The Athy area committee of kildare county council meets once a month to discuss the local area outside the immediate town although sometimes motions and questions concerning the town are discussed. Each councillor has 3 motions and 3 question that they may ask, officials. Below you will see my Questions and motions.

 

17th of Febuary:

Motions 12.Councillor Redmond:That this area committee immediately look into safety concerns of residents at Distillery Court, Monasterevin.

Report: Councillor Redmond has raised a number of issues with regard to this estate. 1. Absence of pedestrian access adjacent to vehicular access.Condition 6 of An Bord Pleanala Ref. 09.214435 (Pl. Ref. 04/1127) required that there be no pedestrian access adjacent to the vehicular access.2. Absenceoflifebuoys.This is a matter for Waterways Ireland.3. Streetlightingisout.Building and development control staff will provide a map for the residents to mark up the lights that are not working. If the cost is not prohibitive, building and development control will fund repairs and recoup from the bond provided.Page 3 of 6Kildare County Council

 

13.Councillor Redmond: That this council investigate health and safety concerns in Old Grange Woods, Monasterevin which is not taken in charge. Residents health and safety concerns needs to be addressed immediately.

Report: Building and development control staff met with agents for the liquidator shortly before Christmas. He undertook to address problems with the waste water pumping facility on the site. We understand that this work has been done. He also gave an undertaking to revert to us with a Site Resolution Plan for the estate and we are awaiting submission of this plan.Issued by: Stephen Cunningham, Staff Officer, Planning Section.

 

Question 15.Councillor Redmond:Can the County Manager clarify if the IDA has only made a handful of visits with companies and can this be addressed by the council as this and other area committees are doing their best to promote this great county and recent revelations about the amount of time the IDA has spent here, is in my view, unsatisfactory? Report: The Council, together with Meath and Wicklow County Councils, prepared an Economic Strategy for the mid-east. That strategy provides a context for ongoing work - the preparation of an economic / employment plan for the mid east counties. That work is ongoing and will be completed by mid-year. Consultation has already taken place with the IDA. The IDA is supportive of the process and has undertaken to remain engaged.Issued by: John Lahart, Director of Services, Planning section.

 

Motions16.Councillor Redmond:That this council, for the benefit of the people of Castledermot, make a plan for the development of a park for children within the next year. In this motion I want to acknowledge this may not be done before the abolition of this area committee in May but a time frame should be instigated for this community.

Report: It will not be possible to progress the provision of a children’s playground in Castledermot in the current year due to the number of projects that are already scheduled for 2014. However the work will be considered for 2015. The implementation of any plans developed will be contingent on identifying finance to allow them to proceed.Issued by: Simon Wallace, Senior Executive Parks Superintendent

 

Questions 18.Councillor Redmond:Can somebody from the housing section of the council be appointed as a nominee position to MABS in areas that affect our counties residents?

Report: It would not be possible to appoint a nominee from the Housing section as there would be Data protection concerns and a conflict of interest.

 

Question 21:Councillor Redmond:Can the council write to the Chairman of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board to initiate training courses in Monasterevin and Athy as a matter of priority?

Report: This is a matter for the committee.