News

Having working smoke alarms is a great first step, but does your household know what to do when they sound? If in doubt – get out! Today, we introduce #WayOutWednesday! Add it to your calendar today.

#FireSafetyIRE #21FSW #SmokeAlarmsSaveLives #STOPfire #wayoutwednesday

We can all make sure our homes are as safe as possible. We will be sharing our top tips all week.

#firesafetyIRL #21FSW #smokealarmssavelives #STOPfire #testittuesday

Thursday, 30 September 2021 – Twenty one additional wastewater treatment plants have been selected for upgrade as part of the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme. This follows the announcement of 15 projects earlier in the summer and forms part of Irish Water’s commitment to supporting growth and development in local towns and villages throughout the country, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.

Working in partnership with Local Authorities, this investment in the local wastewater infrastructure will provide additional capacity for the development of new homes, while ensuring that wastewater continues to be treated to an appropriate standard. In Monaghan, Oram Wastewater Treatment Plant will be upgraded to provide additional capacity for growth.

Irish Water has announced these projects now to enable Local Authorities to make plans on housing and development into the short and medium term supporting their regional and local development plans.

Anthony Skeffington, Irish Water’s Regional Operations Manager said: “The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien recently announced the Housing for All plan and this is one of Irish Water’s key initiatives in supporting the delivery of this plan. Irish Water is able to confirm that the green light has been given for this project which will improve treatment capacity in these small towns and villages. This will unlock growth and development in these areas by ensuring the treatment infrastructure is in place to meet the needs of the towns and villages.

“Irish Water put this unique programme in place and allocated funding having identified the need to support growth in smaller towns and villages. The projects were selected following detailed consultation with Local Authorities to identify and prioritise areas for investment. We would also like to thank local councillors across the country of their engagement with us on highlighting the areas most in need.”

The announcement today was made possible after Irish Water’s planning team finalised their reviews of all submissions with a focus on the right sized projects for the right town or village at the right cost. The project will now continue through the next stages including design, detailed planning, procurement and approvals. Further updates on the budget and timelines for delivery will be provided in due course. Looking forward, Irish Water anticipates that this programme will continue in the next capital investment programme delivering further upgrades to cater for growth.

Irish Water is responsible for public water and wastewater infrastructure and is committed to providing a safe and reliable water supply, protecting the environment and supporting the growth of homes and businesses. The building, repair and upgrading of Irish Water’s water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, water and sewer network will require a multi-billion euro investment programme over many years. Irish Water is investing €5.2 billion in the period from 2020-2024 in drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure.

Details of the current Capital Investment Plan and planned investments in each county will be published in the coming weeks.

 

The Heritage Council have put a call out for new participants to their Adopt a Monument Programme.

Wifi4EU rolls out in Glaslough Village in time for Christmas
Monaghan County Council is currently rolling out broadband to community centres under the Wifi4EU programme. This programme is supported by capital funding from the EU, Dept. Rural & Community Development, with ongoing maintenance and running costs being undertaken by Monaghan County Council the Wifi4EU Programme is being rolled out by Broadband Officer, John McArdle on behalf of the local authority.

Pictured here are the Wifi Access points mounted in the village square and also at the Oaklands Recreation Centre where internet and wifi facilities have been installed within the community Centre and overseeing the outside playpark. Thanks to Ron Kendrick for facilitating this installation which allows visitors to the village to access wifi and download the Glaslough Heritage Trail App upon arrival into the village itself.

 

Check the Register

Improvements to voter registration process launched today as new Check the Register campaign begins

Registering to vote now possible online, year-round

16 and 17 year olds can now pre-register online

Public encouraged to confirm and update their details online

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien T.D. and Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, T.D. together encouraged the public to confirm and update their details on the electoral register or to register for the first time using a newly upgraded www.checktheregister.ie. Their comments come as a campaign launched today (7 November) to raise public awareness of changes to the electoral registration process.

Several improvements have been made to the process of registering to vote and updating registration details, arising from provisions in Part 3 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, which were commenced on 13 October.

In addition to making the process more accessible, the changes to how the register is managed and maintained will ensure a robust electoral register into the future.  All electors are now being asked to visit www.checktheregister.ie to confirm or update their entry by adding their PPSN, Date of Birth and Eircode.  This will help local authorities to ensure that entries are accurate and up to date as well as enabling the identification of entries on the register that require follow up.

The core changes to the electoral registration process include:

• A move from fixed periods for updating details to rolling updates: previously people could only update their details in November or via the supplement which required a visit to a Garda station. Under the changes announced today, continuous or rolling registration will allow updates or additions at any time of year;
• Streamlining of the application process through use of PPSNs: The use of PPSNs will enable a simple identity data cross-check to protect and improve the integrity of the register, while streamlining the process for electors. This will mean that most people won’t have to visit a Garda station to have their forms witnessed;
• Registering to vote for the first time will now be possible online: PPSNs also enable online applications – for the first time people can register to vote or update their details online at any time;
• 16 and 17 year olds will be able to pre-register to vote: The introduction of a pending electors list to enable those 16 and 17 to pre-register and be automatically added to the register from when they turn 18.
• New provisions to make the register more accessible to all: The new process includes measures to facilitate electors whose safety might be at risk if their details were to be published on the register and those who have no address.

Minister Noonan said:

“I am particularly pleased that we have introduced pre-registration for 16 and 17 year olds.  Taken together, these changes give us a more accessible, flexible and modern system that’s simple and straightforward to use. It has never been easier for people to register to vote or update their details, so that’s what we’re encouraging everyone to do today.”

The Electoral Reform Act 2022 delivers the legislative underpinning for a range of significant electoral reforms set out in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future.   The Act provides for, among other things, the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission – An Coimisiún Toghcháin, the modernisation of the electoral registration process, and the regulation of online political advertising.

Commenced on 13 October in S.I. No. 512 of 2022 were the provisions necessary for:

• the recruitment of the Chief Executive and ordinary membership of An Coimisiún Toghcháin;
• the introduction of the new process in relation to electoral registration;
• providing for island voting to take place on the same day as the rest of the country; and
• the introduction of new processes to facilitate polling in pandemic situations.

Furthermore, existing flexible voting arrangements are being extended to those with mental health difficulties that prevent them from attending on polling day and those who live in nursing homes or similar places that may be inaccessible on polling day.

Welcoming the first phase of commencements of the Act, Minister O’Brien said:

“This first phase of commencement of the Electoral Reform Act and the launch of this awareness campaign represents another step in delivering on significant electoral reforms, and will help to ensure that our democracy is supported by robust electoral structures including a more accurate electoral register”.

Once An Coimisiún Toghcháin is established it will also have a new oversight role with respect to the register of electors. “An annual reporting cycle, with An Coimisiún empowered to make recommendations and set standards, will deliver a balance between local authority experience and local knowledge and national level oversight” said Minister Noonan.

A further phase of the project will see the development and roll out of a national system for use by all local authorities.  This will further enhance the integrity of the register and ensure that a single high standard of security and data protection is applied to the electoral register and its underlying data.

Minister O’Brien emphasised that: “This is one further step in the work to safeguard our electoral processes. Every vote is important, and I encourage everyone to confirm or update their details on www.checktheregister.ie to make sure that they can have their say”.

If you wish to discuss any other matter relating to the Register of Electors, please email register@monaghancoco.ie