TIDY TOWNS AWARDS

Minister Batt O’Keefe, guest of honour, at the Failte Ireland North West Tidy Towns Awards in Dorrian’s Hotel, Ballyshannon, presents a promotion of Heritage Award to Pearse Cemetery, Sligo.

SLIGO VOLUNTEER CENTRE

The official launch of Sligo Volunteer Centre will take place on Wednesday 24th January 2007.  The Minister of State Mr. Noel Ahern, T.D. is coming to Sligo to officially launch the Centre. The Minister has launched the other Volunteer Centers around the Country so we are delighted that he is coming along to Sligo.

TUBBERCURRY COMMUNITY LIBRARY

On Tuesday 5th December Cllr. Jm McGarry, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, made the presentation of prizes for the “Design a Bookmark competition.” This competition was run in conjunction with the Children’s Book Festival 2006.  All branch libraries participated in this annual event. There were five age groups, with entries from Sligo Central Library totalling 72, Tubbercurry 81, Enniscrone 8, and Ballymote 10, The Winners were:

• Hannah Killoran Special Needs
• Pierce Connaughton 4-7 years 1st Prize
• Megan McFadden 4-7 years 2nd
• Lauren Burke 8-10 years 1st & Overall 10 & Younger
• Ita Leanne Connell 8-10 years 2nd
• Lisa Skeffington 11-13 years 1st
• Anna Deignan 11-13 years 2nd
• Heather McCormack 14-17 years 1st & overall 11 & older
• Hilary Bowen-Walsh 14-17 years 2nd

Cllr. McGarry also switched on the Christmas tree lights in Teach Laighne Tubbercurry, and entertainment on the night was provided by the Cos Cos Dancers .

ROAD SAFETY PLAN

Sligo Local Authorities ‘Road Safety Committee’, chaired by Director of Services Seamus Concannon, will publish its ‘Road Safety Plan for County Sligo’ later this month. The plan was produced in conjunction with the Gardai, Health Service Executive, National Roads Authority and Road Safety Authority.

The plan provides information and advice on all aspects of road safety, and outlines measures taken by the Council and other agencies to make our roads safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR BROCHURE

Sligo Local Authorities have published a brochure for its housing tenants setting out advice and information on dealing with anti-social behaviour. Nuisances can vary from noise to vandalism to obstruction of vehicles to dumping and littering.

The Local Authorities work with other agencies and the communities to ensure people live in a safe, nonthreatening environment free from intimidation and fear.

The brochure is available from the Customer Services Desk in County Hall, Riverside or City Hall, Quay Street, Sligo.

SPECIAL EDITION OF ‘CONTACT’ MAGAZINE

The Christmas edition of Sligo Local Authorities quarterly magazine ‘Contact’ will be published on 20th December. This ‘special edition’ of the magazine will feature interviews with senior staff outlining the main achievements in 2006, and the Mayor, Cathaoirleach and Directors of Services will identify their main objectives for 2007. An on-line edition will also be available on the Local Authorities websites at www.sligococo.ie and www.sligoborough.ie

To register for the Local Authorities e-newsletter and other news updates, contact the Communications Office at 071 911016 or e-mail: communications@sligococo.ie

COMHAIRLE NA nÓG

The annual ‘Comhairle na Nog’ or ‘Young People’s Dail’ hosted their annual meeting in the Clarion Hotel on Tuesday 5th December. The forum was formally launched by Mayor Councillor Tom McSharry and Cathaoirleach Councillor Jim McGarry, and the issues debated by the delegates included equality and road safety.  The meeting concluded with the election of candidates to attend the national Dail na Nog in 2007.

FIRE SAFETY AT CHRISTMAS

Christmas is a great time for family and togetherness. It is also a time of increased fire risk. To ensure that you and your family have a safe Christmas, please remember the following fire safety advice:

CHRISTMAS TREE:

• Purchase a non-shedding tree and check the tree for freshness. Needles should not fall off if you bang the trunk on the ground.
• Cut 25mm off the trunk and place in a sturdy stand immersed in water.
• Keep the water topped up.
• Do not place the tree close to any heat source.
• Do not block doors with the tree or any re-arranged furniture.
• Secure tall tress at the top.
• Ensure your lights comply with a safety standard.
• Replace damaged lights – do not attempt to repair damaged/frayed wires.
• Only use non-combustible decorations.
• Turn off heat in the room at night to slow drying out of the tree.
• Turn of all lights and electrical fittings at night.
• Remove the tree as soon as possible after Christmas – do not attempt to burn in your stove/fireplace.
• If you have an artificial tree, ensure it is flame retardant – check the label.

CANDLES:

• Place candles in a secure holder.
• Locate candles in a position where they cannot be easily knocked over.
• DO NOT place candles on or near a Christmas tree.
• DO NOT place candles near to Christmas decorations or curtains.
• Never leave candles unattended.
• Put tea candles and night lights on a heat resistant container – do not put them directly on a combustible surface e.g. TV or table.

OPEN FIRES:

• Always use a spark guard.
• Do not hang decorations or cards directly over your fireplace.
• Do not dispose of wrapping paper on the fire.

LAST THING AT NIGHT:

• Unplug all lights and electrical equipment.
• Put a spark guard in front of the fire.
• Ensure cigarettes are properly disposed of.
• Switch off kitchen appliances.
• Close all room doors.

OTHER SAFETY TIPS:

• Toys powered from mains electricity should be fitted with a safety plug fitted by a competent person.
• Do not overload sockets.
• Keep cables tidy and avoid trip hazards.
• Only use proper certified outdoor lights outside.
• Use watertight connectors on outdoor lights.
• Ensure outdoor lights are secured against the wind.
• Locate outdoor lights so that pets/animals cannot chew power cables.

INSTALL A SMOKE ALARM AND TEST IT WEEKLY

EFFICIENT WATER USE PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT & SAVES €€€

Across the country, our growing population is putting stress on available water supplies. By using water more efficiently we can help preserve water supplies for future generations, save money and protect the environment.  The amount of water that you use will depend on the type of farm/business you run. Although you will always need to use a certain amount of water, there are things that you can do to reduce the quantity that you use, making your farm/business more water efficient and saving money in the process.

If we do not carefully manage our natural resources and the demands we make on them, then the water environment, together with plant and animal life that depend on it, will suffer.  Sligo County Council is advising people on metered water supplies to ensure they conserve water. A leaflet outlining water conservation tips is available from Sligo County Council’s Water Services Department, phone: 071 9111376.

ENVIRONMENT NEWS

Dale Treadwell TV naturalist to visit following local county schools

Eight school visits by TV naturist Dale Treadwell has been arranged, following a successful application to the Local Agenda 21 FundingScheme. Newly registered green schools were e-mailed and asked if they would be interested. The following schools are availing of the free visits (50% funded by County Council and 50% from DoEHLG):

• Killross NS,
• Geevagh NS,
• Castlegal NS,
• St Josephs NS,
• Ballytivnan NS,
• Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal Ballymote,
• Ballinacarow NS,
• Knockminna NS

Dale recently visited Borough schools including St Johns and Scoil Ursula, and gave a performance for Borough schools at the Hawkswell funded through the 2005 LA21 allocation. He has also been allocated funding to work with Borough schools through the 2006 fund.

PROGRESS ON DISABILITY ISSUES 2006

2006 was a busy year for Sligo Local Authorities in meeting the challenge of implementing the Disability Act and moving closer to our aspiration of universal access for all. It proved to be a learning curve for many and another step to achieving our objective. We embraced the changes needed within the organisation to embed the ethos that people with disabilities are equal citizens and must be treated so. To give you an understanding of the range of issues that Sligo Local Authorities have been involved in, listed hereunder are some of the activities for 2006;

• Following the completion of access audits on 20 buildings and 3 harbour/beach areas, work is on-going to address the ‘access barriers’ identified in the audit reports, and improve access to buildings in the ownership of Sligo Local Authorities.
• An allocation of €350,000 was received from the DoEHLG and the capital fund was used to improve access in the following locations which were identified as a priority; County Hall, City Hall, County Library, Market Yard Offices, Mullaghmore Pier. Current xpenditure was used in the areas of training, consultations, audits & communications.
• An independent access audit was carried out on the Inner Relief Road.
• Both Sligo Local Authorities’ websites are being up dated to become AAA compliant. Consultations have taken place with the disability sector in this regard.
• Further disability/equality awareness training was given to staff. An evaluation report was commissioned to determine the impact of this training and to identify further training needs. A training programme will be put in place for 2007 to target the particular needs of staff groupings.
• Equality & diversity training is taking place during December 2006.
• In October, Sligo Local Authorities participated in a conference entitled “Sligo Access Conference” which was organised by the Disability Federation of Ireland. Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services addressed the Conference on behalf of Sligo Local Authorities.
• The Disability Consultative Committee forum is working well and regular meetings took place during 2006.
• A sub-group of the Disability Consultative Committee was formed. The role of the group is to focus specifically on communications / information services within Sligo Local Authorities and to find ways in which access to our information and publications can be made accessible to all.
• The Communications Office commenced producing publications in accessible formats, and during 2007 it is intended to extend the range of publications and formats available. This work will form part of a consultation process with the disability sector.
• The weekly roads’ report compiled by Sligo Local Authorities now considers people with disabilities. Works which include obstructions to footpaths or require alternative access are now reported to the public.
• Sligo County Council has applied to the National Disability Authority for the ‘Excellence through Accessibility Award’. Achievement of this award will further enhance and progress the Council’s objective of providing universal access for all.
• The Building Control Office continued to require developers of commercial, industrial, or 2 or more dwellings to submit drawings showing compliance with Part M.
• During 2006, the Planning Department introduced a new planning condition for inclusion on certain planning permissions. This condition requires the developer to submit detailed drawings and specifications for the development which cater for people with disabilities.
• The Library Service continues to improve on the range of facilities available to people with disabilities to facilitate access to services. Staff in the Library set up an ‘access group’ to focus on disability issues within the library services.

WESTERN DISTRIBUTOR ROAD

The city of Sligo has developed significantly in recent years and further major development is expected in future years. In order to facilitate orderly development and to improve access to western parts of the city it is proposed to develop the Western Distributor Road linking the Strandhill Road to the new Caltragh Interchange on the Sligo Inner Relief Road. The route for the Western Distributor Road was selected in  2005. Preliminary design has since been prepared for the new road and it is intended to commence the Part 8 planning procedure in the near
future.

Sligo Local Authorities have hosted two evenings for public consultation to facilitate people view maps and the preliminary design of the new Western Distributor Road. The public consultations also allowed people to make comment or submissions on the new road and officials of the Road Design Section were in attendance to answer questions. Submissions or comments relating to the preliminary design may be submitted to the Town Clerk, Sligo Borough Council, City Hall, Quay St, Sligo or to the Director of Infrastructure, Sligo County Council, County Hall, Sligo before 15th December 2006.

DIARY OF EVENTS DECEMBER 2006

Corporate

13th December

• Dromore West electoral area meeting, Courthouse, Enniscrone at 11.00 am

Human Resources

20th December

• Closing date for receipt of applications for the post of Technician Grade 1 –

Architectural/Building.

20th December

• Closing date for receipt of applications for the post of Technician Grade 1 – Civil.
• Closing date for receipt of applications for the post of General Operatives – (Permanent & Seasonal).

Arts

17th December

• ‘The Third Sunday’ aired on Ocean Fm from 8.00 pm to 9.00 pm; Leyney Writers Tubbercurry and writer/facilitator Eibhlin NicEochaidh and author Eoin McNamee on The Arts House.

Tubbercurry Library

12th December

• Bookclub No. 3 (Adults) 5.00 pm – 6.00 pm

14th December

• Visit by author Anne Gildea 11.00 am – 1.00 pm

16th December

• Childrens creative writing workshop 10.00 am – 12.00 pm

19th December

• Christmas card and decoration making with Outreach Department, Museum of Country Life, Castlebar.

21st December

• Bookworms Bookclub, 12.00 pm – 1.00 pm

Tuesdays

• Chess & Draughts continue every Tuesday evening from 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm

Environment

22nd December

• Closing date for receipt of tenders to carry out works at Sligo Bring Bank sites.

Housing

15th December

• Closing date for receipt of tenders in relation to replacement of windows and doors at Cartron Estate, Cairns Drive and Abbeyville, Sligo.

For regular updates on roadworks and other news, visit the Sligo Local Authorities’ websites at www.sligococo.ie and www.sligoborough.ie