CCoommhhaaiirrllee CCoonnttaaee MMhhuuíínneeaacchhááiinn MMoonnaagghhaann CCoouunnttyy CCoouunncciill TTuuaarraassccááiill BBhhlliiaannttúúiill 22001144 AAnnnnuuaall RReeppoorrtt 22001144 Contents Cathaoirleach’s Message & Introduction by Chief Executive Members of Monaghan County Council Housing and Building Roads and Transportation Motor Taxation Water Services Finance Governance & Corporate Affairs Planning & Economic Development Tourism Community Development Environment Fire Service Building Control Civil Defence Service Library Service County Museum Arts Office Human Resources Management Council Committees Number of meetings held in 2014 Seminars & Conferences attended by Members Payments made to Elected Members Ballybay-Clones Municipal District Monaghan Municipal District Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District General Information 1 Cathaoirleach’s message 2014 will be recorded as the year of great change and reform within the Local Authority sector. Following the local elections in May, I was greatly honoured to be elected as Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council and I would like to thank my Fianna Fáil party colleagues and fellow councillors for giving me this opportunity. I would also like to acknowledge the appointment of Eugene Cummins, who arrived in the Council in January 2014, and who had the distinction of being the last person to hold the position of County Manager, and the first person to hold the title of Chief Executive. Monaghan County Council, through the implementation of ‘Putting People First’, has a broader role and a much greater responsibility in the expansion of existing businesses, creating new enterprise and increasing local employment opportunities. Our Mission Statement is ‘to maximise and drive economic, community and cultural development within our county and provide high quality sustainable public services and infrastructure. We do this in an open, inclusive manner in partnership with our stakeholders’. June 2014 saw the reduction in elected members as a whole, and a move to greater decision making at local level for elected representatives and communities, enabling us to become more responsive to local needs and circumstances. Through this we will help to develop sustainable, vibrant and viable communities. Our added responsibilities include the bringing together of local communities, public sector bodies, the voluntary sector and elected members to develop, co-ordinate, and implement a coherent and integrated approach to local and community development. With an escalating regulatory system, Monaghan County Council must change and adapt to an increasing influence emerging from both the EU, and the Irish government. We must abide by various directives, acts, regulations, guidelines and circulars in order to meet legislation, regulation and directives, whilst simultaneously trying to meet the needs of its citizens. 2014 was also seen as a sad year in local politics, as it was with shock and sorrow that we lost both a sitting Councillor - Owen Bannigan, RIP and a former Councillor - Willie Mc Kenna, RIP. Owen and Willie gave many years of dedicated service as elected members of Monaghan County Council. Willie will also be remembered for establishing and maintaining the twinning links between Monaghan and Canada. They are missed greatly by all their Council colleagues and staff. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anamacha dilís. With the abolition of our five Town Councils, I would like to pay tribute to all Town Councillors for their democratically elected representational service to their constituent, and to the staff who worked diligently over the years. Padraig Mc Nally Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council 2 Introduction – Chief Executive The 2014 Annual Report is a defining report in the history of Local Government, marking as it does the end of one era, essentially “the old way of doing business” and clearly identifying a new era and with it a “a new way of doing business. The Local Government Reform Act 2014 brought an end to Town Council Government in Ireland and has given effect to a more focused and effective regime of Local Government where the elected member has a more prominent and pre-imminent role in leading the County into a modern era where economic and community development are the frame within which the elected members and staff are charged with developing the County. For Monaghan County Council the Local Government Reform Act 2014 has reduced the number of elected members from 65 to 18. The Act too has seen the creation of the Public Participation Network making for a more accountable and transparent form of Local Government where local issues are managed through the Municipal District structure thereby freeing up the full Council to concentrate on strategic issues. For the staff of Monaghan County Council the Reform Act has also given effect to the biggest change ever seen in their working lives. For most staff it has meant new duties, in some cases a new place of work and for all a complete new focus on community development and involvement in all areas if economic activity. The recessionary times continues to bring budgetary contraction and a further reduction in staff numbers whilst at the same time the level of service expectation from the public continues to increase as their tax burden swells to combat the excessive spend of previous governments. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all the staff and members of Monaghan County Council for coming with me on this huge journey of change during 2014. Your support and willingness to change has, to say least been most encouraging and a humbling experience for me. These are challenging times for all of us as we continue to deliver more services with less, in an environment where the best is expected from us and where everything we do is measured and monitored. I wish to thank the Mayors, the Cathaoirleach and the elected members of both the County Council and of the five Town Councils who have served the people of Monaghan with passion and conviction over the past four and half years. I wish to thank them for their service and offer all those who retired in 2014 my best wishes for the future. Eugene Cummins Chief Executive 31 December 2014 3 Members of County Council – January – May 2014 Padraig Matt Aidan Noel PJ O’Hanlon McNally Carthy Murray Keelan Gary Jackie Owen John Ciara Carville Crowe Bannigan O’Brien McPhillips Seamus Hugh Pat Robbie Paudge Coyle McElvaney Treanor Gallagher Connolly David Brian Cathy Séan Seamus Maxwell McKenna Bennett Conlon Treanor 4 Members of County Council from June 2014 Padraig Com Noel PJ Jackie Aidan McNally Carthy Keelan O’Hanlon Crowe Campbell Eugene Pat Ciara Hugh Seamus Cathy Bannigan Treanor Mc Phillips Mc Elvaney Coyle Bennett David Brian Paudge Sean Robbie Seamus Maxwell Mc Kenna Connolly Conlon Gallagher Treanor 5 Housing and Building Housing and Building The aim of the Council is to ensure that every household can obtain an affordable dwelling of good quality, suited to its needs, in a good environment, and as far as possible in a tenure of its choice. In order that the aim can be achieved it is important that: Unfit and overcrowded houses are eliminated. The demand for houses are met as they arise. The structural and environmental standards are improved. Owner occupation is encouraged to the fullest extent, compatible with national economic and social development. Services Provided and Future Plans The output from 2014 and the proposed 2015 programme is given below. The 2015 programme will be subject to the necessary finance being provided by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Under Construction/To Completed in commence or be Location 2014 acquired in 2015 McCurtain Street - 9 17 houses and 20 Latlorcan 0 acres of land Demountable dwellings 0 0 Farm Homes 0 0 Single Houses Acquisitions (second hand) 5 30 House Acquisitions under Part V 2 0 23 (18 L.A. & 5 private) Mullaghmatt Remedial Works Scheme Phase 3 0 to be completed 76 (13 L.A. & 63) Mullaghmatt Remedial Works Scheme Phase 4 0 private to commence Long Term Leasing in various locations 0 10 Returning Long Term Vacant Houses to Use 21 15 6 Voluntary Housing Schemes Castleblayney Care Association Revised Budget Approval €2,362,033 Facilities for Intellectual Disability Total Expenditure to the end of 2014 - Drumillard, Castleblayney €2,226,449.40. Construction/ Allocation of Units to be completed mid 2015. Respond Housing Association – Group Revised Increased Budget Approved - Home – Facility for Physical / Sensory August 2014 - €1,293,980 Disabilities New Planning Application submitted in Carrickmacross November 2014. Following re- Tendering process it is anticipated commencement on site in the latter part of 2015. Respond Housing Association - Group Property Purchase and Renovations Home – Facility for Intellectual Completed in 2014 Disabilities Awaiting HIQA inspection prior to Carrickmacross allocation early 2015. Respond Housing Association – Extension Works Complete Extension to Steadfast House – Facility Unit allocated and occupied since June for Intellectual Disabilities - 2014. Carrickmacross Newgrove Housing Association Purchase Complete 2014 Facility for Intellectual Disabilities Contractor appointed to carry out 16 Coolshannagh View, Monaghan. renovation works. Property expected to be occupied early 2015. Energy Efficiency Programme The Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government provided funding of €326,422