SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL ROUND-UP
Tributes to former council employees
Votes of sympathy were extended by members of Sligo County Council at their recent meeting.
Cllr Donal Gilroy extended sympathy to two former council employees Hugh Quinn and Seamus Fitzpatrick. He extended sympathy to the friends of Mr Fitzpatrick saying north Sligo has lost someone who had been at the centre of the community for a long, long time.
He said he had read how Seamus had served his local GAA club as a player, officer, patron and was a selector on the Sligo GAA team in the 1970s. “He was passionate about GAA,” he added.
Council won’t take on waste collection
A proposal to have Sligo County Council take waste collection back into public ownership was supported by a number of councillors at Monday’s meeting where it was proposed at Monday’s council meeting.
However, in a reply the local authority said they had neither the financial resources or the specialise expertise to do so.
Cllr Gino O’Boyle said the service was once provided by local councils.
Cllr Declan Bree supporting the motion said increased charges speaks volumes about the service being controlled by the private sector.
He said the continuing increase in charges was impacting on low and middle-income households.
The charges have led to an escalation in illegal dumping. “The reality is that as long as waste collection remains privatised operators will charge as much as they can get away with.”
Cllr Sinéad Maguire said she concurs with most of the comments made by her colleagues adding “it is a licence to print money and there isn’t sufficient regulation on the area. It is vital for our environment that this is managed correctly.”
Cllr Arthur Gibbons also supported the motion adding that people will find somewhere else to get rid of their rubbish in response to increased charges.
Action sought for survivors of institution
Sligo County Council has been asked to write to the Government asking it to take action on the testimonies of mother and baby home survivors and to ask why survivors from Sligo were not allowed redress under the scheme. Cllr Gino O’Boyle said the survivors were being swept under the rug.
He said many people affected went through life suffering.
Cllr Sineád Maguire, supporting the motion, commended Cllr O’Boyle for keeping the motion on the agenda over the years.
She said it was now recognised what was done in these institutions and there was “just no excuse” for dividing and telling some they deserve support and recognition while others were told they did not.
Toilets at beache close for winter
Residents and users of the beach and walks at Rosses Point have questioned why the public toilets are closed after the summer season.
Cllr Declan Bree was told in a council reply that as in previous years public toilets in the seaside resorts of
Rosses Point, Mullaghmore and Enniscrone were open to the public for the full summer season, this year from the May
Buses from the Bus Eireann fleet in Sligo.
Bank Holiday weekend (29th April) to 4th September 2022. All toilets were cleaned twice daily to provide an acceptable level of service to the public.
There is no funding available to keep these toilets open outside of the summer season, therefore they will not be reopened until the summer season of 2023.
He was also advised that the current projected time frame for the delivery of the Fáilte Ireland funded Beach Facilities at Rosses Point is 2024.
Cllr Bree said sea swimming all year around is very
popular so the council should review its policy.
Cllr Thomas Walsh agreed and asked for a review of the policy to close the toilet.
In the short term, toilets should be open. Cllr Tom Fox added his support.
Call to honour Noble Six member
The absence of a street or housing development bearing the name of the sixth member of the Noble Six, Captain
Harry Benson was pointed out this week by a local councillor .
Cllr Arthur Gibbons said that since the demolition of Benson and Banks Drive in Cranmore where his name was remembered Capt Benson was no longer remembered in the same fashion as the other five Noble Six members. In light of the centenary this year he said it was important that he would be recognised and honoured.
Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services, said a place name proposal for Capt Benson was previously considered by the Placenames Committee and remains under review pending an appropriate opportunity within the Cranmore Regeneration Area.
The future redevelopment of the Centre Block Site may provide such an opportunity. Cllr Donal Gilroy proposed that Billy Pilkington should also be honoured for his role in keeping others “safe and sane” six weeks afterwards..
Cllrs support bill to ban hare coursing
Members of Sligo County Council supported a motion calling for a ban on hare coursing.
Proposing the motion, Cllr Gino O’Boyle asked his colleagues to support the Animal Health & Welfare Bill which he said would end the cruelty suffered by hares.
Cllr O’Boyle detailed the injuries sustained by hares during coursing events where they “can be seen desperately running for their lives”.
Cllr Marie Casserly, supporting the motion, said there was no reason “for this barbaric behaviour”.
The motion was subsequently agreed without further discussion.
Urgent review needed for bus services
A motion from Cllr Marie Casserly asking for an urgent review of Bus Éireann services in the north west and to find out why so many buses were not operating at scheduled times was backed by her colleagues on the council.
She said many members of the council were made aware of multiple examples of where buses have not arrived and users have been left without a service to ensure people can get to work and schools. Bearing in mind the amount of money being pumped into bus services it must be ‘fit for service,’ she said.
Fellow councillors supported the motion, including Cllr Clarke, Cllr Walsh, Cllr O’Boyle and Cllr Fox. Commending the Local
Link service Cllr Casserly suggested Bus Eireann might try and model their service on what Local Link was doing as it was a hugely successful service.
Sharon Kelly’s dog Nova and her litter of seven pups.
Maura Hallinan’s cat, Kitty.
Ken Keaveney’s dog, Ollie.
Leigh McLoughlin’s dog, Milo.
Caroline Beirne’s dog, Milo, and his buddies.