News

More single applicants will be able to apply for State backed loan

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, today announced significant improvements to the Local Authority Home Loan that will result in more people being eligible to apply for the State-backed mortgage. The prices of homes eligible for a Local Authority Home Loan and income limits of those eligible to apply for a loan are being increased.

The Local Authority Home Loan was launched in January 2022 as part of Housing for All. It supports creditworthy borrowers who are unable to get finance from commercial banks to buy a home. It can be used for new, second hand or self-build homes. It means those on more moderate incomes are helped by the State to achieve homeownership, a key aim for this Government.

The following changes to the Local Authority Home Loan will come into effect on 1^st March 2023:

Increases to house price limits for all local authorities areas:

• Increase from €320,000 to €360,000 – Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, South Dublin, Dublin City, Fingal, Wicklow, Kildare
• Increase from €310,00 to €330,000 – Galway City, Cork City, Louth, Meath, Galway County, Cork County
• Increase from €250,000 to €300,000 – Limerick, Waterford, Clare, Wexford, Westmeath, Kilkenny
• Increase from €250,000 to €275,000 – Offaly, Laois, Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal, Tipperary, Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Longford, Carlow

Increased income limits for all applicants in each local authority area

• Increase from €50,000 and €65,000 to €70,000 for all single applicants nationwide
• Increase from €75,000 to €85,000 for all joint applicants nationwide
  Speaking after the announcement, Minister O’Brien said:

“I am delighted to announce these improvements to the Local Authority Home Loan which will take effect from March 1^st. Supporting home ownership is a key objective for this Government and the increase in eligible house prices coupled with the increase in income limits will mean more people can access the loan. 

“Importantly, building on changes made this time last year we are again increasing the income limit for single applicants so that those earning up to €70,000 who wish to purchase a home can avail of the State backed loan. The ‘Fresh Start Principle’ also applies whereby people who are divorced or separated and have no interest in the family home, or who have undergone insolvency proceedings, can also avail of the loan. 

“The changes reflect the reality of today’s housing market and we will continue to keep the Local Authority Home Loan under review to ensure it remains a genuine and relevant support for people who want to own their own home.”

Since February 2018 over 3,300 people have got on the property ladder through the Local Authority Home Loan and its predecessor the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.

Minister O’Brien, along with Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Pascal Donohoe TD, will sign the amendment regulations in the coming weeks. The changes will take effect on 01 March 2023.

Further info:

A Local Authority Home Loan offers two fixed interest rate products:

• 35% fixed for up to 25 years (APR 3.40%)*
• 45% fixed for up to 30 years (APR 3.51%)*

More information on the Local Authority Home Loan can be found at: https://localauthorityhomeloan.ie/

The maximum amounts that can be borrowed will be as follows:

• In areas with a house price limit of €275,000, the borrowing limit will be €247,500
• In areas with a house price limit of €300,000, the borrowing limit will be €270,000
• In areas with a house price limit of €330,000, the borrowing limit will be €297,000
• In areas with a house price limit of €360,000, the borrowing limit will be €324,000.

For more information on the number of local authority loans approved and amounts paid, at local authority area level, click below: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/

Tá sé i gceist ag Coiste Gaeilge, Comhairle Contae Mhuineacháin maoiniú teoranta a dháileadh ar ghrúpaí pobail sa chontae a bheadh sásta ócáid a reachtáil le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Bheadh na himeachtaí seo a leanas oiriúnach

• Léirithe ceoil as Gaeilge
• Scéalaíocht as Gaeilge
• Ciorcal Comhrá as Gaeilge
• Tráth na gCeist as Gaeilge
• Imeachtaí Spóirt as Gaeilge
• Pop up Gaeltachta

Ag seo na coinníollacha a bhainfidh leis an maoiniú

• Beidh an ócáid ar fad as Gaeilge.
• Is ar ghrúpaí pobail amháin a bhronnfar an maoiniú, ní mór cuntas bainc a bheith ag an ngrúpa. Ní bhronnfar maoiniú ar dhuine aonair.
• Beidh na himeachtaí ar siúl le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge agus caithfear iad a chlárú ar snag.ie
• Ní mór an maoiniú ó Choiste na Gaeilge a admháil in aon phoiblíocht.
• Ní bhronnfar os cionn €100 ar aon iarratas.

Má tá suim ag an ngrúpa agatsa in ócáid a reachtáil, seol r-phost led thoil chuig Nial Ó Conchúir, Oifigeach Gaeilge ag noconnor@monaghancoco.ie agus luaigh an t-eolas seo a leanas

1. Ainm an Ghrúpa
2. Sonraí Teagmhála
3. An dáta molta don ócáid
4. An Láthair atá molta
5. Cur síos ar an ócáid
6. An méid atá á lorg (faoi réir uasmhéid €100)

Dáta deiridh Aoine 17 Feabhra 2023.

 

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Could your community group contribute to the promotion of Irish Language in County Monaghan during Seachtain na Gaeilge 2023?

Monaghan County Council’s Coiste na Gaeilge is proposing to distribute a small amount of funding to community groups in the County to host an event as Gaeilge during Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Events might include

• Music events as Gaeilge
• Storytelling as Gaeilge
• Ciorcal Cómhra as Gaeilge
• Table Quiz as Gaeilge
• Sport events as Gaeilge
• Pop up Gaeltachta

The Following conditions will be attached to the funding

• Events must be As Gaeilge.
• Funding for community groups only, with a bank account. Individuals cannot apply.
• Events must be held during Seachtain na Gaeilge and be registered on snag.ie
• Funding from Coiste na Gaeilge must be acknowledged in any publicity
• Grants will not exceed €100 per applicant.

If your group is interested in hosting an event, please send an email to Nial Ó Conchúir Oifigeach Gaeilge at noconnor@monaghancoco.ie with the following information

7. Name of Group
8. Contact Details
9. Proposed date of event
10. Proposed Venue
11. Description of event
12. Amount being requested (subject to maximum €100)

Closing date is Friday 17^th  February 2023.

Tá sé i gceist ag Coiste Gaeilge, Comhairle Contae Mhuineacháin maoiniú teoranta a dháileadh ar ghrúpaí pobail sa chontae a bheadh sásta ócáid a reachtáil le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Bheadh na himeachtaí seo a leanas oiriúnach

• Léirithe ceoil as Gaeilge
• Scéalaíocht as Gaeilge
• Ciorcal Comhrá as Gaeilge
• Tráth na gCeist as Gaeilge
• Imeachtaí Spóirt as Gaeilge
• Pop up Gaeltachta

Ag seo na coinníollacha a bhainfidh leis an maoiniú

• Beidh an ócáid ar fad as Gaeilge.
• Is ar ghrúpaí pobail amháin a bhronnfar an maoiniú, ní mór cuntas bainc a bheith ag an ngrúpa. Ní bhronnfar maoiniú ar dhuine aonair.
• Beidh na himeachtaí ar siúl le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge agus caithfear iad a chlárú ar snag.ie
• Ní mór an maoiniú ó Choiste na Gaeilge a admháil in aon phoiblíocht.
• Ní bhronnfar os cionn €100 ar aon iarratas.

Má tá suim ag an ngrúpa agatsa in ócáid a reachtáil, seol r-phost led thoil chuig Nial Ó Conchúir, Oifigeach Gaeilge ag noconnor@monaghancoco.ie agus luaigh an t-eolas seo a leanas

1. Ainm an Ghrúpa
2. Sonraí Teagmhála
3. An dáta molta don ócáid
4. An Láthair atá molta
5. Cur síos ar an ócáid
6. An méid atá á lorg (faoi réir uasmhéid €100)

Dáta deiridh Aoine 17 Feabhra 2023.

Could your community group contribute to the promotion of Irish Language in County Monaghan during Seachtain na Gaeilge 2023?

Monaghan County Council’s Coiste na Gaeilge is proposing to distribute a small amount of funding to community groups in the County to host an event as Gaeilge during Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Events might include

• Music events as Gaeilge
• Storytelling as Gaeilge
• Ciorcal Cómhra as Gaeilge
• Table Quiz as Gaeilge
• Sport events as Gaeilge
• Pop up Gaeltachta

 

The Following conditions will be attached to the funding

• Events must be As Gaeilge.
• Funding for community groups only, with a bank account. Individuals cannot apply.
• Events must be held during Seachtain na Gaeilge and be registered on snag.ie
• Funding from Coiste na Gaeilge must be acknowledged in any publicity
• Grants will not exceed €100 per applicant.

If your group is interested in hosting an event, please send an email to Nial Ó Conchúir Oifigeach Gaeilge at noconnor@monaghancoco.ie with the following information

7. Name of Group
8. Contact Details
9. Proposed date of event
10. Proposed Venue
11. Description of event
12. Amount being requested (subject to maximum €100)

Closing date is Friday 17^th  February 2023.

 

The Members of Monaghan County Council have initiated an Awards Scheme to recognise those individuals/groups in County Monaghan who, during 2023, have excelled in the following areas:

• Sport and Recreation
• Arts & Culture
• Youth
• Community
• Environment & Heritage

Members of the public are invited to nominate individuals/groups who they feel have excelled under any of the categories listed above.

Nomination forms and details of the Awards Scheme are available from the Corporate Services Section, Monaghan County Council, County Offices, The Glen, Monaghan (Telephone 047 30500) or can be downloaded here:

Awards Scheme 2023 Criteria

AWARDS SCHEME (Nomination Form) 2023

Closing date for return of completed nomination forms – 5.00 p.m. on Friday 16^th February 2024

Carmel O’Hare

Director of Services

25^th January 2024

 

Data Protection:

Awards Scheme Applications Privacy Notice 

Monaghan County Council and Clones Town Team are pleased to announce that funding has been allocated under the Department of Rural and Community Developments Town and Village Renewal Scheme for the Clones Streetscape Enhancement Scheme and the Fermanagh Street Streetscape Enhancement Scheme. These schemes will assist with the cost of painting/decluttering/green enhancement and replacement of shop fronts on buildings within the town of Clones.

The Clones Streetscape Enhancement Scheme applies to the following areas:

The Diamond

Monaghan Street

McCurtain Street (Part of)

Annalore Street (Part of)

Cara Street (Part of)

 

The Fermanagh Street Streetscape Enhancement Scheme applies to the following areas:

 

Fermanagh Street

Lower Fermanagh Street

 Application forms, map of selected areas and Clones Colour Scheme are available at the offices of Ballybay Clones Municipal District, Markethouse, The Diamond, Clones, Co Monaghan H23 X378 during office hours Monday – Friday 9.15am to 5.15pm or by email to emcmanus@monaghancoco.ie. It is important to clearly state which scheme you are applying for.

If the schemes are oversubscribed those applicants eligible to continue in the application process will be randomly selected.

Completed application forms are to be returned on or before the closing date of Friday 24^th February 2023 at 4.00 p.m. to:

 

Gillian Costello

Ballybay Clones Municipal District,

Markethouse,

The Diamond,

Clones,

Co Monaghan

 

Signed: Kevin McNally, Coordinator Ballybay Clones Municipal District

Dated 2^nd February 2023

 

Architectural Competition seeks innovative design solutions for creating high-quality homes in town-centre locations

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, and the President of The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, Charlotte Sheridan, today launched the ‘Town Centre Living’ Architectural Design Competition for the design of four social housing schemes, with one in each of four town centre sites across the country.

The competition aims to encourage innovative design for social housing within town centres and progress the Government’s Town Centre First policy’s objectives of compact growth and town-centre revitalisation. The competition also seeks to encourage more architectural firms to compete for social housing design projects.

Following an open invitation to, and close liaison with local authorities, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) has selected four town-centre sites that will each have a separate social housing design competition. All four competitions will run concurrently. The winning architectural practice for each competition will, in addition to prize money, be awarded the design commission for the project. The winning proposals will be progressed by the various local authorities as live projects funded by DHLGH, through to construction and delivery.

The sites are at:

• Kildare Town, Co. Kildare
• Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
• Sligo Town, Co. Sligo
• Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan

In February 2022, the Government launched Town Centre First, a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. The policy is underpinned by multi-billion euro investment spread across major Government schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The policy contains 33 unique actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, visit and run a business. Housing for All, the Government’s housing plan to 2030, committed to publishing the policy.

The winners of the competitions are expected to be announced during Quarter 2 2023.

The Juries for the Town Centre Living Competitions will be as follows:

Castleblayney

Valerie Mulvin FRIAI (Chair)

Paul Altman MRIAI, Senior Advisor DHLGH

Lorcan MacCinna Senior Engineer Monaghan County Council

Sligo

Derek Tynan FRIAI (Chair)

Joan MacMahon MRIAI Senior Advisor DHLGH

Seán Martin MRIAI Senior Architect Sligo County Council

Kildare

Miriam Delaney MRIAI (Chair)

Gareth Williams MRIAI Architect Advisor DHLGH

David Creighton MRIAI Senior Architect Kildare County Council

Roscrea

Orla Murphy MRIAI (Chair)

John Martin MRIAI Architect Advisor DHLGH

Liam Ryan MRIAI Senior Executive Architect Tipperary County Council

 

More information on the competition can be found here.

Playground Design Workshop for Corrybrennan Park & Culbrennan Estate will take place on Saturday Feb 11th, 11am to 2pm. All Welcome.

26 January 2023. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the County and City Management Association (CCMA) are calling on land-owners to cut their hedgerows before the March 1 deadline, to ensure they are not causing a potentially serious road safety hazard.

Overgrown hedgerows and roadside verges can result in road fatalities and serious injury collisions. Properly maintained hedges also protect vulnerable road users who are not forced onto the road by overgrown hedges. It additionally affords motorists a clear view of what is in front of them or around the a bend, especially on local rural roads in the case of sightlines at junctions or obstructions to road signs.

In accordance with the Wildlife Act, it is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated or growing in any hedge or ditch, between 1st March and 31st August. There are some exceptions to this including if there are grounds to act for road safety reasons. Local authorities can and do either take direct action themselves or serve a notice on the landowner to do something in such instances.

Mr. Sam Waide, Chief Executive, RSA, said: “Landowners across the country need to be aware of the impact that overgrown hedgerows can have on other road users. They can cause a road safety hazard that could potentially result in loss of life or serious injury to another member of your community.  Road safety is a shared responsibility, and it is important that landowners remain alert and take accountability for maintaining hedgerows. We can make our roads a safer place if we all play our role and take personal responsibility for what happens on the roads.”

On behalf of local authorities, John McLaughlin, Chair of the County and City Management Association Climate Action, Transport, Circular Economy, and Networks Committee said: “Local authorities have an obligation to ensure roadside verges are maintained and that local road safety issues should be prioritised, whilst also recognising the commitments under directives to preserve hedgerows and promote biodiversity. Equally, landowners and anyone living along the roadside has a responsibility to check that hedges or trees on their property are not causing a road safety hazard. If they are, the landowners should take the necessary steps needed to ensure road safety. We are also calling on members of the public to report road safety issues caused by overgrowth to their local authority, which can then contact the landowner.”