Minutes of Monthly Meeting held on 25th January 2016 CHOMHAIRLE CHONTAE NA GAILLIMHE MINUTES OF MONTHLY MEETING OF GALWAY COUNTY COUNCIL HELD AT ÁRAS AN CHONTAE, ON MONDAY 25th JANUARY, 2016 AT 11.00 A.M. CATHAOIRLEACH: Cllr. P. Roche Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway I LATHAIR FREISIN: Cllrs. T.Broderick, D.Burke, J.Byrne, N.Byrne, S.Canney, J.Charity, D. Connolly, M. Connolly, S.O’Cualáin, J.Cuddy, S.Cunniffe, T.O’Curraoin, S.Donnellan, A.Donohue, M. Fahy, P. Feeney, G.Finnerty, M.Finnerty, T.Healy, M. Hoade, P.Hynes, D.Joyce, F.Kearney, P.Keaveney, D.Killilea, M.Kinane, M.Maher, E.Mannion, J. McClearn, K.McHugh, T.McHugh, M.Noone, A.Rabbitte, N.Thomas, S.O’Tuairisg, S.Walsh, T.Welby. Baill: Oifigigh: Mr. K. Kelly, Chief Executive (Interim); Messrs. J. Cullen, L. Gavin, P. Gavican, Directors of Services; Ms. C. McConnell, Acting Director of Service; Mr. G. Mullarkey, Head of Finance; Mr. M. Owens, County Secretary & Meetings Administrator; An tUas. P. O’Neachtain, Oifigeach Gaeilge; Ms. G. Healy, Staff Officer. Thosnaigh an cruinniú leis an paidir. RESOLUTIONS OF SYMPATHY 2125 Comh. Ó Tuairisg extended his sympathy to the parents and family of the late Declan Clyne who died tragically as a result of an accident recently. He stated that Declan was a former pupil of his and he was deeply saddened by the tragic news of his passing in the prime of his life. 1 Minutes of Monthly Meeting held on 25th January 2016 Comh. Ó Cualáin wished to be associated with the Resolution of Sympathy to the family of the late Declan Clyne. A resolution of sympathy was also extended to the following: Mr. Máirtín Ó Toole, Cill Chiaráin, Conamara, Co. na Gaillimhe. Marguerite & Paul Mellett, Lakeview, Moylough, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. Mrs. Carmel Walsh & Family, The Gables, Liskeavy, Milltown, Tuam, Co. Galway. Cllr. Sean Canney, Claretuam, Tuam, Co. Galway. Ms. Teresa Healy, Carnmore, Oranmore, Co. Galway. The Gill Family, Keamsella, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway. Mrs. Mary Canney, Belclare, Tuam, Co. Galway. Mrs. Geraghty, Derrymore, Caherlistrane, Co. Galway. Ms. Kay Ryder, Main Street, Headford, Co. Galway. Ms. Kathleen Burke, Knockdoe, Claregalway, Co. Galway. Ms. Bernadette Keane, Mullacuttra, Claregalway, Co. Galway. Mr. John Mara, The Quay, Kinvara, Co. Galway. Mr. & Mrs. Clyne & Family, Cor na Rón, Inverin, Co. Galway Ms. Rose Burke, Ballymote, Tuam, Co. Galway. Ms. Marie Clarke, Foxhall, Gurtymadden, Loughrea, Co. Galway. Mr. Gerry Flynn, Drim, Kylebrack, Loughrea, Co. Galway. The Cathaoirleach extended his congratulations to the Abbeyknockmoy Hurling Team who had progressed into the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Final to be played in Croke Park on Sunday 7th February, 2016 and he wished them luck and success in the All-Ireland stating that they had brought great honour and pride to their parish. Cllr. Donohue stated that he wished to bring an issue of concern to the Members attention. He said that a Meeting was held in Clonfert recently to discuss a planning application which had been lodged with the Council in relation to the development of a windfarm in the area. He said that Members of the Council were invited to attend and that also Members of the Oireachtas were present. His concern was that a Galway East T.D. who was present at the Meeting made a misleading comment that Galway Co. Council was on its knees financially due to the flooding event which occurred the previous month and the Deputy insinuated that as a result of financial difficulties, the Council might be influenced as regards a planning decision regarding the windfarm. He said that these remarks were misleading the public and the Deputy in question should apologise to the Council and the people who attended the Meeting. He also said that it was important that the public should be aware that expenditure incurred as a result of the flooding event would be recouped to the Council. 2 Minutes of Monthly Meeting held on 25th January 2016 The Chief Executive said that planning decisions are made only in the context of the County Development Plan and, in the case of windfarm development, the Council’s Wind Energy Strategy. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE MONTHLY MEETING HELD ON 16th DECEMBER 2015. 2126 The Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of the Council held on 16th December 2015, were approved by the Council and signed by the Cathaoirleach, on the proposal of Cllr. Maher, seconded by Cllr. T. McHugh. Arising from the Minutes, Cllr. Fahy asked if any progress had been made regarding the proposal he made at the December Meeting that the Council make a submission to the Department of the Gaeltacht to extend the Gaeltacht area to include all of South Galway. Mr. Owens replied by outlining a Briefing Document regarding Gaeltacht Areas Status which had been prepared for the information of the Members as a result of Cllr. Fahy’s proposal, as follows: GAELTACHT AREA DESIGNATION Gaeltacht areas have in the past been designated by Government order under the Ministers And Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1956. Orders were made under this Act in 1956, 1967, 1974 and 1982. These areas constitute the current Gaeltacht areas nationwide. The Act stipulates that the Government may from time to time by order determine to be Gaeltacht areas specified areas, being substantially Irish-speaking areas and areas contiguous thereto which, in the opinion of the Government, ought to be included in the Gaeltacht with a view to preserving and extending the use of Irish as a vernacular language. Following consultation with the Department of Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht for the purposes of this briefing document, it is not intended to add to the Gaeltacht Areas at the moment and the focus is on the more recent legislation, i.e. the Gaeltacht Act 2012. ACHT NA GAELTACHTA 2012 - GAELTACHT ACT 2012 Acht na Gaeltachta 2012 has two primary objectives, namely, to provide for a new definition for the Gaeltacht and to make amendments to the structure and functions of Údarás na Gaeltachta. Under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, it is envisaged that the Gaeltacht will in future be based on linguistic criteria instead of on geographic areas which has been the position to date. Language planning at community level will be central to the new definition of the Gaeltacht. Areas located outside the 3 Minutes of Monthly Meeting held on 25th January 2016 existing statutory Gaeltacht will be given the opportunity to achieve statutory recognition as Irish Language Networks or as Gaeltacht Service Towns, subject to fulfilling particular criteria. A statutory footing for the language planning process is provided in Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, which sets out the process by which communities in various areas can attain recognition as Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns or Irish Language Networks. Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas In line with the provisions of the Act, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has identified 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas. Under the Act, the existing Gaeltacht will be re-designated as Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas provided that language plans are agreed by the communities in the various areas in accordance with the language planning criteria prescribed under the Act. Údarás na Gaeltachta is responsible under the Act for supporting organisations with regard to the preparation and implementation of the language plans in the Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas. Gaeltacht Service Towns Gaeltacht Service Towns are towns in, or adjacent to, Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas which play a significant role in the delivery of public services and leisure, social and commercial amenities to those areas. Under the Act, a town must have a population of at least 1,000 people, according to the most recent census, to be considered as a Gaeltacht Service Town. Údarás na Gaeltachta or Foras na Gaeilge are responsible under the Act for supporting organisations in the preparation and implementation of language plans in the Gaeltacht Service Towns, depending on whether the town is situated within or outside Gaeltacht Language Planning Area. On foot of a consultation process conducted over the summer of 2014, the following towns have been selected by the DAHG as possible Gaeltacht Service Towns – conditional on language plans being agreed with the communities of the various towns in accordance with the prescribed language planning criteria under Acht na Gaeltachta 2012. County Town Donegal Letterkenny,An Clochán Liath (Dungloe) and Donegal Town. Mayo Béal an Mhuirthead (Belmullet),Castlebar and Ballinrobe. Galway Galway City and Clifden Kerry Daingean Uí Chúis, Tralee and Cahersiveen Cork Cork City and Macroom Waterford Dungarvan Meath Athboy and Navan The DAHG has agreed with Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge to commence the process with the towns of Letterkenny, Galway City and Daingean Uí Chúis. Irish Language Networks Irish Language Networks are areas which already have a basic critical mass of community and State support for the Irish language. Foras na Gaeilge is responsible under the Act for supporting organisations in the preparation and implementation of the language plans in the Irish Language Networks. 4 Minutes of Monthly Meeting held on 25th January 2016 Gaeilge Locha Riach approved as Irish Language Network Applicant Following guidance from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Acht na Gaeltachta 2012 Foras na Gaeilge requested expressions of interest in December 2014 for prospective applicants to prepare and implement language plans in areas which would be suitable for Irish Language Networks. The areas in question shall have community support for the Irish language and would, therefore, benefit from state support for Irish. On the 11 December the Board of Foras na Gaeilge approved the application of Gaeilge Locha Riach to proceed to the next stage of the selection process.