2007 { annual report } tuarascáil bhliantúil Limerick County Council Comhairle Chontae Luimnigh { contents } A Few Words from the Cathaoirleach Community & Enterprise, and County Manager . .4 Human Resources & Corporate Services . .18 Community & Enterprise . .18 Members of Limerick County Council . .6 Library . .25 County Arts Office . .27 Council Members and Meetings . .8 Human Resources . .28 Corporate Services . .29 Corporate Policy Group . .8 General Administration . .34 Committees of the Council . .8 Freedom of Information . .34 Strategic Policy Committees . .9 Internal Audit . .34 Representation on other Bodies . .11 Workplace Partnership . .35 Service Indicators . .36 Civic Receptions 2007 . .13 Planning & Development . .37 Highlights of 2007 . .14 Service Indicators . .41 Housing . .43 Service Indicators . .46 Transportation and Water Services . .47 Roads . .47 Water Services . .52 2007 Service Indicators . .55 { Mission Statement } To enhance the lives of the people of County Limerick through the efficient delivery of accessible quality services, with a focus on social inclusion and the promotion of sustainable balanced development. annual report 2007 Environment, Emergency Services Limerick County Council Structure and and Consumer Affairs . .56 Organisational Chart . .82 Environment . .56 Emergency Services . .61 Building Standards . .62 Appendices Veterinary Services . .62 Civil Defence . .63 Appendix 1 Conferences/Seminars attended Water Safety . .64 by the Members in 2007 . .83 Corporate Projects . .65 Service Indicators . .66 Appendix 2 Contact Details for Limerick County Council . .85 Finance, Information Systems & Motor Taxation . .68 Appendix 3 Finance . .68 Principal Officers of Limerick Information Systems . .72 County Council 2007 . .86 Motor Taxation . .73 Service Indicators . .74 Area Office Development . .75 Bruff/Castleconnell . .76 Kilmallock . .77 Newcastle West . .78 Rathkeale . .80 Limerick County Council 3 { A Few Words from the Cathaoirleach and the County Manager } It is with great pleasure that we introduce the Annual Report of The details of the Council’s achievements are set out under each Limerick County Council for 2007. This report contains Directorate’s report but we would like to take this opportunity to information about the services provided by the Council, its highlight some of the very important work which was carried out elected members and departments. on behalf of the people of County Limerick during the year. 2007 saw major progress in relation to the Council’s Capital 2007 was another very busy year for this Council during which Building Programme. Several projects came to a very successful we continued to work towards our goal to improve the economic, conclusion while several are continuing to go through statutory social and cultural life of our communities. The scale and processes including detailed design and Part VIII processes. diversity of the activities for the year reflect the ongoing Completed projects included the Rathkeale Area Office, Library development of Limerick as a vibrant and attractive County. The and dedicated Arts Centre; Lissanalta House, Dooradoyle and a progress achieved is clearly visible from the various reports on new Civil Defence Building at Annacotty. Ongoing projects the activities contained in this Annual Report. include the Kilmallock Area Office and Library and Kilmallock Fire Station. Both of these projects have gone through the Part VIII During the year, the Council continued to implement an planning process. Limerick County Council is acutely aware of ambitious programme of modernisation in accordance with the the need to deliver a modern and comprehensive system of local principles established in “Better Local Government – A government. The construction of new area offices/public Programme for Change.” The various policies and objectives as buildings forms part of the Council’s ongoing efforts to provide set out in the Corporate Plan 2004-2009 continued to provide a services that are immediately accessible for members of the framework underpinning our activities. public throughout Limerick. National Service Indicators were introduced in 2004 and While the provision of infrastructure is essential for the comparable figures are now available and published in this development of our county, a number of advances were also Annual Report for 2007 and 2006. Local Government is leading made in the quality of life area, which are of equal importance. To the way in publishing such indicators which reflects our mention but a few initiatives, we are delighted with the commitment to being accountable for our performance. completion of work on the Askeaton Swimming Pool and Leisure Customer consultation processes were undertaken to provide Centre which opened its doors for business in August. Work also feedback etc. on our services so that we can ensure our commenced on the new amenity park in Castletroy. As part of response is tailored to meet the specific needs of our customers. 4 annual report 2007 the Council’s Playground Scheme, a children’s playground was Ballysimon to Pallasgreen Strategic Plan was finalised and developed in Cappamore and tenders for the upgrade of the submitted to the NRA for approval. The programme for the children’s playground at Abbeyfeale were also sought during the repair and improvement of non-national roads continues. We are year. Other works carried out during the year included the conscious of the importance of these roads to the local construction of mountain bike trails in the Ballyhoura Mountains communities they serve. and upgrading of the facilities at Curragh Chase Forest Park. This is just a snapshot of some of the important work carried out During 2007 further progress on the Council’s ambitious House on behalf of the people of County Limerick and a more detailed Building Programme was achieved with the completion of 86 analysis is set out in the report itself. houses, the purchase of a further 34 at various locations throughout the County and the provision of 4 demountable type The significant progress achieved during 2007 could not have dwellings. Works were also progressed in the Traveller been possible without the hard work, dedication and teamwork of Accommodation, Homeless Services and Estate Management our Members, Management and Staff-both indoor and outdoor, Programmes. 2007 also saw the setting up of County Limerick together with the many representatives of other state agencies, Housing Services Company. This pilot initiative will run for 3 local community groups and the general public. The continued years. It aims to deliver a variety of services to members of development of a modern, vibrant organisation, capable of Voluntary Housing Associations in the County. Services will providing a range of quality services to the people of County include Housing Management/Maintenance, Planned Limerick, is dependent on these partnerships. We look forward Maintenance and Housing Care & Development. in the coming year to continuing our important work and to building our relationships with the citizens of County Limerick. In the field of transportation and infrastructure work continues on We will continue to strive towards making County Limerick a a number of projects. Significant progress was made on the unique and special place to live, work and visit with growing Limerick Southern Ring Road Phase II (Limerick Tunnel Project). opportunities for everyone. This is one of the biggest civil engineering projects ever undertaken in the region and is scheduled for completion in 2010. Work also continued on the N7 Nenagh to Limerick High Quality Dual Carriageway and the Constraints Study for the N21 Abbeyfeale to Adare was progressed. Furthermore, the N24 Kevin Sheahan, Cathaoirleach Ned Gleeson, County Manager Limerick County Council 5 Cathaoirleach Leas Chathaoirleach 2007 – 2008 2007 – 2008 { Members of Limerick County Council } Kevin Sheahan Brigid Teefy Bruff Electoral Area Castleconnell Electoral Area Rose Brennan Richard Butler Noel Gleeson Mary Harty 14, Park Avenue, Dooradoyle Road, Cullenagh, Corelish West, Adare, Dooradoyle, Cappamore, Pallasgrean, Co. Limerick (PD) Co. Limerick. (FG) Co. Limerick. (FF) Co. Limerick. (FG) John Clifford Cormac Hurley Leo Walsh Leas Chathaoirleach Crean, Bruff, 94, Sheelin Road, Lower Raheen, Brigid Teefy Kilmallock, Caherdavin Park, Ballyneety, Ballybricken, Grange, Co. Limerick. (FF) Co. Limerick. (FG) Co. Limerick. (FG) Co. Limerick. (PD) James Cavanagh Leonard Enright Mary Jackman Noreen Ryan Graigue, Ballyanrahan, Newtown, Lacka, Castleconnell, Adare, Patrickswell, Castletroy, Co. Limerick. (FF) Co. Limerick. (FF) Co. Limerick. (FF) Co. Limerick. (FG) Deirdre Ní Chinnéide Eddie Wade 7 Doonbeirne Drive, Cahernorry, Ballingarry, Drombanna, Co. Limerick. (Lab) Co. Limerick. (FF) 6 annual report 2007 Castleconnell Rathkeale Bruff Newcastle Kilmallock Kilmallock Electoral Area Newcastle Electoral Area Rathkeale Electoral Area Eddie Creighton John Gallahue Michael Collins Francis Foley John Griffin David Naughton 9, St. Joseph’s Main Street, Ballinvallig, 2 Foxfield, Elliswood, Main Street, Ballysteen, Terrace, Hospital, Ballylanders, Newcastle West, Killarney Road, Rathkeale, Askeaton, Co. Limerick. (PD) Co. Limerick. (FF) Co. Limerick. (FF) Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick. (FF) Co. Limerick. (FG) Co. Limerick. (FF) Patrick McAuliffe James Houlihan Patrick O’Donovan Jerome Scanlan John Sheahan Cathaoirleach Railway Road, Stylepark, Bruree, Churchtown Road, Ballydonnell, Ballyguiltenane,