes, Chief Executive, spoke on this Notice of Motion.
(e) Proposed by Cllr. F. Durcan Seconded by Cllr. M. Holmes Resolved:- (a) “That the Members resolve to call on the Minister for Health to immediately provide extra space to accommodate people having to attend the A & E Department at Mayo University Hospital;
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(b) That rather than have patients on trolleys to be left in the corridor of the A & E Department of Mayo University Hospital, that adequate space be provided by way of a suitable Hospital Ward as a matter of priority; (c) That adequate fully qualified experienced Doctors be provided in the A & E Department together with an adequate supply of Nurses”.
(f) Notice of Motion (f), as listed on the Agenda, was already dealt with.
ITEM NO. 7. TO RECEIVE A DEPUTATION FROM THE IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS (THIS PRESENTATION IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE AT 5.OO p.m.).
Mr. Liam Berney, Industrial Officer, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, gave a Presentation to the Members on the Congress Charter for Fair Conditions at Work.
The Cathaoirleach thanked Mr. Berney for his Presentation.
Proposed by Cllr. J. Munnelly Seconded by Cllr. J. Cribbin Resolved:- “That the sympathy of the Council be extended to Councillor Gerry Coyle on the recent death of his Brother-in-Law, Pat Lally”.
Proposed by Cllr. J. Munnelly Seconded by Cllr. D. Ryan Resolved:- “That Best Wishes be extended to Mayo in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final against Dublin on Sunday, 18th September, 2016”.
The Meeting concluded at 6.00 p.m.