Bog Garden along the Ulster Canal, Monaghan launched and complete!

 This project received funding of €30,000 under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and match funding of just over €5,800 was provided by the Municipal District of Monaghan.
 
The Bog Garden is a #biodiversity gem, with species coming out from the adjacent woodland to populate the bog land habitat. Through the use of the outdoor classroom on the site, this amenity has become a learning resource and enhances the experience of the Greenway. 🌼
 
Discover the beauty of our new Bog Garden which is located along the tranquil Ulster Canal/Greenway. This redeveloped bog area will help showcase the rich biodiversity of our County. The bog garden also serves to showcase the natural splendours of nearby Sliabh Beagh which the Council is working to develop as natural tourism amenity in partnership with local communities. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑🧑‍🤝‍🧑
 

Monaghan County Council has received Stage One approval for the provision of 50 social houses on a brownfield site in Latlorcan, Monaghan

Monaghan County Council has received Stage One approval for the provision of 50 social houses on a brownfield site in Latlorcan, Monaghan. The development will provide a mix of 2 bed, 3 bed and 4 bed houses including accessible bungalows for those with disabilities.

Announcing the funding approval Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council Cllr. David Maxwell stated “This €18 million euro investment will finish off the Latlorcan estate,  which has remained unfinished for several years , providing much needed homes in the Town.

Monaghan County council Chief Executive Robert Burns added “Providing good quality social and affordable housing in County Monaghan is a priority of mine. This announcement, will, I hope, be the first of many over the next number of months as the Housing Section accelerates delivery of housing in the County. The Housing Section expect works to begin in the last quarter of 2024 with tenants moving in sometime in 2026.”

New development called Slí na Coille in Mullaghmatt, Monaghan

Monaghan County Council have announced that they have received funding for a new development called Slí na Coille in Mullaghmatt, Monaghan.🏡

The site has been an unfinished development for many years and the news has been welcomed by Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council Cllr. David Maxwell “This site has been a problem for many years in this area. I am delighted that the Council has finally acquired it and intend developing it for social housing” The development will consist of a mix of 2 and 3 bed houses, and it is hoped that modern methods of construction will be utilised. Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council Robert Burns added, “I am very keen for the Council to utilise Modern Methods of Construction such as timber frame, light gauge steel or volumetric pre-cast concrete in this development.

The benefits of this approach include reduce time for completion, enhances quality and providing good value for money”

Development is expected to begin towards the end of 2024.

Polling Day Orders made for European, local and Limerick mayoral elections

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Mr. Darragh O’Brien, T.D.,  has today 05 April 2024) made orders appointing Friday, 7 June 2024 as the polling day and the hours of 7.00a.m. to 10.00p.m. to be the hours of polling at the European Parliament, local and Limerick mayoral elections.

The Minister has appointed Barry Ryan, a Principal Officer in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to be the chief returning officer for the European Parliament elections.  He has also appointed returning officers for the three European Parliament constituencies in which 14 MEPs are to be elected for the 2024-2029 parliamentary term.

Mr. Fergus Gallagher, Dublin County Sheriff, will be returning officer for the 4 seat Dublin constituency. Ms. Marian Chambers Higgins, Galway County Registrar, will be returning officer for the 5 seat Midlands-North-West constituency. Mr. Martin Harvey, Cork City Sheriff, will be returning officer for the 5 seat South constituency.  The three constituencies are specified in the Electoral Amendment (Amendment) Act 2023.

 

European election candidate nominations

The returning officers for the three European constituencies will in the coming days give public notice of the times for receiving nominations and of the application requirements.

 

Local election candidate nominations

The local authority returning officers for local elections will also give public notice of the times for receiving nominations and of the application requirements.

 

Limerick mayoral election candidate nominations

The returning officer for the Limerick mayoral elections will also give public notice of the times for receiving nominations and of the application requirements.

Voter Registration

A person eligible to vote but not yet registered as an elector still has time to apply for entry in the  register of electors. To be eligible to vote a person must be 18 years of age or over on or before polling day and be ordinarily resident in the constituency in which you wish to vote. You must also be included on the Register of Electors.

Everyone is encouraged to check that their details are correct and up to date at checktheregister.ie.

Eligible voters who are not on the register, or who need to update their details, for example because they have moved house, can do so by submitting an online application at www.checkthereigster.ie or by submitting a form to their local authority.  Relevant application forms are available from City, County or City and County Councils (these are the registration authorities) or online at www.checktheregister.ie

 

Completed applications must be received by the registration authority for the area in which you reside by Monday, 20 May 2024.

If a person is eligible to vote by post, or is unable to vote in person due to an illness or disability and is resident in a hospital, nursing home, mental health facility or similar institution, and they are not on the Postal Voters List or Special Voters List, as appropriate, they can apply up to Saturday, 11 May 2024 for inclusion in those lists. Application forms are available from City, County or City and County Councils and online at www.checktheregister.ie.

 

Election posters

With arrangements for the 2024 local elections now set, the Minister clarified the time period during which candidates can exhibit election posters.  Candidates can only erect posters from 8 May 2024, which is 30 days before the polling date.  There is a requirement for candidates to remove all posters within 7 days of the poll.

 

 

 

Major Tourism Initiatives for County Monaghan as new Tourism Strategy announced and Tourism and Recreation Forum established

  • Development of Tourism Strategy for County Monaghan 2023-2028
  • Establishment of formalised voluntary forum of key tourism and recreation stakeholders to support the delivery of the strategy.

 

Cllr David Maxwell, Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, officially launched the new Tourism Strategy for County Monaghan 2023 – 2028 at an event in the Council Chamber in Monaghan on Thursday 4th April.

The strategy comes at a time when there are significant challenges in the tourism industry and it identifies a series of actions which are designed to enhance the potential of tourism as a key driver of County Monaghan’s economy. The integrated forum structure is anticipated to become an enabler for the coordinated delivery of tourism products, services and experiences to realise the ambition of the strategy.

Speaking at the launch, Cllr Maxwell stated that ‘Today is just the start of a significant journey for tourism in the county. Monaghan has fantastic potential as a tourist destination but it requires further development of, and investment into facilities and experiences to drive job creation and economic benefit. Monaghan County Council has committed to this process by developing this strategy, by adding additional resources to our Tourism Unit and by establishing a Tourism & Recreation forum to help drive progress. We look forward to working with stakeholders and industry partners as we implement this strategy.”

In attendance at the strategy launch was Matt Mohan, Independent Chair of the new Tourism & Recreation Forum for Monaghan who hosted the inaugural meeting of the forum immediately after the strategy launch.

In his speech, Matt Mohan, said that as a proud Monaghan man, he was ‘honoured to be asked to spearhead this initiative and to work in partnership with key stakeholders to unlock Monaghan’s tourism potential. I am committed to adding value wherever I can, assisting with the challenges ahead and driving the forum forward while maintaining a focus on sustainability and a greener future’.

Robert Burns, CE of Monaghan County Council added that ‘The vision for Monaghan is to create a sustainable, engaging destination which will provide authentic, place-based visitor experiences. To this end, we have developed an ambitious strategy and have established a mechanism which will support us in achieving it. I’m confident that we have an experienced forum team now in place to provide the necessary momentum to alter the trajectory of Monaghan’s tourism economy’.

 

For more information please contact:

Dympna Condra, Tourism Officer, Monaghan County Council

dcondra@monaghancoco.ie

 

HSE – Urgent Public Health Alert – MMR vaccination

The Department of Public Health HSE Dublin and North East wishes to advise members of the public about the risk of measles infection to non-immune individuals in the Dublin and North East region.

Since the beginning of March a small number of confirmed measles cases have been notified to Public Health HSE Dublin and North East. In view of these cases occurring in this short period of time there is a risk of on-going community spread.

Following the most recent notification of a confirmed measles case at the end of March, we wish to advise that members of the public may have been exposed to measles while:

  • travelling on Go Ahead bus route 238 (Dublin 15) on Tuesday 26th March 2024 afternoon from 14:00-16:00 hours or
  • travelling on Dublin Bus route 38A from Blanchardstown to O’Connell St. on Tuesday 26th March 2024 in the early evening from 16:30-19:00 hours

 

Action needed:

  1. Be aware of signs and symptoms of measles for 21 days (i.e. 16th April 2024) from the time of possible exposure.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, particularly in children under one year of age, pregnant women, and the immunosuppressed. If you are in one of these groups, please seek advice from your GP.

If you travelled on these bus routes during the dates and times above, it is especially important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of measles, which include:

    • Cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing and a cough
    • Sore red eyes
    • A temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above
    • Rash, which usually appears on head and neck first and spreads to rest of body

If you have these symptoms, please seek medical advice. Phone ahead prior to attending any healthcare setting to let them know that you have these symptoms, so they can make necessary arrangements.

  1. Ensure you are vaccinated.

If you are not vaccinated against measles with two doses of MMR, please contact your GP as soon as possible during normal working hours to discuss whether you require vaccination.

If you were born in Ireland before 1978 or had measles illness, you are unlikely to require vaccination, as you are probably immune.

The best way to protect yourself and those around you against measles is by MMR vaccination. This can be arranged free of charge with your GP (focus on children) or in the HSE vaccination clinics for children (over the age of 5 years) and adults for whom vaccination is indicated– the times and locations are listed on the following web link:  MMR vaccine Catch-up Programme – HSE.ie

Children should receive their first dose of MMR vaccine at one year of age and a second dose in junior infants at 4-5 years of age.

Further information about measles is available at: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/measles/

Contact HSE live for further information on measles (Freephone 1800 700 700)

This alert relates to the specific dates outlined above. We are not asking people to avoid these bus routes.

 

FÓGRA LENA bhFOILSÍTEAR TÚS AN INIÚCHTA COMHAIRLE CONTAE MHUINEACHÁIN

Tugtar fógra leis seo go gcuirfidh Martin White, Iniúchóir Rialtais Áitiúil, tús leis an iniúchadh ar chuntais na heagraíochta rialtais áitiúil thuasluaite don bhliain airgeadais dar críoch an 31 Nollaig 2023 ar an 10 Aibreán 2024. De réir airteagal 17 de Rialacháin 2014 maidir le Rialtais Áitiúla (Nósanna Imeachta Airgeadais agus Iniúchta, breithneoidh an tIniúchóir Rialtais Áitiúil agóidí in aghaidh aon ní atá sna cuntais éagsúla sin le linn an iniúchta.

Ba cheart fógra scríofa maidir le haon agóid bheartaithe, ina leagtar amach na sonraí agus na forais ábhartha ar a ndéanfar an agóid, a chur chuig an Iniúchóir Rialtais Áitiúil thuasluaite ag an seoladh Comhairle Contae Mhuineacháin, An Gleann, Muineachán, laistigh de 10 lá ó thús an iniúchta.

Beidh an ráiteas airgeadais bliantúil ar fáil le linn uaireanta oifige lena iniúchadh ag gach duine ar feadh tréimhse 7 lá roimh thús an iniúchta.

Arna dhátú an 4 Aibreán 2024

Robert Burns

NOTICE PUBLISHING COMMENCEMENT OF AUDIT MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL

Notice is hereby given that the audit of the accounts of the above-named local government organisation for the financial year ended on 31st day of December 2023, will be commenced by Martin White, Local Government Auditor, on the 10th April 2024  In accordance with article 17 of the Local Government (Financial and Audit Procedures) Regulations 2014, objections to any matter or matters contained in the said several accounts will be considered by the Local Government Auditor during the audit.

Written notice of any proposed objection, setting out the relevant particulars and grounds on which it is to be made, should be sent to the above Local Government Auditor at Monaghan County Council, The Glen, Monaghan, within ten days of the commencement of the audit.

The annual financial statement will be available during office hours for the inspection of all persons for a period of seven days before the commencement of the audit.

 

Dated this 4th day of April 2024

Robert Burns

Chief Executive

 

Road users warned of the consequences of drug driving this Easter

Monaghan County Council together with An Garda Síochána are highlighting the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

 

Drug driving remains a problem in Ireland with estimations that it’s a factor in approximately one in ten fatal crashes. Drug driving not only puts the driver at risk but also passengers and others who share the road.

 

The age profile of drivers providing blood and urine specimens nationally in the 25- to 44-year-old brackets continues to contribute to the greatest percentage of arrested drivers.  The number of male drivers (85%) required to provide a breath specimen exceeds the number of female drivers (15%) by a ratio of nearly 6:1.

Sergeant Niall Leech from the Monaghan Roads Policing Unit spoke of the importance of roadside drug testing by Gardaí. “The test, which involves a mouth swab, is easy to carry out and within minutes will tell if a driver has drugs in their system. This screening device is an important tool in the identification of drug drivers, ensuring our roads are safer for everyone to use. A small quantity of drugs can seriously affect a driver’s motor skills, balance and co-ordination, reaction time, and judgment on the roads, putting not only the driver at risk, but also passengers and other road users in danger”.

 

Adrian O’Sullivan, Road Safety Officer with Monaghan County Council added “Drivers with medical conditions should continue to take their prescribed medications in accordance with healthcare advice and medical fitness-to-drive guidelines. If you are taking prescription or over-the-counter medicines under the advice of your doctor or pharmacist, providing those medicines don’t impair your driving, you have nothing to be concerned about. If you are in any doubt, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.  I would appeal to all road users to take care when using the roads over the Easter break and to never to drive whilst under the influence of any intoxicant”.

Drivers found abusing drugs such as cannabis or cocaine face a minimum disqualification of not less than 1 year for the first offence and not less than 2 years for the second or subsequent offence, a fine of up to €5,000 and up to six months in prison. The disqualification rises to a minimum of 4 years for a first offence and 6 years for a second or subsequent offence if a driver is found to have drugs in their body and their driving is impaired.

As of 27th March 2024, a total of 54 people have been killed on the country’s roads, an increase 12 compared to the same period in 2023. None of these fatalities have occurred in County Monaghan.