N2 Ardee to Castleblayney & N2 Clontibret to Border Road Schemes
Emerging Preferred Route Corridor Public Consultation
Emerging Preferred Route Corridors have been published and a period of public consultation is underway for these road schemes.
Meetings with members of the project continue continue in the Nuremore Hotel, Carrickmacross until the 2nd October 2020. Anyone affected by or with an interest in the project is encouraged to speak to a project team member – phone 087 340 3786 to make an appointment.
Submissions in relation to Public Consultation 3 – Emerging Preferred Route Corridor should be made by Monday, 5th October 2020.
Notice of Passing of Resolution To Vary Basic Rate of Local Property Tax
The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended), makes specific provision that the Elected Members of a local authority may pass a formal resolution to vary the basic rate of the Local Property Tax for their administrative area by a percentage known as the Local Adjustment Factor. Article 10 of the Local Property Tax (Local Adjustment Factor) Regulations 2014 requires a local authority that has decided to vary the basic rate of the local property tax within its administrative area to give public notice of that decision.
In pursuance of the provisions of section 20 of the FINANCE (LOCAL PROPERTY TAX) ACT 2012 (as amended), I the undersigned hereby notify the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government of the passing of a resolution at a meeting of Monaghan County Council on 7th September 2020 to the effect that the basic rate of local property tax should be varied upwards by fifteen percent (15%) for the year 2021 in respect of relevant residential properties situated in the local authority’s administrative area.
Monaghan County Council’s Age Friendly Programme is delighted to launch our new Come back Cocooners Initiative which is aimed at supporting businesses to increase footfall back to their business and encourage older people who have been cocooning to safely return to shopping in their local towns. Come back Cocooners will run during October 2020.
Monaghan Age Friendly Programme:
•Invites businesses to put in place promotions/events/offers to encourage those who have been cocooning to return to shopping in the town centres.
•Come back Cocooners promotional booklet will be distributed to older people in the community and publicise in local medial outlets.
•Participating businesses will receive Come back Cocooners promotional posters for display.
To get involved please contact
Bernie Bradley
Age Friendly Programme Manager
087 6443332 or bbradley@monaghancoco.ie
Government launches Brexit Readiness Action Plan on the steps businesses and individuals should now take ahead of the end of the Transition Period on 31 December
The Government has today published its Brexit Readiness Action Plan. This call to action outlines a broad range of changes that will occur in less than four months’ time, regardless of the outcome of the ongoing EU-UK negotiations. It provides clear and concise advice on steps that need to be taken now by businesses and individuals in order to prepare for the end of the Transition Period on 31 December 2020.
Minister Simon Coveney, Taoiseach Micháel Martin, and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar at the launch of the Brexit Readiness Action Plan
Launching the Brexit Readiness Action Plan, the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD said:
“In less than four months’ time, regardless of the outcome of the current negotiations, the UK will be outside the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union.
“The Government’s Brexit Readiness Action Plan published today lays out the profound changes that are going to take place as a result of Brexit and the steps Irish businesses and individuals should now take.
We know this is already an extremely challenging time for businesses across the country. The Government will continue to provide support and guidance, and working together, taking action now, we can reduce the impact of Brexit as much as possible”.
The Action Plan outlines the changes which will take place at the end of the year, the most significant and immediate being that, as of 1 January 2021, the UK will be outside the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union. This will have significant implications for every business who moves goods to, from, or through Great Britain.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD said:
“In 2020 we’ve seen businesses across the country fundamentally change how they do business – whether it’s a restaurant moving to take away, a shop moving on-line, or changing from an office-based business to working remotely. Once again we are asking businesses to take action. Economic Brexit is happening at the end of the year. Free Trade Deal or No Free Trade Deal, the UK will leave the Single Market and Customs Union in little more than sixteen weeks. For companies that trade with Britain, things will not be the same.
“Making sure your business is ready for any changes to customs is crucial. So, we are making available a grant up to €9,000 per employee taken on or redeployed to enable businesses build their capacity to manage any customs changes. Practical training is available, through Enterprise Ireland which is running an online Customs Insights course and through Local Enterprise Offices which are providing one to one Brexit mentoring. The €2 billion Credit Guarantee Scheme we opened earlier this week, the Microfinance Ireland loan, the Future Growth Loan Scheme, the Restart Grant Plus, the VAT reduction, warehousing of tax liabilities and of course the EWSS will also help as will increased Government spending on public services, infrastructure, education and skills. All designed to help businesses survive this difficult period and protect jobs.”
The Action Plan provides guidance and advice to business and individuals in areas including the trade in goods and services, customs processes, import duties, EU single market accreditations, use of the UK land bridge, retail trade, including online retail with the UK, the transfer of data, the movement of pets, recognition of qualifications, and many other issues which will arise at the end of the Transition Period.
Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport, Eamon Ryan TD said:
“Brexit is going to change the way business operates and we need to be ready. The public and business response to the challenges of the last year have been extraordinary. We have done so much to protect one another and to move forward, it has been remarkable. But we need to continue to look forward. The challenge of Brexit to Irish business is huge but by working together and taking action now we can reduce those impacts.
Since the outset of the Brexit process, transport connectivity has been one of our key concerns, and in particular the connectivity to the UK and our EU trading partners. Brexit will bring change regardless of whether an agreement is achieved or not.
Obviously these matters remain the subject of the ongoing negotiations and it is not possible to predict the outcome. That being said, there are actions that we as Government, industry and citizens can take to mitigate the impacts of the UK’s exit from the Single Market. We need to focus and work towards this. “
1 January 2021 is very different from earlier no-deal cliff edges. It will bring permanent change in the way the EU and UK trade and engage. Government, business and individuals must work together and take the necessary steps now to prepare for the new reality of the UK outside of the EU while we remain at its heart. Ireland will do this as part of the EU 27 with the strength and certainty that brings.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD said:
“There is no more time, no matter what the status quo will change on January 1st next and we need to use the months between now and then to ensure no business is left behind”
Today’s launch of the Brexit Readiness Action Plan is accompanied by two new Government programmes to assist businesses prepare for new customs and trading arrangements. These are:
Ready for Customs – through Enterprise Ireland a grant of up to €9,000 will be provided to businesses per eligible employee hired, or redeployed within the business, to a dedicated customs role. This has been funded from a €20m Brexit Fund made available under the July Jobs Stimulus;
Clear Customs Online 2020 – Skillnet Ireland’s free online customs training, to support the customs intermediary sector and businesses that moves goods frequently to, from, or through Great Britain.
The Government is also today publishing the General Scheme of the 2020 Brexit Omnibus Bill, which addresses a wide range of complex issues that will arise at the end of the Transition Period. This legislation will be brought before the Oireachtas in the autumn.
A new communications campaign focused on ensuring business and individuals are prepared for Brexit will also be launched today. This will be supported by the issuing by Revenue of letters to over 90,000 companies in the coming days who have traded with the UK since 2019, in which detailed information, as set out in the Action Plan, on the steps they must urgently take to prepare for Brexit will be outlined. The letters will be supported by a telephone call campaign.
Regardless of the outcome of the future relationship negotiations, the provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland will apply. This protects the peace process and avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland, while preserving the integrity of the EU Customs Union and Single Market, and Ireland’s place therein. Under the Protocol, the Union Customs Code and other EU provisions necessary to preserve the integrity of the Single Market will continue to apply to and in Northern Ireland. This ensures that from Northern Ireland also will have free and open access to the EU Single Market.
Government Brexit Events The Government of Ireland has held over 200 events nationwide to date. See upcoming event details here:
Clear Customs Online Training; Run by Skillnet Ireland, this programme also launched today aims to boost your in-house customs capacity. Apply now at this link
ONLINE Prepare your Business for Customs Workshops: run by Local Enterprise Office’s over more than 24 dates from today. More here.
Webinar on Brexit & the Services Sector; run in partnership with Newry Chamber of Commerce and Intertrade Ireland,10th September, more here
Customs Readiness Programme: run by Bord Bia, this programme will run on 24th Sept, 1st/8th October. For more info click here
In response to the new system of calculated grades, Youth Work Ireland Cavan Monaghan will be offering online support and advice to students receiving their Leaving Cert results this September.
Youth Work Ireland Cavan Monaghan is part of the new Youth Information Chat service, which will be open from 12pm to 9pm on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th September during the Leaving Cert results, and 12pm to 9pm on Friday 11th when the CAO offers are released.
The Youth Information Chat is an easy to use chat service that works just like Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger. It helps provides students and parents with advice and answers to their questions during these unprecedented times. The service is staffed by trained Youth Information Officers, who can help students and parents discuss their situation and talk through their options.Youth Information Chat Service is operated in partnership with SpunOut.ie, Irelands Youth Information Website.
The chat service can be accessed at www.ywimonaghan.ie/chat/.
The chat service connects young people or parents with a professional Youth Information Officer who can provide them with personalised information. The service is a great way for young people to get more information, learn about their opportunities, and talk through their own situations with someone who can help.
The Youth Information Chat service is also available every Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm or you can leave a message outside of those hours and receive a reply by email. The service is open to 16 to 25 year olds, parents, and people who work with young people. Go towww.ywimonaghan.ie/chat/ to get started.
N2 Ardee to Castleblayney and N2 Clontibret to Border Road Schemes
Third Public Consultation on ‘Emerging Preferred Route Corridors’ is launched
Emerging Preferred Route Corridors for the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney and N2 Clontibret to Border Road Schemes have now been published, and Monaghan County Council is seeking feedback from the public through a third period of non-statutory public consultation.
The Emerging Preferred Route Corridor for the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney Road Scheme is Route Corridor Option A, also known as the Yellow Route Corridor. This option was one of the six Route Corridor Options presented at Public Consultation 2 (Route Corridor Options) in November 2019. The corridor predominately follows the existing N2 route for the entirety of its length.
Following completion of Public Consultation 2 and through the Option Selection Process, it was identified that a localised widening of the Option A (Yellow) in the Townlands of Cookstown and Charlestown, directly North-East of Cookstown Cross in Co. Louth, was required. The area is approximately 1km in length and is approximately 140m at its widest point, and the widening is required to mitigate potential impact to Cultural Heritage Sites at Cookstown Cross. This widening was not previously shown in the Route Corridor Options presented through Public Consultation 2, but has been included in the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor.
The Emerging Preferred Route Corridor for the N2 Clontibret to Border Road Scheme is a combination of the Route Corridor Options brought forward for assessment after the 2nd public consultation. Six Route Corridor Options were presented through the second Public Consultation in October 2019, and feedback received suggested combining corridors in the area north of Castleshane to provide other options for assessment. Following consideration of this feedback, a seventh Route Corridor Option was brought forward to the Stage 2 assessment process. This additional Route Corridor Option includes an area of land that was not previously included within the published Route Corridor Options – this area of land is shown in grey and lies within the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor.
The Emerging Preferred Route Corridor was identified using the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Stage 2 assessment process, with further analysis and appraisal methods used to determine the best performing option. The Emerging Preferred Route Corridor combines sections of Option F (Green), Option E (Yellow) and Option B (Orange). This new Route Corridor is referred to as Option H (Green+Yellow+Orange).
What is an Emerging Preferred Route Corridor?
An Emerging Preferred Route Corridor is the route option that has been assessed to have the best combination of benefits and impacts based on the criteria to be considered for road transport projects.
The Emerging Preferred Route Corridors shown are typically 400m wide. The 400m corridors do not represent the actual width of the road scheme or the lands to be acquired – the corridors indicate the lands within which the N2 road schemes could be developed. The exact details of the land take, earthworks, junction and side road design and property impacts will be developed during the next Phase of the planning and design process.
Public Consultation has now commenced
A Public Consultation process is now underway and Monaghan County Council is inviting feedback on the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor for each scheme.
Registered landowners who have land within the Emerging Preferred Route Corridors are to receive an information pack by post on or after the 25th August 2020. The information pack will include drawings and maps of the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor, information on the Option Selection process to date and details of this third public consultation process.
A leaflet is to be delivered to properties within the Route Corridor Options on or after the 25th August 2020 advising that the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor has been identified and that the public consultation process has commenced.
Due to the threat COVID-19 poses to human health, it is not planned to hold large scale public events as part of the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor public consultation process. In response to the COVID-19 restrictions, an online public consultation experience has been developed on the project website www.N2MonaghanLouth.ie. This online public consultation experience will allow stakeholders and the general public to view maps, project information and express their opinion in a safe and accessible environment.
It is understood that online information cannot be accessed by everyone, and notwithstanding the restrictions COVID-19 presents, the project team is keen to engage with people through this public consultation. A range of options are available to speak directly with and meet members of the Project Team during the public consultation period, including:
During the first 3 weeks of the public consultation period, 25th August – 11th September, members of the public can arrange meetings with a member of the Project Team by phone or using digital technologies.
During the second 3 weeks of the planned consultation period, 14th September – 2nd October, in-person meetings will be available by appointment at venues in Monaghan Town and Carrickmacross. These in-person meetings will allow for social distancing and will adhere to all COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions to safeguard the health of the public and staff.
Information is available through the project phoneline, where members of the team will be available to give an overview of the project and answer general questions.
Email queries will be accepted throughout the public consultation period.
The third non-statutory consultation will be held between 25th August and 5th October 2020. Submissions can be made electronically or by FREEPOST up until 5th October 2020.
Following the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor public consultation, feedback and submissions will be considered by the N2 Project Team, any necessary amendments to the corridors will be made and the Preferred Route Corridors will then be finalised and published. At this stage the ‘Option Selection Report’, which includes all information relating to the assessment of the Route Corridor Options and the selection of the Preferred Route Corridors will be published. Stakeholders and the general public will be kept informed as part of Monaghan County Council’s commitment to ongoing and considered stakeholder engagement. Updates, news and details will be posted on the website www.N2MonaghanLouth.ie and through local media.
Notice is hereby given that the audit of the accounts of the above-named local government authority for the financial year ended on the 31st day of December, 2019 will be commenced by Mr. Martin White, Local Government Auditor on the 4th day of September 2020. 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 named Local Government Auditor at Monaghan County Council within ten days of the commencement of the audit. The annual financial statement will be available during office hours to the inspection of all persons interested for seven days before the commencement of the audit.
YOU CAN VOTE BY POST IF YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL ILLNESS OR A PHYSICAL DISABILITY, ARE LIVING AT HOME AND ARE UNABLE TO GO TO A POLLING STATION
You may apply for entry on the POSTAL voters list, which will come into force on 15th February, 2021, if you are unable to go in person to vote at your polling station due to a physical illness or disability which is likely to continue for the duration of the Register of Electors now being prepared.
You should complete the application in accordance with the notes on the back of the form and, if this is your first application for entry on the Postal Voters List, have the Medical Certificate completed by your doctor.
If you have had a Postal Vote in the last year there is no need to re-apply.
Completed forms should be submitted to Gillian Coyle, Corporate Services, County Offices, The Glen, Monaghan, before 25th November 2020.
Third Public Consultation on ‘Emerging Preferred Route Corridor’ N2 Ardee to Castleblayney and N2 Clontibret to Border Road Schemes
Following the publication of Route Corridor Options for the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney and N2 Clontibret to Border Road Schemes in late 2019, the N2 project team has considered the feedback received through the public consultation as part of the Option Selection process, and an Emerging Preferred Route Corridor for each scheme is due to be published at 6pm on Monday, 24th August 2020. A third period of non-statutory public consultation will commence on Tuesday 25th August and will run for 6 weeks.
An Emerging Preferred Route Corridor is the route option that has been assessed to have the best combination of benefits and impacts based on the criteria to be considered for road transport projects. The Emerging Preferred Route Corridor for the schemes will go on public display from 6pm on the 24th August, and Monaghan County Council is seeking the public’s feedback through the public consultation process.
Registered landowners within the affected corridors for each scheme will receive an information pack by post, and a separate flyer will be delivered to properties within all Route Corridor Options on or after the 25th August 2020.
Due to the threat COVID-19 poses to human health, it is not planned to hold large scale public events as part of the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor public consultation process. In response to the COVID-19 restrictions, an online public consultation experience has been developed on the project website www.N2MonaghanLouth.ie – this will go live at 6pm on Monday 24th August 2020. This online public consultation experience will allow stakeholders and the general public to view maps, project information and express their opinion in a safe and accessible environment.
It is understood that online information cannot be accessed by everyone, and notwithstanding the restrictions COVID-19 presents, the project team is keen to engage with people through this public consultation. A range of options will be available to speak directly with and meet members of the project team during the public consultation period, including:
During the first 3 weeks of the public consultation period, 25th August – 11th September, members of the public can arrange meetings with a member of the Project Team by phone or using digital technologies.
During the second 3 weeks of the planned consultation period, 14th September – 2nd October, in-person meetings will be available by appointment at venues in Monaghan Town and Carrickmacross. These in-person meetings will allow for social distancing and will adhere to all COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions to safeguard the health of the public and staff.
Through the project phoneline, where members of the team will be available to give an overview of the project and answer general questions.
Email queries will be accepted throughout the public consultation period through the project email addresses;
Once the Emerging Preferred Route Corridors have been published, anyone affected by or with an interest in the schemes is encouraged to make an appointment to speak with or meet the Project Team by contacting the project phoneline on 087 340 3786 or through the project website www.N2MonaghanLouth.ie. Submissions in relation to the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor can be made electronically or by FREEPOST up until 5th October 2020.
Following the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor public consultation, feedback and submissions will be considered by the N2 Project Team, any necessary amendments to the corridors will be made and the Preferred Route Corridor will then be finalised and published for each scheme. Stakeholders and the general public will be kept informed as part of Monaghan County Council’s commitment to ongoing and considered stakeholder engagement. Updates, news and details will be posted on the website www.N2MonaghanLouth.ie and through local media.
SERVICES
