Search Results for 'Director of services'

There was consternation among some councillors at this weeks meeting of the Galway County Council over reports that local authorities will be forced to collect debts on behalf of Irish Water.

’This is our time to stand up and deliver for small struggling businesses right across County Galway.’’ The words of Fine Gael councillor Jimmy McClearn who spoke passionately on behalf of the local business community at Monday’s meeting of the Galway county council.

The housing grants administered by Mayo County Council for older people, including repairs, adaptation, and mobility grants is reaching a critical point and needs to be addressed soon. That was the message given by director of services with responsibility for housing for Mayo County Council, Paul Benson. The council provided a grant of up to 75 per cent of the total costs of works carried out and has allocated €2.8 million in next year’s budget for the three schemes, however at last Monday’s budget meeting of the council Mr Benson warned there may be trouble ahead with the scheme.

New public toilets are to be built at Galway Cathedral and the development will be completed by the end of the year.

Between two and three life-saving ring buoys are being lost to Galway City Council on weekly basis due to the actions of thoughtless members of the public.

The lack of public bins in the city has led to one frustrated councillor admitting that she would flout the law in relation to dog fouling. Independent councillor Catherine Connolly outlined to the chamber how there is not one bin on the walkway between Nimmo’s pier and Grattan Road. ‘’People are expected to carry their dog’s poo all along this route, it is simply too much, it’s dangerous and disgusting, I would not do it,’’ she admitted. Director of services Tom Connell outlined how all bins in the city are now owned by the council. He acknowledged the importance of bins and said the situation was constantly being monitored by the local authority’s litter management unit. ‘’The litter management crew are doing a fantastic job in what is an ever challenging area.’’ Mr Connell said that bins were being replaced but it was a gradual process due to financial costraints. Fine Gael councillor Peter Keane was also irritated about the bin issue. ‘’With Galway being a premmier tourist destination, bins are so important, I am disapointed but not surprised that there is no money available for bins at the moment. As far as I can see there are none at all in the Blackrock area. We simply have to ringfence money for bins,’’ said Councillor Keane. Meanwhile, Councillor Ollie Crow was concerned about bins around Eyre Square and the general condition of the area. The Fianna Fail councillor believes that Eyre Square needs more attention and said the walkway in the middle of the square was in very poor condition. He said it was imperative that litter wardens be employed on Sundays in the run-up to Christmas ‘’They are vitalto have the city running on an effective basis.’’ Tom Connell admitted that Eyre Square needed more work and he said the council was currently assesing the issue.

After years of planning Westmeath County Council executive have finally confirmed plans for the proposed new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Shannon.

A decision on how Westmeath’s new cycleway will cross the Shannon will be made next month according to the county council’s director of services, Barry Kehoe.