Approval for 11 biodiversity officers to bring national total to 25

11 local authorities have been awarded funding to appoint biodiversity officers.

11 local authorities have been awarded funding to appoint biodiversity officers to drive local action for biodiversity conservation. This will bring to 25 the total number of biodiversity officers in local authorities across Ireland, following last year’s approval for the appointment of a further ten officers.

The 11 new positions are expected to be filled by September 2023 while a full national rollout is expected to be completed within the next 2 years.

*See list of local authorities to appoint new biodiversity officers in ‘Notes for editors’ below.

The programme is being delivered by the Heritage Council and the County and City Management Association (CCMA) with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The announcement follows a commitment in the Programme for Government to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis, following the Dáil’s declaration of a Biodiversity Emergency in 2019, and the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss in 2022.

In addition to developing a Biodiversity Plan for their area, the new biodiversity officers will advise the local authority on biodiversity-related issues and the authority’s obligations in relation to protecting biodiversity. They will help local authorities to fully integrate biodiversity conservation into all of their policies, plans and actions, through training and the provision of expert advice.

Commenting on the development, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, TD, said:

“The appointment of another 11 biodiversity officers is further evidence of our commitment to addressing the biodiversity emergency and fulfilling our objectives as set out in the Programme for Government. These biodiversity experts are exactly the people we need at local authority level to engage local communities and to take practical action to conserve and restore wildlife species and habitats. I look forward to working with them shortly and to moving towards a full national rollout in the coming years.”

Chairperson of The Heritage Council, Dr Martina Moloney, said:

“The Heritage Council is pleased to be partnering with the County and City Management Association (CCMA), to deliver this programme with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Through the appointment of these biodiversity officers, we are prioritising a community-based approach to biodiversity and habitat restoration. The blend of local knowledge and evidence-based science has been very effective in the design and delivery of local heritage plans, and will ensure that local action for biodiversity will focus on the drivers of biodiversity loss, local priority species and habitats, and policies and actions at local level to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.”

Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of The Heritage Council, said:

“It is appropriate that we are making this announcement on World Wetlands Day, an international day of celebration for wetlands all over the world. Across Ireland, our peatlands play such a pivotal role in helping to mitigate the effects of climate change, and the permanent voice that these new appointees will bring to local authorities is a gamechanger in our efforts to confront these challenges and the other biodiversity challenges ahead.”

John Mulholland, Chair of the CCMA Rural Development, Community, Culture and Heritage (RCCH) Committee said:

“The County and City Management Association is delighted to support this important Biodiversity Officer Programme. The expertise of Biodiversity Officers strengthens significantly our efforts at local authority level to protect and encourage appreciation of biodiversity in our areas. Already biodiversity officers are making a marked difference in their local authority areas. This additional resource commitment will further assist the local government sector to build on our ambition to integrate biodiversity considerations across all of our operations and strengthen our capability to address biodiversity loss and promote climate action in our work and in our communities.”

An bhféadfadh an grúpa pobail agatsa cur le cur chun cinn na nGaeilge i gContae Mhuineacháin le linn 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.

 

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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

  1. Name of Group
  2. Contact Details
  3. Proposed date of event
  4. Proposed Venue
  5. Description of event
  6. Amount being requested (subject to maximum €100)

Closing date is Friday 17th  February 2023.

An bhféadfadh an grúpa pobail agatsa cur le cur chun cinn na nGaeilge i gContae Mhuineacháin le linn 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

  1. Name of Group
  2. Contact Details
  3. Proposed date of event
  4. Proposed Venue
  5. Description of event
  6. Amount being requested (subject to maximum €100)

Closing date is Friday 17th  February 2023.

 

Monaghan County Council Awards Scheme 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 16th February 2024

Carmel O’Hare

Director of Services

25th January 2024

 

Data Protection:

Awards Scheme Applications Privacy Notice 

Fermanagh Street Streetscape Enhancement Scheme and Clones Streetscape Enhancement Scheme

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 24th 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 2nd February 2023

 

Town Centre Living” Architectural Design Competitions launched by Minister O’Brien and RIAI

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.

RSA and local authorities remind landowners to cut hedgerows to prevent road safety hazards

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.”

 

BUILT HERITAGE INVESTMENT SCHEME 2023

Monaghan County Council is now inviting applications under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2023.

Overview

The BHIS seeks to encourage the investment of private capital in a number of small-scale, labour-intensive projects to repair and conserve historic structures and to support the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspeople and tradespersons in the repair of the historic built environment. The scheme is designed to assist the owners and/or occupiers of structures/properties that are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).  It will be administered by Monaghan County Council’s Planning Section.

Eligibility

The categories of structures/properties eligible for funding under this scheme are:

  • Protected Structures
  • Proposed Protected Structures
  • Structures/properties in Architectural Conservation Areas or within the amenity of a National Monument, where exceptional circumstances are deemed by the Department to apply.

Funding available

The minimum funding award under this scheme will be €2,500, up to a maximum of €15,000.

Successful applicants will be required to, at a minimum, match their funding award.

The 2023 BHIS will also include ring-fenced funding of €500,000 for conservation repairs to thatched structure to maximise the availability of financial assistance to such owners, helping them offset other costs.

 

How to apply

The BHIS 2023 Circular, application form and associated information are available to download below. Hard copies are also available at Planning Reception.

BHIS Circular – BHIS 2023 Circular

BHIS Application Form – BHIS 2023 Application Form A

Guidance Booklet for Applicants – BHIS 2023 Guidance Booklet For Applicants

 

Completed applications using Form A and accompanied by a comprehensive method statement must be submitted to Angela Gallagher, Administrative Officer, Planning Section, No.1 Dublin Street, Monaghan Town, H18 X982 or emailed to builtheritage@monaghancoco.ie on or before the 31st January 2023.

 

Data Protection

Built Heritage Investment Scheme