Minutes of Meeting of Monaghan County Council held in the Council Chamber, Mtek Building, Armagh Road, Monaghan on Monday 2nd February, 2015 at 10.00 a.m. Chair: Cllr Padraig McNally, Cathaoirleach Present: Cllrs. Bannigan, Bennett, Campbell, Carthy, Conlon, Connolly, Crowe, Gallagher, Keelan, Maxwell, McElvaney, B. McKenna, McPhillips, O’Hanlon, P. Treanor and S.Treanor. Mr. E. Cummins, Chief Executive, Mr. P. Clifford and Mr. A. King, Directors of Services, Mr. J. Murray, Head of Finance, Mr. A. Hughes, Senior Planner, Ms. D. Kierans, Executive Planner and Ms. C. Thornton, Meetings Administrator. Apology: Cllr S. Coyle. 1. Confirmation of Minutes: (i) On the proposal of Cllr. S. Treanor seconded by Cllr Maxwell, it was agreed that the minutes of Council meeting held on 12th January, 2015, be confirmed. (ii) On the proposal of Cllr. S. Treanor seconded by Cllr Maxwell, it was agreed that the minutes of the Special Council meeting held on 23rd January, 2015, be confirmed. 2. Correspondence. The following correspondence was circulated with the Agenda: Letter from the Private Secretary to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to commercial rates on childcare facilities. Letter from the Private Secretary to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the levying of rates on commercial properties to arrive at a more favourable rating system. Letter of acknowledgement from the Minister for Finance in relation to the Council’s resolution regarding re-instatement of funding for the Local Improvement Scheme. Letter from the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to Ireland 2016, a major national initiative to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. Resolution from the Ballybay-Clones M.D. proposing that the Council forms a sub- committee to engage with the rural community in their need and requests for broadband. The following correspondence was circulated at the meeting: Letter from the Minister for Transport regarding funding for regional and local roads in Monaghan. Letter from the Minister for Transport regarding funding for the Local Improvements Scheme. Letter from the Minister for Transport regarding the proposed N2 corridor from Clontibret to the Border. Annual Ethics Declaration: The members were circulated with the following documents: Circular Letter LG2/2015 dated 30 January 2015, together with Appendices 1 – 8 to Circular LG2/2015, the Code of Conduct for Councillors and the Annual Declaration Form. The members were advised by the Meetings Administrator of the importance of reading these documents and that each member should complete the annual ethics declaration form and return to the Ethics Registrar before 28th February, 2015. Proposals arising out of correspondence: On the proposal of Cllr P. Treanor, seconded by Cllr Gallagher, it was agreed that Monaghan County Council writes to the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government requesting that (a) a maximum grant for Housing Aid for Older People be restored to €10,500 and (b) the age limit for eligibility be retained at 60 and (c) the assessed means of household income be confined to the applicant and their spouse. On the proposal of Cllr Gallagher, seconded by Cllr P. Treanor it was agreed that this Council calls on the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, T.D., to revert to the lower age limit of 60 years and not 66 years in relation to eligibility of grants for Housing Aid for the Elderly. Also that all household income should not be included in the application it should only relate to the applicant and their spouses. On the proposal of Cllr Keelan, seconded by Cllr Crowe, it was agreed that this Council writes again to Pascal Donohoe, T.D., Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport requesting a separate fund is put in place for the re-surfacing of the laneways in the country as was the case in the past. These laneway are very important for rural communities especially. On the proposal of Cllr P. Treanor, seconded by Cllr Gallagher, it was agreed that Monaghan County Council writes to Minister Pascal Donohoe, T.D., pointing out that the reduction in road grants from €2.3bn in 2008 to €730 million this year, has meant the grievous deterioration of our local roads and requesting an increase in our allocation for 2015. Cllr Bennett proposed, Cllr P. Treanor seconded – that this Council writes again to the Minister for Social Protection and the Office of Public Works asking them to reconsider their latest decision to move the current Public Service Card Office out of Ballybay to Monaghan Town. Although no property was deemed up to the required standards of the OPW, with regard to planning permission, fire certification and physical works. This work is estimated to take one year and several properties could be adapted, if the people were given the time to enhance their properties. This decision could help prevent the loss of 30 jobs in Ballybay town. A vote by show of hands resulted in 15 for 0 against 1 abstention. The Cathaoirleach declared the proposal carried. Cllr Bennett proposed, Cllr B. McKenna seconded – that this Council writes again to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform requesting that all childcare facilities are exempt from rates. A vote by show of hands resulted in 13 for 3 against. The Cathaoirleach declared the proposal carried. On the proposal of Cllr Bennett, seconded by Cllr McElvaney, it was agreed that this Council forms a sub-committee to enhance broadband and initiate rural broadband schemes in County Monaghan. Cllr Conlon asked if notice of motion 16.10 could be taken at this point in conjunction with the consideration of the letter from the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the ‘Ireland 2016’ Celebrations. This was agreed. Cllr Conlon proposed, Cllr P. Treanor seconded “That this Council establish a committee to co-ordinate the organisation of civic events and celebrations to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising. That such committee be comprised of elected members of the Council together with support staff, tasked with ensuring that centenary events are conducted in an inclusive, dignified, reflective and educational manner.” In moving the motion, Cllr Conlon referred to the need to establish a committee to plan the celebrations – the committee should be all inclusive. Cllr P. Treanor stated that it was important that the events organised would be conducted in an inclusive and dignified manner. Mr. E. Cummins, Chief Executive stated that Ireland 2016 will include national and international events based on five intersecting themes – Remember; Reconcile; Imagine; Present and Celebrate. The Minister has established a dedicated Ireland 2016 Project Team in her Department and each local authority is required to appoint a dedicated ‘Ireland 2016’ Co- ordinator and to put in place a steering group to help shape and drive the county programme. The Minister has allocated €1m in funding across all local authorities. Mr. Cummins stated that a programme of events will be developed in the coming months. Cllr Conlon’s motion was put to the meeting and agreed. It was also agreed to await guidelines from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht prior to putting in place the steering committee. 3. To consider a Material Contravention of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2013-2019 regarding the omission of crèche with Coill Darach, Bree, Castleblayney (Ref 14/256). Mr. A. Hughes, Senior Planner, referred to the report from the Director of Planning Services dated 23 January 2015 and which had been circulated with the agenda for the meeting. He outlined the main provisions of the report and responded to queries from the members. Mr. Hughes stated that the Planning Authority is of the opinion that the development as proposed, although contrary to Policy HDP8 of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2013- 2019, is compliant with the relevant Ministerial Guidelines, relevant policies and objectives of the Government, or Minister of the Government and with the Regional Planning Guidelines. As such it is recommended that the elected members pass a resolution requiring that a decision to grant permission be made subject to the conditions outlined in the report. On the proposal of Cllr Campbell, seconded by Cllr Crowe, it was unanimously agreed that the Council approve a Material Contravention of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2013- 2019 to grant planning permission (Ref. 14/256) for development at Coill Darach Bree, Castleblayney, subject to the conditions outlined in the Director’s Report dated 23 January, 2015. 4. To approve list of newspapers to be used for giving notice of the intention to make a planning application. On the proposal of Cllr B. McKenna, seconded by Cllr Maxwell it was agreed that the following newspapers are approved in accordance with Part 4, Article 18(2) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2006 for use in Monaghan County Council for giving notice of the intention to make a planning application – Anglo Celt Northern Standard Irish Independent Irish Daily Star Irish Times Dundalk Democrat (Municipal District of Carrickmacross-Castleblayney only) 5. To receive Report on Unfinished Housing Developments. Ms. D. Kierans, Executive Planner gave a detailed report and presentation to the Council members on the current status of unfinished housing developments in the county. In her report Ms. Kierans stated that there are 20 Unfinished Housing Developments remaining on Monaghan County Council’s UHD Register – 5 in the Monaghan M.D., 6 in the Ballybay-Clones M.D. and a further 9 unfinished developments in the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney M.D. In addition, Ms. Kierans stated that a further 38 developments in the county are being monitored by the Council – 9 in the Ballybay-Clones M.D., 10 in the Monaghan M.D., and a further 9 developments in the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney M.D.