Longford County Council Annual Report€¦ · Locally based companies Abbott and Panelto commenced...

2017

Longford County Council Annual Report

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INTRODUCTION FROM AN CATHAOIRLEACH AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE ...................................................................... 2 ELECTED MEMBERS OF LONGFORD COUNTY COUNCIL ........................................................................................... 3 KEY FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY ........................................................................................................ 4 BALLYMAHON MUNICIPAL DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT .......................................................................................... 5 GRANARD MUNICIPAL DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT ................................................................................................ 6 LONGFORD MUNICIPAL DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT .............................................................................................. 7 ECONOMIC &COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, CORPORATE, CULTURAL & RECREATIONAL SERVICES, HUMAN RESOURCES, PLANNING & BUILDING CONTROL

Community Development and Participation .......................................................................................................... 9 Corporate Services and Human Resources ........................................................................................................... 24 Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development ................................................................................................ 27 Health, Safety and Welfare At Work ..................................................................................................................... 30 Library, Cultural, Heritage and Archives Services ................................................................................................. 33 Planning and Regeneration ................................................................................................................................... 41

FINANCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Finance .................................................................................................................................................................. 46 Information Systems ............................................................................................................................................. 48

HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, EMERGENCY SERVICES

Housing ................................................................................................................................................................. 50 Environmental Services ......................................................................................................................................... 53 Veterinary Services ............................................................................................................................................... 57 Fire and Emergency Services ................................................................................................................................ 59 Civil Defence ......................................................................................................................................................... 60 Roads, Transportation And Road Safety ............................................................................................................... 61 Water Services ...................................................................................................................................................... 66

APPENDICES Appendix 1: Annual Progress Report on Corporate Plan .......................................................................................... 67 Appendix 2: NSAI Certificate of registration of Occupation Health & Safety Management System to OHSAS 18001: ........................................................................................................................................ 68 Appendix 3: Strategic Policy Committees (2014-2019) Reports................................................................................ 70 Appendix 4: Council Membership on Committees .................................................................................................... 72 Appendix 5: Meetings of Longford County Council ................................................................................................... 73 Appendix 6: Conferences attended by Elected Members ......................................................................................... 75 Appendix 7: Performance Indicators ......................................................................................................................... 76

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Cllr. Martin Mulleady

Cathaoirleach

Paddy Mahon Chief Executive

We welcome the publication of Longford County Council’s Annual Report 2017. The Annual Report outlines the scale and diversity of activities within the Council and demonstrates the commitment to providing high quality, accessible and inclusive services. In 2017 we experienced tangible evidence of Economic Growth in County Longford and renewed Central Government focus on our County. A number of local and national initiatives saw significant activity in County Longford in economic, tourism and community development throughout the year. Locally based companies Abbott and Panelto commenced work on major expansions with associated job creation. Government funded programmes such as the Town and Village Scheme, CLAR, REDZ, LIS and Rural Recreation Scheme, which required co-funding by Longford County Council brought benefits to communities throughout the County in 2017. In 2017 County Longford made significant progress in developing tourism with investment in projects

such as the Royal Canal Greenway, Cairn Hill Trail, Corlea Bog Walkway and the Granard Interpretative Centre. We also continued to collaborate with our neighbours and state agencies to develop regional tourism projects and to promote the Midlands as a tourist destination. The year also saw the commencement of the Center Parcs Longford Forest project as well as infrastructural investment, funding and announcements for County Longford by Government, Gas Networks Ireland, Irish Water and ESB as a direct result of the project. Among the other noteworthy achievements during the year were –

The launch of the National Action Plan for Rural Ireland in Ballymahon by An Taoiseach in January.

Minister English turned the sod for 16 social houses in Drumlish in February.

The launch by Longford County Council of our Dublin Economic Forum and our Tourism Strategy in March.

Creative Ireland Longford as part of its Cruinniú na Cásca programme organised a countywide cultural tour culminating in a very special evening concert illuminating the ancient Cistercian Abbey in Abbeyshrule, in April.

Mercy Secondary School in Ballymahon and Moyne Community School both won awards at the National Final of the Student Enterprise Programme event held in Croke Park in May.

Ministers Naughten and Moran turned the sod for the Corlea Bog Walkway project in June.

We purchased the old Providers Building in Longford Town in July.

An Taoiseach turned the sod at Center Parcs in August.

Our Unfinished Estates team received a European Award for best practice in addressing Unfinished Estates in September.

We were awarded Silver Medal by National Irish Safety Organisation at the All Ireland Occupational Safety Awards and Minister Ring officially opened the Granard Butter Market and launched the National Town and Village Programme in Granard in October.

Our Housing Team moved into the former Town Council Offices in November.

The sale was agreed on the Longford Shopping Centre in December.

These achievements reflect a County whose County Council is providing real and effective representation, service and leadership for its communities. They also reflect a County whose communities are empowered to improve the quality of life for themselves and for our County. The achievements outlined in this Annual Report could not have been accomplished without the collective input of the Elected Members, the Cathaoirleach, the Corporate Policy Committee, Municipal District Committees, Members of the Strategic Policy Committees, the Management Team and Employees of Longford County Council, together with the many voluntary and community organisations with whom the Council interacts. It is only through their continued commitment that the organisation can face these challenges with confidence and their support and co-operation is gratefully acknowledged.

INTRODUCTION FROM AN CATHAOIRLEACH AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE

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Cllr. Paraic Brady

Fine Gael

Cllr. Micheál

Carrigy Fine Gael

Cllr. John Duffy

Fine Gael

Cllr. Luie McEntire

Fianna Fáil

Cllr. Martin Mulleady

Fianna Fáil

Cllr. P.J.Reilly

Fianna Fáil

Cllr. John Browne

Fine Gael Cllr. Seamus

Butler Fianna Fáil

Cllr. Padraig

Loughrey Fianna Fáil

Cllr. Peggy Nolan

Fine Gael

Cllr. Mae Sexton

Independent

Cllr. Gerry Warnock

Independent

Cllr. Joe Flaherty

Fianna Fáil (co-opted Dec)

Cllr. Mick Cahill

Fianna Fáil Cllr Mark Casey

Independent

Cllr. Gerard

Farrell Fine Gael

Cllr. Colm Murray

Fine Gael

Cllr. Pat O'Toole

Fianna Fáil

Cllr. Paul Ross

Fine Gael

ELECTED MEMBERS OF LONGFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Granard Municipal District

Longford Municipal District

Ballymahon Municipal District

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The principal services of Longford County Council are provided within the following Directorate Structure. The three Directorates cover the areas of -

Barbara Heslin, Director of Services ECONOMIC &COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT, CORPORATE, CULTURAL

&RECREATIONAL SERVICES, HUMAN

RESOURCES, PLANNING & BUILDING

CONTROL

BALLYMAHON MUNICIPAL DISTRICT

John Brannigan, Director of Services HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, EMERGENCY SERVICES

GRANARD MUNICIPAL DISTRICT

John McKeon, Head of Finance FINANCE, INFORMATION

SYSTEMS, PROCUREMENT AND

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

LONGFORD MUNICIPAL DISTRICT

Copyright Acknowledgements

Includes Ordnance Survey Ireland data reproduced under OSI Licence Number 2010/29/CCMA/Longford County Council.

Unauthorised Reproduction infringes Ordnance Survey Ireland and Government of Ireland Copyright.

KEY FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

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CATHAOIRLEACH At the Annual General Meeting of Ballymahon Municipal District held on 19

th June 2017, Councillor Gerard Farrell was elected to

the position of Cathaoirleach and Councillor Paul Ross was elected to the position of Leas Cathaoirleach. These positions are filled for a one year term of office.

MEETINGS HELD During 2017, meetings were held on 26

th January, 23

rd February, 23

rd March, 8

th June, 19

th June, 27

th July, 28

th September, 1

st

November and 23rd

November. Items discussed at these meetings included – Schedule of Municipal District Works 2017, including;

o Annual Road Works Programme o Local Improvement Schemes

Footpath Repairs “Safe Park” in Ballymahon Framework for Town Centre Renewal Town Team Initiative Lanesboro/Ballyleague Collaborative Project Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2017 Community Facilities Scheme 2017 Community Grant Support Scheme 2017 Community Projects General Municipal Allocation 2018

Presentations made to the Members included – Workshop to consider the Speed Limit Review Presentation by Westmeath National Roads Design Office on the N55 Tang to The Pigeons (Ballymahon) Scheme Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (LEADER) Redevelopment of Lanesboro Substation - Presentation by Eirgrid Group Edgeworthstown Development Association

ESTATES TAKEN IN CHARGE The following housing estates were taken in charge during the year – “Bracklin Park”, Edgeworthstown. “Cluain na Sidhe”, Killashee. “Rath Na gCarraige”, Ballycloughan.

ITEMS ADOPTED Chief Executive Report, in accordance with Part 8 of the Planning & Development Regulations, was adopted in respect of the following development: - Amenity Walkway through the Cutaway Bog surrounding Corlea Trackway at Corlea, Mosstown, Keenagh, Co. Longford.

COMMUNITY GRANT SUPPORT SCHEME 2017 Grants totalling €41,657 were allocated to 47 Community Groups supporting activities/projects for the Active Elderly, Arts, Community Involvement, Environment, Events, Heritage and Sport and Recreation.

BALLYMAHON MUNICIPAL DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT

Opening of Corlea Bog Walkway by Minister Denis Naughton,

4th June 2017

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CATHAOIRLEACH As agreed by the Members following the 2014 Local Elections, it was unanimously agreed at the Granard Municipal District Meeting held on the 24

th January 2017 that Councillor PJ Reilly be elected to the Position of Cathaoirleach for the remainder of

the term of this Municipal District. Councillor Michael Carrigy was elected to the position of Leas Cathaoirleach. At the Annual General Meeting of Granard Municipal District held on 27

th June 2017, Councillor PJ Reilly was re-elected to the position of

Cathaoirleach and Councillor Michael Carrigy was re-elected to the position of Leas Cathaoirleach.

MEETINGS HELD The Members of Granard Municipal District held meetings on the following dates during 2017 - 24

th January, 28

th February, 28

th March, 23

rd May, 27

th June, 25

th July, 26

th September, 24

th October and 28

th November.

Presentations were given on the following - Presentation on the roll-out of the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020 (LEADER) by Mr. Adrian Greene, CEO of

Longford Community Resources clg. Presentation by Peter Moran, Moran CCTV, regarding CCTV cameras with attendance by Superintendent Brian Mohan.

ITEMS ADOPTED The Members of Granard Municipal District adopted the following during the year - The Schedule of Granard Municipal District Works budget for 2017. Community Facilities Scheme 2017. Voluntary Contributions and Community Grants.

ESTATES TAKEN IN CHARGE The following housing estates were taken in charge during the year - "BotharinagCarraige", Ballinalee. "Mastersons Close", Abbeylara. "Woodland Park", Cullyfad.

OTHER ITEMS CONSIDERED Other items that were highlighted and discussed by the Members were - Public Lighting Play Areas Low Cost Safety Schemes Framework for Town Central Renewal Consideration of request from Corporate Policy Group that each Municipal District nominate a town in their district to

pilot a Town Team Initiative. Bus Stops Speed Limit Review Footpaths Signage Local Improvement Schemes Irish Water Works Cleaning of Rivers Cutting of Trees and Hedges Parking facilities in Granard Speed Ramps Bridges Ballinamuck/Essert Twinning 2017 Pedestrian Crossings Irish Water Sewage Schemes

Granard Buttermarket Reopening by Minister Michael Ring, 4th October 2017

GRANARD MUNICIPAL DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT

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CATHAOIRLEACH At the Annual General Meeting of Longford Municipal District held on 28

th June 2017, Councillor Mae Sexton was elected to the

position of Cathaoirleach and Councillor Seamus Butler was elected to the position of Leas Cathaoirleach.

MEETINGS HELD The Members of Longford Municipal District held 10 meetings on the following dates during 2017 - 25th January, 22nd February, 22nd March, 24

th May, 28

thJune, 26

th July, 27

th September, 25

th October and 22

nd November.

ITEMS ADOPTED The Members of Longford Municipal District adopted the following during the year - The Municipal Works Budget for 2017. Multi Annual Road Restoration Plan 2017 to 2019. Free Parking in off Street Car Parks Christmas 2017. Part VIII report on the Camlin Pedestrian Bridge. Applications received under the Community Facilities Scheme 2017 Voluntary Contributions and Community Grants for 2017. Renaming of Roundabout at Aughareagh to “Fiddler Blind Tom Kiernan Roundabout”. Section 85 agreement with Westmeath County Council regarding Maintenance and Cash collection from paid parking

machines in Longford town. Removal of School crossing on the Ballinalee road. Installation of memorial seat on the site of the old Harbour, Market Sq in memory of the late Noel McGeeney. The 2017 Rapid Programme Funding for Longford Municipal District.

ESTATES TAKEN IN CHARGE The following housing estates were taken in charge during the year - "The Laurels", Lisnamuck.

WORKS COMPLETED The following works were carried out within the Longford Municipal District during 2017 -

ROAD WORKS PROGRAMME Road improvement works were carried out in the following locations during 2017 - Hermitage – Ballagh Newtownforbes St Mel’s Road- Great Water Street Longford Ballinalee Road – Connolly Crescent Farnagh - Ballymakeegan Chapel Street, Longford Clooneen Bridge - Cloonart Cloondara - N5 Fisherstown Cloondara – Fallon’s Bridge Cloondara – Begnagh Bridge Mullaghavourneen Battery Road -Cahanagh Ardnacassa Avenue -Knockahaw Clonrollagh Melview Junction Traffic Calming works at Grian Ard Glebe -Lisduff Lisbrack Road Clonturk Gowlan

LONGFORD MUNICIPAL DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT

Presentation of Tidy Towns Awards, Longford Municipal District, 22nd November 2017

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CLÁR CLÁR Improvement works were carried out in the following locations - Newtownforbes National School Newtownforbes Footpath to Cemetery

Flood Relief Works were carried out at Mullagh and Creenagh, Longford.

OTHER WORKS Street Cleaning works are ongoing in Longford Town and villages within the Municipal District. Maintenance of Ballymacormack Cemetery. Road maintenance works including road drainage, patching works and winter maintenance. Maintenance of Open Spaces including grass cutting works. Speed ramps in Teffia Park. Dead of Night Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day and Longford Summer Festival. Footpaths on the Canal. Erection of the Christmas lighting. LIS scheme works.

OTHER ITEMS CONSIDERED Other items that were highlighted and discussed by the Members were - Connolly Barracks and the Northern Quarter Regeneration Plans. The Regeneration Programme. Provision of Digital Hub in Longford Town. Parking at the Department of Social Protection Offices on the Ballinalee Road. Footpath from Ballymacormack Cemetery to Stonepark School. Derelict properties at Ardnacassa Avenue. Salting of footpaths in Longford Town. Parking facilities for buses and coaches in Longford. Consideration of proposals to introduce Bye Laws for Horse Drawn Carriages. Right of Way at Dun Darrach. Traffic congestion at Convent Road. Upgrading of existing CCTV Cameras in Longford Town. Age Friendly and Disabled Parking Spaces in Longford town. Solar Powered Speed Warning signs on the Ardagh/Ferefad road. Manning levels at Longford Railway Station. Footpath &road access to Longford Town for people with disabilities. Cycling route along the Longford Bypass. Feasibility of using the canal for recreational activities such as Kayaking and rowing. General condition of footpaths within the MD area Possible new locations for CCTV cameras. Town and Village renewal scheme. Making Longford an Age Friendly Business Town Award of Green Flag to the Mall Amenity area. Removal of Fountain on the Market Square. The keeping of poultry within the town area. Removal of bottle banks from current locations around Longford town to 1 central location covered by CCTV cameras. Policy on signage.

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COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

COMHAIRLE NA NÓG The Annual General Meeting took place on 19

th October 2017 in the Longford Arms Hotel. The day was a great success with over

100 young people attending, from post primary schools and youth groups around the County. The AGM opened with a

promotional movie explaining the work of the Comhairle Na nÓg. Guest speaker Siona Cahill, a past member of the Comhairle

and now Deputy President of the Union of Students in Ireland, gave an empowering speech about her time on Comhairle and

encouraged the young people to get involved. The Day's Workshops were based on topics including Internet, Bullying, Drugs and

Alcohol, Mental Health and Education. The Comhairle, in conjunction with the HSE also launched their Mental Health Awareness

booklet.

Following the workshops, young people voted on the topics they intend working on in the coming year and held the election of

new Comhairle committee members. Comhairle DJ’s complete with dancers provided young people with lunch time

entertainment along with a photo Booth which went down a treat with participants and leaders. After lunch, guest speaker

Emmett Middelton from AIT “Please Talk” gave a powerful speech about overcoming mental health issues and how to mind your

mental health. The AGM concluded with Cllr. Mae Sexton Chairperson of the Comhairle Steering Committee congratulating

members on their great work and the importance of young people having a voice on issues that affect them.

Laura Mc Phillips Longford County Council and Avril Gilchriest Guest Speaker Siona Cahill and Avril Gilchriest with Comhairle Co -ordinator with members of the HSE members of Longford Comhairle na nOg.

PLAYGROUNDS In 2017 a new playground was constructed at the entrance to Derrycassan Woods. The playground in The Mall/Albert Reynolds Peace Park also underwent a major refurbishment. These facilities were funded by Longford County Council and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Great support was given by the local playground committee who worked closely with Longford County Council in the selection of the site and final design of the Derrycassan Woods playground. They also provided funds to purchase and install fencing. The site was sold by Coillte at a very reasonable price for the facility. The playground is managed by the Local Authority with the support of the local community.

NATIONAL PLAY DAY National Play Day took place on the 1

st July in the Albert Reynolds Memorial Park. This year's Theme was 'Activity'. There was a

great turnout and the afternoon included outdoor games, arts and crafts, puppets shows, storytelling, balloon making, bouncy castles and soccer skills. This event was supported by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Longford Volunteer Centre, Longford County Childcare Committee, the Community Garda, Longford Tidy Towns and many others.

GREEN FLAG AWARD 2017 Longford Mall (Albert Reynolds Peace Park) retained the Green Flag Award in 2017, an international standard benchmark recognized throughout the world for publicly accessible parks and green spaces and managed in Ireland by An Taisce. The Green Flag Award Scheme was introduced in Ireland in 2015 and rolled out nationally in 2016.

ECONOMIC &COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, CORPORATE, CULTURAL & RECREATIONAL SERVICES, HUMAN RESOURCES, PLANNING & BUILDING

CONTROL

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION

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This Award was achieved thanks to Longford Town Suburbs Ltd. who manage the Mall in partnership with Longford County Council. Thanks also to the Department of Social Protection, the Community Employment Supervisor and all the participants whose hard work was vital to gaining this Award.

NATIONAL PRIDE OF PLACE COMPETITION Pride of Place is a competition directed towards recognizing improvements by local communities to create civic pride in their area. The aim of the Competition is to encourage best practice, innovation and leadership in providing vibrant sustainable communities that improve the quality of life for all. The nomination process to the All Island competition is undertaken through the Local Authorities. In 2017, Longford County Council nominated two entrants - The Attic Youth Café and ShawBrook Dance. The Attic Youth Café received a national Runners Up Award in the Youth section, a great achievement and reflects the wonderful work and contribution The Attic Youth Café make to the young people of County Longford.

Nourish Dance And Creative Physical Expression Shawbrook is a haven for dance set on a traditional 18th century farm in a forest of oak, ash and beech trees in County Longford. Recognized internationally as a centre of excellence for dance and performance, Shawbrook has fostered a nurturing environment of dance creativity for over 30 years. From humble beginnings, Shawbrook Dance is now home to dance studios, a theatre, an outdoor studio, forest walks and a range of on-site accommodation, including Forest Cabins in the woods. Shawbrook Dance is open to professional companies alongside vocational students and Youth Dance Co. Their annual program includes the Shawbrook Residential Summer School running since 1984 and year round Artists-in-residence programmes, workshops, performances and seasonal festivals.

The Attic Youth Café Ltd With the growing demands for provisions to be available to the ever growing population of young people the Attic House Teen Project was established in September 2015 in Longford Town, a redevelopment of the original Attic Youth Café established in 2006 in the Temperance Hall. This purpose built youth centre encapsulates the needs of all young people aged 10 – 18 years through its various youth clubs, programmes, activities and events that are organized by dedicated, trained and committed Volunteers six days a week. The Attic House has a computer suite, meeting rooms, a Youth Café, kitchen, offices, reception area and an outdoor sports amenity and a Parkour park (the first of its kind in Ireland). Attic Youth Café

Over 2,500 young people engage with the project on an annual basis. The Attic House is in the centre of Longford town and is truly at the heart of youth and community development, making it a fundamental stepping stone for all young people in County Longford.

LONGFORD ‘DEAD OF NIGHT’ HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL On Halloween evening, the dark streets of Longford came alive with a riot of colour, music and noise as the 12

th Annual ‘Dead of Night’ festival swung into action. This

year again there were some fantastic floats that came from Castlerea Festival Committee, which gave a real carnival atmosphere to the event. The parade made its way down St. Mel’s School Avenue and up New Street. A very large number of children took part in the parade with their self-made lanterns. There was a great attendance again with lots of fun stalls, entertainers and large inflatable’s. The Halloween evening festival is the final part of the bigger ‘Dead of Night’ project which joins the resources, manpower and expertise of Longford County Council, the HSE, An Garda Siochána, Longford Volunteer Centre, Longford Tidy Towns and includes safe talks in schools, art competitions and lantern making.

TURNING ON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 2017 Santa arrived in Longford on Friday 24

thNovember and travelled by vintage Rolls Royce

visiting local childcare centres. Santa could not be kept in the car and jumping out and dropping into local businesses. He then arrived by sledge to a packed Market Square. He was welcomed by the Chair, Cllr Mae Saxton and Members of Longford Municipal District. Santa with the help of two local children turned on the lights at 7pm. Santa stayed till nearly 9 o’clock having his photo taken with all the children. There was also a Marque this year in the car park to the rear of the Market Square with local traders selling food and crafts as part of Black Friday, organized by the Chamber of Commerce.

The Christmas Lights were organised by Longford County Council and supported by Longford Chamber of Commerce, The Longford Volunteer Centre, Longford Tourism Office, Community Garda unit, Longford Tidy towns, Longford Civil Defence.

http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=6600&d=0p662Q96buNZ7yAQYzKpXMLF-z5MTIxjD_mpVhtdlQ&s=346&u=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eshawbrook%2eorg%2fsummer-school%2f

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LONGFORD ARTS OFFICE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES

The primary Arts Office achievement of 2017 was to be awarded the Excellence in Local Government Award in the category of "Supporting the Arts" for our literary websitewww.virtualwriter.ie

ACTIVITY AND DESCRIPTION Corporate Plan 2015 -2019Strategic Functional Objectives

Drama/Street Theatre/Spectacle

Drama League of Ireland Summer School Bursary Provided financial support to Longford actor to attend the Drama Summer School

Facilitated creative capacity development among the young.

Artist - in -Residence Backstage Theatre Supported the appointment of an artist – in – residence to work with Backstage youth theatre to develop the production entitled; “DNA”


Mide Street Theatre Company Supported workshop and performances of this fledgling street theatre company

Facilitated creative capacity development among the young. Promote access to and increased participation in the Arts. Develop public awareness and appreciation of the value of the arts.

Music/Dance

School of Rock Support this innovative initiative for young rock musicians aged 10 to 18 years old

Facilitated creative capacity development among the young

Longford Live & Local Recordings Supported a series of live music events in various genres to try to re-vitalise the live music scene in Longford

Promote access to and increased participation in the Arts. Develop public awareness and appreciation of the value of the arts.

Music Development Consultancy Engage a consultant to carry out the research to enable an application for Music Generation funding and to draft a music development strategy

Promote access to and increased participation in music.

Longford Classical Club Organised classical concerts to raise public awareness

Develop public awareness and appreciation of the value of the arts.

Dance Residency Backstage Supported Dancer – in - Residence in partnership with Backstage Theatre


Longford Choral Activity Supported various Longford Choirs

Recorded Edgeworthstown Choirs Recorded both the children’s choir and adult folk group for broadcast on

www.longfordmusic.ie

Promote access to and increased participation in the Music. Develop public awareness and appreciation of the value of the Music.

Creative Writing

Longford Writers Groups Longford has five active writers groups we supported the activities of Longford, Goldsmith, Lasrai, Under the Motte and Lanesborough Writers Groups through the year.

Promote access to and increased participation in literature.

Leinster Fleadh Cheoil

Comes to Ballymahon

Ithaca

Mide Street Puppet

http://www.virtualwriter.ie/

http://www.longfordmusic.ie/

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Literary Evenings/Poetry Slams Supported a series of literary events in Backstage Canal Studio, Ardagh

Creativity Centre, and Market Bar Longford. See www.virtualwriter.ie

Facilitated creative capacity development among the writers. Promote access to and increased participation in the Literature. Develop public awareness and appreciation of the value of the literature.

King of the Back of the Hill Supported the compilation and publication of an anthology of non-fiction, poetry, fiction, photography and children’s art based on the

mythology of the Ardagh area. See: www.virtualwriter.ie


Irish Writers Centre Celebration Organised an evening of poetry, prose and music in the Irish Writers Centre to commemorate our 20 year relationship in the development of Longford writing

Promote access to and increased participation in literature.

Visual Arts

Longford Schools Photography Programme Ireland’s largest and longest running Schools Photography Programme. Involves students in all secondary schools in the county as well as Mullingar and Mohill. Emphasis photography as art developing the student’s visual and aesthetic awareness teaches students to view the subject not just as a visual and physical object but also from a conceptual perspective. See: http://www.longforddigitalarts.ie/schools-photography-program/overview


Schools Programme Exhibition, Awards& Project Launch LSPP culminates each year with an exhibition of student’s work, awards presentation and the launch of the project for the year usually a publication of the students’ work on typical social issues drug abuse, mental illness – depression etc. helped fund, promote and organise the event


Expressions International Portrait Photography Competition International art portrait photography competition. 50% submissions Irish 50% international. This year enlarged 50 short listed entries mounted them on all-weather material and exhibited them on lamp posts walls and temporary hoardings around the town turning the town into an open air gallery of photography during Cruthu.

Promote access to and increased participation in photography.

Joint Exhibition Programme with Atrium Gallery Sponsored and helped to organise exhibition of seven painters and photographers: Phil Atkinson/Angela Tuite/Mary Grey/Lar McGuire/Josephine Guilfoyle/ Mary Reilly/Phil Atkinson/Shelley Corcoran/ Angelika Sowul/Eibhlin Crossan/Alisa Rey/ Sean Considine see: www.visuallongford.ie

Facilitated creative capacity development among the photographers.

Mercy Convent Ballymahon Public Art Project Funded imaginative glass art project for the above schools. The students visited the studio of glass artist Michelle O’Donnell where they each designed and help to fashion a unique avian image which was cast in glass and erected as a flight of birds along the wall of the student’s canteen. See: www.longfordvisualarts.ie


Festivals

Cruthu Multi-Disciplinary Arts Festival Established the original festival. Funded this year’s festival. Worked closely with the committee to deliver this year’s programme. Placed special emphasis on a community art project: The Temporary Public Art Project. Engaged seven community groups e.g. Men’s Sheds to create seven pieces under the guidance of a professional artist each piece was exhibited in a prominent location in Longford Town during Cruthu. See: http://www.visuallongford.ie/festivals-events/cruthu-arts-festival-2017

Facilitated creative capacity development among the arts. Promote access to and increased participation in the arts. Develop public awareness and appreciation of the value of the arts.

Ardagh Fright Fest Annual Halloween-themed children’s arts & fun festival run by Ardagh Creativity Centre.

Promote access to and increased participation in the arts. Develop public awareness and appreciation of the value of the arts.

Aisling Children’s Festival Long established and excellent county-wide children’s arts festival. A truly community based festival event both in committee composition,




http://www.longforddigitalarts.ie/schools-photography-program/overview

http://www.longforddigitalarts.ie/schools-photography-program/overview

http://www.visuallongford.ie/

http://www.longfordvisualarts.ie/

http://www.visuallongford.ie/festivals-events/cruthu-arts-festival-2017

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programming, geographical spread and insistence on free events or lowest possible ticket costs to ensure maximum social and economic inclusion. We financially support the committee and work with them at festival time.

Edgeworth Literary Weekend Well organised weekend of poetry and prose the contemporary element of which is supported by the A. O. However a heavy emphasis on cultural heritage and tourism objectives means that it is of limited value to the literary development of the county.


Lanesborough Lough Ree Monster Festival New community festival. Provided Mide to perform and funding towards’ Monster’ float


Publishing

Midland Arts &Culture Magazine Published two editions of this popular and successful magazine.


Angela Tuite Geisha

Midlands Magazine Cover

Aisling / Creating a Fancy Dress

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LONGFORD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2017

MEETINGS Eleven LCDC/LEADER Local Action Group (LAG) meetings were held in 2017:

Dates 9 Feb 2 Mar 16 Mar 6 Apr 4 May 1 Jun 6 Jul 12 Sep 26 Oct 7 Dec 19 Dec

Number Attended

13 13 13 14 13 13 11 13 14 14 10

LCDC OPERATIONS Membership There were 4 changes to membership for the LCDC during 2017 -

Longford/Westmeath Education and Training Board (ETB) - Shauna Doherty replaced Maria Fox. Longford Chamber of Commerce - Niamh Donlon replaced Fintan McGill. Department of Social Protection -Aine Bohan replaced Des Henry. Business sector - Following Joe Flaherty's co-option to Longford County Council in December, a nominee was sought from

Granard Traders Association to fill the vacant seat. Current Members of Longford LCDC

Sector Members Local Authority Elected members Councillors Seamus Butler(Chairperson),Colm Murray, P.J. Reilly and Gerry

Warnock Local Authority Officials Paddy Mahon Chief Executive, Michael Nevin Head of Enterprise State Agencies Grainne Nic Gabhainn, HSE

Aine Bohan, Dept. Social Protection Shauna Doherty, LWETB

Local Community Development Adrian Greene, CEO Longford Community Resources Clg. Social Inclusion Seamus Orr, PPN - Spring Lawn Residents Group

Louise Lovett, PPN - Longford Women’s Link Community & Voluntary Tess Murphy, PPN - Ballinamuck Community Enterprise Society

Joe Murphy, PPN - Dromard Rural Development Association Environmental Interests Ray Hogan, PPN - Longford Environmental Alliance Other civic society or local Community interests

Niamh Donlon, Business/Employers sector Sean Hannon, Farming/Agriculture sector Seadna Ryan, County Longford Tourism VACANT, Granard Traders Association

SUPPORT STAFF The LCDC is supported by the Chief Officer and staff from the Community Development section. As well providing secretarial support to the LCDC, the support staff manage the day to day operations of the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and LEADER Programmes, Funding streams (CLÁR, RAPID, Community Facilities Scheme).

In 2017, resources were secured to employ 2 additional staff: 1 Administrative Officer to support the LEADER Programme and 1 Senior Staff Officer to support the implementation of the LECP.

PROGRAMME OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY

Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) The Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is funded by the Department of Rural & Community Development, with support from the European Social Fund (ESF). The Programme aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality through local, regional and national engagement and collaboration. It targets those who are most disadvantaged and excluded in our society.

2015-2017 Programme 2017 was the final year of the 1

st SICAP Programme (2015-2017) managed by the LCDC. The Programme Implementer for this

Programme was Longford Community Resources Clg (LCRL) The budget for 2017 was €511,559. The SICAP Monitoring Committee of LCDC met approximately 5 times in 2017 and completed the assessment of the Annual Plan and conducted both the Mid-term and End of Year Review 2017 on behalf of the LCDC. The

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Programme Implementer (LCRL) delivered an Action Plan as approved by the LCDC in January 2017. Pobal, on behalf of the Department will undertake a review of this Programme nationally in 2018.

2018-2022 Programme It was announced in May 2017 that the new SICAP Programme would cover a period of 5 years, and the Tender process began in July 2017. Longford LCDC advertised the RFT on eTenders, and received a total of 2 tender submissions. These were evaluated by an Evaluation Committee (chaired by a member of the LCDC) in October, in accordance with guidance laid down by The Department of Rural & Community Development and Pobal. Following this process, the LCDC approved the recommendation that the most economically advantageous Tender was submitted by Longford Community Resources Clg.

A contract, to the value of €3,069,354 over a 6 year period (5 years + possibility of 1 year extension) was signed between the LCDC and Longford Community Resources Clg on 19

th December 2017. The Programme is to commence on 1

st January 2018.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (LEADER) 2014-2020 The LEADER Programme began accepting Expressions of Interest and Applications in January 2017. Through 2017 the LCDC and LAG Partners (Longford County Council and LCRL) were concerned that the Programme was overly bureaucratic for applicants.

A number of changes have been made to the Programme following ongoing consultations with LAGs nationally. A meeting was held on 17

th May 2017 with the Minister with responsibility for LEADER, Minister Heather Humphreys TD. 31 actions were

devised to make the process easier. This culminated with a number of changes to operating rules, and a consolidated version of the Operating Rules being issued on 19

th December 2017.

In Longford the progress of applications in 2017 is as follows:

Targeted Calls 2017 11 Targeted Time Limited Calls in 2017, EOIs were received under 10 of these.

109 – Expressions of Interest Received

102 - Eligible EOI’s

7 - Ineligible EOI’s

31 - Applications received 2 subsequently withdrawn,

1 rejected by LAG due to non-compliance with procurement requirements

28 - Applications processed 3 applications pending Department Heritage Review (1 has been progressed for Evaluation)

14 applications are pending evaluation

11 applications approved by the LCDC

Rolling Call EOI’s & Applications 2017 3 Rolling EOIs received in 2017, applications are still being devised.

Cooperation Projects Longford Community Resources Clg are working on a cooperation project (The Shannon Pilgrim Way) with 13 other partners, being led by West Limerick Resources. An EOI for preparatory funding for this project was approved by Longford LCDC in December 2017, and work on the application is ongoing. Of the 11 projects approved by the LCDC in 2017 -

10 contracts signed with project promoters and projects are ongoing

1 project subsequently withdrawn prior to contract offer/acceptance Total amount approved by the LCDC in 2017 was €185,025.68

OTHER FUNDING STREAMS OVERSEEN BY LCDC Longford LCDC was set up to bring about a more co-ordinated approach to the management of local development and community funding in County Longford. As part of this role the (now) Department of Rural & Community Development delegated the oversight of a number of new funding streams in 2017 to LCDCs

Community Facilities Scheme 2017 On 10

th March 2017 the then Minister of State for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy Catherine Byrne TD, announced

a new €2m Capital grants scheme for disadvantaged urban and rural areas. The scheme covered the period July to December 2017. The aim of the Scheme is to enhance communities, address disadvantage and improve social cohesion at a local level by providing access to small-scale capital grants.It also seeks to address some of the difficulties local community groups face in terms of accessing very often small scale levels of funding to match their own fundraising efforts, in order to get community projects off the ground. The Scheme was administered nationally by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) The LCDC are responsible for targeting and allocating funding, as they are ideally placed to identify the applications which most suitably address the Scheme's

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target groups and issues in each LA administrative area. Approval on grants allocations was given by the relevant Municipal Districts.

Longford LCDC was allocated €64,500 for this scheme, a total of 33 project applications across all 3 Municipal District Areas were funded.

RAPID 2017 On 2

nd November 2017, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, T.D., announced the launch of the

recast RAPID Programme with an allocation of €2m in Capital funding for disadvantaged urban areas. The grants programme 2017 run was from October 2017 to December 2017 and focussed on supporting projects that would improve the quality of life for residents in disadvantaged urban areas. The Programme takes a national approach where each LA/LCDC were given an allocation to direct this at the areas most in need as per its assessment. This approach removed the need to designate any specific areas as RAPID areas, as in previous RAPID Programmes. The Scheme was administered nationally by the LCDC who are responsible for targeting and allocating funding, as they are ideally placed to identify the applications which most suitably address the Scheme's target groups and issues in each LA administrative area. Approval on grants allocations was given by the relevant Municipal Districts.

Longford LCDC was allocated €64,500 in 2017. Four applications were received for the Programme. On reviewing the applications, the LCDC recommended that one application (Ardnacassa Action Group- Longford Municipal District) be funded to the amount of €64,500. This was due to (1) the quick turnaround time to spend the funding and (2) Groups/Projects from the Longford Municipal District Area had been exempt from the CLÁR 2017 Programme which had run earlier in the year.

This recommendation was approved and the project is progressing well.

CLÁR 2017 CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in areas that experience disadvantage. The aim of CLÁR is to support the sustainable development of identified CLÁR areas with the aim of attracting people to live and work there. The scheme was launched in March 2017, with 3 Measures -

Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures Measure 2: Play Areas Measure 3: Targeted Community Infrastructure Needs

Longford County Council could submit up to 20 projects across the 3 measures for consideration of funding. (the Department made all final funding decisions). Longford LCDC was responsible for selecting projects under Measure 3 for submission to the Department. This aim of this measure is to provide support for small to medium sized Community based capital/infrastructure projects that don’t qualify for other existing schemes, and were in Line with Longford’s LECP. A total of 53 applications were received by the Longford County Council across the different measures. The LCDC recommended 6 for submission by the Council to the Department. Of the 20 applications submitted by Longford County Council 10 were approved to a total amount of €238,417.5 of the projects approved were recommended by the LCDC, to a total of €144,879.

LOCAL ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY PLAN (LECP) The Local Government Reform Act, 2014 provides that each Local Authority shall devise a six year Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) for its area. The purpose of the LECP is to identify and implement actions to strengthen and develop the economic and community dimensions of the County.

The plan consists of two parts -

Economic Elements in respect of local economic development, and Community Elements in respect of local and community development

The two elements were prepared in parallel and adopted by the Local Authority as a unified plan in May 2016. This single, integrated economic and community plan will provide the basis for a more coherent, streamlined and co-ordinated approach to service planning and delivery locally.

The LECP has now entered the implementation phase, with the LCDC taking responsibility for the coordination and oversight of delivery for the community elements of the Plan, while the Economic Development and Enterprise Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) has responsibility for the economic elements of the Plan.

The LCDC commissioned an Implementation Plan for the remainder of 2017 and 2018 and work is ongoing in monitoring the work of external partners.

The LCDC were able to fund a large number of projects, as outlined in previous sections, in line with the priorities identified in the LECP.

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LONGFORD JOINT POLICING COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2017 The Joint Policing Committee (JPC) is a body established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to serve as a forum where local authority representatives, Oireachtas members and community and voluntary interests work together with Senior Garda Officers to discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the County. The County Longford JPC is chaired by Councillor Gerry Warnock. The Committee held 4 meetings in 2017 on 3

rd April, 3

rd July, 2

nd October, and 4th December. The Committee also held a public

meeting on 2nd November 2017. At each meeting the members were updated on Garda activities in the County, public order and anti-social issues as well as statistics on crime levels in Longford. The members welcomed the increased success of Gardaí in tackling crime and noted that pressures were being experienced by Garda management at local level in meeting the day to day demands of running their districts with diminished staff numbers. The JPC agreed to write to the Minister for Justice to request upgrading of the Garda Barracks in Ballymahon and Edgeworthstown and to request that the Minister meet a delegation from the Joint Policing Committee regarding adequate personnel and financial resources to maintain a satisfactory level of Garda services in County Longford.

The Joint Policing Committee was also updated at each meeting on local authority matters including details of various funding schemes that became available during the year as well as updates on various community projects. Progress was noted in relation to economic development including the Council’s Regeneration programme, the Longford Tourism Strategy and the Center Parcs development. Other areas of activity noted included the Public Participation Network, the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, the Intercultural Strategic Plan and the Resettlement Programme. The members discussed many other issues including Road Safety, Speed Control in housing estates, the Text Alert Scheme, the supply and sale of drugs and community policing. CCTV was also an ongoing topic of discussion during the year. The members expressed frustration with ongoing difficulties regarding the completion of a Memorandum of Understanding between Gardaí HQ and the local authority regarding the CCTV system in Longford town. The members welcomed the Government announcement that grants of up to 60% of the total capital costs associated with the establishment of local community CCTV systems would be made available to support local communities who wish to install and maintain CCTV security systems in their area. The members agreed that communities would have difficulty in achieving the required matched funding of 40%. Funding for effective CCTV systems and the need for a National Strategy were emphasised by the members of the committee. During the year a number of presentations were made to the JPC. Sergeant Lionel Mullally gave an overview of the Crime Prevention Ambassador Programme which is designed to empower older people within the community by working in partnership with An Garda Síochána through local Community Policing Gardaí and Crime Preventions Officers. The members welcomed the initiative which is proving to be very successful in the prevention of crime and noted that the overall aim of the Programme is to deliver crime prevention information to older people, provide them with clear and effective crime prevention advice and address the fear of crime.

Mrs. Kitty Hughes gave a comprehensive report on the activities of the Longford Older Persons Council which was established in December 2016. She also advised them in relation to the ongoing County Longford Age Friendly Strategy 2015-2020.

JOINT ACTION PLAN - PILOT INITIATIVE At the JPC meeting on 3

rd April 2017, Mr. Paddy Mahon, Chief Executive and Supt. Jim Delaney announced the launch of a Joint

Action Plan by the Gardaí and the Local Authority. The members noted that the Local Authority and Gardaí are committed to working together to secure a better quality of life for residents in some areas of Longford town. The following Mission Statement was agreed - "Longford Joint Action Group working in partnership towards focussed regeneration and reassurance of its communities to deliver an enhanced quality of life." The JPC members agreed that a pilot initiative be conducted to tackle anti-social behaviour in the Ardnacassa/ Palace Crescent/ Grian Ard areas of Longford town. During 2017 the members noted that the combined focussed approach between the local authority and the Gardaí was producing steady progress in the area. Very positive meetings were held with residents of the area and relevant agencies and key issues facing the community in the area were identified.

Actions ongoing and completed to date included-

Audit/Inspection/Micro-chipping of dogs

Neighbourhood watch clinics

Estate Clean up day and large Waste collection.

Dog Control

Public Lighting

CCTV

Management of vacant houses

Storage of tyres at the rear of houses and burnt out houses

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PUBLIC MEETING The JPC hosted a public meeting in relation to matters affecting the policing of the County on 2nd November 2017 in the Longford Arms Hotel, Longford. Chairperson Cllr. Gerry Warnock welcomed members of the public who attended and advised that the theme of the meeting would be “Embracing our Diverse Communities”. The Garda representatives emphasised the importance of the meeting as a welcome forum for engagement with members of the public on local policing issues.

A Garda Specialist on Diversity delivered a presentation on the integration of new communities throughout the country. A representative from the immigrant community outlined his experience of integration in Longford. A development officer from Longford Community Resources Clg gave details of the Longford Traveller Primary Healthcare Programme while the FAI Development Officer made a presentation in relation to the FAI Community Programme in Longford which is part-funded by the FAI and Longford County Council.

A discussion ensued in relation to the integration of diverse communities in Longford. This was followed by a question and answer session in relation to different aspects of policing in Longford.

Mr. Paddy Mahon, Chief Executive of Longford County Council concluded the meeting by noting the mainly positive feedback from the public and emphasising the level of ongoing co-operation between the Local Authority, the Gardaí and the community. He thanked the members of the public for their input and confirmed that the JPC would take on board the various views expressed.

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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION NETWORK ANNUAL REPORT 2017 In 2017, an additional 67new community groups registered with the County Longford Public Participation Network (PPN) bringing the total membership to 225. The Secretariat consisting of 9 voluntary members, held 8 monthly meetings in relation to the PPN Workplan and 2 workplan review meetings. The Financial subgroup met 7 times to oversee the PPN budget and financial transactions. Members of the Secretariat attended regional and national meetings and one Secretariat member sat on the National PPN Advisory Group Committee. The Secretariat is supported by a full time Development Officer employed by Longford County Council since April 2016. Key Achievements during 2017 were -

Budget secured and transferred by Longford County Council to the PPN Secretariat as agreed in MoU.

2 County Plenary Meetings held on 27th March and 22nd November. 15 representatives ratified and 2 PPN policies approved. Guest speakers included Paddy Mahon, Chief Executive Longford County Council, Sean Healy, Social Justice Ireland, John Lonergan, Retired Prison Service Governor, Marie Lough, Assistant Chief Fire Officer and PPN Rep’s from the disability and regeneration committees.

Municipal District Plenary Meetings were held in Ballymahon on 9th June, Granard on 13th June and Longford on 14th June. Guest speakers were PPN members presenting on their experiences of implementing projects through LEADER funding. Members of the LEADER team closed the meetings with short presentations and were on hand to speak with members and arrange follow up visits.

New Linkage groups were set up when community representative vacancies arose on Council structures and outside bodies. Linkage Groups were set up in accordance to Department Guidelines with community groups electing representatives and the process of using PPN feedback forms was implemented. Existing Linkage groups were strengthened. Currently County Longford PPN has 40 representatives on 18 Committees.

COMMITTEES AND NUMBER OF PPN REPRESENTATIVES o Citizen Information Service (CIS): 1 o County Heritage: 1 o County Longford Childcare Committee: 1 o County Longford Drug and Alcohol Forum / Midlands Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force: 1 (same person for

both committees) o County Longford Tourism: 3 o Economic Development & Enterprise Strategic Policy Committee: 2 o Housing Strategic Policy Committee: 3 o Infrastructure & Environment Strategic Policy Committee:2 o Joint Policing Committee:1 o LEADER Evaluation Committee: 2 o Local Community Development Committee (LCDC): 5 o Longford Community Resources Ltd: 2 o Longford Sports Partnership: 5 o Longford Volunteer Centre: 1 o Older Persons Council: 2 o Planning and Development and Cultural Strategic Policy Committee:3 o URBACT Local Group: 5

Set up the PPN Disability Network May 2017. Lobbied Disability Federation of Ireland as there was no Disability officer appointed to the Midlands. A worker is now in place. Was recognised at the first National PPN Conference for “Best Practise Model” in establishing and supporting the Disability Network and Linkage Groups. Carried out 3 Mobility Audits in

PPN Mobility Audit 4th October

PPN Art Feature for Cruthu Arts Festival 2017

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conjunction with Longford County Council and Older Persons Council. Worked with An Garda Síochána in relation to various illegal parking and access issues.

PR Training delivered by Persuasion Republic to PPN Secretariat and PPN groups on 15th March and 10th May.

PPN training delivered to approx. 80 council staff by Social Justice Ireland and PPN Development Officer on 27th and 28th March.

Induction training delivered to new representatives and groups by the PPN Development Officer Jan – Nov 2017

PPN Development Officer supported groups with filling out funding applications

Information Packs designed and printed 1st February.

PPN website developed and launched 7th September.

PPN Promo video developed and launched 21st September.

PPN stand promoting the structure at local, regional and National level i.e. Older Persons Information Day, Longford/ Westmeath County Childcare Info Day and National Ploughing Championships 2017

PPN Groups collaborated with the Arts Office to create giant art features out of recycled materials to showcase at the Cruthu Arts Festival July 2017

Eleven monthly e-Bulletin’s/newsletters were circulated in 2017 as part of the PPN Communication Strategy as well as growing the PPN Facebook page which currently stands at 1247 followers with a reach of up to 3000 to 5000 people per week. A PPN Twitter page is also active and Salesforce is now in use for on-line registration and mass e-mailing/texting

County Longford PPN hosted the Social Justice Ireland Regional Roadshow/Workshops on the 2nd December. Eleven PPN’s participated.

Linked community groups with relevant agencies such as the HSE, Probation Services, Gardaí Siochána, Longford Community Resources Limited, Disability Federation Ireland and many more.

County Longford PPN has established itself as the main hub around which information is distributed and received e.g. groups activities/events, training/workshops, consultations, funding opportunities etc.

Paddy Mahon, CE addressing PPN members, County Plenary

Senior Staff members participating in PPN Training

First National PPN Conference, Sligo May 2017

PPN website

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LONGFORD SPORTS PARTNERSHIP

There is a wide range of sports and physical activity programmes available through Longford Sports Partnership. In addition to the thousands of people that took part in 34 local programmes, groups were supported through our small grants scheme and capacity built through a suite of training and education initiatives. Highlights in 2017 included securing Dormant Account Funding for new Community Sports Hub in Edgeworthstown. Other significant developments included the further expansion of the parkrun network to include Junior parkrun and the inaugural Ganly's Sports Awards in conjunction with Longford Sports Partnership and the Longford Leader. The LSP also welcomed a part-time Community Sports Development Officer to the team.

RESOURCING AND FUNDING The LSP was successful in securing approximately €275,000 in funding from a number of providers during 2017:

Sport Ireland Core Funding

Health Service Executive: SIDO programming / Healthy Ireland

Age and Opportunity Ireland: Active Age programming

Dormant Accounts funding for four programmes: Community Sports Hub (Edgeworthstown) Community Coaching Sports Leadership Urban Outdoor Adventure Initiative

LSP BOARD Cllr. John Browne; Cllr. Mark Casey; Cllr. Martin Mulleady; Paddy Mahon, Longford County Council. Sporting Representatives are Shirley Maloney, Minority Sport; Paul Clancy, Aquatics; Peter Reilly, Field Sports. Other agency representatives included Cllr. Peggy Nolan, ETB; Clodagh Armitage, HSE; Martin Tarmey, Disability, James O’Brien, Facilities; Cllr. Mae Sexton, LCR clg; Michael Belton, An Garda Síochána; Joe Quinn, Youth Services, Frank Horne, RAPID, Breda Greaves, Older Adults. The AGM of the Board was held on 30

th March 2017.

DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE Through our funding work, the LSP supported seventeen clubs in securing grant aid to support their junior structures, coach and education initiatives and target group programming. Other club development work included support in relation to committee roles, governance and child protection issues, in light of Garda vetting changes and legislation. The LSP worked closely with Longford County Council on a successful Sports Capital Programme application for development of The Mall gymnasium, thus strengthening the infrastructure in the County.

DELIVERY OF SPORT IRELAND PROGRAMMES Operation Transformation walks kicked off 2017 in Aughnacliffe, Edgeworthstown, Longford Town, Ballymahon, Granard and Ballinamuck. These weekly walks lasted 6 weeks and the LSP teamed up with Parkrun for the main event on 7

th January 2017, with 210 participants - Parkrun’s biggest turn out since it

commenced. The RTE OT programme followed up and filmed its 10@10 in Killoe NS. To date 4,470 school children in 36 schools have received the Buntús programme, with follow up refresher training available on request.

The LSP delivered training and education courses, workshops and seminars along with partner agencies. These included four Safeguarding 1 courses, two Safeguarding 2 and one safeguarding 3 course. In total, 140 people representing 13 sports participated on these training courses.

PROGRAMME DELIVERY Schools Programmes - Couch to 3k&Sports hall Athletics were rolled out around the County with over 550 pupils taking part through 20 schools. Group were linked to junior parkrun following the events. Additional schools programming took the form of the BeACTIVEASAP programme in 5 schools, targeting out of hours physical activity.

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400 people took part in activities as part of national BikeWeek. Clubs and local groups supported events which included Longford Bikers’ Brunch, Clondra Family Cycle, the Tarmonator Triathlon, Kidathon and the Longford Cycle Tour. The LSP, in conjunction with Age and Opportunity Ireland completed its roll out of the Physical Activity Leader (PALs) in Edgeworthstown in March with over 30 participants involved. These participants are now trained to deliver physical activity in older person settings such as day care centres and active retirement groups. The Community Coaching programme was completed by 16 participants in April in Ballymahon. Working in conjunction with LCRL, DSP and other partners, the focus for participants was on becoming job ready (outdoor education) for future opportunities that may arise with Center Parcs.

FOOTBALL IN THE COMMUNITY Youth football has been surging in Longford with The Late Night Soccer League seeing over 200 young people engage. In addition, the women's game saw 64 girls from Longford town schools take part in the FAI Primary Girls Futsal last week. A pilot Walking Soccer initiative is being rolled out in Convent Day Centre in Ballymahon. The rules of walking football are much the same as its speedier cousin, however there are some differences. The squads are smaller (between five and seven-a-side), free kicks are indirect, kick-ins replace throws, there are no offsides, the ball must be kept below head height and, of course, anything so much as a jog is prohibited. County-wide roll-out will begin in Q1 2018.

SPORTS INCLUSION DISABILITY PROGRAMME Disability Inclusion training was rolled out in Stonepark FC in conjunction with the FAI; Stonepark FC will be the first club in the County offering mainstream Football For All. Get Wild West Active Programme continued in partnership with CAMHS, for children/young adults and parents to participate in sports based in community - participants from Longford and Westmeath. Kurling Programme continued to be implemented for pan disabilities, to become part of Inclusive Games.

In conjunction with the HSE, the LSP supported the role out of a one day training ‘An Introduction to Youth Mental Health’ in June.

RUGBY COMMUNITY COACHING On opportunity to highlight the positive work being done as part of the Rugby in The Community Partnership arose with the Tour of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in July. The Tour took in Longford and visited school children in Killoe NS and then the Cathaoirleach welcomed the trophy to Longford County Council. Members of Longford Sports Partnership, Longford Rugby Club, Leinster Rugby and St. Christopher’s Services were in attendance.

Other programmes included:

Aldi Play Rugby Programme and supply of equipment to schools continues to roll out

Coach education continues in Longford Rugby Club

Development of club infrastructure - astro training facility and youth centre opened

TY coaching workshop for 3 secondary schools

GAA COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP The development officer post for the GAA became vacant in the first half of the year. Despite the reduced capacity the GAA rolled out on a number of initiatives including national school coaching, indoor hurling blitz, work in DEIS schools, Gaelic4Teens, TY coaching in Mean Scoil Mhuire and fundamentals coaching for ladies clubs. Training was also provided in the areas of refereeing, first aid and foundation level awards.

A summary of the LSP and Sport Ireland target groups engaged during this period:

Unemployed people People with an intellectual disability

Children of primary school age Women aged 18-50

Men aged 18-50 Sports club volunteers

Coaches Youth at risk

People experiencing mental health difficulties People of migrant communities

People with a physical disability Girls of secondary school age

People with a sensory disability Boys of secondary school age

Disadvantaged Communities

BUILDING AND SUSTAINING PARTNERSHIPS The community partnerships with the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Longford County Council, Westmeath Sports Partnership and Leitrim County Council continue to contribute significantly to creating opportunities for sports participation, particularly in areas of disadvantage. The LSP works closely with these agencies on the planning and monitoring of annual work plans.

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Our annual sports fora and sports ability forum continue to work with clubs and groups to build capacity within areas and identify priorities. As part of our awareness raising and committee work, the LSP had representation on several committees including the Healthy Ireland Steering Committee, Longford Tourism and Longford Volunteer Manager Forum.

Other working partners over the period included:

Age and Opportunity Registered Sporting Organisations

Disability Organisations Other LSPs

HSE Sport Ireland

Gardaí Tourism Agencies

Government Departments Primary Schools

Local Authority Education and Training Board

Dormant Accounts Youth Services Organisations

Local Community Development Committees Pobal/ LEADER/ Area Based Partnerships

Cara Centre Post-Primary Schools

Public Participation Network Community Organisations

INFORMATION DELIVERY The LSP strategic planning saw an end of term review and public consultations taking place for the new 2018-2021 strategy. It will be launched in Q2 2018. The LSP continues to use its social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter to communicate with clubs and groups in the County, enjoying a strong following on both. In addition, work on a new website continued during 2017, with a launch date in Q2 2018. Longford Sports Partnership also has a weekly news column in the sports section of the Longford Leader, newsletters and distribution lists for schools, sports clubs, local businesses and other agencies.

Finally, the first Ganly’s Longford Sports Star Awards 2017 took place on 1st December 2017. Longford Pony Club were crowned overall 2017 winners, with 14 other awards given on the night, including Volunteer of the Year and an Exceptional Service to Sport Award. The results were dominated by female and junior athletes across several minority sports. The partnership with the Longford Leader and Ganly's ensured great publicity, sustained throughout the year.

Longford Sports Partnership continues to be very thankful to Longford County Council, Sport Ireland, HSE, other funders, local agencies and representatives on the Sports Partnership board.

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CORPORATE SERVICES

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS Longford County Council received Freedom of Information from various sources including business persons, journalists and

citizens.

Number of FOI Requests 103

Number of Internal Reviews 2

Appeals to the Information Commissioner 0

INFORMATION ON THE ENVIRONMENT REQUESTS Six Access to Information on the Environment requests were received during 2017.

PROTECTED DISCLOSURE ACT The number of Protected Disclosures received in 2017 was 2.

FRANCHISE The 2017/2018 Register came into force on 15th February 2017 until 14th February 2018. To vote, a person must be 18 years of age or older on that date and be ordinarily resident at their address on 1st September of the preceding year. Every resident, irrespective of their nationality, who is 18 years or older is entitled to be included on the Register of Electors. A person may be included on a Supplement to the Register if they reach 18 years of age on or before Polling Day and meet the requirements in relation to residence. The numbers registered to vote on the 2017/2018 Register of Electors were -

Local Electoral Area Number of Electors Ballymahon 10,475

Granard 10,782

Longford 9,505

Total: 30,762

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT Longford County Council’s first Irish Language Scheme previously agreed with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht following the passing of the Official Languages Act, is still in operation. The Council previously received approval to the deferral of preparation of its second Scheme. It was determined in 2017 that it was prudent in the context of expected publication of further legislation on the Official Languages Act and information available, to delay preparation of the Council’s second language scheme for a further period. This matter is under review at present. During 2017 the Irish Language Officer undertook the following activities in relation to the promotion of the Irish language:

The Ciorcal Comhrá met during lunch-time for a period of six weeks during March/April and November/December. These sessions were attended by Council employees and members of the public.

A series of six classes of basic and intermediate Irish were held during March and April. Classes were offered to Council employees and members of the public with a second series of classes held during November/December.

A teacher from the Gaelscoil provided basic Irish classes in the library for a full week during July. Classes were widely advertised and held in the mornings from 10am to 1pm. It was decided to host this type of “Summer School” again next year as classes were very well attended.

Seachtain na Gaeilge was celebrated by holding of a series of quizzes in the Irish Language in four of the branch libraries, purchase of a number of new Irish books for adults with displays of Irish books for both adults and children in each branch. The Ciorcal Comhrá participated in the celebrations and met that week with a special celebratory “cupán tae” to mark the occasion.

In June 2017 the Irish Language Officer attended a network meeting for local authority Irish Language Officers. The Irish Language Commissioner indicated that new legislation concerning the obligations of Local Authorities in relation to the Irish Language should be passed early in 2018.

In October 2017, following a comprehensive application process, Longford Library successfully secured a grant of €1,300 from Foras na Gaeilge towards funding for Irish Language events during the Children’s Book Festival. This funding was used to engage two artists. Carmel Balfe (artist) provided a bilingual puppet show in Longford Library for 1st and 2nd classes from

CORPORATE SERVICES AND HUMAN RESOURCES

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3 local primary schools in Longford town and Niall de Búrca (artist) discussed his books and writings in Irish with 5th and 6th years from local secondary schools in Longford, Ballymahon and Lanesborough.

During the year, the Irish Language Officer facilitated employees in providing a number of translations of letters, road signs and other materials.

The cooperation of the Elected Members during 2017 in the ongoing implementation of the Council’s obligations under the Official Languages Act is hereby acknowledged.

HUMAN RESOURCES The Human Resources Department supports the Management Team in the strategic management of its most valuable resource – its employee’s. The work of the Human Resources Department includes recruitment, implementation of policies and procedures, payroll processing, attendance management, training & development, performance management, compliance with statutory legislation and industrial relations. The principles and operating framework for 2017 continued to be guided by Government Policy decisions in relation to Public Services.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION Longford County Council experienced significant recruitment activity in 2017. Recruitment and selection procedures are operated in an open and fair manner, in line with good practice recruitment and selection standards, employment legislation and relevant Departmental Circulars and guidelines. The high level of recruitment and selection undertaken is demonstrated in the statistics for 2016 outlined hereunder.

Competitions advertised

Interview days

Applicants invited for interview

Applicants attended for interview

Appointments

38 43 361 303 67

WORKFORCE PLANNING The Council’s Workforce Plan & Strategy 2016-2021 was finalised and submitted to the Department in March 2016. Human Resources continues to actively participate in the decision making process and assessment of staff requirements and projections for future workforce to enable Longford County Council response to the Public Service Reform Agenda, having due regard to the priorities identified in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

ATTENDANCE MANAGEMENT Longford County Council is committed to creating and maintaining a healthy and supportive work environment for employees and recognises the impact of absence on the work of the Council and on work colleagues. The Council is therefore committed to managing absence and where possible, to reduce and maintain the impact of absences and continued in 2017 its implementation of the Attendance Management Policy. The policy is underpinned by procedures to manage absence, in keeping with relevant statutory provisions, Sick Leave schemes and best practice. The Council is working to achieve the Public Service wide target for a reduction of time lost to absenteeism in line with Public Service Reform. Time & Attendance for employees is managed using the CORE (integrated HR system). This enables HR to provide up-to-date management reports on employee attendance.

NATIONAL VETTING BUREAU (CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE PERSONS) ACT 2012-2016 The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016 enacted in 2016 provides a legislative basis for the vetting of persons who seek positions of employment relating to children or vulnerable persons. This Act makes vetting mandatory. Longford County Council as a ‘Relevant Organisation’ for the purpose of the Act is required to ensure that employees who it deems are engaged in activities encompassed by the Act are the subject of Garda Vetting. An assessment of the roles and activities undertaken by employees was conducted and based on this, employees in particular roles and service areas are subject to Garda Vetting. In 2017 Human Resources completed the process of retrospective vetting of existing employees in accordance with the requirements under the Act.

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EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT The Council recognises the key role of its employees and is committed to their training & development. Human Resources developed an Employee Training & Development Policy and following a consultative process with the employee representative bodies and the Senior Officers Group this Policy was agreed with the Management Team and implemented in 2017. This policy provides for the delivery of an annual training programme not only to ensure that all employees undertake mandatory training in accordance with legislative requirements but also to provide employees with opportunities to develop their skills and competencies to enhance service delivery and to further the strategic objectives of Longford County Council. The policy provided for support to employees who wished to undergo third-level education to promote both their professional and personal development.

Human Resources actively support’s Health & Safety in the identification of training gaps, sourcing and provision of relevant workplace safety training and the maintenance of Health & Safety training records.

In 2017, Human Resources delivered a substantial training programme, using both internally and externally sourced trainers, and focussing on a wide range of areas including health & safety, information technology, leadership and change management. A total of 135 training programmes were delivered to 969 participants over 135.425 days across all disciplines, some of the Training Courses delivered in 2017 included:

Excel

Dealing with Violence and Aggression in the workplace

Fire Safety

Manual Handling

IOSH Refresher

Managing safely in construction (IOSH)

Safe lift passenger release training

Driver CPC

Abrasive wheels

Safety representative training

Safety statement induction training

Safepass

Signing, Lighting & Guarding

INDUSTRIAL /EMPLOYEE RELATIONS Industrial and Employee Relations forms a significant part of HR activities as employee concerns encompass a wide range of issues. Maintaining good industrial relations through ongoing interaction and engagement with all stakeholders serves to strengthen the employer /employee relationship. The main areas of engagement in 2017 related to Workforce Planning and matters covered under the revised Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018, Lansdowne Road Agreement (previously Haddington Road Agreement).

MOVING FORWARD In moving forward, the Human Resources Department will continue to target its operational work programme and initiatives to positively contribute to the accomplishment of the goals and objectives identified in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

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ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT The local economy continued to strengthen in 2017 following the positive national trends which are based on renewed confidence that the country is entering a period of extended growth. The one major threat to that growth is the uncertainty around BREXIT and its implications, in particular for those firms involved in international trade. Medium sized firms in Longford fared well in 2017 with many of them in expansionary mode mainly based on the back of strong export performance. It is important then that these companies are sheltered as far as possible from any potential negative impacts that might arise from the Brexit process. Several Longford based plants undertook or outlined expansion plans during 2017. Abbott Ireland, a SHINGO award winning plant continued in expansion mode during the year and is now one of the most advanced Medtech plants in the country. Panelto Foods received planning permission for a 45,000 sq. ft. expansion that should result in becoming one of the most technologically advanced food processing plants in the world, while Kiernan Milling in Granard also expanded operations. Finesse Medical was acquired by a large American multi-national that will hopefully result in future expansion in Longford and the former Cameron plant was sold to a U.K. investment team with plans to establish a manufacturing facility. The ground was broken on the Center Parcs Longford Forest development in Ballymahon, the largest single tourism investment in the history of the State. Construction of the resort is on schedule for a planned opening towards the middle of 2019. All of the investment outlined has potential to deliver significant new employment opportunities to help retain graduates, young people and families in the region and Longford is battling well above its weight when it comes to attracting and supporting commercial investment. The local LEO office continues to support the needs of the micro-firm’s sector and to support the efforts of the economic development unit in Longford County Council in promoting the County as a viable location for business investment. The Local Authority’s Regeneration team also supported this effort focussing on particular projects such as the Northern Quarter in Longford Town and other economic black spots. The facilitated sale of the vacant shopping centre during the year will hopefully lead to a significant injection of new amenities and footfall into the town from 2018 onwards. The Local Authority working with local communities has progressed many other regeneration projects on 2016 thanks to the availability of a number of Government funding streams under REDz, Town & Village Renewal, Rural Regeneration and Outdoor Recreation. The Business Incentive Scheme introduced in 2015 continued to be available to help firms moving into vacant units. The vast amount of industrial stock built during the construction boom and not yet occupied is diminishing fairly rapidly as businesses, particularly businesses in warehousing and distribution realise the advantages of being centrally located in Ireland. The local authority has been proactive in establishing direct communication channels with its key employers, its business associations and with its economic diaspora. It met with a Dublin based diaspora group twice during 2017 and that group continues to provide advice and practical supports in the efforts to attract investment to the County. Longford County Council made several submissions to National and Regional plans that will determine the future economic shape of rural Ireland and it has had considerable success in achieving infrastructural upgrades such as the gas pipeline to Ballymahon. It continues to work in partnership with all the key support and development agencies and this partnership approach to economic growth should reap rewards going forward.

LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICES Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) were established in April 2014 as a function of local government. They act as the primary reference point for all queries related to business start-up and small business growth and offer a ‘First Stop Shop’ service to persons seeking information, advice, guidance or support in relation to micro-enterprise development. The LEO office works in partnership with a range of other agencies to ensure that people can quickly access the most relevant supports linked to their needs at a particular time and it strives at all times to promote the value of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in helping to grow local economies. The LEO Longford works closely with its target audience to drive the development of local enterprise, placing local small firms at the heart of job creation. It delivers a diverse range of supports in a focussed manner, building close professional relationships that result in clients repeatedly using the LEO office as a resource.

ECONOMIC, ENTERPRISE AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

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2017 was another good year for LEO Longford with active and constructive engagement with hundreds of small firms across the County. Job numbers in firms supported directly by the LEO Longford office grew by 106. LEO Longford approved 23 projects for direct financial assistance during the year, compared to 15 the previous year. LEO Longford ranks high in customer care score and satisfaction ratings surveys and it strives to deliver high quality and multi-varied services and supports to its ever expanding customer and client base throughout Longford. The LEO continued to roll-out its range of soft support measures to include training, mentoring and in-company supports. In 2017 over 72 participants availed of mentoring support while 518 participants availed of some form of structured training. Supports are designed to be delivered in a flexible manner and tailored specifically to meet the needs of new and growing enterprises. Tailored programmes are designed to support target groups such as Back to Enterprise clients, individual sectors such as food and under-developed sectors such as women in business. The LEO Longford continued to promote Government initiatives designed to stimulate local enterprise particularly Employer Job Incentive Schemes and Access to Credit Schemes. In the area of education, the LEO Longford continued to support the Student Enterprise Programme as a primary vehicle for instilling an understanding and appreciation of enterprise into our young people. It also continued to support the National Enterprise Awards as a high profile opportunity to highlight the achievements of small businesses and entrepreneurs. The LEO worked closely with all local media to promote local enterprise, to highlight successes and raise concerns that impact on this sector. It continued to promote its services on its dedicated website www.localenterprise.ie\longford and made increasing use of social media to get its message out to its client base.

COUNTY LONGFORD TOURISM In 2017, Longford County Council and County Longford Tourism Committee continued to cooperate and collaborate on the development of tourism in County Longford, identifying it as a key economic sector for the County. In addition, in December 2017, the Local Authority recruited its first full-time tourism officer, a position that will greatly assist the implementation of tourism plans and actions. This new appointee will begin her role in February 2018 and report to the Tourism Committee and the Economic SPC. In 2017 all bodies involved in tourism continued to develop infrastructure projects such as the Royal Canal Walkway, cycling trails and community back projects. The availability of Government funds was a tremendous catalyst for the instigation and progression of different projects and all corners of the County have been able to progress tourism projects during the year. The Tourism Committee continued to work on a marketing strategy for the County to increase the County's appeal as a tourism destination to identified target market segments. In 2017 work continued on a new websitewww.visitlongford.ie, an active social media presence, new promotional materials, along with maps and brochures designed to inform and educate visitors on the wide variety of tourism experiences available in County Longford. County Longford Tourism Committee continued to operate a year round Tourist Information Office in Longford Town with funds primarily provided by Longford County Council. As well as acting as a promoter of all local festivals and events, County Longford Tourism Committee also facilitated the delivery of training to tourism providers and has sought to increase the investment in tourism locally by accessing funds from as many funding sources as possible. The Local Authority also continued to work with community and specific interest groups in 2017 on initiatives and events designed to build tourism products. In addition, the LCDC committee has a vital oversight role in the implementation of the current LEADER programme and its associated heavy emphasis on local tourism development. 2017 was a significant year for tourism in Longford with Longford County Council involved in a range of initiatives many of them with a regional dimension. Further works were carried out on the Royal Canal Greenway and it is expected that this project will be brought to a completion in 2018. This will open a full safe cycling corridor from Dublin to the Shannon leading on into the West of Ireland when it is completed.

Working with key partners including Roscommon County Council, Waterways Ireland and Bord na Móna , the local authority progressed plans around the development of a National Wetlands Park that will include Lough Ree and its heritage islands and

the vast tranches of exhausted bogs currently owned by Bord na Móna . Under the Upper Shannon Erne Future Economy (USEFE) banner, tourism product continues to be upgraded and a series of water trails and walking/cycling trails that connect counties and provinces continue to be developed.

http://www.localenterprise.ie/longford

http://www.visitlongford.ie/

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The Center Parcs Longford Forest Project continued to dominate the headlines during 2017 with the construction phase progressing on schedule with a view to the resort opening mid-2019. The opportunities associated with so many new visitors coming to the region from 2019 are being fully explored and work has commenced on packages to try and retain visitors for a longer period in the region. Many successful festivals took place throughout the year with direct and indirect support from Longford County Council. They included the Taste of the Lakelands Festival, Aisling Children’s Arts Festival, Dead of the Night Festival, Cruthu Arts Festival, Marquee in Drumlish and the Ballymahon Short Film Festival. It is hoped to build the capacity and profile of all these festivals and more during 2018. Finally, County Longford is now part of the Fáilte Ireland brand "Ireland's Ancient East". While we welcome the fact that two of our most significant attractions, St. Mel's Cathedral and Corlea Interpretative Centre are included in the IAE portfolio, Longford County Council looks forward to the new Fáilte Ireland Regional brand that will be unveiled in 2018 to cover the broader Shannon Basin. We believe that this new brand, properly resourced, will greatly enhance the region’s ability to attract visitors and to retain them in the region.

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David Coppinger, David McNiff, Brian McNeela, Paul Newell, John McKeon, Paddy Mahon

Chief Executive, John Thompson NISG chair, Marie Kenny, Harry Galvin NISO President,

Mary Gouldsbury, Marise Macken and Patricia Cahill receiving the Silver Award at the

NISO Awards on 13th October 2017

Achieving workplace safety across a business as diverse as Longford County Council is a challenge. Managing health and safety can only be accomplished through the commitment of all employees. Longford County Council is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace through continuous improvement and includes health and safety as an integral part of business.

CERTIFICATION TO OHSAS 18001:2007 In 2014, Longford County Council was awarded certification of registration of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System to OHSAS 18001:2007 by the National Standard Authority of Ireland (NSAI). OHSAS 18001:2007 is an internationally recognised standard for the management of Occupational Health and Safety. It is intended to assist Longford County Council to:

Provide a safe place of work for all employees

Comply with legal requirements and

Control and manage health and safety risks associated with the work activities of the Council.

Longford County Council is the first County Council in the country recommended for certification to OHSAS 18001:2007 for cross organisational processes.

The following departments were included within the scope of the audit.

Building Maintenance

Corporate Services

Housing

Human Resources

Libraries

Roads

Water Services

Unfinished Housing Estates In October 2017, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) completed a successful recertification audit. The Council were issued a new certificate of registration, valid for the next three years.

This is a very important certification for Longford County Council and demonstrates the commitment to the management and continuous improvement of health and safety to make Longford County Council a safer place for all employees

REGULATORY INSPECTIONS There was one inspection carried out by the Health and Safety Authority in 2017.

SUMMARY OF ACCIDENT/INCIDENTS REPORTS FOR 2017 The reporting of accidents and incidents is an important element of the safety management system and is used as a tool for identifying areas for continuous improvement. A total of 31 accidents and incidents were reported during the year 2017.

There were 14 Incidents relating to Violence and Aggression experienced by employees in dealing with members of the public in carrying out their duties. A number of proactive measures have been taken to address this issue including a presentation by An Garda Síochána to Employees of the Council, and training. Longford County Council, work closely with the Gardaí to monitor violence and aggression towards employees.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE AT WORK

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SAFETY STATEMENT/RISK ASSESSMENTS The Safety Statement is a document that every employer and County Council is legally obliged to have and must specify how the County Council manages health and safety. The Longford County Council safety statement was updated during 2017 and obtained the ‘Plain English’ mark from the National Adult Literacy Agency. Plain English is a way of presenting information that helps someone understand it the first time they read or hear it. Longford is the first County Council in the country to receive the ‘Plain English’ mark for the Safety Statement. Risk Assessments require completion for all work activities and buildings owned and/or operated by Longford County Council employees. A continuous programme for the completion, review, update and communication of risk assessments is in place for implementation within all sections of Longford County Council.

SAFETY INSPECTIONS In 2017, Longford County Council continued with the Safety Inspection Program which sets out a programme of work for safety inspections to be completed at fixed and mobile work locations. The Inspections are carried out by each Directorate and a report is provided to the Management Team on a quarterly basis. There were 185 safety inspections were carried out during the year 2017. The Inspections are a useful tool for determining compliance with Health and Safety requirements within the organisation. Any non-compliance or issues identified in the Safety Inspections are added to an Action Tracking List by each section to ensure that all actions identified are addressed and satisfactorily closed by each section.

HEALTH AND SAFETY AUDITING In 2017, Longford County Council continued auditing of the health and safety management system. 12 days of auditing were completed in 2017. Auditing is an independent, systematic and thorough review of all elements of the safety management system. This involved an external auditor collecting information to determine the reliability and effectiveness of the safety management system. This is a useful process and assists the County Council achieve its objectives of legal compliance by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to improve the effectiveness of health and safety management through continuous improvement

HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING Training is a key element of promoting a positive safety culture and developing good safety procedures on the job. In 2017, 734 employees attended 102 training courses on Health and Safety. These courses included Safe Pass, IOSH Managing Safely in Construction, Driver CPS, Chain Saw, Asbestos Awareness, Manual Handling and Safety Representative Training.

COMMUNICATION AND CONSULTATION The Council consults and communicates with employees using the following methods:

Preparation of Risk Assessments and Standard Operating Procedures

Monthly safety reports;

Safety representatives;

Safety Monitoring Consultative Committee meetings (in each department);

Safety Management Committee meetings; and

Management Team meetings. The Safety Monitoring Consultative Committee Meetings were held in each Directorate on a quarterly basis. Each Committee is chaired by the Director, and includes elected Safety Representatives, Line Managers and the Health and Safety Officer. This process allows for specific safety issues within each Directorate to be discussed. It is a legal requirement to have this process in place for addressing health and safety issues and giving safety representatives an opportunity to raise safety issues on behalf of their work colleagues. Safety Management Team Meetings were held four times during the year to address issues raised at the Safety Monitoring Consultative Committee Meetings. This meeting is also used evaluate compliance with the health and safety legislation and to review progress on the Annual Programme of Works. The intranet is used as a communication tool for up to date content of the Safety Management System. The Health and Safety Officer attends the Management Team meeting each month and provides an update on accidents and incidents, operational issues and national developments in Health and Safety. The Safety Report is prepared each month by the Health and Safety Officer and circulated to all employees. This is an effective way of communicating relevant information in relation to Health and Safety matters to all employees and contributes to the development of a positive health and safety culture with all employees.

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CONTRACTORS Longford County Council continues to assess Contractors that work on their behalf in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations, 2013. Every Contractor completes a Health and Safety Questionnaire and this is assessed by Longford County Council to determine their competency and compliance with Health and Safety requirements. There are currently 365 contractor assessments completed, 66 of these contractors were new or completed a re-assessment in 2017.

2017 - WORKPLACE FATALITIES IN IRELAND There were 47 people killed in work related accidents last year. Longford County Council remains fully committed to managing health and safety and will continue to develop the Safety Management System to ensure a safe place of work for all its employees and members of the public.

HEALTH AND SAFETY AWARDS 2017 In 2017, Longford County Council submitted an application for the National Irish Safety Awards (NISO). The Council Won a Silver Award making it the first public service organisation in the Country to win a prize in the top three position. NISO have held safety awards for the last 26 years and these awards have become very important for all companies in Ireland. This year more than 120 companies entered the awards including three other Councils. To enter the awards, the Council had to make a submission under 11 sections and provide evidence of compliance with each of the sections. There were four categories of awards and the council were short listed for the top category. Winning the award would not have been possible without the commitment and input of all employees.

ANNUAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAMME OF WORKS – 2017 The 2017 annual programme of works takes account of this annual report, accidents and incidents, HSA inspections, outcomes from safety inspections and audits, safety meetings, legal requirements and any documents issued nationally for implementation.

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LONGFORD COUNTY LIBRARY SERVICE Longford County Library has six branch libraries: Longford, Ballymahon, Edgeworthstown, Granard, Drumlish and Lanesboro. Our branch libraries are a valued community space accessible to everyone. They are becoming increasingly used as a community hub for a wide range of cultural and community events e.g. community meetings, readings, lectures, book launches, exhibitions etc. As a reflection of this, for the first time, Longford Library Service achieved the highest number of visits per head of population in the country: over 200,000 visits were made to our libraries in 2017. A number of important developments occurred in 2017 -

In February all Longford Library branches moved over to Sierra, the new national shared Library Management system. One national online library catalogue was created, comprising the stock of all 333 branch libraries across the country.

Longford Library Customers can now request any item online or through their local branch library from any part of the country.

Requested items are made available in the customer’s local branch within three-to-five working days through a new national delivery service.

The uptake from this is that previously underutilised stock is now in wider circulation, providing best value for money from our book fund.

Your local library membership card is now universal across the country.

DEPARTMENT OF RURAL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LIBRARY GRANT FUNDING RFID Book Grant-Aid Longford Library Service availed of a Dept. of Rural and Community Development RFID book enabling grant of €5,000 with matched funding from Longford County Council to insert RFID Tags on all library book items in our library branches, both to drive efficiencies in the book distribution service between public library branches and also to advance the roll out of self- service technology in Longford Branch Library. Public Library Strategy Funding In December Longford Libraries received a grant of almost €70,000 with matched LCC funding of 25% under the Public Library Strategy Funding to support the introduction of a new 'Opportunities for All Strategy 2018-2022'. This aims to develop and promote initiatives such as self service technology as well as the continuing development of the public library service as a community resource in each urban and rural area. Longford Libraries will roll-out 2 new self service kiosks in Longford Branch Library early in 2018. This new technology will allow our library customers manage their own transactions, improve efficiencies in the area of collections as well as increasing staff resources in the area of customer and community engagement. A new suite of laptops were also acquired to enable the library service to expand digital skills learning programmes to our local communities under the Work Matters programme.

Edgeworthstown Community Library Edgeworthstown District Development Association (EDDA) acquired a brownfield site on the Main Street, specifically for the provision of a new library for their community. Longford County Council is working in partnership with the EDDA to deliver this project. The Part 8 planning application process stage was completed. Approval of €1.25 million for the project was granted by the Department of Rural and Community Development. In June 2017 Kenny Lyons Architects were appointed to develop a detailed design and cost plan. The overall cost plan for this project is now close to €3 million and this shortfall in funding presents a serious challenge for the local authority. It is hoped, with departmental approval, to proceed to tender for the build in 2018.

Jude Flynn with Jimmy Lennon at the Presentation to Minister Michael Ring of the Longford Rebel Trail Map launch of his Fireside Tales No 15 at Granard Library, by Cllr. P.J. Reilly and Donall Mac An Bheatha

LIBRARY, CULTURAL, HERITAGE AND ARCHIVES SERVICES

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Halloween Storytime at Longford Library, as part of the Children’s Book Festival

BRANCH LIBRARY PROGRAMME Longford County Library’s ethos for the library service is to make our libraries ‘a welcoming space for all’. The library service maintains an ongoing programme to support reader development, literacy and learning for adults and children. Through this programme, over 200 events were run in branch libraries across the county this year. These events were promoted on the library website, on social media, in the local press and radio. The library service also continues to nurture key partnership links with other statutory and community service providers and agencies, including: local schools, Longford Women’s Link (LWL); Longford Older Persons Council, Longford Westmeath ETB, Longford Mental Health Association, Community Gardaí; HSE, and a host of local community groups. Two key national initiatives were rolled out this year: the “Right to Read” programme and “Healthy Ireland At Your library” initiative - Right to read programme: An interagency working group has been established. This is led by the library service, with representatives from the education sector at preschool, primary and post-primary level. A new Right to Read strategy for the county was launched in September. Healthy Ireland At Your Library: This is a national health information/awareness programme. This provides books, online health information, and a series of talks and workshops on various topics relating to all aspects of health and wellbeing. Longford is rolling out a programme of events beginning in January 2018. Other events in 2017, included:

The Bealtaine Festival for older people in May, with over 500 people taking part in a wide range of events coordinated by the Library in partnership with Longford Older Person’s Network, Longford Gardaí and Longford/Westmeath Education and Training Board (ETB).

The Summer Stars, which is a part of the Right to read initiative, was held for the first time in 2017. This initiative encourages children to explore the joys of reading for pleasure as well as for study throughout the summer holidays. In 2017 over 2,000 books were read by children from all over the county. Each child was presented with an award to celebrate their reading success.

The Annual Children’s Book Festival ran throughout October, with author visits, storytelling, and creative writing.

Padraic Colum Cruinniú: the first ever Padraic Colum Gathering to celebrate the life and work of one of Longford’s most prolific writers was held in September, with members of the Colum family from as far away as Australia in attendance. The festival was held on the weekend of the 8

th& 9

th of

September, with an exhibition in the library running for two weeks. Talks on Colum were held in Longford Branch Library on September 9

th. Teresa O

Kelly, library staff member gave an inspiring lecture on one of Colum’s most famous children’s legends, the King of Ireland’s Son.

Attendees at the first Padraic Colum Gathering, at his birthplace at St. Joseph’s, Dublin Road

Open Libraries: This initiative launched by the Minister of Housing Planning and Local Government in 2016, was given additional funding this year by the Department, in preparation for self-service. The Open Library Programme recognises the value of libraries as important community spaces, with key facilities such as books, computers, broadband, WiFi, copying and printing, meeting spaces etc. It also acknowledges that some people, because of other commitments, work, college etc. cannot access these facilities during normal opening hours. A small pilot has already been carried out in Offaly and Sligo and this new service has become very popular with customers. It does not mean a reduction in the number of staffed

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hours the library is open, as most people will still require the assistance of our experienced staff. Currently there are ongoing negotiations between Management and Unions at national level and until these are completed this service cannot be launched to the public.

STAFF Little progress has been made on the Library Workforce Plan, which would ensure a better staff structure for the service. As the national embargo on recruitment has been removed, a staff recruitment plan has been submitted. I wish to acknowledge the cooperation, flexibility and support of the library service team for ensuring that all service points remained open throughout the year, despite severe staff shortages.

CREATIVE IRELAND PROGRAMME A new programme called Creative Ireland is the government’s legacy project building on the success of the 2016 centenary programme. This is a five year initiative which recognizes the value of the creativity in all of our lives, and acknowledges the need to place creativity at the centre of public policy. It also seeks to bring coordination, collaboration and increased awareness to existing culture-based initiatives and policies. The first County Longford Culture and Creativity Plan was developed this year with some exciting new initiatives such as Cruinniú na Cásca on Easter Monday, the first Padraic Colum Gathering, the Still Voices Short Film Festival and the Welcoming The Stranger, a compelling dance piece inspired by the stories of migrants and refugees that made Ireland their home. Key to the success of this programme is the provision of an adequate budget and a grant of €64,000 was provided by government in 2017, with an allocation of €20,000 being pledged by Longford County Council. A five-year programme is to be developed in 2018.

Abhainn Glas Céilí Band at the Leinster Fleadh 2017, in Ballymahon. Courtesy of Leinster Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann

COUNTY LONGFORD AGE FRIENDLY STRATEGY Longford has signed up to the national Age-Friendly City and County programme. This recognises that the percentage of our population over 65 will increase significantly over the next five to ten years, and that we need to make provision for this. A five year strategy has been developed by the Longford Age Friendly Alliance, in consultation with older people in the county. This has led to the formation of an Older Persons Council and a commitment by all the relevant agencies, led by the local authority, to making improvements in the key areas of infrastructure, services, information and our overall response to the challenges of making our county a better place to grow older in. The County Librarian is coordinating the implementation of the strategy, working in partnership with other sections of the Local Authority including, Housing, Planning, Environment, Community and Enterprise etc. along with key agencies such as the HSE, Gardaí, Citizens Information and the Longford Older Persons Network. The Longford Age Friendly Alliance is responsible for the implementation of the strategy in partnership with the very dynamic Longford Older Persons’ Council.

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Among the key achievements in 2017 were:

A very successful information day coordinated by Longford OPC as part of Positive Ageing Week. This took place in the Longford Arms Hotel in September. Over 130 people drawn from Active Age Clubs, resource centres, nursing homes, St. Christopher’s and retired people actively participated in the event. Exhibitors and speakers on the day included: Age Friendly Ireland, Longford Gardaí, Longford Westmeath Rural Transport, Longford County Council, Public Participation Network (PPN), Longford Citizens’ Information, Active Link, Arthritis Association and Longford Community Resources Ltd.

A pilot Crime Prevention Ambassador Programme, in partnership with Longford Community Gardaí which was launched in 2016. This continued with 26 volunteers who are very active in their communities.

TOWN TWINNING The official town twinning programme between Longford Town and Noyal Chatillon sur Seiche, Brittany, France celebrated its 19th year in 2017, by welcoming a delegation of 22 people to Longford in May of this year. Eighteen members of Longford County Choir made a memorable visit to Noyal in July, and were honoured to sing in the historic Benedictine Abbey of Mont Saint Michel as part of that visit. They also participated in a concert with French choirs in Noyal Chatillon as part of the weekend programme. A number of student exchanges between Noyal and Longford were also facilitated during the month of July.

Delegates from Noyal Chatillon, Longford’s twin town, visiting Abbeyshrule for a guided tour

with Philip Butler and Ursula McGoey (centre)

LONGFORD COUNTY ARCHIVES SERVICE The Archives Service had another busy year of activities, including large projects in digitisation and the completion of some projects in records management. It was also involved in public events and outreach.

ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT Microfilming/digitisation The first phase of the microfilming and digitisation of the minute books of Granard Poor Law Union was completed, involving 43 volumes. Other items digitised were as follows: the manuscript books of the County Longford Grand Jury, 1759-1907; the burial registers of Moatfarrell and Ardagh Cemeteries; the Longford Militia Book, 1793-1855; and the Drumming/Mosstown/Carriglass rent book (1822-43). Deposits The following archives were deposited -

Papers of the MacHugh family, Longford town, early 1900s

Papers of George Montgomery, Longford, solicitor, early 1900s

Notebooks of the Reynolds family, Drumnacrehir, Granard, c. 1870-1930s

Photographs from Frances Forster, Ballinalee, c. 1870-c.1920

Two notebooks from the Peyton family, Drumlish, early 1900s

Forbes family papers, 1869-1920

Minute book, Irish Unionist Alliance, Longford, 1913-18

Notebook of Joseph Smyth, Ballymahon, early 1900s

DVD of Albert Reynolds’s tour of Longford after his election as Taoiseach, 1992

Abstracts of accounts, Granard Town Council, 1970s

Papers of Patrick Greene NT

Expenses, Ballymahon Poor Law Union, 1890-1920

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Matt Farrell, Heritage Hero 2016, with then Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural &

Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys T.D. and Cathaoirleach Cllr. Mick Cahill

RECORDS MANAGEMENT

Work progressed on the records in a number of departments, as follows - Human Resources: a policy on the retention of recruitment files was drafted. This is an interim measure, pending the approval of the revised National Retention Policy for Local Authority Records, which will address the area fully. Files were also identified for disposal. Housing: the Archivist met senior staff in the department prior to its relocation to discuss record-keeping. Files were identified and destroyed prior to the department’s transfer to the Market Square. Finance: the Archivist went through records in the Internal Audit office prior to its relocation and authorised the disposal of a quantity of items. Files were also identified for disposal in the Higher Education Grants office.

Longford Town Council: the Archivist completed the first phase of work on the town council files including assisting in the disposal of records designated for destruction and assisting in the transfer of records from offices to storage. Queries from staff: the Archivist dealt with several queries from staff about records retention and undertook searches for records.

OUTREACH Talk on ‘Researching your family history’ to the Longford Active Retirement Group on 15 February.

Exhibition to mark the centenary of the South Longford by-election, 1917, and a talk at its opening on 24 May.

Walking tours of Longford town, with transition year classes, Meán Scoil Mhuire on 13, 26 September.

Talk on ‘Longford 1917-23’ to Leaving Certificate history classes in Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon on 11 October.

Talks about archives to all first year classes in Moyne Community School on 23 October.

‘Explore Your Archives Week’: an open afternoon on 22 November in which members of the public were introduced to a selection of archives in County Library HQ.

COMMEMORATIONS AND EVENTS The Carrickedmond First World War Commemoration, which involved a project for primary schools and the unveiling of

a stone to the dead on 11 June (including a short talk at the event).

Launching the St Paul’s Historic Graveyard Project in Newtownforbes on 17 June.

Talk at the Thomas Ashe Commemoration, Newtowncashel, 13 July.

Walking tour of Ballymahon on 14 July as part of the Leinster Fleadh Cheoil programme.

The Padraic Colum Cruinniú, 8-9 September, including a talk at St Joseph’s Care Centre.

Talk at unveiling of a plaque in Ardagh Cemetery on13 October.

Drafted the wording of information boards/plaques for Legan village and the Remembrance Garden, Great Water Street.

MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES/GROUPS The Archivist is a member of Culture Team which is overseeing the Creative Ireland Programme. The Archivist was one of the guides on the county tour to mark Cruinniú na Cásca, 17 April and a facilitator during the ‘Day of the Imagination’, 14 June. The Archivist is also a member of the URBACT Local Group, which is working on the MAPS Project concerning the re-use of Connolly Barracks, and of its sub-committee which is developing a walking tour of Longford town

LONGFORD HERITAGE OFFICE The County Longford continued its programme of works in 2017, to further the aims of the County Longford Heritage Office and to increase our knowledge and awareness of Longford’s diverse heritage stock and potential threats to its long-term survival. These included:

IRELAND'S HERITAGE HERO 2017 saw Matt Farrell of the Edgeworth Literary Trail receive the highest heritage accolade in the country, when Matt Farrell was made Ireland's second-ever Heritage Hero by the Heritage Council. This competition was run by Heritage Week where nominations were sought from the public.

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Mr. Farrell has gone on to advocate for the Edgeworths, Edgeworthstown, County Longford and Ireland's literary heritage around the country and as far afield as Italy, and has been praised by all who have met him for his enthusiasm and dedication.

LONGFORD-ROSCOMMON WETLANDS AUDIT The Longford and Roscommon Heritage Offices worked together in 2017 to create a baseline audit of known data on wetlands in their respective counties. Dr Peter Foss and Dr. Patrick Cushell of Wetland Surveys Ireland collated all of the available known data on wetlands in the counties and identified further sites for ground survey using modern aerial photography. This project was funded under the Heritage Council's County Heritage Plan programme.

LONGFORD & THE GREAT WAR COMMEMORATION 1914 – 2014: CARRICKEMOND & PASSCHENDAELE The Longford & the Great War Commemoration is a 4-year programme to commemorate World War 1 and its impact on County Longford, at its heart is an online database of known WW1 soldiers, published on www.longfordatwar.ie, which was funded by the Heritage Council under the County Heritage Plan Scheme. 2017 saw two events commemorating aspects of the impact of WW1 on Co. Longford. The first was the memorial dedicated to the men from Carrickedmond parish who lost their lives in WW1, unveiled on the 10 June 2017, to coincide with the Battle of Messines Ridge, where the men of the 16th (Irish) Division and 36th (Ulster) Division fought side-by-side. This community-based event, led by Cathaoirleach Cllr. Mick Cahill, with support from the local primary schools, local historians, Archivist and Heritage Office, saw families from the area gathered in Tashinny to attend the unveiling of the stone memorial. The second event focused on the Third Battle of Ypres, or 'Passchendaele'. The commemoration featured an exhibition, talk and ceremony in the Longford Remembrance Garden in memory of the men from County Longford who lost their lives as a result of the battle. This took place in Heritage Week, and was supported by Longford County Council, the Peter Keenan Branch of the O.N.E., family members of the Longford soldiers and attracted interested attendees from Westmeath, Dublin, Kildare and Co. Mayo. The Heritage Office also undertook to develop a schools education pack, similar to that produced in 2015 on the Royal Canal, which will be delivered in 2018 to coincide with the Armistice commemoration programme. This project was funded under the Heritage Council's County Heritage Plan programme.

BIODIVERSITY AWARENESS PROGRAMME 2017 This project continued the work of 2016, supplementing and supporting the ongoing work of the Environmental Awareness Officer. The short workshop training programme for local authority staff on Japanese Knotweed commenced in 2016, was completed in March. Coupled with the Environmental Awareness Officer's roadside signage programme, it did much to raise awareness of the nature, spread, impact and treatment of Japanese knotweed. In addition, the Heritage Office continued to support the Swift Conservation Ireland - Longford's and Longford Tidy Towns' ongoing efforts to protect and enhance the swift population of Ireland, by supporting bird walks in Longford and swift recording training in Longford and Ballymahon. In 2017 the Heritage Office sought to target key Longford County Council owned sites which had the potential for improvement as pollinator habitats. The site of Oliver Goldsmith's birthplace at Pallas was identified as a key location for a number of reasons: it was considered appropriate for this site given that Goldsmith published a magazine called The Bee, and the proximity of the site to the Center Parcs development could be mutually beneficial as they are increasing the number of native plant species within their grounds. This project was undertaken by the Longford Environmental Alliance and the programme was supported by the Heritage Council under the County Heritage Plan fund.

THE BLACK PIGS DYKE RESEARCH PROJECT The information website, www.blackpigsdyke.ie continued to be supported. It is planned to undertake an aerial survey of the earthworks in Co. Longford early in 2018.

CREATIVE IRELAND - LONGFORD The Heritage Office worked as part of the Creative - Longford team to deliver the objectives and events of the year and assisted community groups and heritage organisations in Longford to produce their own events and projects.

URBACT - MILITARY ASSETS AS PUBLIC SPACES The Heritage Office was pleased to be part of the Longford County Council-driven URBACT Military Assets as Public Spaces (MAPS) project, and assisted the project in terms of expertise and social media support. Projects with a positive heritage benefit, such as the 'Connolly Barracks Cultural Heritage Project' have been instigated as part of this project and will commence in 2018.

CONSERVATION GRANTS The Heritage Office administered two conservation grants on behalf of the Department of the Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht, later the Dept of the Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs. One scheme was the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2017, under which repairs to six structures - a mix of domestic and ecclesiastical - were supported. The other was the Structures At Risk Fund 2017, where two structures were grant-aided, including the nationally-important Porters Lodge Gates at Carriglass Manor, which were designed by renowned Georgian architect, James Gandon. Both grants totalled over €83,000 supported by

http://www.longfordatwar.ie/

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over €75,000 in private co-funding. Significantly, the grants created approximately 750 days of employment for skilled construction workers, professionals and tradesmen in the county.

The restored Porters Lodge at Carriglass Manor, designed by James Gandon, and funded under the Structures

At Risk Fund 2017 (Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht)

HERITAGE WEEK 2017 This year saw the most successful and enjoyable national Heritage Week in Co. Longford to date, featuring a diverse range of events including exhibitions, walks, talks, and family days throughout the county. Heritage Week 2017 took place between the 19 and 27 of August, and nationally there were over 2000 events held, which attracted 450,000 visitors. Community groups and organisations such as the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre and the Ardagh Heritage & Creativity Centre, organised a wide variety of events. These included the Ballinamuck Olde Fair Day, walks in Derrycassan Woods and children's activity workshops. Of particular note was the unveiling of a memorial to Fenian poet John Keegan Casey, a.k.a. "Leo" in Ballymahon by the Leo Casey History Group. A particular feature of Heritage Week this year was Water Heritage Day, and to celebrate the Heritage Boats Association of Ireland's 'Walk With The Big Boats' event over the course of the week, which also marked the 200th anniversary of the Royal Canal; this was supported by Waterways Ireland and the Heritage Office. Longford Library, Heritage & Archives Services also hosted a number of events, including genealogical workshops, talks on subjects as diverse as swifts and Fenianism! We were also privileged to host talks on the golden era of céilí bands with the late Brian Lawlor. Plans are underway for Heritage Week 2018, which will be very special as it is the European Year of Cultural Heritage.

Walking With The Big Boats, from Richmond Harbour, as part of

Heritage Week 2017

Granard Area Historical Society at Derrycassan Woods,

for Heritage Week 2017

OTHER HERITAGE AWARENESS To further awareness of heritage within County Longford, the Heritage Office undertook the following:

Providing guidance and advice on heritage matters to Local Authority employees and departments.

Providing support and advice to private individuals, local heritage and community groups in the care and conservation of their heritage.

Providing ongoing support to the Planning Section and to owners and occupiers of historic buildings and protected structures, and assessing relevant planning applications.

Maintaining Social Media accounts to promote and advance Longford’s heritage, including the development of a joint Twitter account with the Archives office.

Ciorcal Comhrá do Seachtain na Gaeilge le hOifigeach Gaeilge an comhairle chontae.

Supporting the Táin March 2017.

Developing an exhibition on traditional Irish music and Co. Longford from earliest times, in partnership with Aidan O'Hara of Cumann Ceoil Chonmhaicne, celebrating the Leinster Fleadh in Ballymahon.

Providing ongoing support for the Fáilte Ireland Irelands Ancient East tourism brand, including participation in the their training programme.

The Heritage Officer Programme is a partnership arrangement between The Heritage Council and Longford County Council.

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LONGFORD LIBRARY STATISTICAL REPORT 2017 NUMBER OF LIBRARY VISITS 2017

Branch Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Nov Dec Total 2017 Total 2016

Ballymahon 5,748 4,996 6,955 8,707 1,850 28,256 23,935

Drumlish 1,311 1,083 847 667 151 4,059 4,276

Edgeworthstown 292 983 479 305 117 2,176 2,723

Granard 4,564 4,226 4,389 3,186 1,109 17,474 18,215

Lanesboro 4,290 3,449 4,385 3,434 1,134 16,692 18,715

Longford 32,959 36,040 43,456 26,816 12,084 151,355 142,637

Total No. Visits 49,164 50,777 60,511 43,115 16,445 220,012 210,501

PUBLIC INTERNET USAGE STATS 2017 Branch Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Nov Dec Total 2017 Total 2016

Ballymahon 1,233 990 990 702 330 4,245 4,553

Drumlish 76 72 65 45 30 288 426

Edgeworthstown 49 56 85 53 30 273 451

Granard 716 735 842 460 250 3,003 2,810

Lanesboro 766 656 467 352 245 2,486 3,161

Longford 3,551 3,509 3,750 2,551 439 13,800 13,882

Total No. PC Sessions 6,391 6,018 6,199 4,163 1,324 24,095 25,283

LONGFORD COUNTY LIBRARY MEMBERSHIP 2017

Branch

Adult Child 0-11yrs

YA 12-14yrs

YA 15-17yrs

Other Total 2017 Total 2016

Ballymahon 596 424 116 65 26 1,227 1,353

Drumlish 114 177 19 5 -- 315 308

Edgeworthstown 103 140 20 10 5 278 260

Granard 410 319 66 36 69 900 1,041

Lanesboro 276 182 60 17 15 550 641

Longford 2,602 1,160 306 171 89 4,328 5,131

Total 4,101 2,402 587 304 204 7,598 8,707

ITEM ISSUES 2017

Branch Jan 2017 Horizon Feb-Dec Sierra Renewals Holds Requests Total 2017

Ballymahon 3,335 10,045 4,082 682 18,144

Drumlish 1,639 4,007 1,455 40 7,141

Edgeworthstown 548 2,434 567 33 3,582

Granard 2,049 4,074 1,618 312 8,053

Lanesboro 1,256 6,233 2,242 1,055 10,786

Longford 9,344 40,117 17,625 2,878 69,964

SELF SERVICE STATS 2017 Branch Items CKI

(Jan 2-30 Nov. incl.) Items Check-Outs Total

Ballymahon 5,710 3,333 9,043

Granard 6,215 3,695 9,910

Total 11,925 7,028 18,953

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PLANNING The pace of activity in Planning and Regeneration continued to increase in 2017. The number of Planning Applications remained consistent with 2016. The County is continuing to thrive with increased activity at local level through the various Regeneration Projects. This involved identifying projects and securing funding to encourage and assist Community Groups with implementing community based projects. The implementation of the County Development Plan 2015-2021, particularly in relation to tourism and trails projects is proving very successful and will prove of great value to the well-being of the County in the future. New legislation, guidelines and the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) in particular have created ongoing challenges which are being successfully dealt with by the Planning and Regeneration Section. Significant activities undertaken by the Planning Department in 2017 are outlined below.

DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT The Development Management Section is responsible for the processing of all planning applications in accordance with the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) and the Planning and Development Regulations. 320 Planning applications were submitted in 2017. The size and complexity of individual applications has also increased. This included a final decision on the planning applications for a solar farm on the outskirts of Edgeworthstown, a Whiskey and Gin Distillery in Lanesboro town and a number of industrial employment expansions as well as medium sized residential developments. Ongoing planning meetings and discussions are taking place to successfully implement projects in County Longford.

Pre-planning consultations are an integral part of the Development Management process and are utilised on an ongoing and increasing basis. These meetings are held to provide an informative, higher quality and more transparent planning service to the general public. In 2017, 99 pre-planning meetings were held to facilitate discussion with potential applicants on the issues associated with their proposals, a significant increase from the previous number of 71 in 2016. These meetings are in addition to

the many phone and email queries. In addition, a substantial number of pre-planning meetings were held with Bord na Móna and the ESB in regard to a potential Wind Farm at Derryadd and the extension of the peat storage facility and Power Station in Lanesboro leading to a planning application being received in late 2017 by the ESB. Pre-planning meetings are now recorded digitally to facilitate consistency, transparency and seamless integration with the decision-making process.

Planning applications are screened for appropriate assessment as required by the Habitats Directive and in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG). Licence applications under Section 254 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, principally for roadside signage and planning questions for LEADER funding are a regular feature of the work carried out in the Planning Department. The Planning Department also processes Part 8 applications and 5 of these were dealt with in 2017, the most notable including the Bridge over the Camlin (currently near completion), White Bridge at Newcastle Forest and the amenity walkway around Corlea Bog. There were also significant demands in other areas of the planning system, most notably in terms of forward planning, enforcement and the regeneration workload.

DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTIONS Development Contributions are levied in accordance with the Scheme adopted by Longford County Council under Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended). Each grant of planning permission contains a condition requiring the payment of a relevant development contribution which becomes payable if and when the development commences. There are many cases where permissions granted have been superseded by alternative permissions on the same site and where permissions granted have not yet been activated. This can sometimes give an inaccurate account of the amount actually due and owing to the Council.

The Development Contribution Scheme has had a very positive impact on the delivery of infrastructure in Longford since its introduction. It has generated funds for a wide variety of infrastructure, including the acquisition of land, provision of open spaces, recreational and community facilities, amenity and landscaping works, roads, car parks, footpaths, water and waste water facilities. The 2013 Development Contribution Scheme is currently under review and a revised Development Contribution Scheme 2018-2022 will be brought before the Elected Members for adoption in early 2018.

FORWARD PLANNING The Forward Planning Section is responsible for the research, preparation and production of all Development Plans, Local Area Plans and forward looking initiatives. The introduction of recent legislation in respect of the Planning Authority's forward planning function has led to a marked increase in the workload of the Forward Planning Section in 2017.

The economic downturn and slowdown in the construction industry does not affect the forward planning work schedule, which is governed by the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended), and the ongoing implementation of national and EU legislation in the planning and environmental arenas. The Forward Planning Section has a key role to play in National and Regional Planning and staff members attend regular planning regional working groups. In addition, the Forward Planning Section

PLANNING AND REGENERATION

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is regularly involved with other projects that require substantial time allocation such as Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), Route Corridor Studies and other projects from local to national level.

COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Longford County Council's County Development Plan came into effect on 11

th

March, 2015 and sets the planning framework for development in the County over the period from 2015-2021. A report on progress in achieving the objectives set out in the plan was prepared towards the end of 2016 in accordance with Section 15(2) of the Act and circulated to the Elected Members in February 2017. This report illustrated both significant progress in securing funding for and the development of amenity and tourism facilities. The report links these successes and their potential knock-on effects in other areas, such as the strengthening of the settlement hierarchy outlined in the core strategy, promoting economic development and appreciation of Longford’s extensive inland waterways in association with national and regional projects.

In 2017 Variation No.3 to the Development plan was adopted in July 2017. This incorporated augmented policy provisions to facilitate the addition of a policy which related to the encouragement of new housing schemes and large developments in towns and villages to source their heating and energy requirements from the Natural Gas network where available.

NATIONAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK AND REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY Longford County Council made a number of submissions to the National Planning Framework (NPF) ‘Ireland 2040’ throughout the year; namely to the Issues Consultation paper in March, and the draft NPF in November. Importantly these submissions were reflected in the final NPF document. The creation of a Vision for the Midlands as outlined in the NPF ‘Ireland 2040’, and the recognition of Athlone as a regional centre and Longford’s supporting role will be developed further in the forthcoming Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA) Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES).

The Council’s recent submission to the RSES issues paper outlined the many strengths and opportunities that should be explored as enabling the potential of the whole Midlands Region within the EMRA context. This is of critical importance to the well-being of County Longford in the future and will in turn feed into the next Development Plan, work upon which is statutorily required to commence early next year.

TOURISM INITIATIVES The Planning and Regeneration Team work closely with the Tourism Committee and the LEO on various Tourism Plans for Longford and these activities continued in 2017, including:

The Mid Shannon Wilderness Plan covering South Longford, Lough Ree and the Royal Canal. A joint plan has now been prepared with Roscommon, Westmeath and Offaly County Councils.

The proposed Royal Canal Greenway and potential Blueway Trail is being developed as a major walking/cycling route from Dublin to Clondra and on to Westport. This route is also being considered now for the development of a Pilgrim Way route from Croke Park to Croke Patrick. Substantial works were carried out on the Royal Canal Greenway in 2017 and completion of the Longford Section is expected in early 2018.

A north south Shannon Pilgrim way is also being considered for development between Limerick and Fermanagh. Longford will be the key intersection between these two major Pilgrim Way routes.

The Literary Trail covers Mid Longford and will be centred in Edgeworthstown. Work completed in 2017 to create signage and branding for the trail of National and International significance.

The Rebel Longford Trail covers the North County from Granard to Ballinamuck including Ballinalee and Longford Town. The signage for this trail was identified and purchased in 2017, to be erected early in 2018.

There is no doubt that the development of these various Tourism Product initiatives will increase tourism and business in the County. The Planning and Regeneration Team continue to engage with and attend meetings with Fáilte Ireland to explore how best to market Longford and the ‘Mighty’ Shannon region in the future.

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COUNTY LONGFORD DIASPORA Work during 2017 consisted of the creation of a dedicated Diaspora resource on the Longford.ie website, associated Longford Diaspora Facebook page and questionnaire, and the production of a County Longford Diaspora video. Work also commenced on the creation of a County Diaspora Strategy.

NATIONAL HOUSING POLICY Planning and Regeneration worked with the Housing Section in order to identify suitable housing land to be developed under the New Housing Policy. This consisted of completion of site assessments for a number of sites in terms of the planning merits for potential development.

REGENERATION

A dedicated Regeneration Team was formed in 2015 to work in association with the Planning Team and to continue on from the successful work carried out by the Forward Planning and Unfinished Estates Teams in previous years. The Unit aims to co-ordinate the physical, social and economic rejuvenation of Longford Town and County.

The Regeneration Officer is continually working at identifying and successfully drawing down funding for various projects in the County. As part of this project, research and preparatory work is ongoing to identify avenues to bring forward the regeneration of many areas identified within both Longford Town and County. These areas include the various County towns and villages, the Longford Town Northern Quarter, the strategic sites and projects identified in County Development Plan and Longford Town Area Plan, industrial estates, vacant sites and areas within the County identified by community groups. This has involved significant consultation with key stakeholders, local communities and citizen engagement from its County towns and villages. A number of successful projects were rolled out in 2017 including:

NEWCASTLE WOOD New amenity paths were developed in Newcastle Woods in association with Coillte in 2016. In 2017 the tendering and procurement process was commenced to construct and deliver the White Bridge over the River Inny in Newcastle Wood.

CAMLIN RIVER PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE Funding was allocated under the Rural Recreation Programme to provide for the design and construction of the Camlin River Bridge. This bridge will provide an alternative access route from Great Water Street to the Mall amenity area thus linking Longford Northern Quarter to a more central access route to the town. These works will be completed in early 2018.

TOWN & VILLAGE RENEWAL SCHEME Under the 2017 Scheme an application for the establishment of an Innovation and Creative Hub in Longford town secured the maximum amount of funding of 200K available. Altogether, ten towns and villages were successful in being awarded funding under this initiative.

They include Longford Town, Ballymahon, Edgeworthstown, Ardagh, Granard, Lanesboro, Lisryan, Mullinaghta, Newtownforbes, and Newtowncashel. The secured funding will allow parts of these towns and villages to be further enhanced and improved upon. The Planning and Regeneration Section is delighted to have the opportunity to engage with and support local residents and committees in having these projects come to fruition.

OUTDOOR RECREATION INFRASTRUCTURAL SCHEME During 2017, 13 projects were approved for funding under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructural Scheme, 12 under Measure 1 and 1 under Measure 3. These included Drumlish, Longford, Blenavoher, North Longford Rebel Trail, Cloonturk/Royal Canal, North & South Longford Mapping Trails, Aughnacliffe, Royal Canal Website, Bishop O’Higgins Trail, Ballinamuck Mapping, Royal Canal (Greenway). These initiatives have provided platform whereby Communities, Elected Members and Longford County Council are working together to ensure projects are secured and complete to enhance the County in a positive way.

http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=6600&d=q-LP2kWQ-AFeiSAQETlINE9GcmtBbpq-pZwk4Asp6Q&s=346&u=http%3a%2f%2fLongford%2eie

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REDZ Three key projects were chosen in the allocation of funding under this initiative in association with local Communities – Corlea Bog Trackway, Corn Hill Walking Trail and Granard Motte Interpretive Centre. Each of the projects will be key drivers for social, economic and environmental tourism in their respective areas and will bring about a real sense of pride and identity to these Communities by showcasing distinct characteristics of their history, heritage and culture.

URBACT MAPS PHASE II 2017 saw Longford County Council’s continued involvement and active participation in the URBACT MAPS Project. Since early 2016 Longford County Council has been actively participating, along with eight other European Partner cities, in the European Funded Initiative under the EU URBACT Programme ‘MAPS’ (Military Assets as Public Spaces).

In Longford town, Connolly Barracks Military is the elected site in the MAPS project. Following the closure of the Barracks in 2009 and its subsequent acquisition by Longford County Council, it is considered that the Barracks provides a perfect opportunity to stimulate growth in Longford. The main goal of the MAPS project is to reverse perspectives, highlight potentialities of its heritage albeit discussing all matters related to the plans for their future destination. It seeks to re-define the function, social role and accessibility of its former Military Heritage to promote development, sustainability and inclusiveness.

The aspirations of the MAPS programme is not only about redeveloping the physical space, but also the ability to interact with the social groups (stakeholders) that may be beneficial for the regeneration of this former military site. For these reasons, the MAPS project must be able to engage in participatory activities with the largest number of stakeholders to be able to share as much as possible the expected results (physical and functional regeneration, cultural, social inclusion, economical aspects) and develop a shared strategic Integrated Action Plan for the area with real outcomes for the town.

As part of the project all committed dedicated members, stakeholders and European partners of the project met numerous times during the year to discuss relevant and thematic issues that will be incorporated into their individual Integrated Action Plans. Longford County Council will host the visit for the European Partners in early 2018.

Longford provides a perfect Irish template for MAPS to address the military history of the site over the last 400 years and how this can be aligned with existing cultural events and tourism initiatives both within the site and in the broader area. The rejuvenation of this important landmark military barracks can therefore not only be itself recognised as a beacon of social, cultural and economic exchange but also act as a ‘kick start’ or nucleus for the same to happen in the adjoining urban area.

2017 also saw the launch of a new project called Longford Nua. Longford Nua is a community mapping project that enables local people to play an active part in regenerating Longford Town. The project uses a mobile app to ask people to share pictures and ideas of the past, present and possible of the town. This will help to inform and inspire the community and decision makers.

Longford people know their town better than anyone else, so the input of all the people of the town is key to the successful regeneration of the town. The outcomes of the app will be used to feed into the Integrated Action Plan currently being prepared as part of the European project we are currently working on for the Northern Quarter and also the Regeneration Plan for the Town which will follow.

LONGFORD NORTHERN QUARTER During 2017representatives from Longford County Council continued to meet regarding the unoccupied shopping centre. The purpose of these meetings was to develop a strategy with NAMA to potentially see the Northern Quarter area of the town becoming a major transformational project that would contribute economic, social & cultural benefits for the town. It was decided that Connolly Barracks would remain in Longford County Council’s ownership and the shopping centre would be sold as a separate entity. It is anticipated that the sale of the shopping centre will bring increased activity to this area of town.

COMMUNITY PLANNING The Planning and Regeneration Section are heavily involved in community planning in various parts of the County, including Longford, Lanesboro, Kenagh, Ballymahon, Edgeworthstown, Granard, Drumlish and Ballinamuck etc. to assist with local development and community planning initiatives. These included assisting Kenagh CoOp. and Wetlands Heritage Ireland acquire and develop the 70 acres adjoining Corlea Trackway Centre for development as an Amenity and Biodiversity Park in association with Bord na Mona. The Corlea Bog Amenity Walk was completed in 2017.

VACANT SITE LEVY In accordance with the provisions of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, the relevant provisions were incorporated into the planning framework over the course of 2016 to facilitate the application of the Vacant Site Levy and a Register was established in January 2017. This Register currently has 5 entries and work is ongoing on remaining sites that are in various stages of notice and procurement. Work is ongoing and sites have been prioritised in order to progress specific objectives contained within the adopted Longford Town and Environs Local Area Plan.

PLANNING ENFORCEMENT The Planning Enforcement Section investigates complaints from the public regarding unauthorised developments and non-compliance with planning permissions. The Section conducts site visits and issues Pre-Warning Letters, Warning Letters,

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Enforcement Notices and institutes legal proceedings as appropriate. The Section continues to achieve success through negotiation and resolution at pre-warning letter stage, resulting in the minimisation of enforcement notices and legal proceedings. Planning Enforcement activity during 2017 included -

56 New cases / new files opened

14 Pre-Warning Letters issued

31 Warning Letters issued

13 Enforcement Notices issued

5 Referred for prosecution

48 Files closed

UNFINISHED ESTATES Longford County Council continues to place a high priority on tackling problems and issues associated with unfinished housing developments. The dedicated team established to specifically deal with the issue of unfinished housing developments in County Longford continues to work through issues on the ground, using an array of technical, procedural, and legislative mechanisms in developing solutions in conjunction with residents, developers, financial institutions, receivers and other relevant stakeholders. During 2017 the Unfinished Estates Team continued with its programme of works which included:

Reducing the number of remaining unfinished developments,

The process of preparing, overseeing and implementing site resolution plans,

Pursuing enforcement action where necessary,

Calling in financial securities and bonds in order to access funding to complete public infrastructure within developments and,

Taking in charge of completed developments. There were originally 128 unfinished estates within the County. To date, 75 have been taken in charge the Council. 7 estates were taken in charge during 2017. A further 14 developments were removed from the list following certification of compliance with planning permission. Most of those are for apartment developments which are not taken in charge. The Unfinished Estates team has negotiated Site Resolution Plans for the remaining estates and work will continue on these during the coming year. In October 2017 Longford's Unfinished Estates Team was awarded an EU Good Practice Award for its tried-and-tested solution to resolving the unfinished estates problem.

CONCLUSION The Planning and Regeneration Section looks forward to continue working positively and enthusiastically with the Executive, the Elected Members and the various Communities of County Longford to continue to provide its citizens with the superior quality of service and dedication they deserve.

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The main functions of the Finance Section of Longford County Council are to -

Achieve the financial objectives of the Council’s Corporate Plan

Manage the financial affairs of the Council

Ensure that adequate internal controls are in operation to safeguard the assets of the organisation, and to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the accounting records

Ensure as far as possible that value for money is achieved throughout the organisation

SERVICES Motor Taxation

Rates/Housing Rents/Housing Loan Payments/ NPPR Compliance

Higher Education Grants

General Office – processing payments to suppliers and payroll

PAYMENT PRACTICES The provisions of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997 and the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations, 2002 applies to Longford County Council. Systems are in place to ensure that interest penalties are not incurred. No interest penalties were incurred in 2017.

Every effort is made to ensure compliance with the Act and Regulations and avoidance of interest penalties. However, the procedures can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material non-compliance with the legislation.

INTERNAL AUDIT Internal Audit is an independent appraisal function charged with reviewing activities across all areas within Longford County Council. It objectively examines and reports on management of risks, the adequacy of internal controls and the achievement of proper, efficient and economic use of resources. An Internal Audit Charter sets out the role and responsibilities of the Internal Auditor and Management.

EXPENDITURE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2001 – SECTION 142 EXPENDITURE

Mayor and Other Allowances €65,982

Entertainment and Associated Expenses €27,078

Representational Payments, Expenses of Members and Representation at Conferences €398,945

Total €492,005

COMMERCIAL WATER COLLECTION Longford County Council was one of the first local authorities to transfer the billing of commercial water customers to Irish Water. The transfer of accounts was completed in August 2016. Council staff continued to provide assistance to former Council customers with the account transfer process and dealing with account queries until the end of 2016. Irish Water are now the contact point for any billing queries in relation to commercial water accounts.

INCOME GENERATION UNIT The Income Generation Unit (IGU) is responsible for the collection of the main income streams for the Council. This includes rates, housing rents, housing loans and RAS rents. The unit also operates the cash desk which facilitates customer payments for Council goods and services. Certificates of compliance are issued by the unit in respect of payment of the Non Principal Place of Residence (NPPR) charge.

RATES The level of commercial activity in the County showed some signs of tentative recovery in 2017. The high level of commercial property vacancy continues however to be a cause of concern. The Council operates a Vacant Commercial Premises Incentive

FINANCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

FINANCE

47

Scheme to encourage occupation of vacant premises by businesses. Progress continued in reducing the level of arrears owed to the Council and targets in relation to debt reduction and % collection were achieved.

A general revaluation by the Valuation Office of all rateable properties in the County was completed in 2017. The revised valuation list will take effect from 2018.

RATES COLLECTION

HOUSING RENTS & LOANS Income Generation Unit is responsible for the collection of rents and loan charges and also managing rent and loan accounts in arrears. The setting of rents and adjustments to rents are the responsibility of the Housing Section.

Rent collection percentages again improved slightly to 92% during 2017.

Tenancy Warning Notices were issued to tenants who were in breach of their rent related obligations to the Council and who were not engaging with the Council to resolve their arrears. In a very small number of cases orders for possession for non-payment of rent were obtained.

HOUSING RENTS COLLECTION (includes RAS & LEASES) Year Opening Balance Invoiced To Collect Receipts Arrears Collected %

2015 €790,756 €4,865,737 €5,656,493 €4,967,734 €688,759 88

2016 €688,759 €5,047,429 €5,736,188 €5,161,499 €574,689 90

2017 €574,689 €5,265,037 5,839,725€ €5,364,466 €475,259 92

The Council implements the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) for loan customers in financial difficulty. This provides a framework for the Council and borrowers to manage loan arrears and restructure their loans in some circumstances. Employees have been trained in arrears resolution and borrowers in financial difficulty have been facilitated with short term and long term arrears resolution measures. The Council continued the restructuring of some shared ownership loans where the borrower was in arrears. This process will continue to be rolled out in 2018 for shared ownership loans and annuity loans in arrears which require restructuring.

HOUSING LOANS COLLECTION Year Opening Balance Invoiced To Collect Receipts Arrears Collected %

2015 €742,397 €862,915 €1,605,312 €890,662 €714,650 55

2016 €714,650 €965,768 €1,680,418 €959,736 €720,682 57

2017 €720,682 €984,285 €1,704,967 €1,029,347 €675,620 60

MOTOR TAX There were no significant developments in motor tax legislation during the year. Receipts for motor tax locally were again down from 2016 (€4,280,575). The increase in online motor tax transactions continued during the year and this led to the 10% decrease in motor tax receipts locally in Longford Motor Tax Office.

Motor Tax Transactions 2017 No Transactions Amount

Vehicle Licences (Discs) 20,270 €3,613,532

Miscellaneous Transactions (Vehicle Registration Certificates, Trade Plates etc.) 3,999 €233,382

Total Motor Tax Transactions 24,269 €3,846,914

Year Opening Balance Invoiced To Collect Receipts Arrears Doubtful Arrears

Collected %

2015 €2,642,256 €5,849,512 €7,840,817 €6,396,247 €2,095,521 €650,951 82

2016 €2,095,521 €6,367,985 €7,785,405 €6,503,934 €1,959,572 €678,101 84

2017 €1,959,572 €6,553,924 €7,639,919 €6,802,482 €1,711,004 €873,577 89

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The ICT department provides operational and strategic ICT services for the Council. The department is responsible for the ICT infrastructure and also for planning the future ICT requirements of the organisation. In an operations capacity, the department has responsibility for multiple ICT systems spread across the County in a Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure.

During 2017 Longford County Council's IT Department delivered a number of significant infrastructural, digital and software projects and delivered improvements in IT Security and enhancement of the ICT architecture.

A significant investment was made in a number of key application areas such as IP phones, Corporate WIFI, Service Desk Software and Council websites as well as awareness of the National Broadband Plan. The ongoing operational support work in IT continued to consume considerable resource time and effort particularly in the areas of IT security, employee and member support services and IT applications support. The following were the key areas of focus in 2017:

NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE Longford County Council’s ICT network is made up of several complex components which require on-going management, maintenance and monitoring.

Notable improvements to our infrastructure during 2017 were:

Implementation of updated Corporate WIFI solution.

Implementation of a new Corporate IP Phone system.

ICT implementation for the updated Town Hall Offices, designed with updated IT Networks Room, and the movement of staff to the location.

Implementation of a new Service Desk System to support our user base and insure targeted investment of resources going forward.

IT APPLICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT Supporting service delivery across Longford County Council is a suite of software applications requiring constant management and support. These systems include iPlan, iHouse, Agresso, ePayments, the various websites, social media sites and platforms, iDocs, GIS and mobile data apps. There is also a limited amount of bespoke application development and support. The key projects in this area in 2017 include:

Implementation of new Councilor extranet.

Assistance in the upgrade to the Agresso financial system.

Assistance in the rollout of the new national library management system.

Legacy ePayments system was replaced by Webpay, a centrally hosted web payments application.

GIS SYSTEMS The Council's GIS System continued to play a fundamental role throughout our business areas in 2017, with the most notable developments being:

Development commenced of a mobile device application to facilitate paperless inspections by the Housing Section.

Mapping completed of identified vacant properties in the County

Design and Implementation of a Planning Enquiry Application which included over 45 planning spatial datasets.

Design of a mobile planning site inspections application

Design and implementation of mobile application to facilitate the Age Friendly Longford Accessibility Survey

Creation and rollout of maps for the Japanese Knotweed treatment program

Design and pilot of Playground Inspection mobile application

DIGITAL & NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN The Councils IT Section continued to play a major role in the promotion of digital infrastructure and awareness within the County. During 2017, the most notable developments being:

Survey completed of mobile coverage throughout the County with the results to be published in 2018

We facilitated consideration of High Speed Broadband provision options between Center Parcs and the local community adjacent to the development so that local residents could as a result of the Center Parcs development, benefit from High Speed Broadband. Through this work a number of solutions were explored in partnership with Center Parcs to help the local community.

The Schools Digital Champions Programme was promoted by contacting all Secondary Schools in the county to encourage participation, with two schools subsequently committing to join the programme.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS

49

At the request of the Regional Telecommunications Development Unit of the Department of Rural and Community Development, a methodology was formulated to identify additional premises that could potentially be added to the Eir 300k project. The methodology included references to major employers in the County.

IT SECURITY IT Security is always a huge concern for the Organisation given the proliferation of ICT malware, viruses etc. To this end the IT Department spends considerable time and effort implementing, upgrading, monitoring and managing the range of security measures on the network, email platform and devices, including mobile and tablet devices. In 2017 we increased IT security through the establishment of a local information security committee. This committee, which was established in accordance with best practice issued nationally by the LGMA, is a multidisciplinary team which will act as a governance group for all aspects of Corporate Security.

We also commenced the procurement process for completion of an information security audit; the results of this audit in conjunction with the work of the newly established information security committee will play a major role in our information security work during 2018.

WEBSITE VISITS WEBSITE Website Hits 2016 Website Hits 2017

longfordcoco.ie 77,124 78,089

longfordlibrary.ie 32,762 16,391*

*longfordlibrary.ie went live in April 2016 - no figures available for Jan-Apr

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Official Opening of Drumlish Housing Scheme on

31st October

INTRODUCTION There are a range of Social Housing options available to approved housing applicants who cannot provide accommodation from their own resources as follows:

Social houses

RAS Leases

Leases

Housing provided by Voluntary Housing Bodies

HAP (Housing Assistance Payment). A statutory assessment of housing need was undertaken in 2017. The next housing needs assessment will be carried out in 2018. The number of approved housing applicants at 31

st December 2017 was 878.

Choice Based Lettings commenced in 2017. Three dwellings were allocated under this scheme in 2017.

SOCIAL HOUSING PROVISION Approximately €4.86m was spent under the Social Housing Investment Programme in 2017. The capital programme is as follows:

14 no. acquisitions in 2017

4 no. OPD’s at Rathcline Lanesborough – tenders received. To commence in April 2018.

4 no. OPD’s at Edgeworthstown Road, Ballymahon – 90% complete

13 no. (6 OPD’s and 7 family type), Church View, Lanesborough – consultants being procured to advance this scheme.

16 no. family houses at Mill Race Park, Drumlish – 16 no. houses are complete and tenanted.

In addition, works are ongoing on Void properties to bring them up to letting standard. In 2017 16 no. dwellings were tenanted under the Void programme. This is a rolling programme and works are ongoing to being all void dwellings back into use.

RENTAL ACCOMMODATION SCHEME (RAS) At the end of 2017, there were 215 RAS tenancies in place. Eligibility for the Scheme depends on applicants being in receipt of rent supplement for more than 18 months and also being an approved housing applicant.

LONG TERM / RAS – TYPE LEASING ARRANGEMENTS The main features of the Scheme involve the Local Authority agreeing long term leases for single or multiple housing units with developers/owners of private rented properties over 10 to 20 years, or short term RAS type leases for properties over a four-year term. There were 97 short term RAS Type leases and eight (8) long term leases in place at the end of 2017.

HAP (HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENT) The HAP Scheme commenced in Longford on 1

st December, 2016. During 2017, 127 approved housing applicants availed of the

scheme.

VACANT HOUSING REPAIR AND LEASING SCHEME This scheme commenced in 2017. It is a key component of Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. If a property requires repairs to bring it up to the Standards for Letting, Longford County Council or an Approved Housing Body will pay for the repairs work upfront, in return for the property being available for social housing through a lease for a period of at least 10 years. There are criteria to be adhered to. Dwellings must be vacant for at least one year. There must be a demand for housing in the area. The maximum funding allowable is €40,000 incl. VAT, furniture and fittings. Eighteen applications were received for this scheme.

HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, EMERGENCY SERVICES AND WATER SERVICES

HOUSING

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BUY RENEW SCHEME This scheme commenced in 2017 to support Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) to purchase and renew housing units in need of remediation and make them available for social housing use. The Buy & Renew Scheme should complement the Repair & Leasing Scheme, as local authorities and AHBs can approach owners of vacant, privately-owned houses in need of repair/remediation, with the option to either lease/repair the housing unit, or to buy and repair/remediate the unit. Two properties were acquired under this scheme.

HOMELESSNESS 54 persons presented in 2017. Homelessness is dealt with on a regional basis. Westmeath County Council is the lead agency for counties Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath. In addition, each county has a Homeless Action Team. This team meets every 2/3 weeks.

TENANT (INCREMENTAL PURCHASE) SCHEME The Tenant (Incremental Purchase) Scheme commenced on 1

st January 2016. 25 tenants applied for this scheme in 2017. The

scheme is being reviewed by Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

HOUSING LOANS Approval and advancement of housing loans continued in 2017. 32 applications were received. 18 were approved and one loan was advanced. Demand for these loans has increased due to the introduction of the Tenant Incremental Purchase Scheme.

VOLUNTARY HOUSING Longford County Council has a long association with the Voluntary Housing Sector and a substantial contribution was made by the Voluntary Housing Sector in the provision of Social Housing in the County. In 2017 Longford County Council supported Cluid Housing Body in a CALF application for the provision of 7 no. units at Cartrun Breac, Longford.

MAINTENANCE AND REFURBISHMENT In 2017, a sum of €876,000 was provided in the Budget for the maintenance and repair of Local Authority Housing. This area is continuously examined to ensure that best practice and value for money is achieved at all times.

ENERGY RETROFITTING SCHEME/WINDOWS AND DOORS Works on Phase 1 of the Energy Efficiency Programme was completed in 2016. No allocation was received in 2017 under Phase 2 of the scheme.

ESTATE MANAGEMENT The Housing Liaison Officer and Estate Manager continued to work with tenants and Residents Associations during 2017. Compulsory pre-tenancy courses are attended by all new tenants.

HOUSING GRANT SCHEMES In 2017, a combined total of 201 applications were received under these schemes. 191 applications were approved under the three Grant Schemes:

Mobility Aids Grant Scheme

Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme

Housing Aid for Older People Grant Scheme The amount approved as €793,480. In addition, disability works were carried out to 31 social houses in order to address the medical needs of the occupants. The cost of these works was €272,624.

TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION The Traveller Accommodation Programme 2014-2018 continued to be followed by Longford County Council. This programme sets out a 4 year strategy in relation to the programme and type of accommodation to be provided for Travellers. The Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee meets and monitors the progress in relation to targets set out in the plan.

HOUSING & DISABILITY STEERING GROUP The Strategic Plan for Housing People with a Disability in Longford is complete. The Disability Steering Group met three times in 2017. Longford County Council is to allocate 5% of their annual allocations to people with a disability.

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PRIVATE RENTED ACCOMMODATION STANDARDS The Local Authority is responsible for implementation and enforcement of accommodation standards in the rental sector. Funding is made available to the Local Authority based on the number of inspections carried out. 72 inspections were completed in 2017 and landlords were advised of non-compliance issues.

BETTER ESTATES COMPETITION WINNERS 2017 The Better Estates Competition is an annual competition, first held in 2005 to honour the tidiest and most attractive housing estates. The competition is judged during the summer months and covers many aspects including landscaping, litter control and tidiness. Prizes are presented at an Annual Awards Night which this year was held in Longford County Council on 11th October 2017. The results were as follows.

AREA 1 – LONGFORD TOWN Estates with 50 or more houses Estates with less than 50 houses Highly Commended

1st

Annaly Park 2

ndTeffia Park

3rd

Canalach Le Cheile

1st

St. Emer’s 2

nd The Hollows

3rd

ArdanAlainn

Springlawn Park Villas

AREA 2 – NEWTOWNFORBES, DRUMLISH, GRANARD, BALLINALEE, BALLINAMUCK, EDGEWORTHSTOWN Estates 20 years old or more Estates less than 20 years old Highly Commended

1st

Church View Drive, Drumlish 2

nd Devine Crescent, Edgeworthstown

3rd

Castle Gardens, Newtownforbes

1st

River Crescent, Ballinalee 2

nd Corry Park, Newtownforbes

3rd

Wood View, Newtownforbes

Cois Na hAbhainn, Ballinalee

AREA 3 – LEGAN, COLEHILL, BALLYMAHON, LANESBORO, KENAGH AND KILLASHEE

Estates 20 years old or more Estates less than 20 years old Highly Commended

1st

Smithfield Crescent, Legan 2

ndCartron Road, Kenagh

3rd

Church View, Lanesboro

1st

Curraghrua, Lanesboro 2

nd Parkside Gardens, Ballymahon

3rd

Deerpark, Kenagh

Foxhall Crescent, Legan Sli Na Mona, Ballymahon

OVERALL WINNER River Crescent, Ballinalee GARDEN WINNERS Margaret & John McGoey, Annaly Park, Longford Liam Deely, Wood View, Newtownforbes Waclaw Michal Szafarewicz, The Hollows, Longford POSTER COMPETITION

Under 8 Years 8 Years and Over

1st

Megan Fallon, Kenagh 2

nd Warren O’Leary, Longford

3rd

Caoimhe Mannion, Legan

1st

Trevor Cox, Edgeworthstown 2

nd Amy Cheshire, Longford

3rd

Alan O’Reilly, Kenagh

Overall Winner - River Crescent, Ballinalee

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In 2017 the Environment Directorate carried out a wide range of activities under inspection, monitoring and environmental awareness programmes. This section covers a diverse range of functions and services. The principal areas are -

Pollution Control and Water Quality Management

Litter Management and Street Cleaning

Waste Management and Regulation

Environmental Awareness

Burial Grounds

Veterinary Services and Food safety

Dog Control and Horse Control

Dangerous structures

Derelict sites

POLLUTION CONTROL AND WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT Pollution control legislation covers areas such as water pollution, air pollution and noise nuisance. Specific activities undertaken in relation to pollution control include investigation of water pollution incidents, farm inspections, licensing of discharges to waters and the implementation of a monitoring programme for rivers, lakes, septic tanks and closed landfills.

RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT The EU Water Framework Directive was transposed into Irish law by the European Community (Water Policy) Regulations, 2003 under which a number of River Basin Districts were established. This was altered in 2014 whereby Ireland is now regarded as a one River Basin District. In addition, the EU Policy (Water Policy) Regulations 2014 places new obligations on local authorities in co-ordinating the public participation element of the Water Framework Directive. The new national governance arrangement requires Longford County Council to co-ordinate our work in this area with the newly set up national Local Authority Water Community Office (LAWCO) in Kilkenny. Longford County Council continues to monitor water quality in rivers and lakes in line with the relevant River Basin Management Plans.

ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY The County Council Environment Laboratory is located at Park Road, Longford. The principal areas of activity are

Water Pollution monitoring and control

Landfill monitoring

Monitoring industrial effluent discharges

Water Quality Monitoring in rivers and lakes

LITTER MANAGEMENT Enforcement of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 – 2009 is one of the key mechanisms in tackling litter pollution in County Longford. Litter Control is conducted primarily by the Council’s Litter Wardens. The Council works closely with local Tidy Towns Committees and acknowledges the great work being done by them throughout the county. In January 2016, Longford Town beat off stiff competition to win the IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) 2015 Award when it was deemed the cleanest town in Ireland. The town secured a public sculpture to mark the achievement. An Taisce surveyors said that sites in Longford were “not just clear of litter, but many were also superbly presented.” In 2017, Longford again achieved a high ranking in the IBAL League. The Council continues to prosecute litter offenders and seek full cost recovery where cases proceed to court. A total of 8 prosecutions were initiated in 2017 for non-payment of fines under the Litter Pollution Act 1997.

STREET SWEEPING The Council continued its programme of street sweeping and servicing of litter bins in the County’s towns and villages, in accordance with the County Longford Litter Management Plan. Expenditure on this service was €525,000 in 2017.

WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2015–2021 The current waste management plan for County Longford is the Eastern-Midlands Regional Waste Management Plan 2015–2021, available for viewing at http://emwr.ie/. Longford is one of the 12 local authorities affiliated to the Eastern-Midlands Waste Region. Dublin City Council acts as the lead authority for plan implementation. Longford County Council works with the National Waste Enforcement Steering Committee (NWESC) and three Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) on waste enforcement and the implementation of agreed national priorities as identified by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

http://emwr.ie/

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WASTE MANAGEMENT ENFORCEMENT Local authorities have a wide range of statutory functions under National and European waste legislation. The work of the Local Authority Waste Enforcement team includes investigating illegal dumping incidents, taking prosecutions and enforcement measures, enforcing producer responsibility regulations for a wide range of wastes (including Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Batteries, End-of-life Vehicles, Tyres, Packaging, Food Waste, Farm Plastic and Construction & Demolition Wastes). During 2017, 1223 new waste and litter complaints were received and investigated and 1,277 complaints were resolved (including complaints outstanding from 2016). During 2017, the Council’s routine waste inspections focused on four priority areas. These were:-

1. Illegal dumping / national Anti-dumping Initiative (ADI) 2. Food waste 3. End-of-life vehicles 4. Tyres

During 2017, four Regulation 10 Notices were issued to Food Waste Collectors and enforcement is ongoing. The number of businesses registered under tyre regulations increased by 18 to a total of 27. Three end-of-life facilities were brought into compliance. Under the ADI, illegally dumped tyres were removed from 12 sites in rural areas and a large project was carried out to improve the environment in one large estate in Longford Town. Three prosecutions were taken under the Waste Management Act in relation to illegal dumping incidents and 8 prosecutions initiated under the Litter Pollution Act in 2017. Illegal dumping of household waste in rural areas and on vacant properties remains a significant problem and the Council has had to expend significant resources cleaning up such sites. In addition, Local Authorities permit and regulate waste facilities, ensure the authorised collection and transport of wastes in their functional areas, appraise planning applications in relation to waste management proposals, oversee the management of wastes in the construction and business sectors and, enforce producer responsibility regulations in relation to several waste streams such as packaging, farm plastics and tyres. Environmental inspections are carried out in accordance with the Council’s annual inspection plan. A mandatory reporting regime to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in place for all environmental inspections and the Council’s environmental inspection plan. The Environment Directorate also has significant reporting obligations and must annually compile an inventory of all waste data for County Longford which is then submitted to the EPA. Local Authorities must comply with the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007. Subject to certain exceptions, information relating to the environment held by, or for, a public authority must be made available on request to any person. Advice and guidance on waste management is provided to members of the public upon request. Longford County Council’s “Enforcement Policy on Illegal Waste Activity” can be viewed on the Council’s website at www.longfordcoco.ie. The Council operates a “Litter Complaints Hotline”. Anyone observing the illegal dumping of waste may report the matter, in confidence, by calling 1850 434 450.

ANTI-DUMPING INITIATIVE 2017 Longford County Council undertook to clean up a large estate in Longford town; initiatives undertaken included:-

In conjunction with Longford Community Resources Ltd., engaged with the local residents associations and organised a community cleanup

Organised a “waste amnesty” by arranging a once-off bin collection in the area - 6.44 tonnes of household waste was collected. Another 6.74 tonnes was collected at a “large goods” collection in the area. 18 tonnes of waste was collected following clean up of illegal dumping from the gardens of abandoned houses. A clean-up of the public areas, used for illegal burning of waste, amounted to another 5.92 tonnes collected. Stockpiles of illegally dumped tyres were removed.

Engaged the services of the Probation Service for regular litter picking in the estate.

Installed and repaired CCTV in public areas and repaired public lighting.

Boarded up abandoned houses and engaged with property owners through use of derelict sites legislation and other means.

A dog show event, “Paws on the Green”, organised by the dog warden, was used to match uncontrolled dogs in the estate with their owners

http://www.longfordcoco.ie/

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WASTE MANAGEMENT PROVISION OF FACILITIES There are currently 25 bring bank sites in County Longford. Green, brown and clear glass, as well as aluminium cans, is accepted at all sites. Total tonnages collected for re-processing in 2017 were 706 tonnes of glass and 22 tonnes of aluminium cans.

ENERGY USAGE Longford County Council is required, in line with national policy, to reduce our energy consumption in 2020 by one third. As the organisation is a significant energy consumer this presents a significant challenge and each year a focus is placed on achieving an incremental improvement in energy efficiency. Clearly in order to operate the services the Council provides it is necessary to consume electricity, gas and other fuels. Employees in all sections are aware of the need to eliminate unnecessary energy consumption. An Energy Management initiative is in progress and where possible measures are being taken to reduce energy consumption. Longford County Council is affiliated to the Midlands Energy Agency. Sub-committees known as Communities of Practice have been established to facilitate the sharing of knowledge. Employees of Longford County Council participate and contribute to the development of Best Practice in a number of areas. The provision of training to members of the Council’s Energy Management Committee continued in 2017. Progress was made in developing a system for recording energy consumption data in a more systematic manner. Equipment upgrades were completed at the Council’s IT Section. As a result, it is anticipated that energy consumption related to the operation of IT services will be significantly reduced. Public lighting upgrades to use LED lights are continuing at a number of locations. The Council’s Environmental Awareness Officer met with community groups and visited schools in order to highlight the need to conserve energy whenever possible. Information relating to energy conservation measures is included in Information Packs that are distributed in schools and at meetings that take place in communities. In 2017 3CEA (formally known as CKEA) conducted energy audits of all Council buildings. The draft reports are currently being reviewed. The public lighting along the Canal Walk and at the Mall was upgraded to LEDs using an SEAI BEC grant.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS This aspect of the Department's work includes:

National Spring Clean

National Tree Week

Large Goods and Hazardous Waste Collections

Green Schools

Green Christmas

Local Environmental Partnership Funding

Anti Litter Awareness Grants

Tidy Towns

Invasive Species

NATIONAL SPRING CLEAN National Spring Clean 2017 took place during the month of April. Litter pickers, gloves, bibs and colour-coded bags were provided for the community clean-ups. Over 40 groups and schools signed up and took part in clean ups all across the County.

NATIONAL TREE WEEK National Tree Week, which is organised by the Tree Council of Ireland and supported by Coillte, E.S.B. and Longford County Council, took place from 5th to 12th March 2017. Community Groups, Tidy Towns Organisations, Schools and other organisations in the County were offered the opportunity to obtain young trees. Over 300 free saplings were given out to more than 45 community groups and schools during this week.

LARGE GOODS/HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTIONS Two large goods collections and two hazardous waste collections were held during 2017. The collections took place at Longford Slashers and Ballymahon Mart. General and recyclable waste amounted to 4.64 tonnes while 3.96 tonnes of hazardous waste was collected.

GREEN SCHOOLS Longford was once again very successful in increasing activity in Green Schools during 2017. The participation of schools in the programme is almost at capacity. During 2017 fourteen schools renewed their green flags while Ballymahon Convent got its first green flag. The flags cover themes such as litter& waste, energy and water conservation, Travel, Biodiversity and Global Citizenship.

GREEN CHRISTMAS The Council provided two drop-off points in Longford and Drumlish where householders could deposit their trees for shredding, free of charge. Old Christmas cards could also be dropped off at local libraries throughout the County.

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ANTI-LITTER AWARENESS GRANTS Longford received an anti litter awareness grant during 2017 of €16,000 from the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government (DECLG). The Council supplemented this funding by €6,857 bringing the total budget to €22,857. The Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grants are used to support clean-up initiatives, fund advertising campaigns and school recycling projects and provide materials support to local community clean-up initiatives.

LOCAL AGENDA 21 ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIP FUND The Council received an allocation of €8,050 under this Scheme from the DECLG. The Council provided 50% matching funds bringing the total grant funding to €16,100 to support innovative, community-based environmental projects.

LONGFORD TIDY TOWN/ COMMUNITY GROUPS Longford County Council had another successful year working with Tidy Towns and Community Groups throughout County Longford and groups received funding through both the anti litter grants and local environmental partnership grants. Groups were also allocated litter pickers, gloves, and specially coloured bags on request. The all county Tidy Towns forum was held in Abbeyshrule during 2017.

Presentation of 2017 IBAL Awards - Longford announced joint 6th out of 50 towns/cities surveyed.

Cleaner than European Norms

INVASIVE SPECIES The treatment of Japanese Knotweed continued during 2017with €20,000 of Local Authority Funding being granted for a county wide treatment programme. Over 200 sites have now been treated and it is hoped to continue the treatment programme during 2018 and 2019.

BURIAL GROUNDS Routine cemetery maintenance is largely carried out by Rural Social Scheme staff and local cemetery committee volunteers. Longford County Council makes a direct contribution to Longford Community Resources Ltd, who oversees the Rural Social Scheme. The Council also operates a cemetery support scheme under which local groups undertaking cemetery maintenance receive a grant from the Local Authority.

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FOOD SAFETY The Veterinary Section of Longford County Council services a contract between Longford County Council and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland with regard to food safety and veterinary public health issues. The small slaughterhouses and low throughput meat manufacturing establishments in the county are statutorily supervised to ensure there is full compliance with food safety legislation. Locally produced cattle, sheep and pigs, deer and poultry were processed in small local slaughterhouses in County Longford in 2017. Each animal slaughtered was ante-mortem and post-mortem inspected by a Veterinary Inspector. A sampling programme which is intended to detect harmful substances such as microbes, chemicals and hormones in meat is carried out. The Local Authority Veterinary Service ensures that animal health and welfare is maintained in accordance with legislative provisions. All owners and staff in small slaughterhouses in County Longford have Certificates of Competence in Welfare at time of slaughter. During 2017 the low throughput meat manufacturing establishments and slaughterhouses in County Longford continued to work to EU approved standards. The meat products produced in the County are under official veterinary controls. The Local Authority Veterinary Service regulates and, at the same time, affords appropriate flexibility to low throughput premises. The County Veterinary Officer is a member of the Interdepartmental Working Group to provide guidance to small food producers and regulators in relation to appropriate flexibility acceptable to national and international auditors. Enterprise and development continues on an ongoing basis within premises and the sector, as businesses react to changing commercial demands. New entrants are encouraged to consult with the Council’s service and to become involved in the sector. 2017 saw a significant increase in the throughput of small slaughterhouses in County Longford. The section, through supporting food production in County Longford, is in keeping with our Corporate Plan for promoting enterprise and development in this important area of commercial activity. The Veterinary Section, in cooperation with Longford County Council Local Enterprise Office, assisted individuals with an interest in the sector in 2017. Professional Development and training in food safety and animal health and welfare continued in 2017 and the Veterinary Service has an Internal Audit System. Longford Local Authority Veterinary Service carried out internal audit for the national service, was subject to internal audit for standards, and had External audit by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Activities relating to the disposal of Animal By-Product continued to be an important area of work in 2017. Meetings of the Regional Zoonosis Committee provide the forum for formal liaison between Longford County Council Veterinary Public Health Service and other agencies, e.g., Department of Agriculture and HSE. Longford County Council Veterinary Service liaised formally through bilateral meetings with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine locally and nationally in 2017.

DOG CONTROL Longford County Council provides a full-time Dog Control Service in County Longford. The Local Authority employs a Dog Warden and operates a Dog Shelter at Little Water Street in Longford Town. Pound Fees are charged. Microchipping of Dogs Regulations were introduced in 2016. The Service dealt with 386 cases of unwanted/stray dogs in 2017. Of these, 76 were re-homed, 39 were reclaimed by their owners, 259 were transferred to dog welfare groups and 6 were put to sleep. Longford County Council’s policy is to re-home all dogs suitable for re-homing. In many cases the dogs which were re-homed were selected by their new owners with the aid of the Council’s Longford Dog Control Service Facebook page. Longford County Council maintained the low number of dogs put to sleep in Longford Dog Pound in 2017. This is as a result of the strategic plan implemented by the Dog Control Service assisted by other stakeholders and volunteers, to whom we are grateful. In order to combat the problem of unwanted dogs, Longford County Council continues to advocate responsible animal ownership through education and awareness. The Council operates a scheme for subsidised neutering for dogs and has also formed a strategic alliance with Dogs Trust. Inspections of Dog Breeding Establishments continued in 2017 under the Dog Breeding Establishment Act. The Council also works hard on its core responsibility of preventing sheep worrying.

VETERINARY SERVICES

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Longford County Council continues to promote the need for dog owners to purchase a Dog Licence. Currently a Dog Licence costs €20 and can be purchased from any Post Office. Purchasing a Dog Licence is an important aspect of responsible dog ownership. In 2017, dog owners also purchased a “Lifetime of Dog” licence at a one-off cost of €140. These are available from the Environment Section of Longford County Council.

HORSE CONTROL In 2017, 21 horses were seized under the Control of Horses Act 1996. Longford County Council’s Control of Horse Bye Laws regularise detention and disposal requirements, as per the Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as well as controlling access and activities of horses in public places. Longford County Council is cooperating with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on plan for an Urban Horse Project and additionally has plans for training of young people in responsible horse ownership.

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New Ford Ranger with Vehicle Mounted Sign for

Road Traffic Management

The Fire and Rescue Service have fire stations in Ballymahon, Edgeworthstown, Granard, Lanesboro and Longford. These stations are manned by 48 retained fire-fighters who respond to both fire and rescue incidents. The Fire Department was active in promoting fire safety throughout the year. The Fire Department assessed Fire Safety Certificates, Planning Applications and Court Licence Application Referrals. Fire Safety Inspections of commercial premises were also carried out.

OPERATIONS

Total number of Callouts – January to December 2017 427

BUILDING CONTROL

Number of Fire Certificates processed in 2017 47

An Application for funding was sought from the National Fire Directorate for the proposed extension to Longford Town Fire Station. Funding was sanctioned for €762,000.00. Tenders were sought for the construction of this project, Brian Doyle, Kenagh was the successful tenderer. The National Fire Directorate also sanctioned capital funding of €46,000.00 for the procurement of a new Jeep with Vehicle Mounted Sign for Longford Town. This equipment has been purchased and is in use. A vacant Fire Fighters position has been advertised 4 times for Lanesboro but the Service has been unable to recruit a suitable candidate. One new Firefighter was recruited in 2017 for Longford Fire Station. Fire fighter David Brennan retired from Longford Fire Service in August 2017 after 27 years of service. Assistant Staff Officer Betty McNerney retired from Longford County Council in December 2017 after 42 years of service. Most of Betty's service was assigned to Longford Fire Service. The Fire Fighter Training/Drill Programme has been completed in accordance with the Fire Service Annual Operational Plan 2017. Swift Water Training took place for the first time in Ballymahon. All personnel in Longford County Fire and Rescue Service took part in this training Emergency Service Driver Training was undertaken by 12 Drivers in accordance with Road Safety Authority Guidelines.

Compartment Fire Behaviour Training 2017

Rope Rescue Exercise 2017

FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

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Civil Defence Ireland is the National Civil Defence organisation of Ireland. It is operated at Local Authority Level in conjunction

with the Department of Defence. The organisation consists of volunteers trained in various skills and these volunteers are a back

up to PRA’s and are available to assist if required.

We currently have 24 active volunteers in Longford and have 13 new recruits completing their basic training. At present we have

7 trained EMT’s, 8 EFR’s, 4 FAR’s and 4 CFR’s. Training takes place in our headquarters and is provided by our own instructors.

Other training includes search and rescue, radiation, welfare and avian flu. EMT’s attended a number or regional training and

information nights and prepared their portfolios for PHECC examination.

In 2017 we provided first aid cover on 59 local events and welfare at the blood bank donation clinic. Duties included:

Local soccer games

GAA games

Athletic events We attended a number of Local Authority and Charity Events. Our larger duties last year included:

The Fleadh in Ballymahon

Longford Festival

Longford Marathon

October Mudfest Our annual mass and medal presentation took place in November. It was attended by volunteers and their families and members

of the County Council and our friends from the Peter Keenan ONE Longford branch of ex servicemen. Volunteers were

presented with a commemorative medal to mark their participation in the national 1916 to 2016 events. This medal was

specially commissioned by the Department of Defence.

12 of our volunteers took part in a regional exercise held in Sligo in April. This comprised of three elements; first aid, search and

rescue and welfare. Longford won the welfare section of the exercise and found the whole event an enjoyable and worthwhile

learning experience.

CIVIL DEFENCE

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Core Objective:“Ensure that infrastructural transportation policies and investments assist and enhance the economic and social development of County Longford and preserve and improve the physical attractiveness of the county and its background environment”. Longford is strategically located near the centre of Ireland and is traversed by National Primary Routes N4 and N5 and National Secondary Routes N55 and N63. These routes give rise to significant traffic flows throughout the County. Longford County Council has a network of National, Regional and Local Roads within the County. Currently the breakdown of roads under the authority of Longford County Council is as follows: -

CLASSIFICATION NATIONAL REGIONAL LOCAL TOTAL

Ballymahon Municipal District (km) 42.25 72.15 504.36 618.76

Granard Municipal District (km) 18.95 68.09 707.56 794.60

Longford Municipal District (km) 37.37 12.31 157.72 207.40

Total Kilometres 98.57 152.55 1369.64 1620.76

The following specific works were completed in 2016 –

NATIONAL ROAD PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES National Pavement schemes are selected on the basis of recent condition surveys of the network with the following specific works carried out in 2017 –

PAVEMENT WORK DETAIL

N5 Pavement Surfacing at Aughareagh, Longford

Pavement Surfacing works on the N5 at Augahreagh including junctions

N5 Pavement Surfacing at Fallons Bridge, Longford

Pavement Surfacing works on the N5 at Augahreagh including junctions

N63 Cathedral Junction Longford

Traffic Signals and other works at the Cathedral Junction are now Operational and works are complete.

LOCAL & REGIONAL ROAD IMPROVEMENT During the year Local & Regional Roads were improved and maintained under the Restoration Programme. This Grant is in two forms –

The Restoration Improvement element is designed to meet expenditure on surface restoration and road reconstruction.

The Restoration Maintenance aims to protect the structural integrity of the road by way of surface dressing.

BRIDGE REHABILITATION WORKS Bridge rehabilitation works took place at Curraghroe, Derryshanoge and Rabbitpark.

ROADS, TRANSPORTATION AND ROAD SAFETY

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LOW COST SAFETY SCHEMES The Low Cost Safety Improvement Grant enables low cost safety improvement works on Regional and Local Roads. Low Cost Safety Schemes were carried out at the following locations –

Springtown, Granard

Gelsha, Ballinamuck

Clonrollagh, Longford

Grianard Ard, Longford

Cross, Ardagh

Colehill Junction

WINTER MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME The Winter Service plan provides the framework for dealing with Winter Weather conditions on the roads and provides for a planned and co-ordinated response by Longford County Council. The objective of the winter maintenance programme is to provide so far as it is reasonably practical for the safe movement of road users on the National Roads and other strategic routes identified during adverse weather conditions.

EXPENDITURE National Road Grants are received from Transport Infrastructure Ireland to carry out maintenance works on the National Roads and Bridges in County Longford and State Grants are provided to road authorities to supplement the provision made from their own resources towards a road programme for the improvement, maintenance and management of the regional and local roads network. Expenditure on National and Non National Roads in 2017 was as follows –

ROAD SAFETY PROMOTION & SCHOOL WARDEN SERVICE The Road Safety role of Local Authorities is wide and ranges from Road Construction to Safety Promotion to School Warden Schemes. The Local Authority now has an expanded role in promoting road safety by developing more initiatives at local level such as: Longford Road Safety Working Together Committee consists of the following agencies: - TII, Road Safety Authority,

Longford County Council Sports Coordinator, An Garda Siochána, Longford County Council Road Safety Officer, Longford County Childcare Member, Councillor Mark Casey and Members of Longford Fire Services.

CYCLE RIGHT, the National Standard for Cycle Training in Ireland was introduced in 2017. CYCLE RIGHT is a modular cyclist road safety training course designed to give cyclists the knowledge and skills to move

safely through the road system, an environment shared with other road users. New Campaign Highlights Employer Responsibility to Employees who drive for work. Co-ordination with the Road Safety Authority – advertising, promotions, and media campaigns. Promotion of “Safe Cross Code”. Promotion of Road Safety in Secondary Schools and Youth Reach Programmes through the “Drive for Life Programme” from

January to December 2017. Training took place in Ballymahon Youth Reach, Longford Town Youth Reach, Mean Scoil Mhuire Secondary School Longford and Moyne Secondary School.

The Junior School Warden Service is designed to provide safe crossing facilities for children in the vicinity of primary schools in provincial towns and villages. The Roscommon/Longford/Westmeath Regional Final was held at Scoil Mhuire National

1. NATIONAL ROADS (TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IRELAND GRANTS)

Improvement Works €1,058,355

NP & NS Maintenance €338,564

HD Pavement Renewals & Surveys €252,125

Winter Maintenance €108,778

Total: €1,757,822

2. NON-NATIONAL ROADS (DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNITY & LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS)

Specific Improvement Grant €440,325

Restoration Improvement Works €2,709,452

Restoration Maintenance Works €615,266

Discretionary Maintenance Grant €1,052,615

Low-Cost Safety Improvement Works €161,377

Speed Limit Signs €31,970

Bridge Rehabilitation €232,733

Severe Weather €23,374

Training Programme €24,000

Total: €5,291,112

3. NON-NATIONAL ROADS (COUNCIL CONTRIBUTION) €806,617

Total Budget: € 7,855,551

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School, Newtownforbes and 12 schools participated in the event. Scoil Mhuire National School, Newtownforbes won the Regional Final of the School Warden Competition 2017. Longford County Council has two Schemes in operation at Scoil Mhuire National School, Newtownforbes and St. Mary’s National School, Drumlish. An adult warden is provided at Lanesboro National School.

Promotion with iRadio “I is the Limited” Road Safety Campaign. Road Safety awareness was promoted in National Schools throughout the county. In conjunction with The Road Safety Authority “Check it Fits” visited Nallys Toyota Garage, Athlone Road, Longford.

Unfortunately, in Ireland, fitting child car seats is still a significant cause for concern and as many as 3 out of 4 child car seats may be fitted incorrectly.

Promotion with iRadio “Bank Holiday Safety Campaign” and Christmas & New Year Safety Campaign. The Axa Road Safety Show was scheduled to be held in the Back Stage Theatre on the 17

th October 2017 but was cancelled

because of Storm Ophelia.

Scoil Mhuire Newtownforbes winners of the Regional Junior School Warden Final.

LOCAL IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES 17 Schemes were completed in 2017 totalling €302,443.

CLÁR The CLÁR Programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The reopening of the CLÁR Programme is part of the Government’s programme for Rural Development. CLÁR 2017 saw funding provided for two measures, Safety Measures for Schools and Community/Sports facilities, playgrounds and multi-use games areas (MUGA) and Local Access Roads. Funding was received for the following schemes: -

Measure 1

Priority Location Description of proposed scheme Ded Cost

1 Cloontagh National School, Derryhaun, Longford

Erect 4 no. child safety signs. Remove hedging, install road markings and improve safety measures

Ballymahon 9004 €8,000

2 Newtownforbes National School, Newtownforbes

Improve Signage and install road markings Newtownforbes 9054 €5,000

3 Scoil Samathann, Ballinalee

This school is located on the R194. A large volume of traffic travel on this road. Install Speed Safety Signs indicating that cars are entering a particular zone

Ballinalee 9014 €14,000

4 Legan National Legan Erect pedestrian crossing at school Foxhall 9009 €30,000

5 Ballinalee Village, Ballinalee

Erect pedestrian crossing, realignment of footpaths to suit crossing, signage and road markings to improve safety for pedestrians attending community facilities.

Ballinalee 9014 €30,000

6 Replacement of flashing amber safety lights at 3 Nationals Schools

Flashing amber lights are damaged at three national schools and are not fixable

Ballymahon 9004 Abbeylara 9013 Granard Rural 9040

€21,000

7 Naomi Dominic National School located on a regional road with a large 9013, 9005,9016 €30,000

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Measure 2


1 Drumlish Install disable friendly roundabout in playground

Drumlish 9048 €4,000

2 Granard Replacement of Climbing wall Granard Urban 9027 €2,400

3 Aughnacliffe Additional slide and tunnel Granard Rural 9026 €4,000

4 Newtownforbes, Newtowncashel, Keenagh, Ballymahon

Autism friendly play panels and widgets for the four playgrounds, Newtownforbes, Newtowncashel, Keenagh and Ballymahon

Newtownforbes 9054, Ballymahon 9004

€4,160

Total €18,200

School, Kenagh volume of traffic. Relocate existing pedestrian crossing from the Post Office to the School.

8 Naoimh Mhuire National School, Newtowncashel

Improve Signage at school and install road markings

Meathas Truim 9030 €4,000

9 St. Mel's National School, Ardagh


Moydow 9053 €3,000

10 Scoil Mhuire Gan Small, Lanesborough


Rathcline 9055 €4,000

11 Road to Graveyard in Edgeworthstown

Surface car park to service school/crèche/ community centre/sports hall and graveyard in Edgeworthstown

Meathas Truim €15,000

12 Killashee National School, Colehill National School, Ennybegs National School

Update public lighting at 3 schools Killoe 9050 Killashee 9049

€11,000

13 Kilmore Shore, Kilmore, Dring

Drainage, fencing, surfacing carpark, embankment along shore line to protect kerbing

Granard Rural 9026 €18,000

14 Dring Carpark Strengthen sections and surface to access road and carpark

Granard Rural 9026 €30,000

Total €223,000

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1 Newtownforbes Tidy Towns

Construct new public footpath including associated works & public lighting ducting to Graveyard in Newtownforbes

Newtownforbes €45,000

2 Colmcille Community Centre

Upgrade carpark which is currently gravel (asphalt & to mark in spaces. Also include laying concrete at the back of the centre)

Sonnagh €19,409

3 Edgeworthstown District Development Association

Remove existing debris and old concrete slab, resurface with tarmac

Meathastruim €15,577

4 St Teresa's National School Update car park to provide 10 additional spaces and road markings

Killoe €8,264

5 Ballymahon Tidy Towns

Improve/upgrade works to carpark and boat club area in Ballymahon including new seating, bollards, landscaping, carpark markings

Ballymahon €25,500

6 Abbeyshrule Tidy Towns

i) Upgrade of car park area & walkway at Newcastle Woods and landscaping ii) Landscaping planting/Info Panels & seating at Whitworth Aquaduct on Royal Canal

Ballymahon €36,550

7 St Marys National School

Enhance playground area & replace basketball equipment & line markings on 2 courts

Cashel West €5,288

8 Drumlish Tidy Towns, Drumlish

Construct Boardwalk & viewpoint (wheelchair accessible)

Drumlish €32,427

9 Higginstown Community Group, Higginstown, Granard

Complete next phase of works at the complex includes road restoration works & installation of public lighting

Granard Urban €41,902

10 Legan Tidy Towns, Legan Village

Upgrade town hall & amenity area (new furniture and landscaping works in village play area)

Foxhall €8,500

Total €238,417

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Irish Water is the National Utility in charge of the public water and waste water schemes in County Longford since 1

st January

2014. Since this time the Council staff in Water Services have operated on an agency basis in maintaining the water and wastewater plants and networks within the County on behalf of Irish Water under a Service Level Agreement (SLA). An Annual Service Plan was agreed for 2017 under which Longford County Council aimed to deliver services under the terms of the SLA to provide water services to satisfy the needs of Irish Water customers in compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements in a cost effective manner. The Annual Service Plan (ASP) commits the Council to deliver agreed specific objectives and standards of performance taking into account the overall performance assessment proposed by the Commissioner for Energy Regulation (CER) as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The 2017 ASP set out the allocated budget and headcount in addition to the Key Performance Targets for Longford County Council. Feedback from Longford County Council was taken into account by Irish Water in the formation of the 2017 ASP.

The process of formally transferring infrastructural assets within the County e.g. sites containing water and waste water treatment plants to Irish Water continued in 2017 with a further 16 sites transferred to Irish Water via Statutory Instrument.

The operational expenditure for 2017 for Water Services in Longford County Council utilised to cover the day to day running costs of all plants, pumping stations and networks amounted to €5 million. In addition, significant improvements to Water Services infrastructure were achieved this year throughout the County. These included the following -

Replacement of more than 30 kilometres of poor quality water main throughout the County at Edgeworthstown, Newtownforbes, Aughnacliffe, Drumure, Cloonmee, Ballagh, Drumlish, Cahanagh, Granard, Shroid and Ballymahon.

Improvements to existing water infrastructure to the value €1.1 million on targeted upgrades at various facilities within the County. A sample list of the works undertaken is as follows:

o Refurbishment and rebuilding of Clarifier at Abbeyshrule Water Treatment Plant o Structural Repairs to Reservoirs at Richmond o Refurbishment of Edenmore Pumping Station o New Lifting Gantries at Lough Forbes and Abbeyshrule Water Treatment Plants o Saturation Vessel at Lough Forbes o Rebuilding of Manholes on the network

Longford County Council Water Services working on behalf of Irish Water on an ongoing basis are also carrying our significant capital upgrades to all four main water treatment plants within the County in a targeted investment initiative designed to improve efficiencies, quality and energy consumption throughout the County via three major Programmes - i.e. Disinfection Program, Minor Improvement Programs and CFC equipment upgrade program. A significant proportion of these three programmes were procured and commenced in 2017.

WATER SERVICES

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Following the adoption of the Local Economic and Community Plan in 2016 and a number of significant changes in the Council's

operating environment, Longford County Council commenced a review process of its Corporate Plan in early 2017.This review

focussed on changes in the Council's operating environment and produced a number of revisions to the Council's Core Values,

Themes and Strategic Objectives, for the remainder of the term of this Council. Through consultations with employees, elected

members and the public, the following 10 Strategic Objectives were agreed -

1. Support and maintain safe, sustainable and active communities in our County through community engagement and

empowerment.

2. Plan, provide and sustain the infrastructural development, the Regeneration Programme and the natural environment

of County Longford.

3. Maintain a supportive business environment to support job creation and retention and work with relevant agencies to

attract investment to County Longford.

4. Work with our communities to develop sustainable Tourism in the County, based on our quality natural environment,

people, heritage and cultural assets.

5. Maintain and the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce and support our employees in realising their potential.

6. Provide strong financial management, risk management, audit, corporate governance and control and compliance

systems.

7. Support local democracy including the policy making and representation role of our Councillors and public participation

in our decision making.

8. Develop and maintain appropriate internal and external communication channels that makes it easier for the Council to

engage with each other, our communities and stakeholders and the outside world.

9. Support a high quality level of customer service by maximising the use of technology and providing the best possible

customer experience.

10. Take a leadership role in social inclusion, equality, human rights and universal accessibility.

APPENDIX 1: ANNUAL PROGRESS ON CORPORATE PLAN (2015-2019)

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APPENDIX 2: NSAI CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION

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COUNCILLORS SECTORAL REPRESENTATIVES Seamus Butler (Chair) Fintan McGill (Business/Employers) Padraig Loughrey (resigned September 2017) Louise Lovett (Community & Voluntary) Colm Murray Ray Hogan (Environmental/Conservation) Peggy Nolan Mona Considine (County Tourism Committee) Pat O’Toole Joe Flaherty (joined December 2017)

The SPC met 4 times during 2017 - 13th February, 15th May, 18th September and 18th December. Councillor Seamus Butler continued as Chair for the 2nd Term following the resignation of Councillor Padraig Loughrey. The following items were discussed at the meetings -

LECP Implementation Plan

Strategic Promotion of Longford

Rural Development Programme (LEADER)

Longford Tourism Strategy

Strategy for marketing of County Longford

Trade missions to promote Longford as an investment destination

Submissions on Government Strategy

Longford Economic Forum

Business Incentive Scheme

Creative & Innovation Hub

Sectoral Information/Networking events

USEFE Initiatives

Community Grant Support Scheme 2017

Regeneration Programme

Northern Quarter Update

Town Teams Project

Town & Village Renewal Scheme

Outdoor Recreation/Clar Funding

Center Parcs

Presentation by IDA

Presentation by Midlands Regional Skills Forum

Development Contributions Scheme

COUNCILLORS SECTORAL REPRESENTATIVES Cllr P.J. Reilly (Chair 1st Term) Derek Scanlon (Development/Construction) Gerry Warnock (Chair 2nd Term) Tess Murphy, Stephanie Igoe (Community & Voluntary) John Browne Eileen Finan (Social Inclusion) Martin Mulleady Paul Ross

The SPC met 4 times in 2017 - 6th February, 2nd May, 5th September and 7th November. The following items were discussed at the meetings:

Policy on the sale of houses

Draft Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy 2016-2021

Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)

Repair and Leasing Scheme

Voids Programme

Disability Action Plan

Presentation by Midlands Simon Community

APPENDIX 3: STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES 2014-2019 REPORTS

Economic Development and Enterprise SPC

Housing Services SPC

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COUNCILLORS SECTORAL REPRESENTATIVES Micheál Carrigy (Chair 1st Term) Andrew McHugh (Agriculture and Farming) John Duffy (Chair 2nd Term) Teresa Kearney (Community & Voluntary) Mick Cahill Michael Spillane (Trade Union) Gerry Farrell Niamh Moran (Environment/Conservation) Luie Mc Entire

The Infrastructural and Environmental Services SPC met 3 times in 2017, 13th April, 29th June and 14th December. The following items were discussed at the meetings:

Broadband

Hedgecutting

Local Improvement Schemes

Temporary Signs Policy

Policy on Decorative Paving and the Reinstatement of Footpaths

Policy on Temporary Flashing Speed Signs

Policy on Taking in Charge of Roads

Policy on Cattle Grids in Public Areas

Policy on Speed Ramps

N4 Mullingar to Longford (Rooskey) Road Scheme

Community Notice Boards

Infrastructure for CCTV

Provision of Loading Bays in Longford Town

Presentation on Draft River Basin Management Plan by South Eastern River Basin District

Presentation on Mobile Phone Voice Black Spot Identification Survey

Winter Maintenance Programme

Disability Groups Access Issues

COUNCILLORS SECTORAL REPRESENTATIVES Mae Sexton (Chair 1st Term) Pat O’Rourke (Agriculture and Farming) Mark Casey (Chair 2nd Term) Noreen McLoughlin (Environment/Conservation) Paraic Brady Patricia Murphy, Paddy Howe (Community& Voluntary) Gerry Farrell Gerry Warnock

The SPC met 4 times during 2017 - 20th February, 22nd May, 25th September and 11th December. Councillor Gerry Warnock replaced Councillor Mick Cahill as a member of the Committee in February 2017. The following items were discussed -

Regeneration Projects and 2017 Work Programme

National Planning Framework

Music Generation

Arts Programme 2017

Creative Ireland Programme 2017

Heritage Grants 2017

Action Plan for Housing (Rebuilding Ireland)

Mapping of Graveyards

Framework for Town Centre Renewal

Town & Village Renewal Scheme

Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme

Development Contributions Scheme

National Greenway Strategy

Longford Age Friendly Strategy

Right to Read Project

Funding for Festivals

Vacant Site Levy

Interim Guidelines on Statutory Plans, Renewable Energy and Climate Change

Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006

Draft Walking Cycling Strategy

Infrastructure and Environment SPC

Planning and Development and Cultural SPC

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COMMITTEES COUNCILLORS Appointment of nominee of Longford County Council to attend annual meeting of Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurances Ltd

Luie McEntire

Association of Irish Local Government Mark Casey, Luie McEntire, Peggy Nolan

Board of Backstage Theatre Directors: Mae Sexton, Michael Nevin, Mary Reynolds Members: Padraig Loughrey, Peggy Nolan

Creative Ireland Culture Team Paraic Brady, Mark Casey, Peggy Nolan, Mae Sexton,

County Longford Heritage Forum Paraic Brady, Seamus Butler, Joe Flaherty

Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly Mick Cahill, P.J. Reilly

Health Service Executive Regional Health Forum, Dublin-mid Leinster

Paraic Brady, Pat O’Toole, P.J. Reilly

Joint Policing Committee Gerry Warnock (Chair), Paraic Brady, John Browne, Seamus Butler, Mick Cahill, Gerard Farrell, Joe Flaherty, Martin Mulleady, Colm Murray, Paul Ross, Peggy Nolan, Pat O’Toole, P.J. Reilly

Local Authority Members’ Association P.J. Reilly

Local Community Development Committee Seamus Butler (Chair), Colm Murray (Vice Chair), P.J.Reilly, Gerry Warnock

Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee

John Browne, Seamus Butler, Joe Flaherty, Peggy Nolan, Mae Sexton, Gerry Warnock

Longford Community Resources Ltd John Browne, Mick Cahill, Mae Sexton

Longford County Council Audit Committee Michael Connellan, Denis Glennon (former Elected Members)

Longford Enterprise Development Company Ltd Seamus Butler, Gerry Farrell, Gerry Warnock

Longford Pool Construction Ltd John Browne, Joe Flaherty, Gerry Warnock

Longford/Westmeath Education and Training Board

Seamus Butler, Pat O’Toole, Peggy Nolan, Mae Sexton

Longford/Westmeath Rural Community Transport Association

Michéal Carrigy

Lough Oughter, Gowna and River Erne Joint Drainage Committee

Luie McEntire, Martin Mulleady

Midlands Region Drugs and Alcohol Task Force P.J.Reilly

Midlands Energy Agency Mick Cahill

North Western International River Basin District Advisory Council

John Duffy, Luie McEntire

Rural Water Monitoring Committee Seamus Butler, Pat O’Toole, Paul Ross

Shannon River Basin District Advisory Council Mick Cahill, Pat O’Toole

Sports Partnership Board John Browne, Mark Casey, Martin Mulleady

Steering Committee for the promotion of the Irish Language

All Elected Members of Longford County Council

Tender Committee The Cathaoirleach, John Browne, Pat O’Toole.

APPENDIX 4: COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES

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Meetings of the County Council were held monthly, with the exception of the month of August.

MONTHLY MEETINGS 11th January 2017

Ms. Jillian McNulty, Cystic Fibrosis Campaigner, gave a comprehensive presentation to the meeting regarding the Orkambi Drug which is used to treat the underlying causes of Cystic Fibrosis.

Official Launch was held of new Longford County Council Website and Logo.

Mr Donal Mac An Bheatha, Senior Planner and Mr. Alan Lauder, Ecologist, Golden Eagle Trust Ltd., gave a presentation to the members regarding the proposed Shannon Wetland Wilderness Park.

8th March 2017 Paul Veale and Brid Somers, IDA addressed the members. 12th April 2017 Jude O’Neill, Head of Social Care, Dublin-Mid Leinster Health Service Executive, attended the meeting and briefed the members regarding St. Joseph’s Care Centre. Mary Carleton-Reynolds, County Librarian, gave a comprehensive presentation regarding the Creative Ireland Programme 2017 10th May 2017 Representatives from Comhairle na nOg gave a comprehensive presentation to the members. Christine Collins, Broadband Officer, gave a presentation regarding the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 14th June 2017 Siona Cahill, Vice-President for Equality & Citizenship and Michael Kerrigan, Vice-President of the Border, Midlands & West Union of Students of Ireland, gave a comprehensive presentation regarding the future of Higher Level Education funding. Annual Meeting – 30th June 2017 Councillor Martin Mulleady was elected Cathaoirleach of the Council. Councillor Padraig Loughrey was elected Leas Cathaoirleach of the Council. 13th September 2017 Mona Considine, Manager, Backstage Theatre and Centre for the Arts, gave a comprehensive presentation to the meeting regarding Backstage Theatre and Centre for the Arts. 11th October 2017 Karen Kennedy, Local Authority Water & Communities Office, gave a presentation on the draft River Basin Management Plan by South Eastern River Basin District. 8th November 2017 Councillor Padraig Loughrey resigned from Longford County Council on the 22

nd October 2017.

Councillor Seamus Butler was elected Leas Cathaoirleach until the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Council. Budget Meeting – 27th November 2017 Budget for the Financial Year ending 31

st December 2018 was adopted by the members.

13th December 2017 Joe Flaherty was elected to the vacancy for the Longford Electoral Area occasioned by the resignation of Councillor Padraig Loughrey.

2017 CATHAOIRLEACH’S AWARDS CEREMONY - 15TH JUNE 2017. Peter Dennehy - Ballymahon MD

Liam Fenelon - Longford MD

Vincent Hawkins - Granard MD

Ciaran Corcoran - Overall Award.

APPENDIX 5: MEETINGS OF LONGFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

74

CIVIC RECEPTIONS

9th June 2017 Marguerite Donlon - for her distinguished career as a Ballet Dancer, Choreographer, Artistic Director and critically acclaimed achievements in the World of Dance. 22nd June 2017 Matt Farrell - Recipient of the Heritage Council 2016 Ireland’s Heritage Hero Award.

AUDIT COMMITTEE The Audit Committee provides an independent expert review, assessment and advice on financial management and reporting processes, internal control systems and procedures, risk management and audit matters. The Committee’s role is primarily an advisory one and the Committee is not vested with any executive powers or any statutory powers of investigation or enquiry. The statutory functions of the Audit Committee are set out in Section 122(2)(a) to (f) of the functions of the Local Government Act 2001 and in S.I. 244 of 2014 entitled Local Government (Audit Committee) Regulations, 2014.

The Audit Committee met on the 27th

January, 15th

February, 12th

May, 23rd

June, 29th

September, 24th

November 2017. The Committee examined a number of issues within its remit and issued recommendations where appropriate.

75

Conference Date Councillors in Attendance

Local Authorities & Waste Management, Galway 13-14/1 Peggy Nolan

Supporting Safer Communities, Galway 20-21/1 Peggy Nolan

Functions of Local Authorities and NRA, Clonakilty 27-29/01 Mae Sexton, Mark Casey

Longford Association in London, London 17-19/02 Gerry Warnock, Mick Cahill

Meeting with Tourism Ireland, New York 13/03 Peggy Nolan, John Duffy

Longford Association Function, New York 11-19/03 Mick Cahill, John Duffy

LAMA Spring Training Seminar, Gormanston 28-29/04 Peggy Nolan, Mark Casey, Mae Sexton, P.J. Reilly, Mick Cahill, Paraic Brady, Paul Ross, Colm Murray, Luie McEntire, John Browne, Micheál Carrigy, John Duffy

Mullingar ETB, Mullingar 20/03 Mae Sexton

AILG Annual Conference, Ennis 06-07/04 Mark Casey, Peggy Nolan, Gerry Warnock, Mae Sexton, John Duffy, Paraic Brady, John Brown, Mick Cahill, Micheal Carrigy, Luie McEntire, P.J.Reilly, Paul Ross, Colm Murray

Planning & Technology Seminar, Nenagh 29/06 John Browne, Luie McEntire, P.J. Reilly, Paul Ross

Annual Consultation with Chairs of JPC’s, Dublin 05/07 Gerry Warnock

Ballinamuck Twinning Event, Essert France 15-20/07 Paraic Brady

Patrick MacGill Summer School, Glenties 16-21/07 P.J. Reilly, Gerard Farrell, Paul Ross

Scoil Samhraidh & Phiarsaigh, Rosmuck 27-29/07 Luie McEntire

IPI Energy in Agriculture, Gurteen, Roscrea 22/08 Pauric Brady, John Browne, P.J. Reilly, Paul Ross, Colm Murray

Wild Alantic Way National Conference, Listowel 05-06/09 John Browne

LAMA Autumn Training Seminar, Clonmel 29-30/09 P.J.Reilly, Luie McEntire, Mark Casey, Mae Sexton, Mick Cahill, Paul Ross, Colm Murray, Peggy Nolan, Paraic Brady, John Browne, John Duffy, Michéal Carrigy, Gerard Farrell

Irish Planning Institute Autumn Conference, Gibson Hotel, Dublin

06/10 Paul Ross, John Browne, P.J.Reilly, Luie McEntire, Colm Murray

AILG Autumn Training Seminar, Sligo Park Hotel 12-13/10 John Brown, Mick Cahill, Mark Casey, Gerard Farrell, Paul Ross, Mae Sexton, Micheal Carrigy, John Duffy, Paraic Brady, Luie McEntire, Colm Murray, Peggy Nolan, P.J.Reilly

Invasive Exotic Species of Wildlife in Irish Rivers, Clonakilty

24-26/11 Mick Cahill, Colm Murray

Delegation to the TII, Dublin 16/11 Pat O’Toole, P.J.Reilly, Gerry Warnock, Seamus Butler, Micheal Carrigy, Paul Ross, Mae Sexton

IPB Pride of Place Awards, Letterkenny 02/11 Mae Sexton

IPI Conference, Guild Hall, Derry 05/12 Paraic Brady

A Practical Guide to Budget 2018, Clonakilty 08-10/12 Micheal Carrigy

ODCE/Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Seminar, Clonakilty

21-23/12 Paraic Brady, Martin Mulleady

AILG “In Service” Training for Elected Members

Waterford, 11/02 Peggy Nolan, Mae Sexton, Paraic Brady, Luie McEntire, P.J.Reilly, Micheal Carrigy, Paul Ross, Colm Murray, John Browne, Mick Cahill

Arklow, 09/05 Mae Sexton, Peggy Nolan, Paraic Brady, John Browne, Mick Cahill, Micheal Carrigy, Colm Murray, Paul Ross

Westport, 13/05 Mark Casey, P.J.Reilly

Dundalk, 10/06 Paraic Brady, John Browne, Mick Cahill, Peggy Nolan, Colm Murray, P.J. Reilly, Mae Sexton

Bundoran, 15/06 Paul Ross, Luie McEntire, Micheal Carrigy

Cork, 23/09 John Browne, Mick Cahill, Mark Casey, Paul Ross, Mae Sexton, Micheal Carrigy, Peggy Nolan

Gormanstown, 14/09 Luie McEntire

Tuam, 19/09 Colm Murray, P.J.Reilly, Paraic Brady

Tullamore, 19/10 Mick Cahill, Mae Sexton, John Browne, Colm Murray, Peggy Nolan, P.J. Reilly

Dunboyne, 18/11 Colm Murray, P.J. Reilly, Gerry Warnock, John Browne, Mick Cahill, Mark Casey, Luie McEntire, Martin Mulleady, Mae Sexton

Carrickmacross, 23/11 Peggy Nolan, Paul Ross, Paraic Brady

APPENDIX 6: CONFERENCES ATTENDED BY ELECTED MEMBERS

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PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 2016 2017

C1 & C2 & C4: Corporate

Wholetime equivalent staffing number at year end 280.68 294.24

% of paid working days lost due to sickness absence through: medically certified leave 3.69% 3.38 %

self- certified leave 0.31% 0.30 %

No. working days lost to sickness absence through: medically certified leave 3,045.5 2,634

self-certified leave 201 199

No. unpaid working days lost to sickness absence through: medically certified leave 692.5 378

self-certified leave 2 0

All ICT Expenditure in the year divided by the WTE no. €2,493.82 €2,423.13

Total revenue expenditure on Account Elements €699,966.62 €712,983

Staff on long-term sick leave (i.e. a continuous period of more than 4 weeks) 25.29

C3: Corporate

Total page views of all websites operated by the LA 42,9395 338,834

No. social media users following the LA on social media sites 1,414 12,307

No. social media accounts operated by the LA 19

E1: Waste

A. No. households in an area covered by a licensed operator providing a 3 bin service (census) 4,291 4,110

% households that the number at A. represents 28.43% 27.23 %

E2: Environmental Pollution

Number of pollution cases: in respect of complaint during the year 1,236 1,152

closed during the year 1,285 1,122

on hand at year end 64 94

E3: Litter Pollution

Percentage of area: unpolluted by litter Data supplied by Tobin

Engineers

Data supplied by Tobin

Engineers

slightly polluted by litter

moderately polluted by litter

significantly polluted by litter

grossly polluted by litter

F1: Fire Service

AFS Programme E expenditure divided by Census population served by the Fire Service €49.86 €44.55

AFS Programme E expenditure data consisting of E11 - Operation of Fire Service & E12 Fire Prevention €2,295,548 €2,132,540

F2 & F3: Fire Service

Average time (minutes) to mobilise fire brigades in: A. Full-Time Stations in respect of Fire No Full-Time Stations in Longford

B. Part-Time Stations in respect of Fire 5.92 6.2

C. Full-Time Stations in respect of other accidents No Full-Time Stations in Longford

D. Part-Time Stations in respect of other accidents 6.22 7.57

% of cases in respect of fire in which first attendance at scene is: A. within 10 minutes 45.36 % 47.15 %

B. after 10 & within 20 minutes 45.36 % 44.49 %

C. after 20 minutes 9.27 % 8.37 %

% of non-fire cases in which first attendance at scene is: D. within 10 minutes 27.27 % 21.92 %

E. after 10 & within 20 minutes 56.36 % 61.64 %

F. after 20 minutes 16.36 % 16.44 %

Total no. call-outs in respect of fires in year 302 263

No. fire cases where first fire tender attendance at the scene is within 10 minutes 137 124

after 10 & within 20 minutes 137 117

after 20 minutes 28 22

Total no. call-outs in respect of all other emergency incidents in year 55 73

No. non-fire cases where first fire tender attendance at the scene is within 10 minutes 15 16

after 10 & within 20 minutes 31 45

after 20 minutes 9 12

H1, H2 & H4: Housing

A. No. dwellings in the ownership of the LA at 1/1/2017 1,878

B. No. dwellings added to the LA owned stock during the year (constructed or acquired) 47 32

C. No. of LA owned dwellings sold in the year 7

D. No. of LA dwellings demolished in the year 0

E. No. dwellings in the ownership of the LA at year end 2,185 1,903

F. No. dwellings planned for demolition under a DHPLG approved scheme 0 0

A. % of LA owned dwellings vacant at year end 5.13 % 4.78%

Number of dwellings within the overall stock not tenanted at year end 97 91

A. Expenditure on repair and maintenance of housing €685.47 €715.84

Expenditure on repair/maintenance of LA stock incl. planned maintenance €1,295,531 €1,362,251

APPENDIX 7: PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

77


H3 & H5: Housing

A. Average time taken from date of vacation of dwelling to date of commencement of new tenancy 47.54 wk 0.36 wk

B. Average cost expended on getting dwellings re-tenanted ready for re-letting €9,157.86 €7,458.26

No. dwellings re-tenanted on any date in year (excl. those vacant for estate refurbishment) 86 67

No. weeks from when previous tenant vacated dwelling up to date new tenant's first rent debit 4,088.44 24.39 wk

Total expenditure on repairs necessary to enable re-letting of the dwellings €787,576 €499,703.65

A. Total no. registered tenancies at end June 2,482 2,859

B. No. rented dwellings inspected 47 72

C. % of dwellings inspected found not to be compliant with the Standards Regulations 14.89 66.67 %

D. Number of non-compliant dwellings that became compliant 4 1

No. dwellings inspected found not to be compliant with the Standards Regulations 7 48

H6: Housing

A. No. adults in emergency accommodation long-term as a % of total no. of homeless adults 35.29 % 31.25 %

No. adults classified as homeless and in emergency accommodation at year end, on PASS 17 16

No. adults at year end who were in emergency accommodation for 6 months continuously or for 6 months cumulatively within the previous 12 months

6 5

J1 to J3: Economic Development

A. No. jobs created with assistance from the Local Enterprise Office 102.0 116.0

A. No. trading online voucher applications approved by the Local Enterprise Office 12 15

A. No. participants who received mentoring 67 77

B. No. trading online vouchers drawn down 8 7

L1: Library Service

No. library visits during the year 212,087 226,546

No. library visits per head of population 5.2 5.54

No. items borrowed during the year 131,451 102,173

L2: Library Service

AFS Programme F data / by the population of the LA area per census €46.29 €42.19

AFS Programme F02 Cost of Library Service €1,889,067 €1,724,367

M1 & M2: Finance

Cumulative balance in Revenue Account from the Income & Expenditure of the AFS:

A. 31/12/2013 B. 31/12/2014 C. 31/12/2015 D. 31/12/2016 E. 31/12/2017

€91,710 €126,465 €142,995 €174,151 €231,830

F. Cumulative surplus or deficit at year end as a % of Total Income from the AFS statement 0.42% 0.56%

G. Revenue Expenditure per capita in €927.64 €966.98

Total Income figure from Income and Expenditure Account Statement of the AFS €41,825,622 €41,532,197

Total Expenditure figure from Income and Expenditure Account Statement of the AFS €37,856,991 €39,523,203

Summary of % of collection levels for major revenue sources:

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Rates 69.8 % 69.7 % 82 % 84 % 89 %

Rent & Annuities 86.2 % 86.2 % 88 % 90 % 92 %

Housing Loans 60.8 % 56.0 % 55 % 57 % 60 %

P1: Planning

Total no. of new buildings notified to the local authority 40 611

No. of new buildings notified, subject of at least one inspection 6 13

Buildings inspected as a % of new buildings notified to the local authority 15.00 % 2.13 %

P2 & P3: Planning

A. No. of planning decisions subject of appeal to An Bord Pleanála determined by Board 5 3

B. % of the determinations which confirmed (with or without variations) decision made by the LA 100 % 66.67 %

No. determinations confirming the LA's decision with or without variation 5 2

A. Total no. planning cases referred to or initiated by the LA in year that were investigated 54 59

B. Total number of cases closed 39 46

C. % cases at B dismissed under Section 152(2) or closed because statute barred or exempted development

35.90% 45.65 %

D. % of cases at B resolved to the LA's satisfaction through negotiations 15.38% 10.87 %

E. % Cases at B closed due to enforcement proceedings 48.72% 43.48 %

F. Total no. planning cases being investigated as at year end 59 72

No. cases at B dismissed under Section 152(2), Planning and Development Act 2000 14 21

No. cases at B resolved to the LA's satisfaction through negotiations 6 5

No. cases at B closed due to enforcement proceedings 19 20

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P4 & P5: Planning

AFS Programme D data divided by the population of the LA area €34.57 €38.28

AFS Programme D consisting of D01, D02, D03 (inclusive of the central management charge) €1,410,778 €1,564,641

A. % of applications for fire safety certificates received that were decided (granted or refused) within two months of their receipt

92.45 %

B. % of applications for fire safety certificates received that were decided (granted or refused) within an extended period agreed with the applicant

5.66 %

Total no. of applications for fire safety certificates received that were not withdrawn by applicant 53

Total no. of applications for fire safety certificates received that were decided (granted or refused) within two months of the date of receipt of the application

49

Total no. of applications for fire safety certificates received that were decided (granted or refused) within an agreed time period

3

R1 & R2: Roads

% road kilometres with a PSCI rating: Regional 99 % 99 %

Local Primary 89 % 41 %

Local Secondary 82 % 33 %

Local Tertiary 56 % 60 %

% Total Road Kms with PSCI Ratings 2016 2017

1 - 4 5 - 6 7 - 8 9 - 10 1 - 4 5 - 6 7 - 8 9 - 10

Regional 2 % 23 % 51 % 24 % 0 % 15 % 74 % 11 %

Local Primary 7 % 39 % 28 % 15 % 4 % 35 % 35 % 17 %

Secondary 11 % 45 % 13 % 14 % 7 % 42 % 18 % 19 %

Tertiary 17 % 20 % 10 % 9 % 13 % 22 % 12 % 13 %

A1. Kilometres of regional roads strengthened 3.1 km 3.5 km

A2. Amount expended on regional roads strengthening work €400,424 €394,489

B1. Kilometres of regional roads resealed 4.2 km 4.4 km

B2. Amount expended on regional road resealing work €130,126 €89,175

C1. Kilometres of local roads strengthened 39.2 km 42.8km

C2. Amount expended on local road strengthening work €2,033,071 €2,314,963

D1. Kilometres of local roads resealed 37.5 km 36.5km

D2. Amount expended on local road resealing work €546,825 €526,091

R3: Motor Tax

% of motor tax transactions online 52.75 % 56.18 %

W1: Water

% of Private Drinking Water Schemes in compliance with statutory requirements Data supplied by the EPA.

1 %

Y1 & Y2 Youth and Community

A. Percentage of local schools involved in the local Youth Council/Comhairle na nÓg scheme 88.89 % 100 %

Total number of secondary schools in the LA area at year end 9 9

No. 2nd level schools from which representatives attended the Comhairle na nÓg AGM 8 9

No. organisations included in the County Register and the proportion who opted to be part of the Social Inclusion College within the PPN

14.56 12.45

Total no. organisations included in the County Register for the local authority area 158 241

Total no. those organisations that registered for the first time 66 83

No. organisations opting to join the Social Inclusion Electoral College when registering for the PPN 23 30

Longford County Council Annual Report€¦ · Locally based companies Abbott and Panelto commenced...

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Transcript of Longford County Council Annual Report€¦ · Locally based companies Abbott and Panelto commenced...