Roscommon County Council Annual Report 2010

Roscommon County Council 

Comhairle Contae Ros Comáin 

Annual 

Report 

2010

Mission Statement 

To make Roscommon a vibrant place with 

an increasingly enhanced quality of life, 

sustained through employment generation, 

a high quality infrastructure, a strong 

entrepreneurial spirit and by providing 

quality accessible services in a sustainable 

manner in partnership with the community.

Table of Contents 

Mayor’s Message 2 

Manager’s Introduction 3 

Members of Roscommon County Council 5 

Reports of the Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) 7 

Service Indicators 2010 11 

Community and Enterprise 24 

Corporate Services 29 

Development Incentives and Control 33 

Environmental Protection 38 

Finance 41 

Housing and Building 45 

Human Resources 49 

Information Technology 52 

Library Services 54 

Roads, Transportation and Safety 57 

Water Services 63 

Councillors’ Conferences 65 

Councillors’ Committees 68 

Annual Report 2010 1

Mayor’s Message 

As Mayor of Roscommon during 2010, I am pleased to introduce 

Roscommon County Council‘s Annual Report for 2010 outlining the 

activities and operation of the Council throughout the county during 

another challenging year. 

Since 2008, Roscommon County Council has seen a reduction of 154 

in staff numbers. This has been a major challenge to the organisation 

requiring flexibility in response to priorities. With revenue expenditure in 

2010 of €70.5 million, much has been achieved in continuing to provide 

a range of services throughout county Roscommon including housing, 

roads, water, planning, library, fire services, motor tax and higher 

education grant services, despite the financial challenge we faced. I wish 

to acknowledge the professionalism of the emergency response team, 

that included staff of Roscommon County Council, during the treacherous 

weather conditions last Winter. 

I have been fortunate in my term as Mayor to experience at first hand 

the excellent work carried out by our many dedicated volunteers who 

give generously of their time for the common good. Roscommon County 

Council has worked in active partnership with these communities over the 

years, and the results can be seen in the many amenities, environmental 

and other projects which have greatly enhanced our county. 

Deputy Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, 

Mayor Roscommon County Council 

It has been both an honour and a privilege to have served as Mayor. I have 

found the role of Mayor both rewarding and fulfilling despite the extremely 

challenging times. 

I want to thank my colleagues, the Elected Members of Roscommon 

County Council for electing me to the position of Mayor. I would also like 

to express my appreciation for the assistance and co-operation which I 

have received from Roscommon County Council Management and staff. 

Deputy Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan 

Mayor Roscommon County Council, June 2010-February 2011 

Mayor’s Message 

I am delighted to join with Deputy Flanagan in introducing Roscommon 

County Council‘s Annual Report for 2010. 

Roscommon County Council continued to provide a wide range of 

services for the benefit of all the citizens of the county and I would like to 

acknowledge the hard work of the members and the County Manager and 

his staff in delivering these services. 

I would also like to thank Deputy Luke Flanagan who presided as Mayor 

from June 2010 to February 2011 and thank my colleagues in the Council 

for their support and co-operation during my period as Mayor. 

Councillor Ernie Keenan 

Mayor Roscommon County Council, February 2011-June 2011 

Councillor Ernie Keenan, 

Mayor Roscommon County Council 

2 Roscommon County Council

Manager’s 

Introduction 

During 2010 we have experienced another year of change and contraction as we have 

adapted to having less resources at our disposal. The task of maintaining a balanced budget 

was difficult, with a continued reduction in local revenue income from that achievable in 

previous years, particularly in the area of development led activity. We have balanced the 

need to maintain core services, our statutory obligations and the protection of employment 

with the needs of those contributing to the cost of these services. 

In facing these challenges the Council and staff have shown great resilience. 

The primary objective has been to maintain the quality of service that we provide. We are acutely aware of the 

depth of adjustment, economic and social, experienced throughout the county and we remain committed to 

fulfilling our key role in contributing to achievement of economic stability. 

In just over two years employee numbers in this Council have been reduced through the loss of 85 indoor and 

34 outdoor staff, due to retirement, expiration/non-renewal of contracts and untimely deaths in service. The 

departure of such dedicated staff is a great loss to this Council. 

Over the course of 2010 we have managed our resource base effectively and have put in place a process of 

prudent expenditure controls, strengthened debt collection measures, limited exposure to capital projects and 

accelerated a review process of work practices and resource demands. 

The report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group issued in July 2010 provides proposals for change 

for the Local Government Sector and the Public Sector Agreement (Croke Park Deal) entered into during the 

year provides a structure to manage change in the coming years. 

In January 2010, exceptional weather events caused disruption across County Roscommon and beyond, 

restricting mobility and water supply. We responded to that situation by deploying many staff from across 

the Council in often difficult and challenging weather conditions who worked in conjunction with An Garda 

Siochána, Army, and Health Service Executive to manage the consequences. 

The progress made in advancing the various infrastructural projects including Roads, Water and Wastewater, 

Housing and Environment are detailed within the various sections of this Annual Report. 

I am pleased that during 2010 

g 

g 

g 

A total of 134 houses have been allocated to families by the Housing Department in conjunction with the 

DoEH&LG. 

Planning, design, maintenance and construction of road routes throughout Roscommon continued in 

regard to three radial national Primary roads, one of which is a motorway, three busy inter-regional 

secondary routes and key regional and local roads. 

Investment in critical improvements to our water and waste water infrastructure continued and a major 

water conservation programme commenced. 

Water conservation is one of the most challenging issues facing our society. We each use on average 150 litres 


Manager’s Introduction 

of clean treated water every day, and a running tap can use up to 10 litres a minute. This is an area where each 

and every one of us can play a part, and our Water Section is working closely with the business, farming and 

educational sector to devise and implement measures to monitor and preserve this scarce resource. 

g 

During 2010 we received approval towards borrowings in respect of the provision of new corporate 

headquarters. We have commenced the design process and look forward to bringing all sections together, 

with the consequent cost savings and improvements in operational efficiencies, access, health and safety, 

and customer service. 

Discretionary Community Funding 

As previously mentioned there has been a reduction in the quantum of available resources in 2010. The County 

Council provides services across many strands of community activity. Some of these are provided at no charge 

or subsidised charge, principally from the commercial rates and other local yields. While it is not possible to 

continue with the same level of subsidies funded from commercial rates, in light of the difficulties faced by 

businesses, we have continued to devote valuable staff time and skills towards supporting community groups 

and other agencies in their work in the county, and supporting investment on their part. 

Commercial Rates 

2010 has been a difficult trading period for business. Businesses face significant cost pressures in the context 

of dampened demand and consumer sentiment. The County Council is mindful both of the value of services 

provided in maintaining the fabric of life and also the impact of the level of commercial rate set. 

Economic Development 

Roscommon County Council continues to facilitate and resource the County Development Board to fulfil its 

statutory role to promote inter-agency co-ordination and collaboration in the interest of economic, social and 

cultural development in the county. 

Conclusion 

The past year has been very difficult, but despite this, the County Council continues to make a huge contribution 

to the local economy. In 2010 we expended approximately €8m on Revenue and Capital purchases from local 

suppliers with an income from commercial rates of €7.7m. The facilities we provide and the services we deliver 

are very important to the quality of life in the county. Services are delivered by innovative and dedicated staff 

working in co-operation with the Elected Members, Strategic Policy Committees, Area Committees, as well as 

voluntary and community groups. 

Frank Dawson 

Roscommon County Manager 


Members of Roscommon County Council 



Boyle 

Cllr. John Cummins 

Fianna Fáil 

Cllr. Rachel Doherty 

Fianna Fáil 

Cllr. Gerry Garvey 

Fine Gael 

Cllr. Ernie Keenan 

Fine Gael 

Castlerea 

Boyle 

Castlerea 

Strokestown 

Cllr. Liam Callaghan 

Fine Gael 

Cllr. Michael Creaton 

Fine Gael 

Cllr. Paschal Fitzmaurice 

Fianna Fáil 

Cllr. Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan 

Non-Party 

Roscommon 

Athlone 

Cllr. John Kelly 

Non-Party 

Cllr. Michael McGreal 

Fine Gael 

Cllr. Michael Mulligan 

Sinn Féin 

Strokestown 

Cllr. Seán Beirne 

Fine Gael 

Cllr. Valerie Byrne 

Non-Party 

Cllr. Tom Crosby 

Non-Party 

Cllr. Eugene Murphy 

Fianna Fáil 



Members of Roscommon County Council (continued) 


Cllr. Martin Connaughton 

Fianna Fáil 

Cllr. Domnick Connolly 

Fine Gael 

Cllr. Laurence Fallon 

Fine Gael 

Cllr. Orla Leyden 

Fianna Fáil 

Cllr. Paula McNamara 

Non-Party 

Athlone 

Boyle 

Castlerea 

Strokestown 

Cllr. Jimmy Kenny 

Non-Party 

Cllr. john Keogh 

Fianna Fáil 

Cllr. Paddy Kilduff 

Fianna Fáil 


Athlone 

Cllr. Ollie Moore 

Fine Gael 

Cllr. John Naughten 

Fine Gael 

Cllr. Tony Ward 

Non-Party 


Reports of the 

Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) 

Report on the activities of the Environment and Water 

Services Strategic Policy Committee in 2010 

The following were the members of the Environment and Water Services SPC in 2010: 

Cllr. Seán Beirne, MCC, Chairperson 

Cllr. Domnick Connolly, MCC 

Cllr. Michael Creaton, MCC 

Cllr. Gerry Garvey, MCC 

Cllr. Paula McNamara, MCC 

Cllr. Michael Mulligan, MCC 

Mr. Jim McGrath 

Ms. Eilish Feeley 

Kevin McBrien, Community/Voluntary Sector 

Mr. Donal Greene, IFA 

Five meetings of the SPC were held on the following dates: 4th February 2010; 14th April 2010; 17th June 2010; 

17th September 2010 and 9th December 2010. 

The issues discussed and considered by the Committee during 2010 included: 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) Scheme. 

Strategic and Statutory Functions of the SPC 

Policy Making 

Development of Multi-Annual Work Programme 

Shannon and Western Draft River Basin 

Management Plans 

Update on Water Services Investment 

Programme 

Connacht Waste Management Region Annual 

Report 2008 

g Draft Climate Change Strategy 

g Draft Waste Management (Household Waste 

Collection) Regulations 2010 

g Draft statement of Waste Policy 

g Proposed Designation of SPAs 

g Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 

2009 

g Update on Water Services Procurement Policy 

g Draft Litter Management Plan 2011-2014 


Reports of the Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) 

Report on the activities of the Housing, Social, Cultural and 

Community Strategic Policy Committee in 2010 

The following were the members of the Housing, Social, Cultural and Community SPC in 2010: 

Cllr. John Keogh, MCC, Chairperson 

Cllr. Liam Callaghan, MCC 

Cllr. Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, MCC 

Cllr. James Kenny, MCC 

Cllr. Orla Leyden, MCC 

Cllr. Eugene Murphy, MCC 

Cllr. Jane Suffin, Boyle Town Council 

Ms. Sandra Flanagan, SIPTU 

Ms. Mary Ganly, PWDI 

Mr. Peter Kenny, Roscommon Community Fora 

Mr. Matt Rogers, Roscommon Community Fora 

There were four meetings of the SPC during 2010. There was also one workshop in which members identified 

proposals they will include in their work plan for the three year period 2010-2012. 

The following policy documents were discussed, proposed and recommended for adoption to the Council 

during 2010: 

g 

Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy 

g 

Derelict Sites Policy 

g 

Western Joint Homelessness Framework Plan 

Other matters discussed by the SPC during 2010 included: 

g Long-Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme 

g Casual Trading Bye Laws 

g Draft Library Development Plan 2010-2014 

g 

County Roscommon Interagency Strategy for the 

Traveller Community 2010 – 2013 



Report on the activities of the Planning and Economic 

Development Strategic Policy Committee in 2010 

The following were the members of the Planning and Economic Development SPC in 2010: 

Cllr. Tom Crosby, MCC, Chairperson 

Cllr. Laurence Fallon, MCC 

Cllr. Paschal Fitzmaurice, MCC 

Cllr. Ernie Keenan, MCC 

Cllr. Paddy Kilduff, MCC 

Cllr. Michael McGreal, MCC 

Cllr. John Naughten, MCC 

Cllr. Tony Ward, MCC 

Ms. Anya Greally, Business/Commercial 

Mr. Dermot Kelly, Agriculture 

Mr. Anthony McCormack, Trade Union 

Mr. Alan Moran, Environment 

Ms. Dolores Neary, Community/Voluntary 

The new Committee was constituted in 2010 and met for the first time on the 4th February. The Committee 

received a presentation by Dr. Philip Byrne of the Institute of Public Administration on the operation of Strategic 

Policy Committees (SPCs). He outlined the development of SPCs and the legislation governing them. He explained 

Roscommon County Council’s specific SPC Scheme, the number of Councillors and external representatives and 

sectors represented. An example of policy development was discussed and Dr. Byrne also explained certain 

administrative provisions in the running of a Local Authority, including the different roles of the Members and the 

Executive and the difference between reserved and executive functions. 

Members of the Executive provided background information on the Corporate Plan and highlighted areas of 

policy which could be addressed by the Committee. A work programme was put forward: 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

Compilation of the County Development Plan, 

variations, reviews and subsidiary plans 

Development Contribution Scheme 

Local Area Plans 

Village Design Statements 

Strategic Environmental Assessments 

Habitat Assessments 

Landscape Character Assessments 

Retail Strategy 

g Heritage and Conservation 

g Regional Planning Guidelines 

g Development Management Guidelines and 

Standards 

g Planning Bill 2009 

g Taking-In-Charge of estates 

g Extensions of Duration 

g Wind Strategy 

g Rural House Design Guidelines 

A further Meeting was held on 15th March to discuss the Draft Regional Planning Guidelines and the Draft 

Taking-in-Charge of Housing Developments policy. 

The Forward Planning Section of the County Council gave a presentation on the Draft Wind Strategy at the 

Committee Meeting of 30th September 2010. The Draft went on public display following consultation with the 

Committee. The Executive also provided an update on legislation and in particular the impact of the Planning and 

Development (Amendment) Act 2010 on the operation of the planning function of the Council. 



Report on the activities of the Roads and Transportation 

Strategic Policy Committee in 2010 

The following were the members of the Roads and Transportation SPC in 2010: 

Cllr. John Cummins, MCC, Chairperson 

Cllr. Valerie Byrne, MCC 

Cllr. Martin Connaughton, MCC 

Cllr. Ollie Moore, MCC 

Cllr. John Kelly, MCC 

Cllr. Rachel Doherty, MCC 

Cllr. Keith Suffin, Boyle Town Council 

Mr. Percy Flynn 

Ms. Mary Clifford 

Mr. Sean Flanagan 

Mr. Howard Preston 

Mr. Bernie Kearney 

Five meetings of the committee were held during 2010. 

The following matters were dealt with: 

g National and Non-National Road Grant 

Allocation 2010 

g Local Improvement Schemes Policy 

g Road Maintenance Policy 

g Fire and Emergency Operation Plan 

g Road Safety Plan 2010-2013 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

Major Emergency Plan 

Non-Coastal Minor Flood Mitigation Works 

Draft Speed Limit Bye-Laws 

Draft Car park Bye-Laws 

Winter Maintenance Plan 


Service Indicators 2010 

F: FIRE SERVICE 

F1: Fire Service Mobilisation 

A. Average time taken, in minutes, to mobilise fire brigades in Full-Time Stations in respect of fire 0 

B. Average time taken, in minutes, to mobilise fire brigades in Part-Time Stations (retained fire service) in 

respect of fire 

C. Average time taken, in minutes, to mobilise fire brigades in Full-Time Stations in respect of all other 

emergency incidents 

D. Average time taken, in minutes, to mobilise fire brigades in Part-Time Stations (retained fire service) in 

respect of all other emergency incidents 

F2: Percentage of attendances at scenes 

A. Percentage of cases in respect of fire in which first attendance is at the scene within 10 minutes 22.40 

B. Percentage of cases in respect of fire in which first attendance is at the scene after 10 minutes but 

within 20 minutes 

C. Percentage of cases in respect of fire in which first attendance is at the scene after 20 minutes 21.72 

Roscommon Fire Service attended a significant number of bog/gorse/forest fires in 2010. These fires occurred in 

rural locations and required longer travel times for the Brigade from its base. The fire service attended 442 fires in 

2010, of which 163 were either bog/gorse/forest, representing 37% of the total fires attended. In comparison, the 

fire service attended 303 fires in 2009, of which 36 were bog/gorse/forest, only 12% of the total. 

D. Percentage of cases in respect of all other emergency incidents in which first attendance is at the 

34.83 

scene within 10 minutes 

E. Percentage of cases in respect of all other emergency incidents in which first attendance is at the 

53.93 

scene after 10 minutes but within 20 minutes 

F. Percentage of cases in respect of all other emergency incidents in which first attendance is at the 

11.24 

scene after 20 minutes 

Total number of incidents in respect of fire 442 

6.13 

0 

5.95 

55.88 

Number of cases in respect of fire in which first attendance is at the scene within 10 minutes 99 

Number of cases in respect of fire in which first attendance is at the scene after 10 minutes but within 20 

minutes 

247 

Number of cases in respect of fire in which first attendance is at the scene after 20 minutes 96 

Total number of incidents in respect of all other emergency incidents (e.g. not including fire) 178 

Number of cases in respect of all other emergency incidents in which first attendance is at the scene within 

10 minutes 

Number of cases in respect of all other emergency incidents in which first attendance is at the scene after 10 

minutes but within 20 minutes 

Number of cases in respect of all other emergency incidents in which first attendance is at the scene after 

20 minutes. 

62 

96 

20 



F3: Fire Prevention 

A. Total number of fire safety certificate applications received 41 

B. Total number of fire safety certificate applications processed (including cases deemed invalid) 38 

C. Total number of applications deemed invalid 0 

CP: COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION 

CP1: Participation in local Youth Council/Comhairle na n-Óg scheme 

Percentage of local schools and youth groups involved in the local Youth Council/ Comhairle na n-Óg scheme 76.09 

Total number of local schools and youth groups 46 

Number of local schools and youth groups involved in the local Youth Council/Comhairle na n-Óg scheme 35 

CP2: Groups registered with the Community and Voluntary Forum 

Number of groups registered with the Community and Voluntary Forum 372 

3.3 CORPORATE ISSUES 

C1: Working Days lost to Sickness 

A. Percentage of working days lost to sickness absence through certified leave 4.72 

B. Percentage of working days lost to sickness absence through uncertified leave 0.54 

Number of working days lost to sickness absence through certified leave 5216 

Number of working days lost to sickness absence through uncertified leave 592 

Total Number of staff (Whole Time Equivalent) at the end of December 2010 (as per DEHLG staffing return for 

the end of 2010) 

487.12 

C2: Staff Training and Development 

Expenditure on Training and Development as a percentage of total payroll costs: 5.66 

E: ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 

WATER 

E1: Unaccounted For Water 

Unaccounted for water (UFW) as a percentage of total volume of water supplied under the water supply 

schemes that the local authority is responsible for 

Total volume of water supplied (m³/day) under the water supply schemes that the local authority is 

responsible for 

Volume of unaccounted for water (m³/day) under the water supply schemes that the local authority is 

responsible for 

53.64 

37914 

20336 

E2: Drinking Water Analysis 

A. Percentage of drinking water analysis results in compliance with statutory requirements with 

regard to public schemes 

B. Percentage of drinking water analysis results in compliance with statutory requirements with 

regard to private schemes (where appropriate) 

97.45 

91.33 

continued > 



WASTE MANAGEMENT 

E3: Waste Segregation 

A. Percentage of households who receive a waste collection service and are provided with segregated 

waste collection for dry recyclables 

B. Percentage of households who receive a waste collection service and are provided with segregated 

waste collection for organics 

Total number of households provided with a waste collection service 

(Includes household using Recycling Centres and Transfer Stations) 

100 

7.21 

12107 

Number of households provided with segregated waste collection service for recyclables 12107 

Number of households provided with a segregated waste collection service for organics 873 

E4: Housing Waste sent for Recycling 

A. Percentage of household waste collected from kerbside, which is sent for recycling 26.68 

B. Tonnage of household waste collected from kerbside, which is sent for recycling 

The amount is based on data included on returns received from private waste collectors under 

Section 18 of the WMA 1996. The council considers that the quality of data received from private 

contractors improved in 2010. 

C. Tonnage of household waste recycled, which arises from waste collected from recycling facilities 

(i.e. bring banks, civic amenity centres, transfer stations and other recycling facilities) 

4460.87 

4003.66 

Total tonnage of household waste collected from kerbside 16717.51 

Tonnage of household waste collected from kerbside, which is sent for recycling 4460.87 

Tonnage of household waste collected from kerbside, which is landfilled 

The amount is based on data included on returns received from private waste collectors under Section 

18 of the WMA 1996. The council considers that the quality of data received from private contractors 

improved in 2010. 

Tonnage of household waste recycled, which arises from waste collected from recycling facilities (i.e. 

bring banks, civic amenity centres, transfer stations and other recycling facilities) 

Includes 317.48T Barna TS and 58T O’Connors TS 

12256.64 

4003.66 

E5: Household Waste Sent for Landfill 

A. The percentage of household waste collected which is sent to landfill 73.32 

B. The tonnage of household waste collected which is sent to landfill 12256.64 

Total tonnage of household waste collected 16717.51 

Total tonnage of household waste which is sent to landfill 12256.64 

E6: Recycling Facilities 

The total number of Bring Sites in the local authority area 40 

The total number of Civic Amenity Centres in the local authority area 4 

Glass 

A. The number of Bring Sites for recycling 40 

B. The number of Civic Amenity Centres for recycling 4 

C. The total number of facilities for recycling 44 

D. The number of locations for recycling per 5,000 of population 3.74 

The number of Bring Sites for recycling 40 

The number of Civic Amenity Centres for recycling 4 

continued > 



Cans 

E. The number of Bring Sites for recycling 40 

F. The number of Civic Amenity Centres for recycling 4 

G. The total number of facilities for recycling 44 

H. The number of locations for recycling per 5,000 of population 3.74 



Textiles 

I. The number of Bring Sites for recycling 5 

J. The number of Civic Amenity Centres for recycling 4 

K. The total number of facilities for recycling 9 

L. The number of locations for recycling per 5,000 of population 0.77 



Batteries 

M. The number of Bring Sites for recycling 0 

N. The number of Civic Amenity Centres for recycling 4 

O. The total number of facilities for recycling 4 

P. The number of locations for recycling per 5,000 of population 0.34 



Oils 

Q. The number of Bring Sites for recycling 0 

R. The number of Civic Amenity Centres for recycling 4 

S. The total number of facilities for recycling 4 

T. The number of locations for recycling per 5,000 of population 0.34 

The number of Bring sites for recycling 0 


Other materials 

U. The number of Bring Sites for recycling 0 

V. The number of Civic Amenity Centres for recycling 4 

W. The total number of facilities for recycling 4 

X. The number of locations for recycling per 5,000 of population 0.34 

The number of Bring sites for recycling 0 


continued > 



LITTER 

E7: Litter Prevention and Enforcement 

A. Number of full-time litter wardens 2 

B. Number of part-time litter wardens 3 

C. Number of litter wardens (both full- and part-time) per 5,000 population 0.43 

D. Number of on-the-spot fines issued 95 

E. Number of on-the-spot fines paid 41 

F. Number of prosecution cases taken because of non-payment of on-the-spot fines 1 

G. Number of prosecutions secured in cases taken because of non-payment of on-the-spot fines 1 

H. Number of notices issued (under sections 9, 15, 16, 17 and 20 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997) 4 

I. Total number of prosecutions taken (all prosecutions under the Litter Acts 1997 to 2003) 1 

J. Total number of prosecutions secured (all prosecutions under the Litter Acts 1997 to 2003) 1 

K. Percentage of areas in the local authority that are unpolluted (i.e. litter-free) 12 

L. Percentage of areas in the local authority that are slightly polluted with litter 63 

M. Percentage of areas in the local authority that are moderately polluted with litter 22 

N. Percentage of areas in the local authority that are significantly polluted with litter 2 

O. Percentage of areas in the local authority that are grossly polluted with litter 0 

Number of full- time wardens 2 

Number of part-time litter wardens 3 

Number of on-the-spot fines issued 95 

Number of on-the-spot fines paid 41 

Number of prosecution cases taken because of non-payment of on-the-spot fines 1 

Number of Proscecutions secured in cases taken because of non-payment of on-the spot fines. 1 

Number of notices issued (under sections 9, 15, 16, 17 and 20 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997) 4 

Number of prosecutions taken (all prosecutions under the Litter Acts 1997 to 2003) 1 

Number of prosecutions secured (all prosecutions under the Litter Acts 1997 to 2003) 1 

E8: Environmental Complaints and Enforcement 

A. Total number of cases subject to complaints concerning environmental pollution (relating to waste, 

litter, water pollution, noise pollution, air pollution) 

955 

B. Number of complaints investigated 948 

C. Number of complaints resolved where no further action was necessary 

Additional 465 complaints closed where further action was required 

D. Number of enforcement procedures taken 

Includes S55,32,18,71 WMA; S12WPA;S9LPA; Nitrates Regs 

441 

116 

E9: Percentage of schools participating in environmental campaigns 

A. Percentage of primary schools participating in environmental campaigns 89.69 

B. Percentage of secondary schools participating in environmental campaigns 90 

Total number of primary schools (Includes 2 Play Groups & 1 Youth Club) 97 

Number of primary schools participating in environmental campaigns (Includes 2 Play Groups & 1 Youth 

Club) 

87 

Total number of secondary schools (Includes one Youth Reach Group) 10 

Number of secondary schools participating in environmental campaigns (Includes one Youth Reach Group) 9 



H: HOUSING 

H1: Housing Vacancies 

A. The total number of dwellings in local authority stock 1307 

B. The total number of dwellings, excluding those subject to major refurbishment projects 1252 

C. The overall percentage of dwellings that are empty (excluding those subject to major refurbishment 

projects) 

4.71 

D. The percentage of empty dwellings unavailable for letting 66.10 

E. The percentage of empty dwellings available for letting 33.90 

The average number of dwellings in local authority stock 1307 

The average total number of dwellings, excluding those subject to major refurbishment projects 1252 

The average number of dwellings that are empty (excluding those subject to major refurbishment projects) 59 

The average number of empty dwellings unavailable for letting 39 

The average number of empty dwellings available for letting 20 

H2: Average Time Taken to Re-let Available dwellings 

The average time taken (in weeks) from the date of vacation of dwelling to the date when all necessary repairs 

are carried out which are deemed necessary to re-let the dwelling 

22.81 

The average time taken (in weeks) from the works (above) being completed to the date of the first rent debit 12.47 

In 2010 there were a number of refusals of offers of casual vacancies. 

H3: Housing Repairs 

Number of repairs completed as a percentage of the number of valid repair requests received 72.46 

Number of repairs completed 605 

The number of valid repair requests received 835 

H4: Traveller Accommodation 

Total number of traveller families accommodated as a percentage of the targets set in the local traveller 

accommodation programme 

40 

Number of Traveller families accommodated 6 

Target number of Traveller families to be accommodated in the year, as set out in the local Traveller 

accommodation programme 

Works projected for 2010 for refurbishment of site in Ballaghaderreen did not proceed due to lack of demand. 

Group Housing units did not proceed in Roscommon due to lack of demand. 

15 

H5: Enforcement of standards in the private rented sector 

A. Total number of registered tenancies 1835 

B. Number of dwelling units inspected 375 

C. Number of inspections carried out 513 

D. Number of dwellings inspected as a percentage of registered tenancies 

(i.e. B as percentage of A) 

20.44 

Total Number of registered tenancies 1835 

Number of dwelling units inspected 375 

Number of inspections carried out 513 

continued > 



H6: Grants to adapt housing for the needs of people with a disability 

A. Average time taken (in weeks) to process applications under the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme, including 

any necessary inspection(s), from the date of receipt of a valid application to the date of decision on the 

application 

B. Average time taken (in weeks) to process applications under Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a 

Disability, including any necessary inspection(s), from the date of receipt, to the date of decision on the 

application 

19 

21 

H7: Pre-Tenancy Familiarisation Courses 

A. Total number of new local authority tenants 122 

B. Percentage of new local authority tenants who have been offered pre-tenancy familiarisation courses 95.08 

Total number of new local authority tenants 122 

Number of new local authority tenants who have been offered pre-tenancy familiarisation courses 116 

L: LIBRARY SERVICES 

L1: Library Public Opening Hours 

A. Average number of opening hours per week for full-time libraries 31.3 

B. Average number of opening hours per week for part-time libraries (where applicable) 21.93 

C. Percentage of full time libraries that have lunchtime openings 100 

D. Percentage of full time libraries that have evening openings 100 

E. Percentage of full time libraries that have Saturday openings 100 

Average number of opening hours per week for full-time libraries 31.3 

Average number of opening hours per week for part-time libraries 21.93 

Number of full time libraries that have lunchtime openings 3 

Number of full time libraries that have evening openings 3 

Number of full time libraries that have Saturday openings 3 

L2: Library Visits 

Number of visits to full time libraries per 1,000 population 2054.32 

Total number of visits to full time libraries 120728 

L3: Library Stock 

A. Annual expenditure on stock per head of population (county/city wide) 1.36 

B. Number of items issued per head of population (county/city wide) for books 2.69 

C. Number of items issued per head of population (county/city wide) for other items 0.71 

Annual expenditure on stock 80000 

Total number of books issued 158359 

Total number of other items issued 41795 

L4: Internet Access through Libraries 

Number of Internet sessions provided per 1,000 population 221.82 

Total number of Internet sessions provided 13036 



M: MOTOR TAXATION 

M1: Number of Motor Tax Transactions 

A. Number of motor tax transactions which are dealt with over the counter for which payment is made 44600 

B. Number of motor tax transactions which are dealt with by post 15503 

C. Number of motor tax transactions which are dealt with in other ways (e.g. online, by telephone) 18736 

D. Percentage of Motor Tax Transactions which are dealt with over the counter 56.57 

E. Percentage of Motor Tax Transactions which are dealt with by post 19.66 

F. Percentage of motor tax transactions which are dealt with in other ways (e.g. online, by 

telephone) 

23.76 

M2: Time Taken to Process Motor Tax Postal Applications 

A. Number of postal applications which are dealt with (i.e. disc issued) on the same day as receipt 

of the application 

B. Number of postal applications which are dealt with (i.e. disc issued) on the second or third day 

from receipt of the application 

C. Number of postal applications which are dealt with (i.e. disc issued) on the fourth or fifth day 


D. Number of postal applications which are dealt with (i.e. disc issued) in over five days from 

receipt of the application 

E. Percentage of overall postal applications which are dealt with (i.e. disc issued) on the same day 

as receipt of the application 

F. Percentage of overall postal applications which are dealt with (i.e. disc issued) on the second or 

third day from receipt of the application 

G. Percentage of overall postal applications which are dealt with (i.e. disc issued) on the fourth or 

fifth day from receipt of the application 

H. Percentage of overall postal applications which are dealt with (i.e. disc issued) in over five days 


15486 

0 

0 

17 

99.89 

0 

0 

0.11 

M3: Time Taken to Process Driving Licence Applications 

A. Number of Driving Licence applications which are dealt with on the same day as receipt of the 

application 

B. Number of Driving Licence applications which are dealt with on the second or third day from 


C. Number of Driving Licence applications which are dealt with on the fourth or fifth day from 


D. Number of Driving Licence applications which are dealt with in over five days from receipt of the 

application 

E. Percentage of overall Driving Licence applications which are dealt with on the same day as 


F. Percentage of overall Driving Licence applications which are dealt with on the second or third 

day from receipt of the application 

G. Percentage of overall Driving Licence applications which are dealt with on the fourth or fifth day 


H. Percentage of overall Driving Licence applications which are dealt with in over five days from 


718 

4313 

2747 

1750 

7.54 

45.27 

28.83 

18.37 

M4: Public Opening Hours 

Average number of opening hours per week 26.24 



P: PLANNING 

P1: Planning Applications - Decision Making 

Individual Houses 

A. Number of applications decided 239 

B. Number of decisions in Column A which were decided within 8 weeks 106 

C. Number of decisions in Column A which required the submission of further information 132 

D. Number of decisions in Column A where an extension of time was agreed to by the applicant, 

under section 34(9) of the Planning and development Act 2000 

E. Average length of time taken (in days) to decide an application where further information was 

sought 

1 

74.42 

F. Percentage of applications granted 78.66 

G. Percentage of applications refused 21.34 

H. Percentage of cases where the decision was confirmed, with or without variations, by An Bord 

Pleanála 

42.86 

I. Percentage of cases where the decision was reversed by An Bord Pleanála 57.14 

Number of applications decided 239 

Number of decisions which were decided within 8 weeks 106 

Number of decisions which required the submission of further information 132 

Number of decisions where an extension of time was agreed to by the applicant, under section 34 (9) of 

the Planning and development Act 2000 

1 

Average length of time taken (in days) to decide an application where further information was sought. 74.42 

Number of applications granted 188 

Number of applications refused 51 

Number of cases where the decision was confirmed, with or without variations, by An Bord Pleanála 6 

Number of cases where the decision was reversed by An Bord Pleanála 8 

New Housing Development 

A. Number of applications decided 

Includes 22 Extension of Duration applications and 7 pre-2000 Act files 

39 






sought 

1 

67.69 




Pleanála 

66.67 




continued > 






1 






Other: not requiring Environment Impact Assessment 

A. Number of applications decided 

Includes 4 Extension of Duration applications and 7 pre-2000 Act files 

301 






sought 

0 

77.99 




Pleanála 

59.26 







0 






Other: requiring Environment Impact Assessment 

A. Number of applications decided 2 






sought 

0 

100 

F. Percentage of applications granted 100 

G. Percentage of applications refused 0 

20 Roscommon County Council 

continued >



Pleanála 

0 

I. Percentage of cases where the decision was reversed by An Bord Pleanála 100 






0 

Average length of time taken (in days) to decide an application where further information was sought. 100 





P2: Planning Enforcement 

A. Total number of cases subject to complaints that were investigated 160 

B. Total number of cases subject to complaints that were dismissed 

Roscommon County Council does not include cases which relate solely to non-compliance with 

Financial Conditions 

C. Total number of cases subject to complaints that were resolved through negotiations 

Includes cases closed in 2010 where conditions of planning permissions have been complied 

with and cases closed because of a grant of retention. Cases that were the subject of a retention 

application which was not granted were not included as they were not considered to be resolved. 

0 

8 

D. Number of enforcement procedures taken through warning letters 175 

E. Number of enforcement procedures taken through enforcement notices 56 

F. Number of prosecutions 17 

P3: Planning Public opening hours 

Average number of opening hours per week 30 

P4: Pre-Planning Consultation 

A. Number of pre-planning consultation meetings held 250 

B. Average length of time (in days) from request for consultation with local authority to actual formal 

meeting for pre-planning consultation. This relates to all 250 pre-planning meetings held. 

6.7 

P5: New Buildings inspected 

Buildings inspected as a percentage of new buildings notified to the local authority 17.37 

Total number of new buildings notified to the local authority 190 

Number of new buildings notified to the local authority that were inspected 

Due to changed circumstances we are trying to achieve just greater than the National target of 12-15%. 

33 

P6: Taking Estates in Charge 

A. The number of residential estates for which the planning permission has expired, in respect of 

which formal written requests for taking in charge (from residents or developers), were on hands 

at the beginning of the year 

78 

B. Number of estates that were taken in charge in the year in question 8 

C. Number of dwellings in respect of column B 178 

continued > 



D. Percentage of estates in column A not completed to satisfaction of the planning authority in line 

with the planning permission 

Roscommon County Council has assumed that what is being sought is information on 

developments, which were on hand at the start of the year, which were uncompleted at the end of 

the year. 

E. Number of estates in column D in respect of which enforcement action was taken in the year in 

question and/or the bond was called in 

Roscommon County Council has assumed that the information sought relates to bonds called in 

during 2010 only as well as enforcement action taken during 2010. 

F. Number of estates in column D in respect of which works were undertaken by the authority to 

bring the estate to taking in charge standard 

Number of residential estates for which the planning permission has expired, in respect of which formal 

written requests for taking in charge (from residents or developers), were on hands at the beginning of 

the year 

96.15 

19 

0 

78 

Number of estates that were taken in charge in the year in question. 8 

Total number of dwellings in these estates 178 

Number of estates in column A not completed to satisfaction of the planning authority in line with the 

planning permission 

It is assumed that this relates to developments which were on hand at the start of the year which were 

uncompleted at the end of the year. 

Number of estates in column D in respect of which enforcement action was taken in the year in question 

and/or the bond was called in 

It is assumed that the information sought relates to bonds called in during 2010 only as well as 

enforcement action taken during 2010. 

Number of estates in column D in respect of which works were undertaken by the authority to bring the 

estate to taking in charge standard 

75 

19 

0 

Rec: RECREATIONAL SERVICES 

Rec.1 Children’s Playgrounds 

A. Number of children’s playgrounds per 1,000 population directly provided by the local authority 0.24 

B. Number of children’s playgrounds per 1,000 population facilitated by the local authority 0.02 

Number of children’s playgrounds directly provided by the local authority 14 

Number of children’s playgrounds facilitated by the local authority 1 

Rec.2 Local Authority-Facilitated Leisure Facilities 

Number of visitors to local authority-facilitated leisure facilities per 1,000 population 3319.78 

Number of visitors to local authority-facilitated leisure facilities 195097 

Rev: REVENUE COLLECTION 

Rev.1 House Rent 

A. Amount collected at year end as a percentage of amount due from House Rent 89.01 

B. Percentage of arrears on House Rent that are up to 4 weeks old 26.3 

C. Percentage of arrears on House Rent that are 4-6 weeks old 13 

D. Percentage of arrears on House Rent that are 6-12 weeks old 14.7 

continued > 



E. Percentage of arrears on House Rent that are more than 12 weeks old 46 

Amount due at year end due from House Rent 3893608 

Amount collected at year end due from House Rent 3465793 

Amount of arrears at year end from House Rent 400140 

Amount of arrears on Housing Rent that are up to 4 weeks old 105237 

Amount of arrears on Housing Rent that are 4-6 weeks old 

Following the commencing of legal proceedings many tenants cleared their outstanding arrears and 

in addition some arrears were written off in 2010. 

52018 

Amount of arrears on Housing Rent that are 6-12 weeks old 58821 

Amount of arrears on House Rent that are more than 12 weeks old 184064 

Rev.2 Housing Loans 

A. Amount collected at year end as a percentage of amount due from Housing Loans 62.22 

B. Percentage of arrears on Housing Loans that are up to 1 month old 1.3 

C. Percentage of arrears on Housing Loans that are 1-2 months old 2.2 

D. Percentage of arrears on Housing Loans that are 2-3 months old 1.7 

E. Percentage of arrears on Housing Loans that are more than 3 months old 94.8 

Amount due at year end from Housing Loans 626566 

Amount collected at year end from Housing Loans 389832 

Amount of arrears at year end from Housing Loans 236734 

Amount of arrears on Housing Loans that are up to 1 month old 3483 

Amount of arrears on Housing Loans that are 1-2 month old 5776 

Amount of arrears on Housing Loans that are 2-3 months old 4388 

Amount of arrears on Housing Loans that are more than 3 months old 246785 

Rev.3 Commercial Rates 

Amount collected at year-end as a percentage of amount due from Commercial rates 

The reduction was as a result of the down turn in the economy; the local authority responded to the 

problems facing many businesses by introducing payment plans to help with cash flow. 

Rev.4 Refuse Charges 

Percentage of households paying refuse charges (including waivers) at year end 

Rev.5 Non-Domestic Water Charges 

77 

Not Applicable 

Amount collected at year end as a percentage of amount due for Non-Domestic Water Charges 57 

R: ROADS 

R1: Road Restoration Programme 

Number of kilometres of local and regional roads improved and maintained under the Restoration 

Programme per annum 

Number of kilometres of local and regional roads constructed under the specific improvement 

grants scheme per annum 

323 

3 


Community 

and Enterprise 

The Community and Enterprise Department provides support for the 

Roscommon County Development Board and also leads Roscommon County 

Council’s involvement with, and encouragement of, community initiatives, 

the arts, the Irish language, and tourism and enterprise development 

throughout the county. 

Pride of Place 

Judging Panel with 

representatives of 

Cloonfad Development 

Association 

Roscommon County Development Board (RCDB) 

The RCDB comprises 30 members representing 20 agencies and development bodies 

throughout county Roscommon. RCDB oversees the implementation of the ten-year strategy 

for the economic, social and cultural development of county Roscommon and promotes 

co-operation and collaboration between all agencies and development bodies operating in 

the county. RCDB prioritises actions to be undertaken by relevant agencies and bodies to 

ensure the co-ordination of public service delivery. Support for RCDB is provided through 

the Community and Enterprise Department. 

Roscommon Social Inclusion Unit (SI Unit) 

The main objective of the SI Unit is to embed Social Inclusion in the corporate body of 

Roscommon County Council and to co-operate with other organisations and agencies 

throughout the county through structures such as the RCDB and the Social Inclusion Measures 

Group of the RCDB. During 2010 the SI Unit participated in a number of events and ran a very 

successful programme of events during Social Inclusion Week in October. In 2010 the SI Unit 

was also the lead on behalf of Roscommon County Council in organizing the first ever Access 

for All Awards Scheme as a disability awareness initiative. 

Tourism 

2010 was the first year of implementation of the County Roscommon Tourism Strategy 2010 

– 2014. The community tourism networks were established. Community led walking routes 

and cycle routes were developed and Roscommon County Council continued to support 

festivals in the county. A Discover Boyle day was held in September 2010 in conjunction with 

Waterways Ireland and Fáilte Ireland. Work in relation to three heritage sites at Rathcroghan, 

Tulsk and Rindoon progressed. Roscommon County Council has been involved in the provision 

of small-scale tourist amenities throughout the county during 2010. 


Community and Enterprise 

Roscommon Community Fora 

Roscommon County Council continued to support the work of the Community Fora during 

2010. There are two Fora operating in the county – North Roscommon Community Forum and 

South Roscommon Community Forum, employing one Development Worker who facilitates 

both Fora. The Fora were initially established for the purposes of facilitating the communities’ 

input into the CDB process and into the local authority Strategic Policy Committees. This role 

has broadened to include consultation and involvement with a number of local initiatives. The 

County Roscommon Community Fora are funded primarily through the Department of the 

Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Roscommon County Council. 

Pride of Place Competition 

In 2010 Roscommon County Council nominated four groups to the Pride of Place 

Competition. The entrants were Boyle Arts Festival, Project Match Castlerea, Cloonfad 

Development Association and Station Road, Boyle, Residents Association. The 2010 National 

Awards Ceremony was held on 13 th November 2010 in the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, 

Co. Meath. Cloonfad Development Association were awarded a runner-up prize in Category 

3 (population 500-1,000). 

Community and Amenity Fund 

The fund is available as grant aid to community groups and voluntary organisations to 

undertake small capital amenity projects in their local area. Grants totaling €100,000 were 

allocation to 79 projects in 2010. 

Tidy Towns 

In 2010 a total prize fund of €9,700 was made available by Roscommon County to support the 

work of Tidy Towns groups throughout the county. Funding was made available to the 25 tidy 

towns groups who entered the National Tidy Towns Competition to acknowledge the ongoing 

hard work they undertake in their local areas. 

FAI Development Officer 

Roscommon County Council made a contribution towards the salary of the FAI Development 

Officer who is employed by the FAI to achieve the core objectives of: 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

The promotion of Social Inclusion through Football, particularly in geographic areas of 

disadvantage. 

Deliver active football development to key target communities. 

Ensuring delivery of integrated football development programmes throughout the 

community. 

Developing partnership and co-ordination between the relevant local statutory and 

voluntary bodies, in particular Roscommon County Council, and maximizing their 

involvement in the development of football in the county. 

Increase participation and the opportunities for participation in football in Roscommon 

County Council. 



Joint Policing Committee 

Five meetings of the County Roscommon Joint Policing Committee (JPC) were held during 

2010. There was also one public meeting of the Joint Policing Committee in Kilbride 

Community Centre on 20 th September 2010. The JPC implemented a comprehensive work 

plan during 2010. The work plan set out actions which were undertaken in order to meet 

eight key objectives in the following areas: Awareness raising; Partnership building; Crime 

prevention; Drug use; Anti-Social behaviour; Community Policing and Role; Young People; 

and Road Safety. Outcomes achieved during 2010 included the roll out of a local substance 

misuse awareness campaign and the establishment of JPC sub-groups to undertake a review 

of the community alert schemes in the county. 

Arts Office 

Roscommon County Council Arts Office continued 

to implement programmes and projects that aim 

to ensure that the option of working as an artist 

in county Roscommon is a viable one and to 

develop new strategic partnerships with other 

agencies and organisations. A number of key 

programmes continued to be successful during 

2010. These included TRADE, an international 

visual arts development partnership with Leitrim 

County Council; the Art@work artists residency 

programme and the further development of the 

Roscommon County Youth Theatre and Roscommon County Youth Orchestra. Roscommon’s 

participation in Culture Night 2010 saw an increase in the amount of free events happening 

throughout the County. The Douglas Hyde Conference which was held in association with the 

Western Development Commission was the second in a three part series investigating the 

development of the creative economy. In 2010 we were delighted to welcome leading figures 

in the sector including Kevin Stolarick, Paul Young, Arantxa Mendiharat, Joe Hallgarten and 

Michael D. Higgins. 


Youth Orchestra 

Pictured at the Douglas Hyde Conference 2010, L-R: Senator Terry Leyden, Michael 

D. Higgins, Theo Dorgan, Chair; Minister Mary Hanafin; Mayor Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan; 

Kevin Stolarick, Martin Prosperity Institute, Toronto; Ned Costello, National Innovation 

Taskforce; Frank Feighan TD. 

A scene from Seven Jewish Children by 

Roscommon County Youth Theatre 



Roscommon Arts Centre 

Roscommon Arts Centre continues to provide a service as a vibrant venue for the arts in county Roscommon. 

In what was undoubtedly a very challenging year for business across the county, the arts centre continued to 

thrive with total attendance figures across all art forms exceeding those of 2009. 

As well as a programme including theatre, music, comedy, dance, opera and classes, in 2010 the arts centre also 

continued to provide very popular tours and workshops of the gallery space, allowing the public easy access to 

the exhibitions in an informal atmosphere. “Filmed”, the Arts Centre’s educational screenings programme for 

schools, expanded to include both primary and secondary schools and was attended by over 800 students from 

across counties Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford and Galway. 

In an effort to continue to encourage and create access to the arts to all areas of the community, the arts centre 

successfully continued it’s offsite outreach programmes for the Bealtaine Festival and the Lollipops Children’s 

Festival travelling to nursing homes, active age groups and primary schools around the county, and also continued 

to build on it’s existing involvement with the tourism and cultural industry by working with Strokestown Park 

House in the provision of a summer traditional music programme. In February 2010, NOMAD Theatre Network, 

of which Roscommon Arts Centre is a founding member, also premiered its production of The Dead School in 

The Tricycle Theatre, London, further increasing the profile of Roscommon and Roscommon Arts Centre on an 

international level. 

Douglas Hyde Interpretative Centre 

Roscommon County Council undertook further accessibility works at the Douglas Hyde Interpretative Centre in 

Portahard during 2010. This included improving the parking facilities, access to the cemetery and the interior 

of the building. The burial place of Dr Douglas Hyde, first President of Ireland, continues to be an important 

heritage landmark in county Roscommon and continues to attract visitors on a year round basis. Entry to the 

centre is free of charge and school tours are welcome. 

An tOifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge 

The Irish Office provides support for Irish language activities throughout the county and promotes the use 

of Irish within the County Council. The 2007-2010 Irish Language Scheme improved the Council’s capacity to 

provide a bilingual service. 

Tugann Oifig na Gaeilge tacaíocht d’imeachtaí i nGaeilge ar fud an chontae agus don chomhairle. Tá Scéim 

Teanga 2007- 2010 á chur i bhfeidhm chun seirbhís dátheangach níos fearr a chur ar fáil sa Comhairle Chontae. 

Irish Language Scheme Progress 2010 

The Community and Enterprise Section continue to monitor and implement the Irish Language Scheme. Any 

queries, letters or enquiries in Irish are responded to in Irish. A review of the Irish Language Scheme took 

place by the Commissioner Teanga. It is an objective of the Council to increase the number of forms available 

bilingually and to continue to implement the proposed actions under the Irish Language Scheme, subject to the 

necessary resources being available. 



King House, Boyle 

King House, Boyle continued to welcome tourists and visitors through its doors in 2010. Once 

again the House also hosted a variety of events including the internationally acclaimed Boyle 

Arts Festival, The Connaught Rangers commemorations and the ever popular Winter Craft 

Fair. King House was also a magnificent backdrop for many public and private events, civil 

ceremonies and family gatherings during the year. 

Culture Night 2010 

at King House, Boyle 


Corporate 

Services 

County Manager, 

Frank Dawson, 

Mayor Tony Ward 

and Brendan Shine 

and his family at 

the Civic Reception 

held in honour of 

Brendan Shine in 

May 2010 

The following services are provided by the Corporate Services Section: 

Support Services to Council Management, Organising and Servicing meetings 

of the Council and its sub-committees, Training, Conference administration 

and expenses payments for the Elected Members, Compilation of Register of 

Electors, Higher Education Grants, Insurances, Property Management, Letting 

of Lands, Provision and Maintenance of Courthouse Accommodation, Safety, 

Health and Welfare at Work, Veterinary Functions, Civic Receptions, Customer 

Services function, Freedom of Information and Town Twinning. 

Register of Electors 

Roscommon County Council published two versions of the register i.e. The” Edited” Register 

and the “Full” Register both which came into force on 15th February 2010. These registers 

are published in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 1992, 1997 and Electoral 

(Amendment) Act 2001. The Edited Register contains the names and addresses of persons 

who have indicated that their details can be used for a purpose other than electoral or other 

statutory use, e.g. for direct marketing use by a commercial or other organisation. 

Table 1. Dáil Constituency 

Dáil Constituency Presidential Electors Dáil Electors 

Roscommon - South Leitrim 45,412 47,023 

Table 2. European Parliament Constituency 

European Parliament Constituency 

European Electors 

North – West 47,127 

Table 3. Roscommon Local Electoral Areas 

Local Electoral Areas 

Number of Electors 

Athlone 11,017 

Boyle 7,832 

Castlerea 12,938 

Roscommon 8,935 

Strokestown 7,653 

Total 48,375 


Corporate Services 

Higher Education Grants 

Roscommon County Council continued to administer the Higher Education Grants Scheme 

in 2010 for students entering 3 rd level education. Candidates must be pursuing a full-time 

undergraduate course for a minimum of two year duration in a University or third level 

institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in Ireland 

or another E.U. Member State, or full time postgraduate courses for a minimum of 1 year in 

Ireland, including Northern Ireland. Terms and conditions apply. 

In 2010/2011 academic year, Roscommon County Council grant aided 594 students at 

undergraduate level and 91 postgraduate students. Over €3.65m was paid on behalf of 

students comprising of Maintenance, Tuition and Registration fees and Field Trips, which 

form a compulsory part of a course. In addition 138 students were eligible for the Special 

Rate of Maintenance (Top-Up) Grant. It is estimated that approximately 700 students will be 

funded in the 2011/12 academic year. 

Derelict Sites 

The Derelict Site Act 1990 provides for effective arrangements against land dereliction. 

Section 3 of the Act requires local authorities to maintain a register of derelict sites. In 

addition, it places a general duty on owners and occupiers of land including statutory bodies 

and state authorities to prevent land from becoming or from continuing to be a derelict site. 

The local authority must take all reasonable steps to ensure that land in their functional area 

does not become or continue to be a derelict site. 

Veterinary Functions 

Roscommon County Council operates a service contract with the Food Safety Authority 

of Ireland, F.S.A.I., to oversee food safety in 11 slaughterhouses and 7 stand-alone meat 

manufacturing plants. The supervision of slaughter is carried out by Roscommon County 

Council’s Veterinary Officer and Temporary Veterinary Inspectors, T.V.I.s. All animals are 

inspected ante-mortem to ensure they are healthy and fit for slaughter. The traceability of 

the animals is also verified. All slaughtered animals are inspected post-mortem to ensure 

the meat is fit for human consumption. All meat that has been passed as fit to eat is stamped 

with a health mark consisting of an oval with the letters Ireland, the approval number of the 

premises and the letters E.C. Locally produced meat is a high quality, fully traceable product 

from young animals with a short food chain from farm to fork. In 2010 there were 3,760 

cattle and 8,241 sheep slaughtered in Local Authority supervised Slaughterhouses in county 

Roscommon. One slaughterhouse ceased killing in 2010. 

Dog Control 

Under the provisions of the Control of Dogs Act 1986, the Local Authority is responsible for 

the control of dogs with the area of County Roscommon. This task is undertaken in association 

with the I.S.P.C.A. Roscommon County Council’s direct contribution to the I.S.P.C.A. in 2010 

was €111,000. A total of 230 stray/unwanted dogs were handled at the pound; 26 were reclaimed, 

27 were allocated new homes and, regrettably, 177 had to be put down. One dog 

remained at the Dog Pound at 31st December 2010. All dog owners are required by law to 

have a current dog licence which can be purchased from any Post Office a cost of €12.70. 

In 2010 2,935 Dog Licences were issued and the total income from licences and fines was 

almost €30,000. 



Health and Safety 

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 requires employers, their representative 

management, and employees alike to consider safety as a joint responsibility. It is the 

intention of Roscommon County Council to ensure as much as is reasonably practicable 

the safety, health and welfare of all its employees. The Health and Safety Work Programme 

for 2010 included updating the Safety Management System - Policies, Safety Statements 

and Procedures. During the year 415 staff attended Health and Safety Training and Staff 

Awareness Briefings facilitated by Health and Safety Department and 384 Safety Audits and 

Inspections were completed. The department organised the occupational health programme, 

fire drills and Toolbox Talks to outdoor staff covering Health and Safety topics. The quarterly 

newsletter RosSafe was published and distributed to staff four times in 2010. 

Freedom of Information 

The Freedom of Information Acts 1997-2003 enable members of the public to obtain, to the 

greatest extent possible consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy, access to 

information in the possession of public bodies. Specifically the Acts provide for: 

g 

g 

g 

A legal right to access records held by public bodies. 

A legal right for every person to have personal information contained within a record 

amended where incomplete, incorrect or misleading. 

A legal right by persons to obtain reasons for decisions that affects them. 

Making a Request 

A person who wishes to exercise the right under the Freedom of Information Acts to 

access records held by Roscommon County Council is required to make a valid request. 

A valid request must: 

g be made in writing, 

g state that the request is made under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997-2003, 

g contain sufficient particulars to enable the records concerned to be identified. 

In addition a standard fee of €15.00 is required for the making of a request to access records 

containing non-personal information. A reduced fee of €10 applies if the person making such 

a request possesses a medical card. 

Requests Received 2010 

Roscommon County Council received 32 requests in 2010. A breakdown of the outcome of 

these requests is outlined in the Table 4. 

Table 4: FOI Applications Received 2010 

No. of Requests undetermined at 1st January 2010 2 

No. of Requests received during 2010 32 

No. of Requests granted 20 

No. of Requests part granted 7 

No. of Requests refused 6 

No. of Requests Transferred, Withdrawn or dealt with outside of FOI 1 

No. of Requests undetermined at 31st December 2010 0 



Town Twinning visit to Nueil-sur-Layon 

Roderic O’Conor was born in Milltown House, Castleplunkett, county Roscommon on 17th 

October 1860. He is recognised as one of Ireland’s leading painters and earned the friendship 

and respect of artists such as Van Gogh, Gauguin, Renoir and Modigliani. After studying arts 

in Dublin and Antwerp he moved to France where he spent most of his working life. He 

worked in Paris, Grez, Pont Aven and Nueil-sur-Layon, France where he died on 18th March, 

1940 and is buried in the village cemetery where his tomb is maintained by the village. On her 

death in 1955 his widow bequeathed their residence to the Municipal Authority. 

In November 2009 the Municipal Council of Nueil-sur-Layon agreed that the establishment of 

a twinning project with Roscommon County Council should be examined and made contact 

with Roscommon County Council. A delegation led by Mayor Tony Ward visited Pont Aven and 

Nueil-sur-Layon in May 2010 to progress the twinning proposal. The delegation was received 

by the Mayor of Nueil-sur-Layon Jean Marie Defois and Council Members and visited Roderic 

O’Conor’s house and grave. Later at a ceremony in the Town hall an “Intention to Twin” 

document was signed by both Mayors on 14th May 2010. The Mayor of Nueil-sur-Layon 

is leading a delegation to Roscommon in May 2011 to finalise the twinning arrangements 

for a cultural link between the communities and to perpetuate the works and memory of 

Roderic O’Conor. Twinning would initially be at civic level and would develop to enable the 

communities to develop friendship through the legacy of Roderic O’Conor and contribute 

to a better mutual understanding of customs and languages. A community group has been 

established in Milltown/Castleplunkett in association with this twinning proposal. 

As 2010 was the 150th anniversary of his birth Roscommon County Council organised a 

lecture by Dr. Roy Johnston on the life and work of Roderic O’Conor, in the Douglas Hyde 

Centre, Portahard, Frenchpark, county Roscommon. An Post also issued two commerative 

stamps showing paintings of his most famous works. The Breton Girl, Bretonne c.1903-04 (oil 

on canvas) painted during his time in Pont Aven, and a self portrait from 1928 (oil on board). 

Group on steps of Town Hall 

Nueil-sur-Layon, France 


Development Incentives and Control 

This programme group covers the functions of the Planning Section under the Planning 

and Development Acts 1963 – 2010. Activities carried out under this Programme are 

divided into three main areas: 

1. Development Management (including Planning General Office, Planning Enforcement, Heritage Office 

and Conservation Office) constitutes the Council’s regulatory role in relation to its planning function. 

It focuses on the planning application process and the taking of enforcement action against persons 

engaged in unauthorised development. 

2. Forward Planning concentrates on the policy role of the Council’s planning function. It includes the 

making and adoption of the County Development Plan, Local Area Plans for towns and discretionary 

development plans for smaller towns and villages and Special Objective Plans for areas that are likely to 

be subject to large scale development. 

3. Building Control seeks to promote good practice in the design and construction of buildings in the 

interests of health, safety and welfare of persons who use them and enforcement of Building Regulations. 

1. Development Management 

Planning Applications 

There was a fall in the number of planning applications received in 2010. Table 1 below summarises the number 

and outcome of planning applications in 2010 and the previous five years. The scanning of all applications 

received is ongoing and these documents are available on the Council’s web site www.roscommoncoco.ie. The 

scanning of older files is also continuing. In addition, the Geographical Information System, gPlan is available 

on the Council’s website. gPlan is a map-based online planning enquiry tool. It allows the user to query, locate, 

and interrogate planning applications through an interactive map, enabling the user to interpret the spatial 

information surrounding the location of a proposed development. Currently data back to 2001 is available. 

Further historical information is being added. 

Table 1. Roscommon County Council Planning Applications 2005-2010 

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 

Applications Received 1,824 2,581 2,287 1,492 748 710* 

Decisions to Grant 1,721 1,450 1,751 1,072 592 491** 

Decisions to Refuse 321 259 252 137 66 90*** 

Refusal Rate 15.7% 15.15% 12.5% 11.3% 10% 15.5% 

Number of Appeals 105 69 83 70 55 43 

Appeals upheld by An Bord Pleanála 39 49 33 47 27 23 

*78 Extension of Duration applications received. **Includes 54 Extensions of Duration granted. ***Includes 11 Extensions of Duration to Refused 



Planning Enforcement 

Planning Enforcement Section is responsible for ensuring compliance with conditions of planning permission 

granted and for investigating unauthorised development in county Roscommon. 

Development Contribution Scheme 

In accordance with Section 48 of the Planning & Development Acts 2000 – 2007 a Development Contribution 

Scheme was adopted by Roscommon County Council and came into effect on the 10 th March, 2004 enabling 

Roscommon County Council to levy a Development Contribution on all Planning Applications decided after 

the 10 th March, 2004 in accordance with the scheme. A new Development Contribution Scheme was adopted 

by Roscommon County Council on 24 th November 2008, to reflect the estimated cost of providing public 

infrastructure and facilities planned for the period 2008- 2014. 

The following table (Table 2) gives details of the contributions levied under the Scheme and the contributions 

paid to the Council during 2010. 

Table 2. Development Contribution Scheme 2009 and 2010 

Development Contribution Scheme 2009 2010 

Contributions levied under Planning Permissions granted €4,762,025 €2,253,484 

Contributions received under Development Contribution Scheme €3,011,382 €1,284,622 

Development Contributions totalling €87,329 were received under the 1963 Act in 2010. 

Enforcement 

The Planning and Development Act 2000 has given increased powers to Local Authorities to enforce planning 

laws. 

Section 151 – It is an offence to carry out an unauthorised development. 

Section 152 – Power to issue Warning Letter to the owner, occupier or any other person carrying out the 

development within 6 weeks of receipt of a complaint. 

Section 154 – Power to serve Enforcement Notice – refers to the land concerned and shall: 

1. in respect of a development where no permission has been granted, require that the development cease 

or not commence, as appropriate, or 

2. in respect of a development for which permission has been granted under Part III, require that the 

development proceed in conformity with the permission, or with any condition to which the permission is 

subject. 

An Enforcement Notice may also require steps to be taken within a specified period including where appropriate 

the removal, demolition or alteration of any structure, the discontinuance of any use and the restoration of lands 

to its condition prior to the commencement of the development. 

It is an offence to fail to comply with an enforcement notice. 

The Planning Authority may prosecute for the offence under Section 151 of carrying out an unauthorised 

development or the offence under Section 154 of failing to comply with an Enforcement Notice. A person who 

is guilty of an offence shall be liable on conviction to fines of up to €5,000 for summary convictions and up to 

€12.7 million for convictions on indictment. 



Section 160 – Power to seek a Court Order requiring that the unauthorised development is 

not carried out or continued, the carrying out of development in Accordance with permission 

granted and/or the carrying out of any works including the restoration, reconstruction, 

removal, demolition or alteration of any structure or other feature. 

Table 3 provides details of activity carried out in the area of planning enforcement during 

2010. 

Table 3. Planning Enforcement Activity 2010 

Unauthorised Development 2010 

No. of Complaints Investigated 160 

No. of cases where Warning Letters issued 200 

No. of cases where Enforcement Notices issued 55 

No. of Legal Proceedings initiated 17 

Planning Enforcement is also responsible for ensuring compliance with all conditions of 

planning permission and in particular ensures: 

g 

g 

g 

The provision of security by developers of a cash deposit, a bond of an insurance 

company or bank or other such security as may be agreed with this Council to secure 

the satisfactory completion and maintenance until taken in charge of roads, footpaths, 

sewers, watermains, public lighting and other services required in connection with a 

development. 

The payment of development charges which are levied by this planning authority as a 

contribution towards the expenditure that was incurred or is proposed by the planning 

authority in respect of works facilitating proposed developments. 

The payment of service charges where applicable. 

Heritage Office 

The following actions under the County Roscommon Heritage Plan were undertaken by the 

Heritage Office in 2010. 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

Archaeology Training for 


Staff and Elected Members 

Habitat Mapping 

Graveyard Seminar and 

Memorials Publications 

Graveyard and Memorials 

Recording 

Japanese Knotweed 

Control Project 

Events were organised for 

Heritage Week 2010 

Highlake House Roscommon opened to the public as part of Heritage Week 2010 



Roscommon County Council also funded the 

following projects through the Heritage Office 

in 2010 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

Folklore and Oral History Network 

Roscommon Priory Guidebook 

Biodiversity Posters: Wildflowers and 

Biodiversity 

Kilronan Hermitage: Civic Structure 

Roscommon Castle Archaeological 

Reconstruction Poster 

Trien Historical Group 

Boyle Summer Show 

Conservation Office 

Applications under the Grant for the Conservation of Protected 

Structures were considered in accordance with the Scheme 

of Priorities. The scheme awards marks for the significance, 

urgency, type of repair, conservation methodology and 

other factors. Ten grants were awarded with a total value of 

€76,500. Works completed included roof repairs, guttering, 

stone wall repair, structural stabilisation and conservation 

of windows. 

Protected Structure: Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon 

Extract from Record of Protected Structures 

RPS No. 03900233 

03900233 Church of the Scared Heart Ardnanagh, Roscommon Catholic Church 

Protected Structure: 

St. Beadh’s Church, 

Ardcarne, Boyle 

00600109 St. Beadh’s Church Ardcarne, Boyle Church of Ireland Church 

Protected Structure: 

Roscommon Abbey 



2. Forward Planning 

As part of the Roscommon County Development Plan a priority schedule for Local Area Plans 

(LAPs) and Village Design Statements (VDS) was adopted and these are to be completed 

during the lifetime of the Plan. The Local Area Plan for Monksland/Bellanamullia (Athlone 

West) was adopted on 26th April 2010. 

A variation of the Roscommon County Development Plan was made on 18th October 2010. It 

removed the previous Area Plans and included references to the new Local Area Plans 2010- 

2016 for Lough Key and Monksland/Bellanamullia (Athlone West). 

Pre-draft work began in 2010 for the next round of Local Area Plans - Castlerea, Boyle, 

Ballaghaderreen and Roscommon. Pre-draft public submissions were received and Castlerea 

and Boyle are likely to be published first followed by Ballaghaderreen and Roscommon, all 

within the first half of 2011. 

Work also began in 2010 on a Draft Wind Energy Strategy for the county which is due to be 

published in early 2011. 

3. Building Control 

34 Building Control Inspections and 2 inspections prior to commencement of works were 

carried out in 2010. The requirement for Disability Access Certificates and Revised Disability 

Access Certificates for buildings other than dwellings and certain other works came into 

affect on 1 st January 2010 for works commencing on or after that date. 10 Disability Access 

Certificates were issued in 2010. No Revised Disability Access Certificates were issued 

during the year. 

The Fire Services carried out 14 Inspections of Building Work in progress and 40 Fire Safety 

Certificates were issued during 2010. 


Environmental 

Protection 

Roscommon County Council Environment Section covers a diverse range 

of functions and services. The principal areas are: 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

Pollution Control and Water Quality Management 

Waste Management and Enforcement 

Landfill Management 

Litter Management 

Environmental Awareness 

Civic Amenity Site and Bring Bank Management 

Castlecoote – 

Overall Winner 

of Floral Pride 

Competition 2010 

Pollution Control and Water Quality Management 

Pollution control legislation covers areas such as water pollution, air pollution nuisance and 

noise. Specific activities undertaken in relation to pollution control include investigation of 

water pollution instances, licensing and monitoring of discharges to waters and sewers, 

licensing emissions to air, monitoring drinking water, urban wastewater treatment plant 

performance and monitoring of rivers and lakes. 

Water Framework Directive 

The Water Framework Directive was adopted in Irish Law by the EC (Water Policy) 

Regulations 2003 and under these regulations River Basin Districts (RBDs) were established. 

Roscommon is included in the Western RBD and the Shannon RBD. Monitoring programmes 

have been developed to identify the status of the water bodies and to allow us to measure 

future improvements resulting from management actions. Management Plans and associated 

Programmes of Measures have been prepared to cover the period 2011-2015 and took effect 

from 15 th July 2010 setting out the measures to be taken by all stakeholders and the tools to 

prioritise the application of available resources to these measures, with the aim of achieving 

the objectives of the directive. The four core objectives to be achieved in this first and 

subsequent planning cycles to 2027 are: 

1. Prevent deterioration 

2. Restore good status 

3. Reduce chemical pollution 

4. Achieve protected areas objectives 


Environmental Protection 

Waste Management and Enforcement 

A grant of €136,373 was allocated to Roscommon County Council from the Environment Fund to support 

dedicated and measurable enforcement initiatives. The Enforcement Unit continues to operate and this has 

resulted in a significant increase in enforcement of the Waste Management and Water Pollution Acts. 

Landfill Management 

In July 2010, Ballaghaderreen Landfill Site ceased operation. By the end of 2010 work was completed on the 

sealing of the landfill site with an engineered geo-synthetic cover and it is expected that capping will be complete 

in early 2011. 

Recycling Centres 

Roscommon County Council operates four Recycling Centres located at Boyle, Roscommon, Ballaghaderreen 

and Castlerea. 

Litter Management Plan 

The Litter Management Plan for 2011 – 2014 was adopted in December 2010. The purpose of this plan is to set 

out objectives designed to prevent and control litter and encourage public awareness. 

Waste Storage and Presentation Bye Laws 

The Waste Storage and Presentation Bye Laws set out the requirement for the proper management of waste 

collection and to ensure that environmental pollution is not caused by the operation of waste collection services 

in county Roscommon. Inspections by Litter Wardens on households to ensure compliance with these Bye Laws 

will continue on an ongoing basis. 

Environmental Awareness 

A variety of green-enabling services are provided by Roscommon County Council and promotion and 

encouragement of a green attitude and ambition in the outlook and practice of individuals, businesses and 

schools in the functional area. 

Green Schools 

Over 80% of schools in county Roscommon are involved in the Green Schools Programme. Roscommon County 

Council provides a number of support services to schools involved in the Green Schools Programme including 

school visits, workshops and seminars. 

Environmental Competitions 

Community participation is encouraged through community initiatives such as Golden Mile Hedgerow Competition, 

Tidy Estate Competition, Tidy Cemetery Competition, National Spring Clean, Floral Pride and Irish Business Against 

Litter. An additional anti-litter competition entitled the “Tidy Business Award” was piloted in Roscommon town 

to reward and encourage businesses that keep their premises litter free and tidy. All participating businesses 

displayed window stickers to denote their commitment and involvement in the competition. 


Environmental Protection 

Adopt-a-Bring Bank Scheme 

This scheme was launched in 2010 to help combat the problem of illegal dumping at bring banks around the 

county. Community groups were eligible to apply to “adopt-a-bring bank” whereby any illegal dumping was 

reported and bring banks were kept litter free, anti-littering signage was erected at the bring banks and groups 

were encouraged to enhance the appearance of the bring bank facility. 

Energy Management Training 

An Energy Management Team was formed which is representative of all sections of Roscommon County 

Council. This Energy Management Team received training from Sustainable Energy Agency of Ireland (SEAI) 

and developed an Energy Management Programme Plan for Roscommon County Council whereby opportunities 

to save energy were identified and implemented. 

Climate Change Strategy 

Roscommon County Council has adopted its own Climate Change Strategy, which aims to achieve compliance 

with the requirements of the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012. The strategy has been prepared by 

the Council’s Energy Management Team, which is representative of all relevant sections of the Council. The 

intention of the strategy is to focus on the Council’s activities and to identify areas that will assist in meeting 

the targets of the national strategy. 

Launch of Spring Clean 2010 


The Finance Section is responsible for the following: 

Finance 

g 

g 

g 

g 

Financial management of resources. 

Collection of income. 

Production of Statutory Accounts. 

Motor Taxation. 

Financial Management 

The County Council operates a Revenue Account to meet the day to day cost of the organisation and a Capital 

Account for the provision of assets such as houses, roads and water and sewerage schemes. 

The level of expenditure for the Revenue Account in 2010 was in the region of €70m, where as the Capital 

Account was €33m. The estimated value of the County Council’s assets is in the region of €2bn. 

Income 

The collection of local income is very important to the local authority as it helps with the financing and delivery 

of services to our customers. The biggest discretionary income available to Roscommon County Council is 

Rates. 

The Annual rate on Valuation (formerly known as the rate in the pound) for 2010 was 75.13, which represented 

a decrease of two percent on the 2009 rate. The total invoiced for the year was €10,251,188, with a collection 

rate of 77% being achieved. 

Financial Statements 

The statutory accounts are produced in line with the Accounting Code of Practice. A surplus of €395,414 

resulted in 2010, bringing the overall general reserve back to a surplus of €72,909. 

The account will be audited during 2011 by the Local Government Auditor’s Office. 

Motor Taxation 2010 

The following statistics relate to Motor Taxation in the five year period 2006 to 2010 inclusive: 

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 

No. of Vehicle Licences issued 49,641 51,502 51,392 53,473 50,644 

No. Driving Licences(Full) 4,758 4,596 6,158 4,851 7,396 

No. of Learner Permits issued 3,708 3,763 3,374 2,658 2,556 

The figure above of 50,644 vehicle licences issued in 2010 is the number of tax discs issued in the Motor Tax 

Office in 2010, there were also 18,736 tax discs issued to Roscommon motorists in 2010 by the Motor Tax Online 

Service, these discs issued directly from the Driver Vehicle and Computer Services Division in Shannon. 

The total income from Motor Taxation (including Driver Licensing) in county Roscommon in 2010 was €10,788,180. 

The total amount paid to the Motor Tax Online Service by Roscommon motorists taxing online in 2010 was 

€4,103,162. 

The Motor Tax Office public opening hours are 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday. 


Finance 

Balance Sheet at 31st December 2010 

2010 2009 

€ € 

Fixed Assets 

Operational 159,731,022 143,498,086 

Infrastructural 1,837,765,688 1,843,856,670 

Community 11,720,199 11,527,071 

Non-Operational 1,575,000 1,555,000 

2,010,791,908 2,000,436,827 

Work in Progress and Preliminary Expenses 98,729,961 122,789,477 

Long Term Debtors 6,238,155 13,509,596 

Current Assets 

Stocks 109,951 97,035 

Trade Debtors & Prepayments 22,014,954 9,982,433 

Bank Investments 1,776,589 1,842,528 

Cash at Bank - - 

Cash in Transit 266,285 274,308 

Urban Account - - 

24,167,779 12,196,305 

Current Liabilities (Amounts falling due within one year) 

Bank Overdraft 3,711,432 2,653,182 

Creditors & Accruals 4,155,998 11,966,478 

Urban Account - - 

Finance Leases - - 

7,867,430 14,619,660 

Net Current Assets / (Liabilities) 16,300,350 (2,423,355) 

Creditors (Amounts falling due after more than one year) 

Loans Payable 14,573,427 16,807,152 

Finance Leases - - 

Refundable deposits 1,695,749 1,844,118 

Other 769,859 - 

17,039,035 18,651,270 

Net Assets 2,115,021,339 2,115,661,275 

Represented by 

Capitalisation Account 2,010,791,908 2,000,436,827 

Income WIP 101,895,435 121,267,235 

Specific Revenue Reserve 1,723,174 1,728,960 

General Revenue Reserve 72,908 (322,505) 

Other Balances 537,914 (7,449,242) 

Total Reserves 2,115,021,339 2,115,661,275 


Finance 

Income & Expenditure Account Statement 

for Year Ending 31st December 2010 

The Income and Expenditure Account Statement brings together all the revenue related income and expenditure. 

It shows the surplus/(deficit) for the year. 

Expenditure by Division 

Gross Income Net Net 

Expenditure 

Expenditure Expenditure 

2010 2010 2010 2009 

€ € € € 

Housing & Building 5,824,057 5,174,165 649,892 1,304,492 

Roads Transportation & Safety 24,775,646 19,264,193 5,511,453 4,365,022 

Water Services 9,851,793 3,432,494 6,419,299 8,058,697 

Development Management 4,804,000 1,494,061 3,309,939 3,719,819 

Environmental Services 8,982,168 4,992,039 3,990,129 3,909,142 

Recreation & Amenity 4,075,231 774,573 3,300,659 4,126,555 

Agriculture, Education, Health & Welfare 7,521,668 6,575,254 946,414 875,100 

Miscellaneous Services 4,712,593 1,288,905 3,423,688 3,752,583 

Total Expenditure/Income 70,547,157 42,995,684 

Net cost of Divisions to be funded 

from Rates & Local Government Fund 27,551,472 30,111,409 

Rates 10,251,188 10,330,451 

Local Government Fund -General Purpose Grant 18,345,932 20,261,802 

Pension Related Deduction 1,284,522 1,085,049 

County Charge - - 

Surplus/(Deficit) for Year before Transfers 2,330,170 1,565,893 

Transfers from/(to) Reserves (1,934,756) (1,919,480) 

Overall Surplus/(Deficit) for Year 395,414 (353,587) 

General Reserve @ 1st January 2010 (322,505) 31,082 

General Reserve @ 31st December 2010 72,908 (322,505) 


Finance 

How the Revenue Budget Was Spent in 2010 

Miscellaneous 

Miscellaneous 

7% 

7% 

Agriculture, 

Agriculture, 

Education, 

Education, 

Health & 

Health & 

Welfare 

Welfare 

11% 

11% 

Recreation 

Recreation 

& Amenity 

& Amenity 

6% 

6% 

Environmental 

Environmental 

Services 

Services 

13% 

13% 

Housing & 

Housing & 

Building 

Building 

8% 

8% Roads, 

Roads, 

Transportation 

Transportation 

& Safety 

& Safety 

34% 

34% 

Spend by Programme 

2010 2010 

€ % 

Housing & Building 5,824,057 8% 

Roads Transportation & Safety 24,775,646 34% 

Water Services 9,851,793 14% 

Development Management 4,804,000 7% 

Environmental Services 8,982,168 13% 

Recreation & Amenity 4,075,231 6% 

Agriculture, Education, Health & Welfare 7,521,668 11% 

Miscellaneous 4,712,593 7% 

Total 70,547,157 100% 

Development 

Development 

Management 

Management 

7% 

7% 

Water 

Water 

Services 

Services 

14% 

14% 

Financial 

Financial 

Expenses 

Expenses 

1% 

1% 

Establishment 

Establishment 

Expenses 

Expenses 

1% 

1% 

Administration 

Administration 

Expenses 

Expenses 

4% 

4% 

Miscellaneous Expenses 

Miscellaneous Expenses 

3% 

3% 

Payroll 

Payroll 

40% 

40% 

What Money was spent on 

2010 2010 

€ % 

Payroll 28,200,374 40% 

Operational Expenses 34,690,169 48% 

Administration Expenses 2,472,656 4% 

Establishment Expenses 612,877 1% 

Financial Expenses 2,531,507 4% 

Miscellaneous Expenses 2,039,573 3% 

Total 70,547,157 100% 

Operational 

Operational 

Expenses 

Expenses 

48% 

48% 


Housing 

and Building 

Roscommon County Council carries out a range of functions under this 

programme including: 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

The Housing Construction Programme including the purchase of dwellings. 

Promotion and implementation of social housing options through the various schemes 

available. 

Working closely with the voluntary, private rented and housing construction sector to 

maximise the availability of affordable housing. 

Implementation of the Housing Strategy by working closely with the Planning and 

Development Directorate. 

Promotion of housing policy as a vehicle for social inclusion and the reduction of 

social segregation. 

Implementation of an Integrated Action Plan for Homelessness. 

Review and implementation of The Traveller Accommodation Plan. 

Roscommon County 

Council Housing 

Development at 

Corbo, Kilrooskey 

Assessment of Needs for Housing Accommodation 

Under Section 9 of the Housing Act 1988, Housing Authorities are required to carry out 

periodic assessments at intervals not exceeding 3 years, of the need for the provision of 

suitable accommodation for persons in need of re-housing. The most recent assessment 

carried out in March 2008 showed a net need of 553 applicants on the waiting list. 

Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) 

Social houses are delivered by a combination of the construction of houses, house purchases 

or acquisitions depending on available finance under the SHIP. A total of 62 houses were 

completed in 2010. It is also intended to provide housing units through the new long term 

leasing initiative established in 2009 by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and 

Local Government, DEHLG, both in partnership with the Voluntary Sector and by direct 

agreements with owners. The numbers to be leased will depend on the suitability of available 

property and on the demand for housing in the particular locations of the offered properties. 

In 2010, 122 houses were allocated to applicants in need of re-housing and 59 offers were 

first-time lettings. In addition 6 houses at Woodstream, Castlerea, which were acquired as 

affordable houses were transferred to social leased housing. 


Housing and Building 

Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) 

The Rental Accommodation Scheme introduced in 2004, involves local authorities 

progressively assuming responsibility for accommodating rent supplement recipients who 

have a defined long term housing need, through direct arrangements between the local 

authority and the private rented sector. In 2010, 87 units were transferred under the scheme 

bring to 304 the total units currently in the scheme. 

Voluntary Housing Schemes 

The voluntary housing sector supplements the Council’s 

housing construction programme by providing units of rented 

accommodation to persons in need of re-housing. Roscommon 

County Council maintains close contact with the Voluntary 

Associations when assessing demand in a particular area or 

when selecting suitable tenants but also plays a supervisory 

role in the design and construction of projects. Nineteen 

schemes have been completed under this Programme 

providing 141 additional units of rental accommodation. 

Housing Strategy - Part V 

In accordance with the provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, 

as amended, Roscommon County Council adopted The Housing Strategy 2001–2006 

(subsequently extended to 2008). The current Housing Strategy 2008-2014 forms an element 

of the County Development Plan 2008–2014. Developers of lands zoned as residential or 

general can now be required to reserve up to 20% of the subject site for the provision of social 

or affordable housing. There are other alternatives such as providing land or sites elsewhere, 

partnering with a Voluntary Housing Association or making a financial contribution Through 

engagement with developers, a number of agreements have been entered, yielding social and 

affordable houses in Roscommon, Monksland, Castlerea, Boyle and Ballaghaderreen. 



Development at Hillside 

Close, Old Tuam Road, 

Monksland, Athlone. 

Enhancement of Housing Stock / Energy Upgrades 

Work continues on the upgrading of the Council’s housing stock with works fully funded 

from Internal Capital Receipts. Under the 2010 Energy Efficiency Plan Roscommon County 

Council was allocated €735, 000 for the retrofitting of insulation and other energy efficiency 

measures to both vacant/occupied stock with a maximum grant per unit of €15,000 with 

recoupment of 50% or 90% based on Energy Rating achieved and balance of 50% or 10% 

funded from Internal Capital Receipts. In 2010, 28 houses were completed and provided 

with Building Energy Rating (BER) Certificates. Works included Central Heating upgrades / 

controls, provision of double glazed windows and doors and cavity / attic insulation upgrades. 

Further housing stock will be similarly upgraded as funding permits. 

Under the Compliance with New Rented Standards Initiative Roscommon County Council 

was allocated €100,000 for carrying out specific works to our Housing Stock. A total of 

120 houses across all Engineering Areas have works commenced under this heading with 

the focus on Fire Safety and Ventilation measures. Further housing stock will be similarly 

upgraded as funding permits. 



Estate Management 

The Housing Liaison Officer is employed to improve tenant/ 

landlord relationships, establish best practice in the 

management and maintenance of housing stock and develop 

estate management initiatives. Under the Section 35 of the 

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 an Anti-Social 

Behaviour Strategy was adopted by Roscommon County 

Council on 18 th October 2010. 

This strategy sets out measures to promote good estate 

management. 

Housing Loans 

Applicants can be considered for house purchase loans for persons who did not previously 

own a dwelling and for reconstruction loans to modify or extend existing houses. Applicants 

must meet specific income criteria and the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 

2009 sets out new requirements and process for the approval of loans by a local authority. 

The maximum house purchase loan that can be advanced is €220,000 depending on the 

applicant’s ability to repay and the maximum house improvement loan is €15,000 (unsecured) 

and €38,000 (secured). 



Development at 

Monksfield Park, 

Beallanamullia, 

Tuam Road, 

Monksland, Athlone. 

Shared Ownership 

This scheme facilitates access to full home ownership in two or more stages and is designed 

primarily for first time buyers who meet certain income criteria. Suitable applicants must 

acquire a minimum equity of 40% in the dwelling initially and rent the Council’s equity with 

an undertaking to acquire the Council’s equity within 25 years. 21 loans have been advanced 

under this scheme. 

Affordable Housing Scheme and 

Sale of Private Sites 

Given the current market prices of houses in the County there is no appreciable demand for 

affordable housing in the County. Six houses at Woodstream, Castlerea, which were acquired 

as affordable houses have now been transferred to social leased housing. 

Improvement Works in-lieu of Local Authority 

Housing 

Approved applicants for re-housing can renovate or extend their existing accommodation 

as an alternative to accepting a local authority house provided their existing dwelling is 

considered suitable for improvement. To date, there have been 56 houses improved under the 

scheme. This scheme is funded from Internal Capital Receipts. 

Mortgage Allowance Scheme 

Tenants or tenant purchasers of Local Authority dwellings who surrender their existing 

accommodation and purchase a property in the private market with a minimum mortgage 

of €38,092 qualify under the scheme. The allowance of €11,428 is offset against mortgage 

repayments on a sliding scale over a 5-year term. 



Tenant Purchase Scheme 

Tenants of non-vested Council houses appointed for at least 12 months are eligible to apply 

to the Council to purchase their existing accommodation. The market value of the property 

is determined by the Council. Tenants are entitled to a discount of 3% off the market value 

of the property for each year of tenancy, subject to a maximum of 10 years in addition to an 

allowance of €3,810 for first-time buyers. Exemptions apply. 

Grant Schemes 

In order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older 

people and people with a disability, Roscommon County Council provided grant aid during 

2010 under three Grant Schemes: Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People with a 

Disability, Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme and Housing Aid for Older People Scheme. 

Final payments were also made in respect of the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme which has 

been discontinued. Payment made in respect of 2010 is as follows: 

Grant 

Maximum 

Grant 

Available 

No of Grants 

Paid in 2010 

Expenditure 

in 2010 

Disabled Persons Grants Discontinued 2 € 29,800.00 

Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People 

with a Disability 

€30,000 104 € 927,541.38 

Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme €6,000 39 € 169,714.19 

Housing Aid for Older People Scheme €10,500 269 €1,630,152.43 

Total expenditure under all grants schemes for 2010 totalled €2,757,208 

Registration of Private Rented Accommodation 

Under the Private Residential Tenancies Act 2004 local authorities are responsible for 

enforcement of statutory regulations for Private Rented Accommodation. Roscommon 

County Council inspects private rented accommodation on an ongoing basis and follows up 

landlords with unfit accommodation. 

Homelessness – An Integrated Strategy 

The Roscommon Homeless Forum Action Plan 2008–2011 was adopted by this Council on 

28th April, 2008. It is an integrated strategy to tackle homelessness in county Roscommon. In 

2010 a Joint Regional Homelessness Consultative Forum was set up the membership of which 

includes the local authorities of Galway City and County, Roscommon and Mayo. The Western 

Joint Homelessness Action Plan was adopted by Roscommon County Council in 2010. 

Traveller Accommodation 

The new five-year programme adopted under Section 10 of the Housing (Traveller 

Accommodation) Act, 1998 covers the period 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2013. 


Human Resources 

The Human Resources Department is primarily responsible for: 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

g 

Recruitment and deployment of staff 

Staff Training and Development 

Performance Management 

Staff Welfare 

Staff Policies and Procedures 

Equality and Diversity Management 

Industrial Staff Relations 

Superannuation i.e. Retirement Pensions 

Roscommon County Council recognises that staff are the most valuable resource within the organisation and 

play a crucial role in the achievement of its objectives. The County Council aims to enable all of its employees 

to grow to their full potential through continual training and participation in the planning and delivery of high 

quality services. 

Equality and Diversity 

Roscommon County Council is committed to the principles of equality of access, participation and outcome for 

all in relation to service delivery and the Human Resources function. The County Council endeavours to ensure 

that all citizens are treated equally and are not discriminated against on any of the grounds identified in the 

equality legislation. 

Industrial Relations 

The Human Resources Department works with Unions and Staff Representatives to achieve good working 

relationships and is committed to the promotion of a good Industrial Relations environment. 

Recruitment Statistics 

The total number of staff employed by Roscommon County Council on the 31 st December 2010 was 567. 

Appointments 2010 

g 

g 

g 

g 

David Casey, Retained Fire Fighter 

Mary Dillon, Temporary Heritage Officer 

Eleanor Farrell, Temporary Assistant Health and Safety Officer 

Danny McGarry, Clerical Officer 



Retirements 2010 

g Patrick B. Beirne, Refuse Collector 

g Kevin Casey, Acting Fire Station Officer 

g Seán Collins, Staff Officer (Revenue) 

g Dette Courtney, Staff Officer (Revenue) 

g Kathleen Coyne, Assistant Staff Officer 

g John Dillon, Craftsman 

g Mary Finnegan, Staff Officer (Revenue) 

g Kathleen Healy, Assistant Staff Officer (RIP) 

g Séamus Keane, Traveller Accommodation Caretaker 

g Barry Lohan, General Operative 

g Frank Nolan, Senior Executive Engineer 

g Tommy Owens, Foreman 

g Thomas Padian, Lorry Driver 

g Kenneth Rowntree, Fire Station Officer 

g John Shannon, General Operative 

g Séamus Ward, General Operative 

Death in Service 2010 

T.P. Hoare, Foreman 

Roscommon County Council extends its condolence to the families of the deceased. 

Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) 

PMDS is concerned with ensuring that strategic and operational plans are developed throughout every level of 

the organisation. The cornerstone of Roscommon County Council’s PMDS system is its Corporate Plan. The 

Corporate Plan is used as a foundation to generate Team Development Plans within every department which 

in turn leads to the creation of Personnel Development Plans for every employee. These plans establish goals, 

targets and timeframes to ensure that every member of staff in the organisation contributes effectively to 

delivering a quality service to the public. 

Staff Training and Development 

A comprehensive training and development programme was delivered to the staff of Roscommon County Council 

during 2010. 2,327 training days, involving 236 training events were provided to 531 staff members as follows: 

Table 1: Staff Training Days 2010 

Employment Category No. of Staff Trained Training Days Received 

Senior Management 18 128 

Administrative/Clerical Employees 154 386 

Engineering/Technical Employees 101 363 

General Operatives, Craft Workers and Related Grades 200 753 

Fire Service – Retained Firemen 58 697 

Totals 531 2,327 



Training and Development events covered broad areas such as service delivery, information technology, 

communications, equality, energy awareness, professional/technical/craft expertise, machinery/equipment 

operation and health and safety. Examples of the training that was provided are as follows: 

Table 2: Training and Development Courses 2010 

Course Title 

Course Duration 

(Days) 

No. of Employees 

Trained 

Abrasive Wheels 2 22 

Abrasive Wheels Refresher 1 26 

Archaeological Training Course 0.25 155 

Confined Spaces (C3) Training 4 19 

Designers of Temporary Traffic Management 2 27 

Drivers Certificate of Professional Competency 1 26 

Chainsaw Operation – Refresher Training 3 8 

Chainsaw Training for Local Authority Operatives (basic) 3 5 

Chainsaw Training for Local Authority Operatives (advanced) 5 25 

Energy Awareness Training 0.2 146 

Energy Management Action Planning 3 16 

FETAC Water Services Programme 6 6 

First Aid 4 6 

Health and Safety Week – Staff Briefings 0.2 243 

High Speed Traffic Management Operatives Training 2 21 

Leakage Control – Operators Training 3 16 

Managing Safety in Construction (Refresher) 0.5 48 

Manual Handling 0.5 264 

Mobile Elevated Working Platform 1 11 

Safe Pass 1 215 

Salt Spreading Operators Course 1 9 

Workforce Planning Briefings 0.3 162 


Information Technology 

The Information Technology Department of Roscommon County Council is 

based in the Council Headquarters, Courthouse, Roscommon. The staffing 

structure is headed up by a Head of Information Systems and includes 

three Project Leaders, three System Developers, three Technical Support 

Officers and one Clerical Officer. 

The IT Department provides technical support for all other Council departments, ensuring that 

the necessary equipment and information is readily available to provide an efficient public 

service. It is responsible for the implementation, management, security, and maintenance 

of all IT systems. This includes the provision of software and hardware technical support 

for over 200 users, database design, web design, GIS services and support, as well as 

maintenance and backup of external systems such as the Register of Electors. It also runs 

and updates our Payroll system. 

Wide Area Network 

Responsibility for managing our network also includes maintaining a wide area network, 

which connects all off-site offices back to headquarters using leased lines and wireless 

technology. 

The 4 area offices in Ballaghaderreen, Boyle, Castlerea and Strokestown are all connected 

using 256K leased lines which facilitate the local Area Office and Branch Library. The Athlone 

area office is connected to HQ using a 1MB wireless link. The Planning Department, Stores, 

and the NRA Offices on Racecourse Road are connected using wireless technology. The 

Water Services Department, Motor Tax Department, and Rates, connect to our Network using 

Fibre Optic Links. 

We are using Roscommon Metropolitan Area Network to provide 100mb links to the following 

locations from our headquarters: County Library Headquarters, Housing, Environment, 

Community and Enterprise, Roscommon Area Office, Arts Office, and Fire Station. 

Connection to Government VPN services is via a 10MB link from Eircom. For redundancy 

purposes for Motor Tax we have installed another 10MB, This is supplied by Strencom. 

We have also installed a Quintium call filtering device on this line, this diverts all outgoing 

mobile calls to Vodafone’s interconnect on the Government VPN. 


Information Technology 

Roscommon County Council Web Site 

Roscommon County Council’s web site at www.roscommoncoco.ie is maintained by the I.T. 

Department. The web site serves as a primary resource for communicating information 

about the Council to the public. The site is updated frequently with information received from 

the various departments of the Council. The entire website has been changed and a number 

of enhancements were brought to the site including: 

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Customers can pay council rates using our new Online Payment System. 

Upgrade of the Virtual Roscommon, interactive map based information system. 

Integration of Google Maps, open source technology, to provide interactive map based 

content. 

Round the clock updates during extreme weather. 

The I.T. department also maintains the web site for King House, Boyle at www.kinghouse.ie 

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 

In addition to ongoing GIS related management, training, and support there were a number of 

new developments in the area of GIS in 2010. 

g 

g 

Upgrade of Virtual Roscommon 

Upgrade of the Map Data Viewer to version 2 of the SIA providing additional 

functionality. 

The following projects were initiation during the year: 

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g 

g 

Development of a spatially-enabled Land Asset Register database system. 

Geocode the Commercial Ratebook. 

Geocode the iHouse database. 

GIS Officer Barry Doyle at the 

launch of Virtual Roscommon 


Library Services 

Roscommon County Council Library Services provides for the cultural, 

education, recreation, information and learning needs of people of all ages 

throughout the county and strives to provide and develop a comprehensive, 

quality, modern and accessible service. 

The Library Service acts as centre for knowledge and learning, as a resource for culture, 

reading and the imagination, as a resource for children and young people, as an access 

to information communication technologies, as an important archival repository, as a local 

studies research centre and as a vital community facility and public space. The Library 

Services is an important supporting strategy under the economic, cultural and social 

development of the county. 

Launch of the 

Roscommon Drama Festival 

in February 2010. 

L–R: Paddy Kearney, 

Honorary Member; 

Benny Mulhern, 

Founding Member; 

Richie Farrell, 

County Librarian; 

Joe Nally, Treasurer; 

Mary Cox, Chairperson and 

Fr. Eugene Mc Loughlin, 

President 

Service Provision 

The service is operated through six infrastructure branch locations at Roscommon, Castlerea, 

Ballaghaderreen, Boyle, Elphin and Strokestown and the Mobile Library Service. The Library 

Service also continues to deliver and develop a substantial Archives and Local Studies 

reference and research facilities at the County Library. Full time libraries were open on 

average 31.3 hours per week with part-time branches open 21.93 hours per week. 

During 2010, the Library Service fulfilled the remaining actions under the Library Development 

Plan 2006–2010 and began the process of drafting a new plan for the period 2011–2014. 

A broad structure was presented to the Strategic Policy Committee in September 2010. 

Service measures include specific actions under a range of areas including Physical 

Infrastructure, Access and Social Inclusion, Information, Communications Technology, 

Children’s and Schools, Archives and Local Studies, Management and Resources, Marketing 

and Promotion, Reading and Learning and Customer Care and Focus. All of the actions in 

the plan are designed to facilitate and provide greater opportunities and flexibility for public 

engagement with the service. 

In 2010 over 147,750 visits were made to libraries in Roscommon, with 200,154 items issued 

to a range of users. The Mobile Library Service accommodates over 40 stops over a two 

week period schedule, serving not only the rural villages throughout the county but also 

includes crèches, school centres, day care centres, and nursing homes and youth services. 

The service now also plays an important role in extending the point of contact in a range of 

promotional activities and events. 



Collection Development 

While the Library Service experienced a substantial reduction in the level of funding for stock 

in 2010, the considerable level of support over the previous years has enabled Roscommon 

County Council to provide good quality stock from reserves built up in the system. The Library 

Service continued during 2010 to satisfy user requests for stock material on an extensive 

range of subjects for all service points. Other materials such as DVDs and Music CDs were 

added to the systems in 2010 and have proved extremely popular with users. 

Information Communication Technologies 

The development of ICT infrastructure and the delivery of services to public through online 

means is an integral part of our service strategy. Further upgrading of the Library management 

System and database was conducted during 2010 to facilitate future implementation of RFID 

stock management under the refurbishment works project. A phased replacement of the 

Public Internet Access Computer facilities was continued to support the service, which 

provided 13,036 public internet sessions in 2010. The introduction of SMS text messaging 

for service improvements was also introduced and further additions and recordings to the 

Folklore and Oral History Project was conducted. Funding was received under the Public 

Libraries Access and Service Improvements Support for the setting up of technology suite at 

the County Library, Roscommon. 

Local Authority Records and Archives 

The local authority carries a statutory responsibility and a commitment for the management, 

custody, care, preservation and delivery of all aspects of the archives and local records and 

access by the public. Further work was conducted in 2010 in relation policies, appointment 

access only, preservation, conservation, microfilming, oral history and appropriate listing 

of items in collection. The process of digitisation of the local newspapers, the Roscommon 

Herald and the Roscommon Champion commenced in 2010, so that future access to these vital 

sources can be networked to the branches. 

Children’s and Schools Library Service 

Despite the withdrawal of funding from the Department of Education and Science for the 

provision of stock to the primary schools support to the 95 primary schools in the county was 

provided in 2010 in a centralised manner from the County School Service, supports in terms 

of visits, author visits, reading promotions, summer activities, workshops and participation 

in national events were organised during the year. 

Projects and Development 

The Library Services were engaged in a number of projects and plans for the development 

and improved delivery of services during 2010. 

DOEH&LG Approval in Principle for stages 1 and 2 of County Library Refurbishment Project 

was received in 2010. The project cost of over €500,000 is co-funded by the Department and 

Roscommon County Council. 



Further improvements under accessibility were addressed in 2010 with some €30,000 

allocated to the Library Services for the installation of sliding doors at the County Library 

Building, external pathway works, internal service and wayfinding signage to the Roscommon 

Branch Library and refurbishment and accessibility works to Strokestown Library. 

Improvements under the Energy Mapping Programme were implemented in 2010 to further 

reduce energy usage and create efficiencies. Measures included works to the County Library 

lighting, heating, boiler and thermostatic radiators and water installations, all of which yielded 

cost reductions in the annual operations. 

Promotions and Publicity 

2010 saw the continued delivery a very comprehensive calendar of events within the Library 

Services. These events include a range of both internal organised activities and promotions; 

inter departmental local authority collaborations and external agency promotions. Some of 

the highlights included World Book Day, Healthy Reading Scheme, Roscommon Drama Festival, 

Roscommon Life launch, Douglas Hyde Áras Commemoration, Percy French Summer School, 

Children’s Summer Activities and Heritage Week Events. 

Launch of Roscommon Life Magazine in May 2010. 

L-R: Michael Fitzmaurice, Founder and Former Editor, Paul Healy, 

Editor, and Mike Lennon, Former Editor 

Áras an Úachtaráin, July 2010. 

L-R: Frank Dawson, Roscommon County Manager, Mayor Luke Flanagan 

Richie Farrell, County Librarian and Deirdre O’Gara, Curator of the Douglas 

Hyde Centre, Portahard, Frenchpark. 

Launch of the 

Percy French Summer School 

L-R: John Fallon, 

The Percy French Society, 

Mayor Luke Flanagan 

and Richie Farrell, 

County Librarian and 

Cllr. Sean Beirne, 

The Percy French Society 


Roads, Transportation and Safety 

Roscommon County Council’s corporate objective as set out in the Corporate Plan 

2009–2014 is to “Ensure the development of an adequate transport network”. 

The implementation of this objective continued in 2010 with further investment in the road 

network. 

Roads Funding 

A breakdown of the road grant received for 2010 is set out in Table 1 below: 

Table 1: Road Grant Allocations 2010 

National Roads €10,002,102 

Non-National Roads €14,253,841 

Total Grants €24,255,943 

In addition, a figure of €2,347,498 was provided from the Council’s revenue budget for local road maintenance 

and €2,021,246 from capital resources for the provision of road improvement projects not funded by grants. 

Road Classification 

The public roads network for the county is classified in Table 2 below: 

Table 2: County Roscommon Public Roads Network 

Type Description Length 

Motorway M6 22 Km (14 miles) 

National Primary Routes N4, N5 & N6 83 Km (52 miles) 

National Secondary Routes N60, N61, N63 & N83 145 Km (90 miles) 

Regional Routes(Non-National) R-various numbers 374 Km (234 miles) 

Local Routes (Non-National) L-various numbers 3388km (2118 miles) 

N5 Ballaghaderreen By-Pass 

The proposed Ballaghaderreen By-Pass will extend for a distance of 13.6 kilometers from the Mayo county 

boundary, west of Ballaghaderreen to Rathkeery Townland, east of Ballaghaderreen. The Roscommon National 

Road Design Office is responsible for the management of the scheme. A number of land acquisitions were 

finalised during 2010. 



Other National Road Projects 

Planning and design of the N4 Carrick-on-Shannon to Dromod Scheme continued throughout 

2010. The project will improve approximately 19 kilometers of National Primary Road including 

the provision of a bypass of Cortober/Carrick-on-Shannon and a new bridge over the River 

Shannon. Leitrim County Council is the Lead Authority under the terms of the Section 85 

Agreement. 

Non-National Roads Network 

– Regional and Local Roads 

There are 21 regional roads in Roscommon connecting larger centres of population not 

connected by national routes. Local Roads account for the balance of the network (see Table 

2 above). 

Specific Improvement Grant Scheme 

Under this scheme, an allocation of €1,400,330 was received for four specific projects: 

g 

g 

g 

g 

R363 – Dysart/Ballyforan 

R366 – Roscommon/Creggs 

R362 – Monksland 

R368 – Killukin/ Carrick-on-Shannon 

Regional and Local Roads Restoration Programme 

This programme applies exclusively to the restoration of regional and local road pavements. 

Local Improvement Schemes 

Under this scheme, a Local Authority can construct or improve non-public roads. A total of 

15 schemes were completed during the year with grant aid totalling €95,000 received from 

the Department of Transport. 

Cortober Bridge 



Capital Schemes 

These schemes are funded from Roscommon County Council’s Development Contribution 

Scheme. 

New Tuam Road, Monksland, Athlone 

Improvement works began on a 1.8 km section of the New Tuam 

Road and a 0.2 km section of the Old Tuam Road in Monksland. 

The works included the construction of a new roundabout 

at the intersection of the Old Tuam Road and the New Tuam 

Road, provision of public lighting, surface water drainage, 

undergrounding of services, a combined footway/cycleway, a 

pedestrian footway on the Old Tuam Road, road resurfacing, 

pedestrian crossings, bus bay and traffic calming measures. 

Works were nearing completion at the year end. 

Circular Road, Roscommon 

Improvement works began on a 0.7 km section of Circular Road and associated public areas. 

The works included the construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of Circular 

Road and Mart Road, the provision of public lighting, the undergrounding of services, 

pedestrian footway, parking facilities, road resurfacing, pedestrian crossings and traffic 

calming measures. 

Regional Road 

362, Tuam Road, 

Monksland, Athlone 

Erragh Bridge, Termonbarry 

The original two-span bridge over the River Feorish on Local 

Road 6076 at Erragh, west of Termonbarry was demolished 

and replaced with a single span concrete structure. Works 

included the construction of new pile-supported abutments, 

embankment stabilisation and approach road strengthening 

works. Works were completed in 2010. 

Drainage Schemes 

The following drainage works were completed in 2010: 

River Jiggy, Roscommon: Channel re-grading and widening was carried out on approximately 

1.26 kilometers of the river. A further 4.57 kilometers of river channel and drains were 

cleaned and two new culverts were constructed to increase the flow capacity. 

Erragh Bridge, 

Termonbarry 

River Suck, Athleague: A by-pass drain/culvert was reconstructed on lands adjacent to 

the River Suck thus maximising the flow of the channel drain on the downstream side of 

the bridge. The capacity of the Silver Stream was improved to cater for the surface water 

drainage of the village. 

Red Bridge, Drum, Athlone: Drainage pipes were installed to alleviate flooding at the Red 

Bridge under the railway. 

Ballintober Village: The existing drainage channel through the village was re-directed to 

address drainage problems. 

Valeview, Castlerea: A new drainage outfall was constructed to alleviate flooding of dwellings 

and the public road. 



Further studies to address flooding problems were undertaken as follows: 

g 

Strokestown River 

g 

Four Roads 

g 

Killukin River 

g 

Milltown, Castleplunkett 

g 

Ballyglass River 

g 

Knockalaghta, Ballintubber 

g 

Elphin Drainage 

g 

Lisalway, Castlerea 

g 

River Jiggy in Roscommon Town 

g 

Grange, Fourmilehouse 

g 

River Suck, Athleague 

g 

Moyglass, Strokestown 

Road Safety Programme 

Roscommon County Council promoted and subsidised a number of road safety initiatives in 

2010. The Cycle Training Initiative was subsidised at a number of primary schools. Funding 

was also made available towards the Drive Safe for Life Programme which targets transition 

year students in secondary schools. The courses educate students on road safety issues and 

promotes good practices among young cyclists/ drivers of the future. The Council funded 

prizes for the winning entries in the Road Safety Poster Competition organised by the Garda 

Siochána with 26 primary schools participating. 

The Road Safety Together Committee met during the year and a number of road safety issues 

were considered by the members. The County Roscommon Road Safety Plan 2010–2013 was 

published in October, 2010. 

Junior School Wardens were trained at the following primary schools: 

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g 

g 

g 

Convent of Mercy, Boyle 

St. Patrick’s, Strokestown 

St. Paul’s, Castlerea 

Abbeycarton, Elphin 

Scóil Mhuire Lourdes, Loughglynn 

Roscommon County Council hosted 

the annual Regional Competition 

for Junior School Wardens in the 

Convent of Mercy National School, 

Boyle in June, 2010. Schools 

from Roscommon, Longford and 

Westmeath participated and the 

overall winners were the host 

team from Boyle. The standard 

was particularly high in 2010. 

Junior Warden Competition Winners 2010 

from Convent of Mercy National School, Boyle 



Burial Grounds 

The Council provided €100,000 in grants to 73 voluntary 

groups under the Cemetery Improvement and Maintenance 

Scheme in 2010 to upgrade and maintain cemeteries. 

Swimming Pools/ 

Leisure Facilities 

Roscommon Leisure Centre, which includes a heated 25 

metre indoor swimming pool, children’s pool, gymnasium 

and leisure facilities is open to the public and to various 

clubs. Roscommon County Council continued to operate 

an outdoor pool in Castlerea during the summer season. 

Water Safety Programme 

The Water Safety Programme continued over the summer 

season in 2010. Lifeguards were employed at Castlerea 

Swimming Pool, Lough Key Amenity and Hodson Bay 

Amenity. Swimming instruction courses for children were 

provided at Roscommon Leisure Centre and Castlerea 

Swimming Pool during the year. 

Roscommon Leisure Centre 

Fire Services 

Roscommon County Council maintains six fire brigades in Ballaghaderreen, Boyle, Castlerea, 

Elphin, Roscommon and Strokestown. Athlone Town Council and Galway, Mayo, Leitrim and 

Longford County Councils cover other parts of the county. Roscommon Fire Service also 

covers border areas of neighbouring counties. 

Roscommon Castle 

Major Emergency Planning 

A Major Emergency is defined as “any event which, usually with little or no warning, causes 

or threatens death or injury, serious disruption of essential services or damage to property, 

the environment or infrastructure beyond the normal capabilities of the principal emergency 

services in the area in which the event occurs, and requires the activation of specific 

additional procedures and the mobilisation of additional resources to ensure an effective, 

co-ordinated response”. 

Roscommon County Council’s Major Emergency Plan was developed in conjunction with the 

Health Service Executive and An Garda Siochána. The plan was revised and updated in 2010. 

The aims of the Plan are: 

1. To protect and preserve the safety, health and welfare of all persons affected by a 

major emergency. 

2. To limit and prevent damage and destruction to the environment, and 

3. To minimise disruption and to assist and support communities to return to normality as 

soon as possible. 

Roscommon County Council staff undergoes regular training in preparation for such an 

Emergency. 



Civil Defence 

Mission Statement 

“To promote, develop and maintain Civil Defence as an effective 

volunteer based professional organisation providing emergency 

response and community support services” 

The Civil Defence Organisation facilitates emergency relief, support and the safety of the 

general public and comprises a full time Civil Defence Officer and voluntary members. 

Volunteers are trained in a range of skills including first aid, ambulance skills, rescue, basic 

fire fighting, emergency feeding, evacuee care, land and water search, radiation monitoring, 

boat handling, driving, and communications. Persons aged 16 years or over can apply to 

become a volunteer by contacting Mr. Ray Dunne, Civil Defence Officer at 090 6637100. 

Civil Defence participated in a number of local, national and international events during the 

year. Support and assistance was provided to An Garda Siochána through the provision of 

search and rescue and ambulance services, first aid, crowd control and traffic management 

at various events. 

Civil Defence volunteers assisted the public during the severe weather conditions encountered 

in December, 2010. The emergency response included the distribution of water, the welfare 

of senior citizens, the provision of transport for persons stranded due to the weather and to 

Health Service Executive staff providing care for people in isolated locations. There was a 

24-hour emergency phone service provided during the prolonged spell. 

Roscommon Civil Defence 

Exercise - Search and Rescue 

Operations on Lough Ree 


Water Services 

The function of Roscommon County Council in relation to water services is to provide an 

adequate system of water and sewerage treatment for domestic, industrial, agricultural 

and other uses within its functional area. Demand for water and wastewater services 

has increased at an unprecedented rate over the past decade in addition to legislative and 

consumer demands. 

An extensive capital programme of works has been ongoing with record proposed investment in the Water 

Services Capital Programme to construct new and upgrade existing infrastructure. The following is a summary 

of the progress on water and sewerage projects in the county: 

Major Water and Wastewater Capital Projects 

Towns and Villages Sewerage Scheme Project: The project involves the provision of new and upgrading of 

existing sewerage facilities in thirteen villages across the county. Substantial work has been completed to date, 

including the installation of wastewater treatment plants at Lisacul, Tulsk, and Cootehall and the provision of 

a new collection system in Creagh. Two contracts for the provision of new collection systems in Arigna and 

Hodson Bay and rehabilitation and extension of existing networks in the remaining villages of Ballinlough, 

Ballyleague/Lanesboro, Elphin, Frenchpark, Knockcroghery, Loughglynn and Strokestown were substantially 

completed by the end of 2010. Tenders for the appointment of a service provider for the Design Build Operate 

contract for the wastewater treatment plants were received in 2010 and the appointment of the successful 

tenderer is expected to be confirmed in early 2011. €4,331,086 was expended on the project in 2010 with 

€18,841,848 expended to date. 

Arigna, Boyle/Ardcarne, South Roscommon and Roscommon Central Regional Water Supply Schemes: This 

project involves the upgrading of the network including the provision of new rising mains and reservoirs on 

the Arigna and Boyle/ Ardcarne Regional schemes and the construction of water treatment plants for each 

of the four schemes. Work has been completed on the planning phases for all Schemes. Approval of Contract 

Documents is awaited for pipeline and reservoir contracts for the Arigna and Boyle/Ardcarne Schemes. The 

Design Build Operate Contract for the construction of the water treatment plants is also awaiting approval. The 

sum of €1,089,132 was expended in 2010 on the project with a total of €17,600,837 expended to date out of an 

approved cost of €66 million. 

North East Regional Water Supply Scheme: The detailed planning in relation to the provision of a new water 

treatment plant for the area has been completed. It is expected that approval to go to tender for both the treatment 

plant and rising main will be received in 2011 at an estimated cost of €16 million. 

West Roscommon Regional Water Supply Scheme: The North Roscommon Regional scheme, Castlerea Urban 

and Rural schemes and the Ballinlough/Loughglynn scheme will be amalgamated to form the West Roscommon 

Regional Water Supply Scheme. The Preliminary Report and recommendations with regard to the upgrading of 

the scheme has been submitted to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, DEHLG. 

A supplementary report, based on a rationalisation of the scheme commenced in 2010 and is expected to be 

completed in early 2011. 



Roscommon Sludge Management Project and Roscommon Town Main Drainage Project: An Environmental 

Impact Statement for the Sludge project in conjunction with Roscommon Town Sewerage Scheme Upgrade 

project was prepared in 2010. A Preliminary Report for the Roscommon Town Main Drainage scheme was 

submitted to the DEHLG for approval during the year. 

Water Conservation 

Following completion of Phases One and Two of the Water Conservation Programme, Phase Three commenced 

in late 2010 with €150,000 expended. This phase involves a substantial mains rehabilitation programme that has 

been approved at a cost of €10.5 million and is to be completed over a three year period. A 25% overall reduction 

in water demand has been achieved by the end of 2010 under the programme. Two full-time staff are employed 

in leak detection, monitoring and recording of data. Repair of leaks is ongoing. 

Non-Domestic Water Metering 

Local Authorities are required to meter all non-domestic water connections as part of the Government’s National 

Water Pricing Framework. Veolia Water Ireland Ltd. continues to implement this project on behalf of the Council. 

Water and wastewater charges are now charged on a metered basis as over 8,000 meters have been installed 

at the end of 2010. A standing charge of €25 per quarter applied in 2010, with a charge of €1.04 and €1.35 per 

cubic metre for water and wastewater respectively. 

Rural Water Programme 

Design Build Operate Project for Water Treatment: The priority of the Rural Water Programme is to achieve 

improvements in water quality in the private group scheme sector. Twenty private schemes have been 

amalgamated into three new co-operative schemes and are included with two public schemes, Knockcroghery 

and Lecarrow, in a Design, Build and Operate project that will see the construction of six water treatment plants. 

Glan Agua Ltd. were appointed in early 2010 and at year end the Knockcroghery plant was completed with the 

remainder of the plants substantially complete and due to come into service in early 2011. Expenditure on the 

project in 2010 amounted to €9,687,675. 

Small Schemes Programme: Roscommon County Council received an allocation of €450,000 from the 

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to upgrade public water and sewerage schemes 

in 2010, representing a contribution of 75% of the cost. A total of €248,886 was expended on completing all 

outstanding schemes and commencing works on the 2010 schemes. All five schemes under the 2010 programme 

commenced and will be completed in 2011. 

Take-in-Charge and Connection to the Public Main: The Tartan Scurmore private group water scheme was 

connected to the Grangemore public supply in 2010. 

New Group Schemes: No new or semi-private group scheme was constructed in 2010. 

Water and Sewer Connections: During 2010 a total of 74 licences were issued for 79 connections to the public 

water mains, public sewerage, and group water schemes. There were 22 connections to the public mains 

including 4 additional agricultural connections, 8 connections to the public sewerage network and also 49 

licences issued for road openings based on connection fees paid through the development contribution scheme. 

Individual Water Supply Grants: Houses that are not either connected to the public mains or a private water 

scheme may be eligible for a grant to upgrade their supply if their house is more than seven years old. The grant 

amounts to 75% of the cost subject to a maximum payment of €2,031. A total of €13,338 was paid in grants in 

2010 to seven approved applicants. 

Subsidy towards the Operational Cost of Group Water Supply Schemes: Subsidies are payable to group water 

schemes to help offset costs incurred in the day to day provision of a water supply to domestic houses. A total 

of €317,640 was paid to sixteen group schemes in 2010 in respect of claims made during the year. The subsidy 

is recouped from the DEHLG. 



Councillors’ Conferences 

Conferences/Seminars attended in Ireland by Roscommon County Council in 2010 

Date Conference/Seminar etc. Organiser Venue 

15/1/2010 An Adults Guide to the Child Protection 

Guidelines 

Kadenza 

Silver Tassie Hotel, Letterkenny, Co. 

Donegal 

Number of 

Councillors 

attended 

2 

19/1/2010 28th Annual Business Conf UCC Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork 1 

21/1/2010 Life is For Learning, Learning is For 

Life 

Pobal 

21/1/2010 5th Annual ICLRD Conference International 

Centre for Local 

and Regional 

Development 

Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Military 

Road, Dublin 8. 

Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, Co. 

Fermanagh 

29/1/2010 Planning Seminar for Councillors TJK Conferences Patrick Punch Hotel, Limerick 1 

2/2/2010 Tourism 2010 -Turning the Tide Fáilte Ireland Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, 

Co. Mayo 

3/2/2010 Tourism 2010 -Turning the Tide Fáilte Ireland Ardilaun Hotel, Galway 1 

5/2/2010 Flood Management & Local 

Government 

11/2/2010 Responding to the Challenges, 

Telecommunications, Toursim & Local 

Government Reform 

Superior Training 

Association of Irish 

Regions 

The Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, Co. 

Clare 

Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, 

Co. Offaly 

19/2/2010 Building Social Europe EAPN Croke Park Conference Centre, 

Dublin 

24/2/2010 A Smarter Greener Economy: The EU 

2010 Strategy 

25/2/2010 Climate Change -Whose Health will be 

Affected 

European 

Commission 

Institute of Public 

Health 

26/2/2010 21st Colmcille Winter School 2010 Colmcille Heritage 

Centre 

4/3/2010 18th Annual Kerry Environment 

Conference 

4/3/2010 Rebuilding confidence in urban & rural 

communities 

Rattoo Heritage 

Society 

ACCC 

11/3/2010 Carbon Capture and Storage Royal Irish 

Academy 

12/3/2011 Public Liabiltiy, Health & Safety Issues 

in Local Government 


18/3/2010 Local Government Housing Service Ashford Building 

Services 

European Union House, Dawson St, 

Dublin 2 

Royal College of Physicians of 

Ireland, 6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2 

Colmcille Heritage Centre, Gartan, 

Church Hill, Letterkenny, Co. 

Donegal 

Manor West Hotel & Leisure Club, 

Tralee, Co. Kerry 

Ballykisteen Hotel, Limerick 

Junction, Tipperary 

Dublin Castle Conference Centre 2 

The Carlton Millrace Hotel, 

Bunclody, Co. Wexford 

Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa, 

Kenmare Place, Killarney, Co. Kerry 

25/3/2010 Ireland on the Edge, Energy Security RDS Foundation Minerva Suite, RDS, Dublin 4 1 

25/3/2010 Exploring Arts & Culture Through 

Town Twinning 

26/3/2010 Climate Change Impacts & Strategies 

-Ging Forward 

Kerry Writers 

Museum 

Kadenza 

Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre, 

Listowel, Co. Kerry 


Donegal 

9/4/2010 Councillors Role in Changing Climate LAMA Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo 4 

16/4/2010 Banking, Insurance & NAMA -The 

Effect on Local Government 

21/4/2010 Library Association of Ireland 

Conference 

23/4/2010 New EPA Guidelines for Single Houses 

-Implications to Local Government 

Esperanza 

Carlton Hotel Tralee, Dan Spring 

Road, Tralee, Co. Kerry 

LAI Maldon Hotel, Tallaght, D. 24 2 

Esperanza 

The Glenlo Abbey Hotel, Bushypark, 

Co. Galway 

1 

1 

3 

2 

1 

3 

2 

6 

4 

5 

3 

2 

3 

2 

2 

1 

2 





30/4/2010 Local Government and the 

Environment 

11/5/2010 Community Workers Cooperative & 

EAPN 

11/5/2010 Business Investment District Sheme 

Conference 

19/5/2010 Developing More Effective Strategies 

to Tackle Urban Disadvantage 


Community 

Workers 

Cooperative & 

EAPN 

Dundalk Chamber 

Pobal 

The Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, Co. 

Clare 

Number of 


attended 

Menlo Park Hotel, Galway 1 

Ballymascanlon Hotel, Dundalk, Co. 

Louth 

Fatima Community Centre, Reuben 

Plaza, Rialto, Dublin 8 

21/5/2010 Being Positive in a Negative Climate TGR Training Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, Co. 

Mayo 

21/5/2011 The Cost of Insurance and Claims to 

your Local Authority 

Esperanza 

The Kingsvalley Hotel, Merlin Park, 

Dublin Road, Galway 

28/5/2010 Defamation Seminar for Councillors TJK Conferences Patrick Punch Hotel, Limerick 2 

5/6/2010 Tarbert Community Care Ltd 

Conferemce 

25/6/2010 Retail Markets: Business with a Human 

Face 

Tarbert Community 

Care 

Royal College of 

Surgeons 

1/7/2010 Synge Summer School Re-Imagining Irish 

Drama 

Lanterns Hotel, Tarbert, Co. Kerry 1 

The Mansion House, Dublin 1 

Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow 1 

3/7/2010 Douglas Hyde Summer School Douglas Hyde Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon 1 

9/7/2010 Local Government Roads & Transport 

Service 

15/7/2010 A Practical Guide to Media Skills for 


16/7/2010 Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) 

Act, 2009 


Celtic Conferences 

Esperanza 

Enterprises 

18/7/2010 MacGill Summer School 30th Annual 

Conference 

2/8/2010 Themes & Focuses William Carleton 

Summer School 

8/8/2010 The Role of Media In Politics and 

Society 

Parnell Summer 

School 

18/8/2010 Faith: Beyond Belief? Merriman Summer 

School 2010 

20/8/2010 Waste Management Regulations Tyres 

& Waste Tyres 

27/8/2010 The Impact of the New EPA Guidelines 

on Planning 

Esperanza 

Esperanza 

West Cork Hotel, Hen Street, 

Skibbereen, Co. Cork 

The Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery, 

Co. Cork 

The Glenroyal Hotel, Straffen Road, 

Maynooth, Co. Kildare 

Highlands Hotel, Glenties, Co. 

Donegal 

Corick House Hotel, Clogher, Co. 

Tyrone. 

Avondale House, Rathdrum, Co. 

Wicklow 

Glor Theatre, Ennis, Co. Clare 9 



Carlton Atlantic Coast Hotel, 

Westport, The Quay, Westport, Co. 

Mayo 

9/9/2010 97th Annual AMAI Conference AMAI Inishowen Gateway Hotel, 

Buncrana, Inishowen, Co. Donegal 

15/9/2010 Have We Bottled It? Alcohol Action 

Ireland 

Royal College of Physicians of 

Ireland, 6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2 

18/9/2010 Suicide is Everybodys Business Living Links Cavan Crystal Hotel, Cavan 4 

23/9/2010 Shifting Focus: Criminal Justice to 

Social Justic 

01/10/2010 Report of the Local Government 

Efficiency Review Group 

8/10/2010 Local Government Efficiency and 

Financing 

Irish Penal Reform 

Trust 

Gresham Hotel, Dublin 2 

Kadenza Whites Hotel, Wexford 4 

LAMA 

Listowel Arms Hotel, Listowel, Co. 

Kerry 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

3 

1 

11 

2 

3 

2 

3 

4 

1 

7 





15/10/2010 Douglas Hyde Conference 2010 Roscommon County 

Council 

22/10/2010 Alternative Energy Competing with the 

Rest of Europe 

Esperanza 

Number of 


attended 

Abbeyfield Hotel, Ballaghaderreen 6 

The Glenroyal Hotel, Straffen Road, 

Maynooth, Co. Kildare 

22/10/2010 Ernest Shackleton Athy Heritage Athy Heritage Centre Museum, 

Athy, Co. Kildare 

29/10/2010 Criminal Law Bill 2010 Insurance 

Issues for the Home and Business 

Esperanza 

3/11/2010 Diverse Views On Diversity Immigrant Council 

of Ireland 

Maldron Hotel, Oranmore, Co. 

Galway 

Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson 

Street, Dublin 2 

5/11/2010 Bogs -Management & Development Superior Training Carlton Atlantic Coast Hotel, 


Mayo 

12/11/2010 Radon a Hidden Killer Esperanza Manor West Hotel & Leisure Club, 


19/11/2010 Exploring Options for the Unemployed Esperanza Carlton Atlantic Coast Hotel, 


Mayo 

26/11/2010 22nd National Tourism Conference Clare Tourist 

Council/Clare Co. 


3/12/2010 Waste Management (Food Waste) 

Regulations 2009 

6/12/2010 The Key Role of Local Gov in 

Promoting Disability Inclusion 

Esperanza 

Centre for Disability 

Law & Policy 

Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, Co. Clare 2 


Donegal 

G Hotel, Galway 2 

10/12/2010 The Local Government Budget 2011 Superior Training The Carlton Millrace Hotel, 

Bunclody, Co. Wexford 

14/12/2010 Save Water, Money and the 

Environment, Rain Water Harvesting 

17/12/2010 Building Regulations, Renewable 

Energy Requirement, Home Insurance 

Ashford Building 

Services 

Esperanza 



Manor West Hotel & Leisure Club, 


1 

5 

2 

4 

4 

4 

2 

1 

3 

6 

5 

Details of Meetings held 2010 

County Council Meetings 13 

SPC Meetings 17 

Payments 2010 

Annual Expenses Allowance €134,589.08 

Mobile Telephone Expenses Allowance €1,387.36 

Non-Members of Committees (Travel and Subsistence) €3,587.90 

Conferences, Seminars, Training in Ireland €96,673.20 

Conferences, Seminars, Training Outside Ireland €3,617.40 

Chairs of SPC Committees €24,000.00 

Representational Payment €433,649.58 

Cathaoirleach Allowance €37,229.26 

Leas Cathaoirleach Allowance €7,500.00 

Chair of County Development Board €5,769.25 



Councillors’ Committees 

List of External Bodies on which Roscommon County Council is formally represented by Councillors in 2010 

Committee Title 

Association of County 

and City Councils 

Border, Midland and 

Western Regional 

Assembly 

County Roscommon 

Vocational Education 

Committee 

Irish Public Bodies 

Mutual Insurances Ltd. 

Local Authority Members 

Association (LAMA) 

Local Traveller 

Accommodation 

Consultative Committee 

(LTACC) 

Lough O Flynn Steering 

Group 

Purpose of the Committee 

The Association organises a 

Programme of meetings which 

help members give voice to current 

issues in council life. 

Managing and monitoring the EUfunded 

operational programmes in 

the BMW Region. 

This committee is responsible for 

the governance of all educational and 

administrative services provided by 

Roscommon VEC. 

Committee required as IPB is a 

mutual company. 

Represents members of the 

County Councils at county, city and 

borough level.An association for the 

betterment of conditions, education 

and training for members. 

To advise on the provision 

and management of Traveller 

accommodation. 

To develop an amenity area at Lake 

O Flynn consisting of a walk, cycle 

and picnic area. 

Total 

membership 

2010 

Meetings 

held 

Elected Members 

representing 



102 7 Councillors Fitzmaurice, 

Kelly and Moore. 

29 10 Councillors Connaughton 

and Crosby 

17 14 Councillors Byrne, 

Callaghan, Creaton, 

Crosby, Keenan, Kelly, 

Kenny, Leyden and 

Mulligan. 

169 1 Councillor Keogh 

38 12 Councillor Tom Crosby 

13 1 Councillors Connolly, 

Crosby and Cummins 

17 5 Councillors Fitzmaurice, 

Kelly and 

McGreal 

Regional Health Forum 

West 

River Suck Joint 

Drainage Committee 

Road Safety Together 

Committee 


Council Audit Committee 

To ensure that local elected 

representatives would continue 

to have an opportunity to exercise 

oversight of the health and personal 

social services now provided by the 

HSE. 

To oversee the ongoing maintenance 

of the River Suck Drainage District. 

To make the roads in county 

Roscommon a safer place for all 

road users. 

Advising the Council on financial 

reporting processes, internal 

control, risk management and audit 

matters, promoting good accounting 

practices, ensuring better and more 

informed decision-making, and 

improving the focus on value for 

money throughout the organisation. 

40 6 Councillors Fallon, Kelly 

and Ward 

17 3 Councillors Callaghan, 

Connaughton, 

Fitzmaurice, Kelly and 

Kenny 

15 1 Councillors Callaghan, 

Doherty and Ward 

5 2 Councillor Murphy 



List of External Bodies on which Roscommon County Council is formally represented by Councillors in 2010 

Committee Title 


Council Homeless Forum 


Council Joint Policing 

Committee 


Development Board 


Enterprise Board Limited 

Roscommon Integrated 

Development Company 

Rural Water –Local 

Monitoring Committee 

Údarás na hOllscoile 

Governing Authority, 

National University of 

Ireland, Galway 

West Regional Authority 

Western Inter-County 

Rail Committee 

Purpose of the Committee 

To plan and oversee the delivery 

of homeless services in county 


To serve as a forum for 

consultations, discussions and 

recommendations on matters 

affecting the policing of the local 

authority’s administrative area. 

Promotes co-operation between all 

agencies and development groups 

operating in the county and oversees 

the development and implementation 

of the County’s 10-year Economic, 

Social and Cultural Strategy 2002- 

2012. 

Total 

membership 

2010 

Meetings 

held 

Elected Members 

representing 



27 0 Councillors Kenny and 

Keogh 

25 5 

Plus 1 

Public 

Meeting 

27 3 

Plus 1 

Training 

Day 

Councillors Beirne, 

Connolly, Creaton, 

Crosby, Doherty, 

Fallon, Fitzmaurice, 

Keenan, Kelly, Kenny, 

Keogh, Leyden, Mulligan 

and Naughten 

Councillors Beirne, 

Crosby, Cummins, 

Keenan and Keogh 

Directors of the Limited Company. 14 6 Councillors Fitzmaurice, 

Kelly, Murphy and 

Keenan 

Non-government agency delivering 

rural and community development 

programmes on 

behalf of the Government to the 

people of Roscommon. 

To advise on the operation of and to 

monitor the implementation of the 

Rural Water Programme locally. 

Responsible for managing and 

controlling all of the affairs of the 

University and is composed of 

members of the academic staff, the 

student body and several external 

members. 

Co-ordinate actions on behalf of the 

constituent local authorities. 

This committee is committed to 

the re-opening of the Western Rail 

Corridor. 

24 8 Councillors Doherty, 

Garvey and Ward 

9 2 Councillors Crosby, 

Cummins and Beirne 

40 5 Councillor Domnick 

Connolly 

28 10 Councillors 

Connaughton, Crosby, 

Cummins, Kelly, McGreal 

and Naughten 

35 4 Councillors Flanagan, 

Kilduff, Kelly, McGreal 

and Mulligan 


Notes 

70 Roscommon County Council 

Design: JDK Design

Senior Officers Roscommon County Council 

Frank Dawson, County Manager 

Management Team 

John Cunningham, Director of Services Planning and Water Services 

Majella Hunt, Director of Services Roads and Transportation 

Martin Lydon, Head of Finance 

Kathleen Martin, Director of Services Community and Enterprise and Housing 

Tommy Ryan, Director of Services Environment, Corporate Services and Human Resources 

Senior Executive Officers 


Environment 


Planning and Water Services 

Roads and Transportation 

Financial/Management Accountant 

Head of Information Systems 

County Librarian 

Fíona ní Chuinn 

Pat Murtagh 

Mary Lindsay 

Desmond O’Dwyer 

Michael Nolan 

Breege McNeill (Acting) 

Martin Finan 

Richie Farrell 

Senior Engineers 

Housing 

Roads & Transportation 


John O’Rourke 

Eugene Dwyer 

Kieran Madden 

Senior Planner 

Chief Fire Officer 

Frank Flanagan (Acting) 

Cathal McConn


The Courthouse, Roscommon 

County Roscommon 

Tel: +353 (0)90-6637100 

Fax: +353 (0)90-6637108 

Email: info@roscommoncoco.ie 

www.roscommoncoco.ie

Roscommon County Council Annual Report 2010

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