Council Must Get Serious with Unauthorised Developments along the N2

Following an update of the unauthorised developments along the N2 to the Dunshaughlin Area Council, Cllr. Regina Doherty had commented that it is time for Meath County Council get serious with anybody in breach of the Planning and Developemnt Act, 2000.

There are a large number of unauthorised developments operating all along the N2 some of which have been there for 7 years or more.  Whilst I appreciate that there is a legal process to be followed there are some developments where we have not even managed to serve a notice on yet even though they are there for more than 3 years.

This sends out completely the wrong message to all the law abiding people who apply for planning in the correct manner, some of which find it extremely difficult to secure planning even on their own land.

It was was also mentioned at yesterdays meeting the Meath County Counicl are actually collecting Commercial Rates from some of these developments.  I am putting down a Notice of Question to the Manager for Junes Council Meeting to seek clarification on this matter.  It would beggar belief that we would be collecting rates from unauthorised developments thus giving them validity whilst pursuing then through the courts.

8 Estates Prioritised for Taking In Charge for 2010

Cllr Regina Doherty has welcomed the decision to prioritise the following estates to be Taken in Charge by Meath County Council during 2010:

Moulden Bridge – Ratoath, Fox Lodge Woods – Ratoath, Tudor Grove – Ashbourne,  St. Johnswood – Ashbourne, Grange Hall – Dunshaughlin, Coldericks Pass – Dunshaughlin, Plunkett Hall – Dunboyne & Lutterall Hall – Dunboyne

 

The council has taken the initiative to instigate the taking in charge process and this is to be welcomed.

Level of Amenity & Lawnmower Grants a Real Slap in the Face to residents of South Meath

Cllr Regina Doherty has described the amount of amenity and lawnmower grants considered today at the Dunshaughlin Area Meeting as a real slap in the face for the 100’s of residents associations who care for and maintain the green areas of all our villages and estates. 

€4,600 was shared among the applicants for amenity grants today along with €345 allocated in lawnmower grants.  This is a real insult to the people of South Meath.  Meath County Council do not have a Parks Departments and as such we are tasked with supporting residents to carry out the work in lieu themselves.

Whilst I appreciate that the Councils’ Annual Budget is dwindling due to the economic climate, we must pay more respect to the hundreds of people carrying out this work.   

New Entrance for St. Olivers Park and The Pines, Fairyhouse Road

A new safer entrance for St. Olivers Park and The Pines is currently underway. It will involve realigning
the road and entrance. This will ensure that motorists and pedestrians will be safer and as part of this project traffic lights / safe crossing will be erected from here to Conways Spar shop.

Emergency Water Supply Conservation Notice

Meath County Council wishes to inform consumers in Ashbourne, Curragha, Ratoath, Dunshaughlin & surrounding areas that consumers in these areas may experience a reduced level of water pressure due to some technical problems that occurred over night at the production plant at Curragha.  Our engineers are currently working to resolve this fault. It may take sometime before normal service is restored to all areas.

  We urge all consumers to conserve water at all times particularly during the next few days.

Meath County Council regrets any inconvenience caused.

Housing Adaption Grant Scheme Re-opens

Meath County Council Housing Department has announced the re-opening of the following Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes from today, the 4th May 2010 said Cllr. Regina Doherty.

• HOUSING ADAPTATION GRANT FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY

• HOUSING AID FOR OLDER PEOPLE

• MOBILITY AIDS HOUSING GRANT SCHEME

Please note as there is limited availability of funding only applications received during the period 4th May 2010 and the 30th June 2010 will be considered.

The limited funding will be allocated to applicants on the basis of priorities drawn up by the Council in respect of each of the three schemes, with the top priority relating to applicants who are terminally ill or fully/mainly dependant on family or carer; or where alterations/adaptations would facilitate discharge from hospital or alleviate the need for hospitalisation in the future. The Council will be guided by the professional opinion of an Occupational Therapist in affording priority to applications received under the schemes.

A single dedicated phone line is being set up to allow persons to leave their names and addresses to request application forms for any of the three Grant Schemes, which will then be sent out without delay. The dedicated Phone Line Number in respect of applications for the above grants is: (046) 9097295.

Only receipt of a fully completed application form with all required supporting documentation will deem an application valid for assessment to the Housing Department

I would encourage anyone eligible to apply for this funding as soon as possible. If anyone requires assistance with their application please do not hesitate to contact me on 01-8257204  said Cllr. Doherty

Application forms and further details in respect of the three grant schemes can be downloaded from www.meath.ie from the reopening of the scheme on 4th May 2010 at http://www.meath.ie/LocalAuthorities/Housing/HousingForms/ . Application forms and further details can also be obtained from the Council Offices or Area Offices from the 4th May 2010.

Where are our Extra Gardai.......

After two very serious assaults and robberies in Ratoath village over the last few days, I am calling on local TD Mary Wallace and Minister for Justice Dermot Aherne to honour their promise of last year and deliver the 2 extra Gardai to Ratoath.

1 year ago to great aplomb Mary Wallace delivered 4000 leaflets detailing the 2 extra Gardai she had secured for Ratoath from Minister Dermot Aherne. Well we are still waiting Mary.

2 people were very seriously injured, one remaining in hospital along with over €8000 robbed during one raid. The local Gardai are a fantastic team and do our community a great service but there quite simply are not enough of them.

Originally we, the residents of Ratoath were seeking our own Garda station. For a population of over 8000 we didn’t think this unrealistic, but in lieu of this Mary Wallace told us she secured us 2 extra Community Gardai for Ratoath. Well now it’s time to deliver before anybody else gets seriously hurt.

As Chairperson of the Joint Policing Committee in Meath, one of our main objectives this year is the build on the already existing team of Community Gardai and the fantastic work they do. Its very hard to do that with a diminishing workforce.

And they're off

Pictured at the launch of their official campaign for recognition from the Department of Education for Gaelscoil Ráth Tó, Fine Gael Cllr. Regina Doherty urges Minister Mary Coughlan to have her department reconsider our application and provide recognition to Gaelscoil Ráth Tó before the schools opens this September.

The Establishing Committee of Gaelscoil Ráth Tó was set up 20 months ago to pursue the choice of an Irish medium education for the children of Ratoath.  We campaigned all during this time for recognition from the department of Education to open in September 2010.  Ratoath was short listed to 9 areas nationally that would require a new school in either 2010, 2011 or 2012. In February this year the department refused our application and we were gutted.

 It is particularly disappointing that the medium of the Irish-language was not taken into consideration for providing educational choice in Ratoath. Not one new Gaelscoil has been recognised by the Department for the school year beginning September 2010 despite plenty of applications.

Our establishing committee along with the support from Gaelscoileanna, Comhluadar, Glor na Gael and  Foras Patrunachta to name but a few  are taking the necessary steps to open Gaelscoil Ráth Tó this September 2010 without Departmental recognition. 

The backing of the local community has been superb and in particular I would like to thank Aintree Grand National winning jockeys, Barry Geraghty, Paul Carburry, and Robert Power along with Nina Carburry and Ruby Walsh who have been hugely supported of our plight in recent weeks.

We feel we are being forced into making this decision by the Department as there is a lack of Gaelscoileanna places available in neighbouring towns. It is grossly unfair that the people of Ratoath are being deprived of this educational choice and it boils down to a question of language rights for the community.

Tonight we are launching a nationwide campaign for language rights for communities just like Ratoath, we will be contacting and communicating with all forms of media in relation to our story in Ratoath.  The last Gaelscoil that was given recognition by the Department of Education was in 2008.

We are asking that the Minister of Education gets her department to reconsider their and give Gaelscoil Ráth Tó the recognition we need before we open our doors this September.

Anybody wishing to register the child to attend Gaelscoil Ráth Tó should contact 087 3328650 or email gaelscoilrathto@gmail.com

CALLING ALL BMX’ers

Shea McNally from Meadowbank Hill and I are currently
investigating the options available to create a permanent BMX race track in Ratoath to cater for the growing interest of BMX cycling in the area.
BMX racing is derived from Motocross, it’s Bicycle Racing on specially prepared dirt tracks over jumps and around banked turns, typical tracks are 350M long and races are sprints between 8 riders that last under 60 seconds.
Since 2008 BMX racing is an Olympic Medal Event and one of the most popular additions to the Olympic
movement, so much so that in 2016 BMX Freestyle
will also be included.
BMX Freestyle is exactly that, “It’s Free” and encompasses all BMX riding other than racing, it’s hard to categorise, but there are Street, Park and Dirt elements. This type of riding has been popularised with the X-Games.
Our goals would be to encourage users to grow to a certain level by organised practice sessions on the proposed track and eventually to schedule evening and possibly week-end race event meetings.
If you have any specific enquiries regarding the club or are interested in getting things up and running with us please check out our website on
www.ratoathbmx.com or contact me on
087 2680 182.

On the Wrong Track

On the Wrong Track

Fine Gael Cllr. Regina Doherty has today described how my initial joy on hearing that Iarnrod Eireann has received funding to commence works on the preparation of a Railway Order to extend the railway line in Meath from Dunboyne to Navan, was replaced with huge disappointment with the Department of Transports decision to recommend proceeding with Rout A, 4 miles west of Dunshaughlin Village.

The railway is a facility for the whole county and to alienate the potential commuters of Dunshaughlin, Ratoath and Ashbourne is not only economic foolishness, it is another example of this governments short-sightedness when it comes to infrastructural planning.

Meath County Council unanimously chose Route B last year as our preferred choice which would have had consideration for commuters in Dunshaughlin to be able to walk or cycle to the new station.  It would also be a lot more convenient for the potential commuters of Ratoath and Ashbourne to access the station to the East side of Dunshaughlin village .  Now we will have to cross over the new M3 Motorway – this makes no sense.

I have written to Minister Noel Dempsey this morning asking him to provide a complete explanation at his departments decision.