Author: monaghan

Monaghan County Council has engaged consultancy firm S3 Solutions to progress a feasibility study and strategic assessment for a proposed swimming pool and leisure complex in Carrickmacross town.

As part of this study, the Council is launching two online surveys to assess people’s views on current swimming and leisure facilities and to examine the feasibility and demand for the provision of an additional swimming pool and leisure complex in the south of the county in Carrickmacross town.

The first online survey is to seek the views of members of the public and can be accessed by clicking here.

The second online survey is to seek the views of community and voluntary organisations and sports clubs and can be accessed by here.

We understand that online information cannot be accessed by everyone, therefore, in addition to online versions, hard copies of the survey will be available for completion at Carrickmacross – Castleblayney Municipal District, Civic Offices, Riverside Road, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, A81 RY22 (Monday – Friday 09:30 to 16:30).

 

This survey is anonymous and is being used only to inform the aforementioned feasibility study.

Please note that both surveys will open on Monday 15^th July 2024 and close on Friday 9^th August 2024.

Your input and feedback on the feasibility and demand for the provision of an additional swimming pool and leisure complex in the south of the county in Carrickmacross town is important to us, and we encourage you to participate in the surveys. Monaghan County Council and S3 Solutions would like to express our thanks in advance to everyone who takes the time to complete these surveys, your input is greatly appreciated.

Your data is subject to the Privacy Statement of Monaghan County Council which can be viewed here

S3 Solutions Privacy policy can be viewed here

The Elected Members of Carrickmacross – Castleblayney Municipal District have unanimously agreed to waive the Application Fee of €50 and Street Space Rental Fee of €50 per square metre for Outdoor Dining Provision within Carrickmacross – Castleblayney Municipal District until 30^th September 2024.

Please note that applicants must complete and return an application to seek approval.

The  application form and guidance can be found here:  https://monaghan.ie/md-downloads/

A Research Report has been launched titled:

All-Ireland Disaster Risk Reduction

Advancing a Focused Cross-Border Approach to Public Service Messaging in Emergency Management.

Public safety messaging on the island of Ireland requires proactive cross-border coordination among public authorities at strategic and operational levels, according to a new report by researchers at Maynooth University.

The report, Advancing a Focused Cross-Border Approach to Public Service Messaging in Emergency Management, was presented by MU’s International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) and launched by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, in Clones Fire Station, Co Monaghan.

The research team included Dr Cormac Walsh, a senior research associate with the ICLRD along with ICLRD director Caroline Creamer of MU’s Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI) and Innovation Value Institute (IVI), Dr Tadhg MacIntyre of the Department of Psychology, Dr Brendan Keegan of MU’s School of Business and Dr Adrienne McCann.

The study was an initiative of Monaghan County Council, a member of the Cross Border Emergency Management Group (CBEMG), collaborating directly with colleagues in Northern Ireland, including Fermanagh and Omagh District Councils. County Monaghan is in a unique geographical position as it shares the border with three counties and four district councils and has almost 100 of the 270 crossings with Northern Ireland.

The research, which draws from two cases studies in the towns of Clones, Co Monaghan and Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, found that public safety messaging is not only about providing information to the public. “It is fundamentally about community engagement and providing effective empathic leadership in times of crisis,” the report says.

It recommended that public safety messaging be universal, incorporating both analogue and digital means, and reach all sections of society, including the elderly, people with disabilities and people for whom English is not their first language.

According to Caroline Creamer, MU-based Director of the ICLRD: “Cross-border regions face specific challenges in emergency management – from infrastructural deficits, poor mobile phone coverage, and an over-reliance on commercial social media platforms to disseminate messaging to all sections of society.”

“While one would expect that the task of communicating key messages or warnings to the public in cases of emergency would have become easier with more advanced communication technologies, this has not been the case. Rather, public safety messaging must compete for attention in an increasingly crowded media landscape. Clear, timely and effective communication is essential to emergency management and disaster risk reduction – whether at the scale of a national emergency or a localised incident.”

The report says that international experience indicates that location-based SMS at a local level can complement a national cell broadcast system, while a dedicated telephone line should be established to provide local and regionally specific information on current incidents and risks in accessible language.

It also noted that effective emergency management communication is dependent on the ability of citizens to reliably contact the emergency services by telephone from their home or place of work. It said public investment is required to improve mobile phone network coverage in the cross-border region.

It recommends that local authorities should consider producing a joint preparedness brochure or booklet with key contact information for emergency response agencies, for distribution to community organisations. “The booklet should provide information on potential risks in the cross-border region, where relevant, referencing past events (e.g., flooding, wildfires).”

Where a severe weather alert is issued in either Northern Ireland or the Republic or both, the Cross Border Emergency Management Group should issue joint guidance specific to the cross-border region, providing clarity and reducing the potential for confusion or complacency, the report recommends. In the case of prolonged incidents, such as pandemic or prolonged flood incidents, procedures should be introduced to ensure public safety messaging in each jurisdiction is kept as consistent as possible, it says.

The report also suggests that multi-organisational demonstration and contingency scenario exercises, organised on a cross-border basis, can be an effective means of preparing for potential cross-border incidents and demonstrating to the public that the capacity for an effective cross-border response exists and can be called upon.

“Monaghan County Council, as a member of the CBEMG, welcomed the opportunity to lead this research study and collaborate directly with our colleagues in Northern Ireland. The study afforded an opportunity to engage directly with statutory agencies and community groups on both sides of the border via focus group sessions to obtain a qualitative overview of current practice,” MCC Chief Fire Officer Dermot Brannigan said.

Robert Burns, Monaghan County Council Chief Executive, welcomed the report: “A whole of society approach to communication is a critical task of responding agencies’ during emergency incidents, and more so now in an era of changing methods of communication. Embracing technological both change and progress, while also ensuring a trusted narrative will form the basis of all our future plans.”

you can download the report in PDF format here:

ICLRD Cross Border Public Safety Full Report (PDF)

Staff from our Roads, Active Travel and Community Sections together with John O’Flaherty, Tobin Consultants attended a public consultation meeting on the evening of Wednesday 22^nd May in Ballinode Community Hall, which was extremely well attended.

This event provided a platform for the Council to inform the community about the preferred route option linking the villages of Ballinode and Scotstown, and to listen to the views and concerns of all.  The positive feedback and meaningful engagement demonstrated the need and desire to build a stronger connection and to provide safe facilities for pedestrians and cyclists between the two villages.

Monaghan County Council are exploring the option of trialling a “Quiet road” in Monaghan and the concept was presented to those in attendance.

Quiet Roads or Quiet Lanes are designated rural roads where traffic volumes and vehicles speeds are relatively low. The objectives of such a scheme are:

• Aim to encourage people to travel by walking, wheeling or cycling.
• Preserve the character and tranquillity of the rural environment and contain traffic growth.
• Support access to outdoors for everyone.

Key Elements would include:

1. Community involvement to encourage a change in driver behaviour.
2. Area-wide directional signing to discourage or reroute through traffic.
3. Quiet road entry and exit signs to remind drivers that they are entering or exiting a Quiet Road – may expect people to be using the whole of the road space for a range of activities
4. Safety measures such as- traffic calming, passing bays/pull in areas, vertical/horizontal deflections, improvement in sight lines, reduced speed limits.

 

Following on from the public consultation and meetings with community groups and landowners, council staff are going to explore funding opportunities with Department of Transport. The DOT have committed to establish a working group to determine the design details and legislative changes necessary to implement such a scheme in Ireland. It is hoped that this could be a pilot in County Monaghan, and we look forward to working with all stakeholders in the future with a view to having this innovative scheme implemented.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this very important discussion.

Monaghan County Council are pleased to announce 2 strands of funding to support festivals and events which will attract visitors to Co. Monaghan in 2024.

Deadline for receipt of application is Thursday 4^th April 2024

Click here to read more >>

Significant FURTHER INFORMATION

in relation to an application to An Bord Pleanála for approval under Section 175 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended)

South Dublin Street and Backlands Regeneration Project

Monaghan County Council previously applied for approval on 31^st August 2022 from An Bord Pleanála for proposed development works south of Dublin Street and its backlands in the townlands of Roosky and Tirkeenan, within Monaghan Town Centre. The proposed development covers an area of approximately 2.72ha and comprises urban regeneration and public realm proposals, as part of the South Dublin Street and Backlands Regeneration Project (ref. ABP-314501-22).

Notice is hereby given that further information in relation to the proposed development has been furnished to the Board to address alterations to the scheme originally proposed. The proposed amendments include the following elements:

• Development of pedestrian civic plaza
• Environmental improvements in alleyways
• Construction of structural masonry walls and new gable elevation treatments to No’s 7 and 12-13 Dublin Street (amended from previous submission)
• Retention of outbuilding to the rear of No. 24 Dublin Street
• Construction of new road / street layouts and public realm comprising new surfaces, kerbing, street furniture, public street and feature lighting, soft landscape planting, cycle parking and signage (amended from previous submission)
• New boundary treatments comprising walls, railings and fencing
• All associated site development works

LINK TO FURTHER INFO – https://monaghan.ie/south-dublin-street-backlands-regeneration-project-2/

Location: Properties at 7- 13 Dublin Street, lands to the rear of 1-9 The Diamond and 1-26 Dublin Street, incorporating sections of the Northern Standard property, the Courthouse car park, Lower Courthouse car park, Castle Road, and N54 Macartan (Broad) Road, in the townlands of Roosky and Tirkeenan, Monaghan Town Centre, Monaghan.

Amendments to the original Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) have been undertaken to take account of the revised proposals, and this information is included as part of the submission of further information in respect of the proposed development.

The significant further information will be available for inspection free of charge, or may be purchased on payment of a specified fee (which shall not exceed the reasonable cost of making a copy) at:

• Monaghan County Council Planning Offices, 1 Dublin Street, Monaghan, H18 X982 between 09:15-13.00hrs and 13.30-17:00hrs
• The Offices of An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902 between 09:15hrs and 17:30hrs

The significant further information may also be inspected online at the following website: https://monaghan.ie/

Any person may, within the period of 5 weeks from Wednesday 31^st January 2024 to Wednesday 6^th March 2024 (inclusive of both dates), make a submission or observations in writing to An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 D01 V902 or online at www.pleanala.ie in respect of:

1. the implications of the proposed development, if carried out, for proper planning and sustainable development in the area or areas concerned, and
2. the likely effects on the environment or the likely effects on a European site, as the case may be, of the proposed development, if carried out.

Submissions or observations duly made will be considered by An Bord Pleanála in making a decision on the application. Any submission or observations must be received by An Bord Pleanála not later than 17:30pm on Wednesday 6^th March 2024 and must also include the following information:

1. the name of the person, authority or body making the submission or observations, the name of the person, if any, acting on behalf of that person, authority or body, and the address to which any correspondence relating to the application should be sent,
2. the subject matter of the submission or observations, and
3. the reasons, considerations, and arguments on which the submission or observations is or are based.

For persons who have already made a submission to An Bord Pleanála in relation to this application, a further submission or observation can be made to the Board without requiring payment of a fee. Further submissions or observations can be submitted to the Board by hand or by post to the offices of An Bord Pleanála at 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 D01 V902, or by email to laps@pleanala.ie.

For those who have not previously made a submission to An Bord Pleanála in relation to this application, any submission or observations must be accompanied by a fee of €50 (except for certain prescribed bodies). Submissions or observations can be submitted to An Bord Pleanála by hand or by post to the offices of the Board at 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 D01 V902, or through the Board’s online SIDS portal at the following link: https://online.pleanala.ie/en-ie/sid/observation.

Any submissions or observations which do not comply with these requirements cannot be considered by the Board.  The Board may at its absolute discretion hold an oral hearing on the application.

The Board may decide to: (a)(i) approve the proposed development; (ii) make such modifications to the proposed development as it specifies in its decision and grant approval in respect of the proposed development as so modified; or (iii) approve, in part only, the proposed development (with or without specified modifications of it of the foregoing kind); and may attach conditions as it considers appropriate to any approval; or (b) refuse to approve the proposed development.

A person may question the validity of a decision of the Board by way of an application for judicial review, under Order 84 of the rules of the Superior Courts (S.I. No.15 of 1986) in accordance with section 50 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Information in respect of the judicial review process can be accessed on the Bord’s website https://online.pleanala.ie/en-ie/judicial-review-notice or on the Citizens Information Service website www.citizensinformation.ie.

 Signed: Mr. Cathal Flynn, Director of Services, Monaghan County Council

Date: Thursday 25^th January 2024

Monaghan County Council has submitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanála seeking approval under Sections 175 and 177AE of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) for the above project.

The planning application submission is available to view online from Wednesday 7th September 2022 to Wednesday 19th October 2022 (inclusive of both dates), at the links below:

• Planning submission documents (including letters, notices, planning statement, and planning drawings)
  • • Planning Application documents
    • Planning Application drawings

 

• Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) including:
  • • Non-Technical Summary (NTS)
    • Volume I Main Text
    • Volume II Technical Appendices
    • Volume III Technical Drawings & Figures
      

   

• Natura Impact Statement
  • • Natura Impact Statement

 

This information is also available in hard copy to inspect and purchase at the following locations:

• Monaghan County Council Planning Offices, 1 Dublin Street, Monaghan, H18 X982 between 09:15-13.00hrs and 13.30-17.00hrs from Wednesday 7th September 2022 to Wednesday 19th October 2022 (inclusive of both dates).
• The offices of An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902 between 09:15hrs and 17:30hrs from Wednesday 7th September 2022 to Wednesday 19th October 2022 (inclusive of both dates).

 

Submissions and Observations

Any person may, within the period of 6 weeks from Wednesday 7th September 2022 to Wednesday 19th October 2022 (inclusive of both dates), make a submission or observations in writing to An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 D01 V902 or online at www.pleanala.ie in respect of:

1. the implications of the proposed development, if carried out, for proper planning and sustainable development in the area or areas concerned, and
2. the likely effects on the environment or the likely effects on a European site, as the case may be, of the proposed development, if carried out.

 

Any submission or observations must also include the following information:

1. the name of the person, authority or body making the submission or observations, the name of the person, if any, acting on behalf of that person, authority or body, and the address to which any correspondence relating to the application should be sent,
2. the subject matter of the submission or observations, and
3. the reasons, considerations, and arguments on which the submission or observations is or are based.

 

Any submission or observations must be accompanied by a fee of €50 (except for certain prescribed bodies) and must be received by An Bord Pleanala not later than 17.30hrs on Wednesday 19^th October 2022.  Submissions or observations duly made will be considered by An Bord Pleanála in making a decision on the application.

Submissions or observations made directly to Monaghan County Council in respect of this proposal will not be considered as valid submissions/observations by An Bord Pleanala.

(Submission received)

ABP Cover Letter

An Taisce

Heritage Council

Sheridan

Eddie OGara Love Monaghan Save Dublin St

Dept of Housing Local Government and Heritage

 

The public is warmly invited to have their say on draft plans for the future of Carrickmacross Town Centre through a consultation process taking place between 30 November and 4 January 2024.   

Carrickmacross is the first town in County Monaghan to participate in the national Town Centre First programme. This aims to create Town Centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit, while also functioning as the service, social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community.

The process for Carrickmacross has been led by a newly formed local Town Team with the support of Monaghan County Council and the assistance of consultants, The Paul Hogarth Company.   To inform the plan a first round of public consultations took place in October 2023 with over 500 responses received.

Welcoming the launch, Cllr Aoife McCooey, Cathaoirleach  of Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District said “I am delighted to see this Draft Plan being launched today and would like to congratulate the Town Team for all their hard work to date.  It is clear to me that together with the consultants, they have listened very carefully to the people of Carrickmacross and drawing upon their considerable knowledge of the town, have identified a series of compelling draft projects.”

The chair of the Town Team is local businessman Jim Hand. In launching the Draft Plan, Jim explained “We are now eager to hear again from everyone in Carrickmacross. We are inviting people to take a look at the draft plan and projects, to let us know what they think and to share their further ideas.  It is very important that this plan reflects the priorities of local people, so please take this opportunity to help us get it right for the town”.

Once complete in 2024, the Town Centre First Plan be used to inform funding applications for project delivery by a range of parties, from the public, community and private sectors. It will also be used to guide future policy and decision making in relation to the town centre.

Plans will available to view:

• Online at www.monaghan.ie/town-centre-first-plan-for-carrickmacross

• At Carrickmacross Civic Offices

Consultation Responses via the survey can be made between

• Thursday 30 November 2023, and

• Thursday 4 January 2024

Drop in consultation event will be held at the following times and locations:

• 4pm – 8pm, Wednesday 6 December 2023, Carrickmacross Civic Offices

• 11am – 2pm, Thursday 14 December 2024, Market Square Shopping Centre

For further information please contact

Kevin McNally

Town Regeneration Officer,

1 Dublin Street, Monaghan.

Email: TRO@monaghancoco.ie

Carrickmacross has been chosen by Monaghan County Council as the first town in the county to develop a plan through a local Town Team.  The Plan is been developed in accordance with the guidance set out in the “Town Centre First – A Policy Approach for Irish Towns”, published by the Department of Rural and Community Development, the aim is to create town centres that function as viable, vibrant, and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit, while also functioning as the service, social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community.

Click here to fill in the Survey and ready about the project:

Read More

A study area for the Ballybay to Castleblayney Greenway has now been developed. Public Consultation events will be held over the coming weeks for communities along the proposed route.
Landowners, local communities, and the general public are invited to review the Study Area and to discuss with the project team.

The drop-in sessions will be held in: The Doohamlet Community Centre, Thursday 15th June 4:30-7:30pm

Should you have any queries in relation to the Ballybay to Castleblayney Greenway, please contact the Ballybay & Clones Municipal District on 047-51018.

Water Safety Ireland is cautioning people not to underestimate the dangers of swimming in cold water. The caution comes as air temperatures rise however water temperatures are still cold. Swimming in cold water can result in the rapid cooling of muscles needed to swim and stay afloat. Swim within your depth, swim briefly and be mindful that any cooling of the muscles can make it more difficult to swim safely.

Advice to reduce your drowning risk:

1. Swim within your depth, stay within your depth and enter the water slowly to acclimatize as sudden immersion in cold water can result in “cold shock” which can lead to deep gasping, uncontrollable rapid breathing and panic.
2. Swim at Lifeguarded waterways this weekend – locations at https://watersafety.ie/lifeguards/.
3.  If you cannot get to a lifeguarded waterway, swim in areas that are traditionally known to be safe and have ringbuoys available for rescues.
4.  Never use inflatable toys in open water as they can be swept away by currents and offshore breezes.
5. Children require close, uninterrupted, adult supervision at all times near water.
6.  Swim within your depth and stay within your depth. Make sure that the edges are shallow shelving so that you can safely and easily enter and exit the water.
7. To escape a rip current, swim parallel to the shore and then swim back ashore. See www.watersafety.ie/rip-currents/
8. Never swim in quarries or reservoirs.
9. Alcohol is a factor in one third of drownings – never mix alcohol with water activities.
10. Beware of stranding by incoming tides. Carry a charged phone at all times and in an emergency, call 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.
11. Always wear a correctly fitting lifejacket when boating and have a means of communication in a waterproof pouch.
    1.  If you see somebody in trouble in the water: SHOUT – REACH – THROW
       a. SHOUT to calm, encourage and orientate them;
       b. REACH with anything that prevents you from entering the water (clothing/stick);
       c. THROW a ringbuoy or any floating object to them.

 

Know The Lifeguard Flags:
No Lifeguard flag means that there is no Lifeguard on duty. A red flag means that a Lifeguard is on duty but has deemed conditions to be too unsafe to swim. The red and yellow flags mean a Lifeguard is on duty and the Lifeguard is patrolling between those flags.

Visit www.watersafety.ie for more information.