While in Ferbane on Monday to open the new Fire Station, Minister Eoghan Murphy also took the opportunity to meet some of the new residents of Mill Race Ferbane. Offaly County Council acquired 5 units in this development from Droughill Builders Ltd. following a call to developers to provide finished, turnkey standard units to the Local Authority. Droughill Builders finished out the units to a high standard and the houses were allocated to five families in recent weeks. The Minister met the families present on Monday and wished them well in their new homes. Offaly County Council continues its work programme to meet the targets set by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government through a blend of new construction schemes, acquisition of houses, leasing and provision of the Housing Assistance Payment.

THE ROAD NO. N62 AT BALLYEGAN TD. SOUTH OF BIRR TOWN. Vehicular access will be available for the local residents / landowners via detour but access from Ballyegan TD south of Birr Town will not be available.

Offaly County Council's Public Spending Code Quality Assurance Report 2017

Offaly County Council's list of Purchase Orders raised in excess of €20,000

Unaudited Annual Financial Statement for the year ended 31st December 2017

Current Jobs advertised in Offaly County Council.

Information Booklet for social housing supports

Public Participation: Identification of Bathing Waters Local authorities must identify official bathing areas in their area every year so that they can be monitored for safety, water quality and their level of use. To help with this process, Offaly County Council are asking people who swim at beaches, lakes and rivers to tell them if they think they should maintain existing designated bathing waters designations or give a new official bathing area designation to areas that are commonly used for swimming, but not identified at the moment. Under European and Irish law, Irish local authorities must identify bathing waters each year so that these areas can be monitored to ensure they meet stringent microbiological water quality standards. In some cases, the official bathing areas are also the areas where local authorities focus their resources providing lifeguards during the summer season. These laws also require that the local authority prepares detailed descriptions or profiles for each of the identified bathing water sites that describe not just the bathing area but also areas in the surface waters catchment area that could be a source of pollution. The profiles include an assessment the risk of pollution and what action would be taken if pollution occurs. If you are a regular swimmer and want to help your Council decide which bathing areas should be classified as such, it might be helpful to consider the following: • How your swimming area has been used up to now; • How many people use the site; • What facilities exist at the site and how accessible it is; • Any safety issues. If you wish to propose your favourite beach/river etc as a new bathing water site or comment on an existing site please contact... Closing date for submissions to Offaly County Council is 22nd June 2018. For further information please email waterservices@offalycoco.ie or Tel: 0579346800

Offaly County Council wish to establish a multi-party framework agreement with suitably qualified and experienced Building Contractors for the provision of a variety of small to medium sized building works over the lifetime of the framework.

Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails official ground-breaking by Mr. Charlie Flanagan, T.D., Minister for Justice and Equality. Coillte, in partnership with Offaly and Laois County Councils are pleased to announce that the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails (MTB) project has moved one important step closer to becoming a reality. The sod was turned on Phase 1 today, 27th April 2018 by Mr. Charlie Flanagan, Minister for Justice and Equality. After a competitive two stage tendering process, contractors Metro Construction have been appointed to construct this phase and will work closely with Coillte and the Local Authorities to ensure a trails product of international quality.

Offaly County Council is seeking to purchase schemes of houses up to a maximum of 20 on one site for Social Housing purposes in County Offaly. The critera for decision to purchase would include the following: Social Housing need in the area concerned. Timescale for delivery. Value for money. Quality and design. Expressions of interest in providing houses should be sent to Director of Services for Housing , Offaly County Council, Aras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore not later than 27th April 2018. ...

Loan Scheme for repair of vacant houses and apartments in County Offaly...Do you own a vacant house or apartment that's in need of repair? Is lack of funding a problem? Would you lease the property if funding repairs were to be made available to you? The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) may be for you....

Offaly County Council gives notice in accordance with Section 75 of the Roads Act, 1993 that it will close: • The R357 from the Crossroads (R437) to its junction with the N62 in Cloghan from Thursday 19 April @ 10pm to midnight. • The R357 from the Moystown Cross to its junction with the N62 in Cloghan from Friday 20 April @ 1am to 3am.

Offaly County Council in partnership with Waterways Ireland are pleased to announce the official opening of the Grand Canal Greenway, at Srah Tullamore on 12th of April 2018, by Mr. Michael Ring, T.D., Minister for Rural & Community Development

Today we will be using the hashtags #ourcouncilday and #ÁrLáSaChomhairle on Twitter to talk about some of the services that city and county councils provide. Tar isteach sa chomhluadar agus nocht do chuid tuairimí faoi na seirbhísí atá á sholáthar againn! Join in and talk to us about the services we are providing in your community today! You will find details of all the services Offaly County Council provides on www.offaly.ie Our services range from business supports provided by LEO to libraries for all, roads maintenance, environmental services including dog control and rehoming and many many more You can follow us on Twitter here:https://twitter.com/offalycoco or like us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/offalycoco/ This event is being run by Offaly County Council and the communication departments in the other local authorities.

Driving conditions remain poor this morning so PLEASE SLOW DOWN and stay a safe distance from the car in front of you. Pictures below are of some roads throughout the county this morning. As you can fog is very dense furthering hampering driving conditions. Take your time and arrive safely. • Remember that there may still be snow and ice lingering in sheltered spots and on bends and corners. • Be aware of the risk of thawing ice and slush build up at road sides. Visibility will be reduced as spray from vehicles is thrown onto the windscreen of your vehicle. Keep an extra distance from the vehicle in front, especially goods vehicles, and ensure that your windshield washer is full. Keep your lights clear of grime and dirt. • Slow down as there may also be localised flooding as the thaw starts and this will increase the risk of aquaplaning. Use dipped headlights so you can be seen by other motorists. • Road surfaces may be damaged after the freeze / thaw action of the frost and ice. Motorists, especially cyclists and motorcyclists are advised to watch carefully for such hazards. • Motorists are asked to allow extra distance when passing cyclists and motorcyclists as they may have to take evasive action to avoid a hazard such as black ice or a pot-hole. • Road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists should be aware of overhead hazards. Melting snow and ice falling from buildings and trees pose a serious risk. Be aware of what’s happening above you and stay clear from the edges of buildings. • Pedestrians should avoid walking in the streets at all costs if possible. Remember, cars and trucks slip and slide too. • Pedestrians and cyclists need to be seen while out using the roads wear high visibility clothing, an armband, Sam Browne belt or a high visibility vest. As more roads become passable we will update. Thank you for heeding all safety advice so far

The purpose of this document is to identify the processes, procedures and key personnel employed by Offaly County Council, to deliver the winter service operation for County Offaly.

Fully completed applications must be submitted on the official Application Form to the offices of Municipal District of Tullamore, Town Hall, Cormac St., Tullamore by 4.00pm on 2nd March, 2018.

Offaly County Council's Budget 2018 was adopted on 20th November 2017 and is available for viewing.

Offaly County Council is seeking ideas in respect of projects for physical improvement and/or increasing the economic potential of towns and villages, in anticipation of the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2018.

Chambers Ireland Award-Enhancing the Urban Environment. Revitalising Birr by improving the way its public realm functions.

Well done to our colleagues in Birr Municipal District winners in the Enhancing the Urban Environment Award at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards for the Birr Public Realm Project, "Revitalsing" Birr by improving the way its public realm functions

Call for applications from Urban Tidy Towns groups and Urban Community Playgrounds to apply to Offaly Local Community Development Committee for the The Department of Rural and Community Development RAPID capital grant programme.

Notice is hereby given that the Draft Register of Electors for 2018/2019 was published on the 1st November 2017. This Draft Register of Electors can be checked at your local Post Office, Public Library, Garda Station, Courthouse or Local Authority Office.

Offaly Libraries are to benefit from funding of €106,260 from the Department of Rural and Community Development and 35,420 from Offaly County Council.

Map can be viewed here.

Offaly County Council is pleased to publish the Diaspora Strategy 2017-2020. Speaking about the Strategy, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council commented “The Strategy brings together key initiatives that will connect and engage Offaly’s global Diaspora to bring positive change and impact for Offaly and ensure that the Diaspora feel part of a shared progressive vision that benefits “bring home”. The ultimate focus of these initiatives is to capitalise on linkages and connections to create economic progression and jobs in the county”.

National Revaluation Programme Update: Revaluation of commercial and industrial properties in County Offaly has been completed. Proposed Valuation Certificates have been issued to Commercial and Industrial ratepayers in Offaly County Council rating authority areas.

Notice of Consideration of Setting a Local Adjustment Factor The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended), makes specific provision that elected members of a Local Authority may pass a formal resolution to vary the basic rate of the Local Property Tax for their administrative area by a percentage known as the local adjustment factor.

A further 78 people could die on roads by end of year. Cyclist deaths have increased by 100%. Arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs have increased by 18%. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána have today published a provisional review of road fatalities for the first half of the year.

Following advice from the Health Services Executive, Irish Water and Offaly County Council wish to notify customers that Irish Water is now in a position to remove the boil water notice from the Birr, Banagher and Dunkerrin Public Water Supplies with immediate effect.

CATCHMENT SURVEYS OF THE DAINGEAN RIVER & THE SHINRONE & KILCOMIN STREAMS. Offaly County Council wish to advise of upcoming works to improve the water quality in our rivers, streams and groundwater. This work is undertaken to protect and restore our natural waters as required under the Water Framework Directive.

Local authorities must identify official bathing areas in their area every year so that they can be monitored for safety, water quality and their level of use.

Environmental Awareness: Do you have a project or initiative that could help to increase awareness of environmental issues locally, or that could help your community to become more sustainable? If so, you may qualify for financial assistance from the Local Agenda 21 (LA21) Environmental Partnership Fund 2017. This Fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level.

Applications for community grants are invited from Community and Voluntary ‘Not for Profit’ groups, within the Municipal District of Tullamore, and which rely predominantly on fund raising and donations to operate.

Notice is hereby given that Offaly County Council proposes to carry out works to enhance the existing public realm at O’Connell Square and JKL St. Edenderry for a period of 8 (eight) weeks, from Wednesday 22nd February 2017to Friday 21st April 2017(both dates inclusive).