Fire, road, and water safety officers across Ireland are joining forces for ‘Amber Thursday’ to promote fire, road, and water safety over the August bank holiday weekend.
Dermot Brannigan, Chief Fire Officer with Monaghan County Council is encouraging the public to be aware of the risks from fires. “This time of year can be a busy period for fire fighters so everyone should be aware of how quickly a fire can spread and a small incident can escalate into a larger one if not managed safely. I’m encouraging members of the public to enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend but to bear in mind the potential of fire related incidents. Never light a barbeque or a campfire in parks, woodland areas or in areas close to vegetation or trees and be mindful not to discard any cigarette butts on the ground. Keep children away from fires and have a bucket of water or sand nearby in case of an emergency.”
Road Safety Officer with Monaghan County Council, Adrian O’Sullivan, stressed the importance for road users to be cautious and courteous towards one another. “We have already seen a worrying year-on-year increase on the number of fatalities on our roads, with 113 deaths at the end of July, an increase of 13 compared to the same period in 2023. It’s imperative that motorists do not drive while under the influence of intoxicants such as alcohol or illegal drugs and that all passengers are wearing a seatbelt or appropriate seat restraint. Before setting off on a long journey, ensure your vehicle is roadworthy, plan your journey, drive within the posted speed limits, and take regular breaks to avoid driver fatigue.”
Gearóid McCarthy, Water Safety Development Officer with Monaghan County Council reminds everyone to be aware and not to be lulled into a false sense of security around water. “As Monaghan is a landlocked county, some people may choose to swim in one of Monaghan’s many lakes and rivers particularly during any warm spells of weather. However, these can pose their own dangers as they could contain hidden obstacles that can trap or make it more difficult to move around. Cold water in lakes can often be much deeper and colder beneath the surface than you may expect”.
“Most water related tragedies in Ireland occur in inland waterways. Reservoirs are not appropriate for swimming due to the risk of deep and fast-flowing waters, changing water levels and uneven ground” added the Water Safety Development Officer.
Amber Thursday is supported by Local Authorities, the Chief Fire Officers Association, and Water Safety Ireland. Further information can be found at amberthursday.ie.
Pictured (L-R):
Dermot Brannigan – Chief Fire Officer, Adrian O’Sullivan – Road Safety Officer, Niall Nolan – Station Officer, Clones fire Station and Siobhan McKenna – Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer
Monaghan County Council has officially launched its second Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2023-2029. The plan sets out A Vision for Monaghan to continue to be an attractive and welcoming County with vibrant communities and a diverse economy, built around wellbeing, innovation, prosperity, and sustainability.
Monaghan LECP 2023-2029 sets out 6 ambitious High-Level Goals which were developed following extensive public consultation and builds on the foundations of the first LECP 2016-2021 but also takes into consideration emerging issues. This plan is the result of collaborative efforts involving local communities, individuals, businesses and other key stakeholders throughout the county.
Councillor Cathy Bennett Chairperson Monaghan LCDC stated “It is an honour to be a part of the launch of the Local Economic and Community Plan 2023-2029. The development of this plan has enabled valuable engagement on key aspects of economic, community and social inclusion issues, At its core are the views from our communities of what their needs are, and through this engagement we have developed a plan that demonstrates a focus for the shared vision of a better quality of life for our communities and opportunities to jointly address issues affecting all of us. The LCDC looks forward to working with all stakeholders towards the delivery, monitoring and implementation of this plan”.
Robert Burns Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council echoed these sentiments and said “I am delighted to attend the LECP launch today. This plan follows 2-year extensive consultation and socio-economic research. The success of this plan requires leadership and commitment from all the agencies with responsibility for the delivery of actions in the plan. I congratulate them for their efforts in making Monaghan a place where people want to work, live, visit and do business and be a part of our wonderful communities.
I also want to thank the LECP Advisory Group, the Strategic Policy Committees for Economic and Community Development and all the members of the LCDC.
I wish all those agencies the very best in the delivery of the actions of the plan and I look forward to seeing the many benefits in its implementation”.
Left to Right: Eilín Connolly Local Enterprise Office, Packie Kelly Monaghan PPN, Gareth McMahon A/Director of Services Community Development, Cllr Cathy Bennett Chairperson Monaghan LCDC, Robert Burns Chief Executive, Nicola Payne A/Senior Executive Officer, Cathal Flynn Director of Services Economic Development and Leona Keenan Administrative Officer.
MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL DRAFT SCHEME FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES
Following the local elections held in June 2024 it is now necessary for Monaghan County Council to re-establish the Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) which will continue to form an important part of the local government framework for the county.
The representational structure on each SPC is designed to bring together both elected members and people actively working with social, economic, cultural and environmental bodies to develop and review policies related to Council services.
At the July meeting the Council adopted a Draft Scheme for the establishment of five Strategic Policy Committees. The Draft Scheme, which has been developed in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government provides for the following committees:
(i) SPC for Housing
(ii) SPC for Transport
(iii) SPC for Economic Development and Enterprise
(iv) SPC for Environment and Climate Change
(v) SPC for Tourism, Rural & Community Development and Cultural Services
Membership of the SPCs will comprise
•local elected members (to be nominated by Monaghan County Council)
•Representatives from the Cultural/Community/Voluntary/Social Inclusion sectors to be nominated by Monaghan Public Participation Network
•The nominees from the other sectors – Agriculture/Trade Union/Environment/
Development/Construction/Business to be made by their respective national representative bodies.
The Draft SPC Scheme and Department Guidelines are now available for inspection at www.monaghan.ie or at the offices of Monaghan County Council, during normal office hours. Submissions on the draft scheme are now being sought and should be received by 5.00 p.m. on 16 August 2024.
Submissions can be forwarded by post or email to the A/Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Services, Monaghan County Council, County Offices, The Glen, Monaghan (email – info@monaghancoco.ie).
Carmel O’Hare
Director of Corporate Services
18 July 2024
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 15th July 2024 and close on Friday 9th 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
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 30th September 2024.
Please note that applicants must complete and return an application to seek approval.
Monaghan County Councils role in supporting quality living within County Monaghan is being highlighted, promoted and celebrated to mark Your Council Day 2024, taking place Friday 5th July.
This year, through the national event, Ireland’s 31 county and city councils will promote the very positive impact local authorities have on people’s quality of life.
An extensive array of local authority services are used by people on a day-to-day basis which support quality living. These include, but are not limited to, parks, leisure, sports, library, arts, heritage and community services. Councils also lead in protecting our living environments, including street cleaning, litter control, monitoring of waterways, urban and village renewal schemes, maintenance of our roads and footpaths.
Staff in local authorities are embedded within communities, enabling people on an individual and collective basis to enjoy life in communities where they live, work and visit.
Across social media, #YourCouncilDay will highlight the role of local authorities in promoting quality living and the work of committed and passionate staff in councils across the country to support such.
On Your Council Day, local authorities will be posting online using #YourCouncilDay / #DoLásaChomhairle to profile services and amenities and to introduce people to staff.
Advancing a Focused Cross-Border Approach to Public Service Messaging in Emergency Management.
Caroline Creamer, Director, International Center for Local & Regional Development.Pictured are (L-R) Dermot Brannigan, Chief Fire Officer, Monaghan County Council, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council Chief Executive Alison McCullough, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council Chairperson John McClaughry, Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage of Ireland, Cllr David Maxwell, Cathaoirleach, Monaghan County Council, Robert Burns, Chief Executive, Monaghan County Council, Caroline Creamer, International Center for Local & Regional Development and Joan McCaffrey, Cross Border Emergency Management Group, at the launch of the Shared Island Report “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 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.”
Monaghan County Council – Age Friendly Business Recognition Programme
REAP THE REWARDS OF BECOMING AN AGE FRIENDLY BUSINESS IN MONAGHAN
In Ireland it is predicted that there will be 1.4 million people aged 65 and over by 2041, with this age group making up 22% of the overall population. Older people account for up to 50% of all consumer spending in the EU. They have time to shop, they like to shop, and they are loyal customers. They will come back for repeat business if the consumer experience is comfortable and pleasant for them.
Looking after older customers isn’t just about good business sense, it is both common sense and an increasing necessity in our world today where business is becoming increasingly competitive. That’s the opinion of Barry Eaton, Monaghan Age Friendly Programme Manager, who is relaunching the Age Friendly Business Recognition Programme in the Monaghan area, with training being arranged for 16th July. He understands that while our older demographic is experiencing a sharp increase in numbers, businesses can increase their trade in our older demographic by making their experience more comfortable, personal and to strongly signal that their business is valued.
It is relatively easy to make a business age friendly. Most age friendly practices are low or zero cost and can make a big difference to older customers. Changes such as making it easier for older people to find out about available services and how they can access these services are good for all customers. When a business lets their customers know that they are aiming to be age friendly, they are letting older people know that they value their custom and are committed to serving them.
All businesses in the Monaghan are invited to sign up to the Age Friendly Business Recognition Programme for free. Participating businesses are required to nominate an “Age Friendly Champion” to undergo a short training course, consult with customers and implement three Age Friendly actions. The actions are often zero or low cost options which can make shopping easier for older customers. Examples include providing better signage, using larger fonts on print material and having designated Age Friendly parking.
The business benefits from the programme as, having successfully completed the programme, an Age Friendly accredited business can display their certification and accreditation window sticker. They will also be listed on the agefriendlyireland.ie website. Barry Eaton, Monaghan Age Friendly Programme Manager, explains that “becoming an Age Friendly business benefits both the business and their customers. It will drive new customers to a business and help them retain them as older customers show greater loyalty towards local businesses and typically outspend other customers.”
SERVICES
