Monaghan County Council
The RSA’s free ‘Check it Fits’ service will be checking child car seats and restraints on Monday 9th September in SuperValu in Monaghan Town and on Tuesday 10th September in SuperValu Carrickmacross, from 10am to 5.30pm each day.
The law states that all children under 150cms or 36kgs must use a child car seat appropriate to their weight and height.
Don’t let your child be a statistic. Get your child car seat checked.
A decision was made to reopen the LP4900 local road at Drumgossat with immediate effect, following a meeting today (28 August 2019) between representatives of Monaghan County Council, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the Environmental Protection Agency, Irish Public Bodies Ltd., together with mining consultants, Wardell Armstrong and Ove Arup & Partners Ltd.
The road had been closed to public access since December 2018, following the emergence of a crownhole, 35 metres from the roadside. Since then an extensive programme of safety measures has been put in place, including the installation of 8 extensometers to monitor ground conditions along the LP4900. Additional measures will also be put in place in the coming months along the R179 and LP4900 to monitor ground conditions into the future.
Works on demolishing structures above the disused underground mine will commence shortly.
Monaghan County Council apologises to all effected by the road closures, but emphasises that public safety was its prime consideration at all times.
National Bike Week takes place this June from Saturday, 22nd June to Sunday, 30th June with many events taking place nationally. Bike Week provides some fun-filled family events, as well as catering for cycling enthusiasts. There is quite literally something for all ages and ability, from fun cycles, lunchtime bike rides, school cycling and much much more, Bike Week has something for everyone.
In Monaghan over 500 children from local Primary Schools and Pre-School services are getting involved during the week with fun bike events in the school yard and taking part in an art competition to promote safe cycling. This competition is being run by the county Library services along with the Road Safety Office and winning entries will be transformed into beautiful bookmarks to spread the word about safe cycling.
Muckno Cycling Club hosts two leisure spins – on Tuesday 25th they invite beginners cyclist to take on a leisurely on-road ‘Lap of the Lough’ (open to both males and females) and on Thursday 27th June it’s the turn of Ladies only for a similar event, meeting at Watters filling station and the members invite newcomers to join them for light refreshments afterwards.
There are four Bike Fest events organised for the general public to attend which will provide bike skills and fun activities for Children in Monaghan Town, Ballybay, Castleblayney and Carrickmacross)
Demonstrating the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling, Bike Week is coordinated at a national level by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and is supported locally by Monaghan Sports Partnership on behalf of Monaghan County Council.
Go to www.bikeweek.ie and search for Monaghan County Events or see all information on www.monaghansports.ie (042-9755126)
follow Bike Week on Twitter @BikeWeekie or on Instagram @BikeWeekie or like Bike Week on Facebook www.facebook.com/bikeweekie.
NATIONAL BIKE WEEK EVENTS IN CO. MONAGHAN (23rd – 30th June 2019)
National Stop Food Waste Week runs from 12th to 19th June and the EPA is reaching out through media campaigns and into workplaces with hints and tips to prevent food waste.
This year is all about “Working to Reduce Food Waste” and throughout the week the EPA’s Stop Food Waste campaign will be sharing information and resources to help you and your workplace “Stop Food Waste”!
As part of the week, we will support businesses that want to get involved and provide materials for a programme of information, tips, recipes and prizes to be disseminated to employees during the week.
In order to participate, businesses can sign up at: stopfoodwaste.ie/resources/food-waste-week
This Saturday 15th June as part of Monaghan County Council’s Anti-Dumping Initiative 2019 there will be a one day Sofa and Arm Chair Amnesty at Scotch Corner Recycling Facility between 9 am and 1 pm.
There will be a similar event in Carrickmacross Recycling Centre on 20th July.
In November 2018, Monaghan County Council issued a tender for consultants, to complete a Structural Survey and Assessment of the Market House in Castleblayney.The purpose of the survey and report was to ascertain the structural integrity of the building. Alan Clarke & Associateswas appointed to compete the work and the conducted an initial site viewing in December 2018.
On 25 January 2019, the structural engineer was unable to gain access to the Market House, following the collapse of an internal load bearing wall. The building was declared a public safety risk and a safety cordon was erected immediately to prevent access to the building and safeguard the public.
The structural engineer conducted a Risk Assessment of the Market House and it identified a high risk from potential collapse or partial collapse of the roof and/or an external wall. The risk of collapse of the remaining roof presents a real and present danger to public safety. The Risk Assessment Report identified the need to reinforce the cordon around the Market House and a concrete barrier was required to prevent scatter of building material in the event of a collapse. The Council has met with Irish Public Bodies, its insurers, on-site, in relation to public safety.
The Market House is a protected structure, of regional status. Monaghan County Council sought legal advice in relation to its responsibilities under the Planning Acts, in terms of Architectural Heritage and Conservation, and the need to protect public safety. Monaghan County Council has notified the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and is engaging with the Department’s Conservation Architectural Advisor.
The Structural Survey and Assessment of the building cannot be completed as it is unsafe to enter the site at present, due to the potential collapse of the remaining roof and debris from the collapsed internal wall. The approach adopted by the Council, in consultation with all interested parties, is to remove the unstable roof structure and clear out the debris from the internal walls, under the direction of its Conservation Architect. Once the risk of further collapse has been removed, it is proposed to complete the survey and assessment on the building. No decision in relation to the future of the Market House can be made until this assessment is completed.
Monaghan County Council is currently procuring specialist contractors to complete these works, which is planned to commence in late April. The contractors will determine the method of operation in consultation with the Conservation Architect and it is acknowledged that this may have some impact on Main Street access over a short period of time.
Eamonn O’Sullivan
Chief Executive
Monaghan County Council
11 April 2019
The third meeting of the Residents Forum took place on 9 April 2019 in Carrickmacross Civic Offices. Representatives from the local Residents Group, Monaghan County Council officials and elected members, Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Environmental Protection Agency and Gyproc (Ireland) Ltd. were in attendance. Also present were the Chairperson and Secretary of the Magheracloone Roads Action Group. The meeting was chaired by Cllr. David Maxwell, Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council.
Pat McEneaney, Community Liaison Officer for Gyproc Ireland Ltd. reported on his activities, which included 34 one-to-one meetings, liaising directly with households and meetings with local sporting and community groups.
Kieran Holohan, Marketing Director, Gyproc Ireland Ltd. confirmed that copies of the mine working maps were circulated to 13 residents last week, as agreed, and a copy would be distributed to the wider community later this week, as part of a proposed newsletter. Copies will also be posted on the Gyproc website. It was suggested that copies of the newsletter/map be left in the local church and school for those without online access. Gyproc would be available to discuss the map with individuals upon request.
Neil Marshall of SRK Consulting, engaged by Gyproc Ireland Ltd. delivered a presentation on his report entitled December 2018 Crownhole. Hard copies of the report were distributed to the residents groups.
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment confirmed that it had received the report and it was currently being considered by Wardell Armstrong, consultants engaged by the DCCAE, together with analysis and modelling detail from the investigation. The DCAE’s verification process will be completed over the coming weeks and the results issued to Monaghan County Council.
Pat O’Connor, Operations Director, Gyproc Ireland Ltd., presented on Gyproc’s water discharges the river Bursk since October 2018, stating that the company would submit a Water Management Plan to the Environmental Protection Agency by the end of the week and also intend to seek an EPA licence review application in May 2019, which will propose a new water discharge point. Pat O’Connor also delivered a presentation detailing the historical sinkhole occurrences over the Drumgossat mine.
Monaghan County Council confirmed that no decision can be made on the reopening of the LP4900 until after the investigation process was complete. The Council had requested funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to restore roads in the vicinity of the mine and the DTTAS Inspector had visited the LP4900 again. The Council is in discussions with Gyproc Ireland Ltd. regarding its costs relating to road closures and restoration works.
The next meeting of the Residents Forum is scheduled for 29 April 2019
Paul Clifford
Director of Services
047-30500
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., invites you to a Getting Ireland Brexit Ready workshop on Friday 19 October 2018 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan Town.
Running from 9.30 a.m. to 12.15 p.m., the workshop will offer advice and information on supports available.
Individuals / companies with an interest in the business, agri-food / fisheries and tourism sectors are welcome to attend the workshop for free but registration is required in advance.
Location: Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan Town
Date: 19 October, 9.30 a.m. to 12.15 p.m
Register: You can access the registration page for any of the events here
(Wednesday 26 September, 2018 – 8.00 pm)
Monaghan County Council officials; members of An Garda Siochana; along with members from the Exploration and Mining Division of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and a representative from the EPA met with representatives of Gyproc Ireland this afternoon.
Mining engineers and geologists engaged by Gyproc Ireland have inspected the site and have compiled a Preliminary Assessment Report. The report states that no further geological activity has been detected on the site. Further, more detailed, geological assessment is necessary to ascertain the conditions beneath the R179 Kingscourt to Carrickmacross Road and the L4900 Drumgossat road.
Gyproc’s team are working to provide this detailed information as soon as possible. In the interim, the Carrickmacross/Kingscourt Road (R179) will remain closed from Drumgossatt Crossroads to O’Rourkes Filling Station at Drummond. In addition, the LP4900 to Drumgossatt will also remain closed to traffic. Traffic between Carrickmacross and Kingscourt is being diverted via Shercock. The road closures are projected to remain in effect until mid-October.
The area in the vicinity of the Clubhouse remains closed to the public. Monaghan Co. Council reiterates that the site is unsafe and advises all members of the public to avoid the area and to observe the detours in place.
An Garda Siochana and Monaghan County Council will continue to liaise with Gyproc and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment over the coming days.
Monaghan County Council
Building contractors encouraged to participate
New frameworks are being launched to streamline the tendering process for €100m in contracts for minor building works across the entire public service.
The contracts will be tendered by the Local Government Operational Procurement Centre for the provision of Minor Building Works to public service bodies including 31 local authorities, the HSE, the OPW, the Department of Education and Teagasc.
The contracts will be tendered by way of two new frameworks. Once registered for the Frameworks, contractors will receive alerts to all future minor works projects that meet their stated preferences in terms of scope and location.
Service providers interested in competing for minor building works contracts who meet the minimum competencies can apply online through www.etenders.gov.ie. Applicants may indicate which services, county or region they wish to apply for during the process. Once accepted onto the framework, contractors will be informed of opportunities via the www.supplygov.ie website and can choose to accept or decline projects as they arise.
The frameworks will be tendered from October 2018 with two opportunities for contractors to participate – Minor Building Works Residential and Minor Building Works Commercial. While the scope and complexity of the works will vary significantly, it is envisaged that the average contract value will be in the region of €50,000 for residential works and €100,000 for commercial works.
Building contractors will be required to meet the competencies established for admittance to the frameworks. Building contractors already registered on www.etenders.ie should ensure that they have registered for tenders at a minimum under CPV Code 45000000-7 Construction work and CPV Code 45210000-2 Building construction work in order to be registered for the minor works tendering process.
Moira Murrell, Chairperson of the Local Government Procurement Programme Board said, “The local government sector, as lead partner, brings this opportunity to SMEs in Ireland in 2018. It represents a very significant opportunity for SMEs to deliver key contracts across the public sector. The value of the frameworks is estimated at €100m and the local government sector is eager to communicate this message to all small contractors in the building industry.
“These minor works frameworks are a great opportunity to win business from the public sector. They are open to businesses seeking to gain a first contract or those stepping up to tender for larger or commercial contracts. The local government sector is providing a number of supports to small businesses to help them to engage with this procurement process, including a series of regional information briefings.”
The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is encouraging all building contractors to recognise the benefits of public service contracts and to engage with the procurement process. “The public sector is a good client for small businesses. Payment for services delivered within the terms of a contract is guaranteed and, in line with the requirements of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, public bodies have a legal obligation to pay their bills on time”, said Paul Dunne, Chief Executive Officer of the Local Government Management Agency.
Regional Information Briefings
Interested building service providers are invited to attend one of eight regional briefings on the frameworks taking place around the country in mid-late September.
Eight briefings will be held between September 17th and September 27th in Mayo, Kerry, Cork, Dublin, Laois, Wexford, Cavan and Donegal. Full details are available at lgma.eventbrite.com.
These sessions will outline the frameworks and the opportunities for businesses and will be supported by InterTradeIreland who will provide advice to businesses about registering and tendering on www.etenders.ie, the Irish Government’s electronic tendering platform administered by the Office of Government Procurement.
“InterTradeIreland welcomes the invitation from the local government sector to participate in these briefings and work with the sector to support procurement opportunities for small and microbusinesses”, said Grant Gilmore, InterTradeIreland Director of Programmes and Business Services.
| Date | Venue | Time |
| Monday, September 17th | Regional Training Centre, Castlebar Co. Mayo | 7pm |
| Tuesday, September 18th | Manor West Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry | 7pm |
| Wednesday, September 19th | City Hall, Cork City Council | 7pm |
| Thursday, September 20th | Fingal County Council, County Hall Swords | 7pm |
| Monday, September 24th | Laois County Council, Portlaoise | 7pm |
| Tuesday, September 25th | Wexford County Council, Wexford Town | 7pm |
| Wednesday, September 26th | Cavan County Council, Cavan | 7pm |
| Thursday, September 27th | The Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny, Co Donegal | 7pm |
Several support and guidance documents are also being developed to support SMEs. These documents, details of information briefings and a link to register for the regional briefings are available at www.lgma.ie.
SERVICES