Press Releases

26 February, 2024

The Heritage Council is now accepting applications from community groups and not for profit non-governmental organisations in Monaghan for its Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2024. All relevant information is available from the Heritage Council’s website here.

A broad range of project types are eligible for funding under the scheme including:

• Conservation works to collections, objects or places, including natural heritage projects e.g. control of invasive species or habitat restoration works; conservation works to buildings, including churches; stabilisation works to ruined structures;
• Surveys, reports, plans, and audits to inform the future management of buildings and monuments, habitats, collections, or objects.
• Accessibility projects that make heritage activities more accessible for people with disabilities e.g. building ramps, automatic doors, handrails, tactile interpretation
• Projects that help people engage more with their heritage e.g. interactive maps, videos, virtual exhibitions, podcasts, websites
• Purchase of specialised equipment e.g archival boxing for vulnerable documents, monitoring equipment for humidity or light, interpretation/multimedia equipment, specialised software
• Projects that address the heritage of minority groups e.g an oral history project documenting Traveller heritage
• Training in traditional skills and crafts e.g. workshops on skills such as roofing, thatch, dry stone walling etc.
• Citizen science projects on environmental conservation

Last year, three Monaghan-based projects were funded through the scheme – the Monaghan Tidy Towns Rooskey Lockhouse and Lock Project, the Inniskeen Enterprise Development Group’s motte and abbey survey, and the Donagh Group of Parishes awareness raising project of significant sites in the communities of Donagh, Tyholland and Errigal Truagh (photos available below). For an overview of all projects funded under the scheme in previous years, see list of 2023 recipients here and 2022 recipients here.

The minimum grant that can be requested through the scheme is €500. The maximum is €25,000.

The closing date for applications is Monday, 25th of March 2024 at 5pm. Applications must be made via the Heritage Council’s online grants management system. Funded projects must be completed by 15^th of November 2024. Full details are available here

The Heritage Council will host a Zoom information webinar on the scheme at 12 noon on the 4^th of March with general application advice followed by a question and answers session. The event will be recorded and available on our website for viewing afterwards. Registration details are available on the site above.

15 January, 2024

A special Heritage Council publication featuring stories from heritage officers in every county is being launched today to mark 25 years since the Heritage Officer Network was founded. The booklet, ‘Opening the door to Ireland’s heritage’ details one key heritage project from each local authority from the last three years which collectively, highlight the enormous contribution the Network has made to the preservation of our heritage over the last quarter of a century.

The story features details of the ‘Magic Under Monaghan’ film that grabbed the attention of young people across the county. Its aim was to explain the wonder of Monaghan’s bogs in way that was educational, but also entertaining and accessible. Young people are increasingly concerned about environmental degradation, and with that can come anxiety about the effects of climate change. The entertaining and satirical approach in the film aimed to lift the worry enough for them to see practical solutions.

The film is locally significant while addressing the overarching global themes of climate change and biodiversity loss. It clearly illustrates the values of Sliabh Beagh, the cross-border expanse of blanket bog where filming took place over five days. Talented children’s TV presenter John Sharpson presents the film and is well known as Múinteoir John from RTÉ Home School Hub. The film was distributed to all schools in the county and has assumed a pivotal role within their interpretation and educational resources. ‘Magic Under Monaghan’ was shortlisted in the Sustainable Environment & Biodiversity category in the Excellence in Local Government Awards 2023.

It can be viewed from the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru5YBcifvDQ

In a partnership between the Heritage Council and local authorities, the first heritage officers were appointed in 1999 in Kerry, Sligo and Galway with the aim of raising awareness of heritage issues within the local authority and among local communities. Since then, the heritage officer network has become synonymous with the protection and promotion of Ireland’s heritage and for the first time in 2021, every local authority in the country had appointed somebody to the role.

While highlighting the important work they do, the stories in the publication also offer a stark insight into what may have been lost were it not for the heritage officers. Mangan’s Clock in the heart of Cork city may have fallen into disrepair. The most historic buildings in Ballyshannon or Listowel may have been left derelict and allowed to crumble. The natural beach and dune habitats along the coast of Wicklow may have become irrevocably degraded and the craftsmanship of dry-stone walling on Inis Oirr may have receded.

The publication can be read in full on the Heritage Council website here:

https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/content/files/Opening-the-Door-to-Irelands-Heritage.pdf

More information about the Heritage Officer Network is available here:

https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/our-work-with-others/county-heritage-officers

Speaking on the launch of the booklet, Heritage Officer for Monaghan County Council, Kara Ward, said:

“It is deeply satisfying to see documented in this publication the influence of the Heritage Officer Network in shaping our approach to heritage conservation and protection. Although we work as individuals at local authority level, what is clear from these pages is that the real strength of the Network is in the collective. These stories cover only a snapshot of recently completed projects from current heritage officers, so when we factor in the hundreds of past projects completed since 1999, it brings into the focus the enormous impact that the Local Authority Heritage Officer Programme has had.”

Chairperson of the Heritage Council Martina Moloney added:

“I have had the pleasure of working extensively with our Heritage Officers over many years and am constantly amazed by the shear variety of their work which is excellently captured in this beautiful publication. Not only do they provide advice, guidance, and information on all aspects of heritage, but they also secure funding, undertake research, collect data, and develop and lead a multitude of highly impactful and engaging projects. Raising awareness locally, Heritage Officers inspire communities to value and take ownership of their important local heritage in all its forms. What their work achieves, ultimately, is that it opens the door to our heritage for people across Ireland and further afield, so that it can be enjoyed and appreciated by everyone.”

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

“What has always stood out to me about the Heritage Officer Network is the range and number of individuals, groups and funders involved in the projects they undertake. It is very difficult to keep such a diverse range of interested parties singing off the same hymn sheet and getting the job done. This is the silent but tireless work of the Heritage Officers at play, to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude. On behalf of the CCMA, I commend them for their dedication.”

Monaghan County Council has today published its Gender Pay Gap Report, highlighting the percentage difference between what men and women are paid on average in the organisation, irrespective of roles or levels.

The 2023 report shows a Gender Pay Gap that on average, females are paid 3.01% more than males. The Median Gender Pay Gap shows that the median rate of pay for females is 13.84% higher than the median rate of pay for males.

Employers with more than 250 employees in Ireland are required to publish their gender pay gap data before the end of 2023 and within six months of their reference date. Monaghan County Council and all local authorities in the country chose 30th June 2023 as the reference date.

Publishing our gender pay gap data helps to reinforce our focus on supporting an open and inclusive workplace at Monaghan County Council.  Our organisation is a place where all employees have the same opportunities for recognition and career development and are treated fairly and equitably at work. We continue to be committed to addressing workplace barriers to equality and creating an open and inclusive workplace community. Many equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives and supports are already in place, and we will continue to work in this area.”

See the Council’s Gender Pay Gap report here: Gender Pay Gap Report 2023 (View here)

Working in local government gives people the opportunity to play a key role in the positive development of their county and community. As an employer, Monaghan County Council is committed to providing a positive and supportive environment for employees. The Council offer flexible and family friendly arrangements, blended working, and great career progression and education opportunities.

Monaghan County Council is encouraging anyone seeking a career in local government to visit our website www.monaghan.ie to find out more about the work we do.

 

Proposed new Civic Office Headquarters

Monaghan County Council recently submitted a Part VIII Planning Application for new Civic Offices located at the Rooskey Lands in Monaghan Town. The purpose of the development is to consolidate and improve Monaghan County Council’s civic facilities, office accommodation and improve our customer service offering. The project will ultimately lead to service efficiency improvements by  lowering operational costs; by eliminating current office rental arrangements and reducing the Local Authority’s energy demand. The new office accommodation will have a gross floor area of 5,601m², distributed over three tiered floors, incorporating an entrance foyer, office spaces, meeting rooms, a staff canteen, council chamber, customer service desks, welfare facilities and internal landscaped courtyards. The planning application also provides for a new Rooskey Lands access road, improved pedestrian and cycle links, a car park and all associated site development works.

The proposed Civic Offices marks the first phase of an ambitious economic development and regeneration strategy for the Rooskey Lands and Dublin Street areas. The project is aligned with the provisions of the Rooskey Master Plan and the approved Variations of the County Monaghan Development Plan. The Masterplan and approved Variations seek to regenerate an area in urban decline, generate employment and contribute to the creation of a new urban quarter, whilst integrating successfully with the established built-up area of the town and providing a consolidated home for Local Authority service provision. The project will also act as a catalyst for the regeneration of Dublin Street and its back lands, making Monaghan a better place to work, live and visit.

Some of the Key features of the Project are identified in Image 1 and described briefly below.

Pedestrian Access to Diamond Centre/Square

The project Architects Henry J Lyons, propose a number of pedestrian and cycle paths through the site linking directly to the town centre through the Diamond Car Park, Dublin Street and Old Cross Square areas.

Active Travel Access Road to Roosky Lands

The town centre site encourages sustainable modes of travel. The proposed new access to the Rooskey Lands and Civic Offices provides dedicated cycle lanes and pedestrian footpaths which link to the existing Ulster Canal Greenway, St Davnet’s Healthcare and Monaghan Harps GAA Club, promoting active modes of travel for locals and visitors. The new Rooskey Lands access road will also provide the vehicular route for people arriving to avail of Monaghan County Council services, as well as providing access to the remaining Roosky Lands for future mixed use development.

Farney Place

The Public Plaza marks the entrance to the Civic Offices and provides visitor and accessible parking spaces. Farney Place is also one of the key pedestrian spaces; connecting the proposed Dublin Street North Regeneration Plan and the future development of the Rooskey Lands.

Infirmary Hill Walk

The existing pedestrian path beside the Old Infirmary and leading to St Davnet’s HSE facility is proposed to be widened and upgraded from Old Cross Square, it will intersect with the proposed pedestrian and cycle facility on St. Davnet’s Row and on to Farney Place.

Image 1. Bird’s Eye View from Old Cross Square – The proposed new Civic Offices for Monaghan County Council will provide a modern, inclusive building which engages with the town and serves its population through an enhanced public realm design and high-quality architecture.

Image 2. Bird’s Eye View from Dublin Street North – The scale and massing of the Proposed Civic Offices has been carefully considered to provide an appropriate and sympathetic interface between the proposed site and existing properties of Dublin Street and the Apartments of The Diamond Centre.

Image 3. Approach from Diamond Square – Pedestrian movement, cycling and the creation of public spaces are defining principals of the site strategy, improving the connections with the existing network of streets and the future connections proposed in the Dublin Street North masterplan.

Image 4. Approach from proposed new Roosky Access Road – The consideration of scale started at the site edges and perimeters with the concept of three volumes being placed centrally on the site. These three volumes are interlinked and overlap each other to sit comfortably on the site, framed by a series of landscaped spaces.

Image 5. Approach from Farney Place – Farney Place is one of the key pedestrian spaces. The public plaza is designed to be flexible to allow for community events while also catering for the daily needs of customers and visitors.

Monaghan County Council is delighted to announce the opening of a new community climate action fund which is being made available to community groups interested in developing projects and initiatives which relate to the challenge of addressing climate change. The programme is funded by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.

The overall objective of the Community Climate Action Programme is to support and empower communities to shape and build low carbon, sustainable communities in a coherent way to contribute to national climate and energy targets. The programme aims to support small and large, rural and urban communities to take climate action. This programme will help communities to both promote and assist in the scale up of community climate action from the respective starting points of the communities. The funding is for investment in small, medium, and large-scale community climate action projects.

There are two funding streams available:

• Strand 1: Action: Building Low Carbon Communities:

Monaghan has been allocated a total of €392,000 under this strand to work in partnership with communities, small and large, rural and urban, within County Monaghan to build low carbon communities in a considered and structured way.

• Strand 1a: Shared Island Community Climate Action:

In addition, a total of €3 million nationally is available to support cross-border and all-island community climate action partnerships between community organisations in County Monaghan and in Northern Ireland.

There are five themes that apply to projects. Community groups must carry out projects that fall under at least one theme but are encouraged to address as many of the five themes as possible.

The themes are:

• Energy
• Travel
• Food and waste
• Shopping and recycling
• Local climate and environmental action.

The Community Climate Action Programme will support the delivery of the new five-year Climate Action Plan for County Monaghan, which is due to be adopted in February 2024. The plan aims to position County Monaghan as a national leader in climate action and strengthen the delivery of effective climate action at local and community levels, through place-based climate action.

The application process for the Community Climate Action Programme will be made available through the Monaghan County Council website from 9:00 am on the 13^th of December.

Ahead of the launch of the Community Climate Action Programme, Cllr David Maxwell, Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, said, “It is great to see application for the Community Climate Action Programme open. This programme places community leadership at the heart of local climate and environmental action. The programme will enable local community groups, supported by Monaghan County Council, to play a key role in helping Ireland to achieve its national target to become a climate neutral economy and resilient society by 2050.”

Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council, Robert Burns said, “The Community Climate Action Programme will aid community activation and will empower community groups to develop projects that will lead to real and meaningful climate action. We are looking forward to working alongside local communities in County Monaghan to drive the change needed to address climate adaptation and mitigation.”

For more information on the Community Climate Action Programme visit https://monaghan.ie/environment/community-climate-action-programme2/ or scan QR code below:

or, contact the Community Climate Action Officer on climateaction@monaghancoco.ie.

After being suspended for almost two years, the N2 Clontibret to Border Road Scheme has secured EU and Department of Transport funding and is now back up and running.
The N2 Clontibret to Border project is a 28km road scheme which will upgrade this section of the N2 Dublin-Derry Road to make it safer, reduce journey times, and to bypass towns and villages along the route. It is an important project to enhance key North/South and Regional connectivity. At the Northern Ireland border, the project will tie-in to the A5 Western Transport Corridor, which proposes to upgrade 85km of the Dublin-Derry Road to a dual carriageway standard in Northern Ireland.

The project first commenced in 2008, but was suspended in 2012 due to a lack of funding during the economic downturn. Funding then became available in 2018 to progress the planning and design of the scheme again, however due to changes in environmental legislation, design standards and the Public Spending Code it was necessary undertake all stages of the planning and design process again.

Jacobs Engineering Ireland (Jacobs) was appointed as the engineering consultant for the project, and in late 2018 they started the design of the project, following a framework set out by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) called the ‘Project Management Guidelines’. The guidelines break the design of major road projects into phases, and by early 2021 Phase 1 and 2 of the design process were complete, and a 400m wide Preferred Route Corridor was published. The project proposes a new road alignment, which will bypass Monaghan Town, Emyvale Village and the settlement of Corracrin. In the early stages the cross-section design was anticipated to be a dual-carriageway, however this has yet to be confirmed through the design process.

The Phase 3 design process (Design & Environmental Evaluation), commenced in Spring 2021. This phase of the design process would have seen the road alignment designed, the landtake identified and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report prepared for the scheme, and was scheduled for completion in late 2022. The 2022 TII allocations noted ‘There is a need to balance available funding across the national road’s programmes, projects and operations having regard to the NDP. The rate of progress on the delivery of Major Projects is dependent on the availability of funding resources on a multi-annual basis….’, and the scheme received no funding to progress the design in 2022 and 2023. This resulted in a suspension of the project, and no design work has taken place since the early 2022.

The project remains a priority for Monaghan County Council, and alternative sources of funding have been explored. In January 2023 the Council made an application to a European Union fund called the ‘Connecting Europe Facility’ (CEF), which aims to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment. The project passed the evaluation stage in June 2023, and in October 2023, CEF funding of €2.335m was approved through the fund, with match funding to be provided by the Department of Transport. This will allow the Phase 3 design process to recommence, and subject to match funding should ensure the Phase 3 design is completed.

Jacobs continue to be the engineering consultant, and the Jacobs team will remobilise in the coming weeks to recommence the Phase 3 design process. Due to the time that has lapsed since the project was suspended, Jacobs may need to review or repeat some previous work, for example environmental surveys may need to be updated. The project team will be in contact with landowners along the route to request access to lands for these surveys.

Another important element of the design work is undertaking ground investigation. Ground investigation provides important information about whether land can support a new road or bridges, or whether rock or stone can be used as building materials for the new road. As ground investigations typically involve some element of disturbance, landowners are entitled to compensation payments, in line with rates agreed between TII and the Irish Farmers’ Association. The project team will be in contact with relevant landowners in Spring 2024, and will provide details of any ground investigation proposed and the likely compensation payment that might be due.

After the N2 Project Team has substantially completed the necessary surveys/investigations, they will prepare an initial design of the proposed road and will be in a position to meet with directly affected landowners to discuss the potential impact of the scheme. Feedback will then be considered before a design is finalised. Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) documentation and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) can then be completed – it is expected that this element of the project will be complete by Q4 2025. Subject to further funding, approval and Government consent, the project could then be submitted to An Bord Pleanála as part of the statutory approval process.

Monaghan County Council and Jacobs would like to thank all of the landowners and stakeholders along the route for their co-operation to date, and the project team is looking forward to recommencing and progressing this important infrastructural project. Over the coming months more updates and news about the project can be found on www.N2MonaghanLouth.ie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monaghan County Council’s ongoing commitment to enhancing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) throughout the organisation has been recognised with a maximum 3-year reaccreditation by Engineers Ireland, acknowledging the quality of, and commitment to, it’s CPD systems and practices for engineering and technical staff. The award recognises the ongoing drive of the CPD committee and the entire organisation, noting:

All the signs are that the organisation has excellent, well integrated CPD systems, processes and practices in place with clear evidence of top level and cross functional commitment to CPD. These systems are constantly reviewed and aligned to the organisational goals showing the strategic importance of CPD in achieving business objectives and benefits.

Monaghan County Council has demonstrated advancements in two of the Engineers Ireland Reaccreditation Programme’s criteria, (from the last reaccreditation in 2020), with the rollout of a pilot Mentoring Programme across all grades and with the adoption of an Innovation Strategy, Innovation Team and pilot programme.

The CPD Committee has also ensured the recognition and value of professional qualifications of staff and has progressed a policy approval for the reimbursement of professional membership fees.

‘I am delighted that Monaghan County Council has received reaccreditation from Engineers Ireland for the Council’s CPD programme which recognises that we as an employer value the ongoing personal and professional development of our staff.  Reaccreditation was obtained following a rigorous audit by Engineers Ireland and the achievement is testament to the hard work and constant striving for improvement by the Council’s CPD Committee and staff,’ said Robert Burns, Chief Executive.

An EPA assessment report titled “Focus on Local Authority Environmental Enforcement – Performance Report 2022” which was published on November 14^th indicates that Monaghan County Council is among the best performing Local Authorities nationally in the area of Environmental Enforcement. Each year the EPA, under the Local Authority Performance Framework, assesses the environmental performance of each Local authority against specific Environmental Enforcement priorities in the waste, water, and noise/air thematic areas.

Every  February, the Environmental Services unit in Monaghan County Councils prepares  an annual RMCEI inspection plan for submission to the EPA which details the proposed environmental enforcement and inspection work for the year ahead. In addition, RMECI returns detailing inspection and enforcement work carried out during the previous reporting year are also submitted to the EPA, and both the RMCEI plan and RMCEI returns form the basis of the annual EPA assessment. The EPA assessment indicated that Monaghan County Council achieved an 85% score whilst the national average was 59%. Only Kildare and Meath County Council scored higher than Monaghan County Council in the national assessment report.

Chair Of the Climate Action and Environment Strategic Policy Committee Councillor Noel Keelan welcomed the positive assessment result for Monaghan County Council and acknowledged the work of all involved.  Cllr. Keelan said that achieving a clean, safe and sustainable environment is a key objective of Monaghan County Council and environmental enforcement and regulation have key roles to play if the Council is to achieve this  objective.

Kieran Duffy A/Senior Executive Engineer in the Environmental Services Unit also welcomed the positive Monaghan findings in the EPA report but stressed that there was still very significant work to do in the Environmental area, with many national environmental indicators trending in the wrong direction. He noted that overall, water quality is in decline nationally, whilst in the waste sector, there are challenging and onerous targets that need to be met.