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.

All priority 1, 2 and 3 routes as listed below are clear. Priority today has been on local routes to isolated areas in the County. Local roads which have not been ploughed may have significant snow drifts and extreme care is advised. OCC crews will continue to work on local routes throughout the day. Area staff are responding to local issues as required.

Offaly remains at Status Orange until at least 10am tomorrow. We are asking all motorists to SLOW DOWN as road conditions are still hazardous. Motorists need to exercise caution and drive at speeds appropriate to the conditions. Remember that there may still be snow and ice lingering in sheltered spots, around bends and at corners. Thawing snow will also cause Issues for drivers. So please take your time and get to your destination safely.

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

Significant progress has been made on clearing all major routes throughout the county. All Priority 1, 2 and 3 routes are now clear. Our focus is now on other regional and local routes and full details of cleared roads can be found in the seperate attached Roads Update. The Slieve Bloom Area is particularly badly affected and all parts of the county have experienced severe snow drifts which have hampered our efforts. Many of our towns and villages streets are clear as are access routes into and out of them. The Council’s efforts continue to be assisted by hired plant from contractors, i.e., JCBs, Bobcats, Loading Shovels and Agricultural Machinery. A number of Local roads are still largely impassable due to snow drifts. Where feasible, local farmers have cleared some and we wish to acknowledge and thank them for their efforts. We are also asking businesses and householders to continue clearing footpaths outside their premises. Power has been restored to the affected houses in Edenderry. Due to a significant leak which is draining the reservoir at Frewin Hill Irish Water have advised that it will be necessary to restrict flow to the Ballinagore, Kilbeggan, Horseleap and Streamstown areas from 6 pm this evening Sunday 5th March to 8 am on Monday 6th March. There are concerns about possible flooding as the thaw starts and we are monitoring this. Areas known to flood continue to be monitored. Motorists are advised to take care and SLOW DOWN on all roads as thawing snow can slide or fall off road side banks. Extensive fog is forecast for the Midlands so all road users need to exercise caution. Advice on driving in adverse weather can be found at http://rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/Severe-Weather-Advice/ As the thaw starts we are asking to public to abide by the following safety measures: Safety Advice: • No unnecessary recreational or social travel should be undertaken in areas where road clearance activities still need to be undertaken • Stay away from downed power lines and report any downed power lines to ESB Networks • Exercise extreme caution if it is necessary go outside on foot. Footpaths remain treacherous with the risk of slips, trips and falls. • Please check on vulnerable neighbours. • Businesses and householders are asked to clear footpaths outside their premises. • Watch for flooding – stay away from watercourses over the next few days as river levels will rise in some catchments. • At a household and individual building level, melting snow will cause leaks, may pull down gutters and people should please watch out for snow sliding off roofs. All Council offices will reopen as normal tomorrow and all opening hours can be found at http://www.offaly.ie Tullamore and Edenderry Civic Amenity Centres will be open

Tullamore Municipal District Tullamore Town Roads Clear, clean up operations and clearing of footpaths ongoing; Priority 1 M6 Motorway section through Offaly Clear N52 Tullamore to Kilbeggan Clear N52 Tullamore By Pass to Blueball Clear N80 Charleville Roundabout through Killeigh onto County Boundary Clear R420 Bachelors Walk through Cloncollig Roundabout to Ballina Clear Priority 2 R420 Clara to County Boundary to Moate Clear R421 TTC Office to Arden Junction on Bypass Clear Priority 3 R436 Clara to Kilbeggan Passable with extreme care Mucklagh Village Clear R421 Ballard Roundabout to Killurin Passable with extreme care R446 (Old N6) Moate to Horseleap Passable with extreme care L02025 Tullamore to Ballinagar Clear Birr Municipal District Birr Town Roads Clear, clean up operations and clearing of footpaths ongoing Priority 1 M7 Motorway section through Offaly Section Clear N62/N52 Roscrea to Kennedys Cross Clear N52 Kennedys Cross to Fivealley Clear N52 Fivealley to Blueball Clear N62 Ballinahown to Cloghan Clear N52 Birr to Riverstown Clear N62 Cloghan to Galross Cross Clear N62 Clonkelly south of Birr Clear N62 Galross Cross to Kennedys Cross Clear R445 Roscrea to Borris in Ossory Passable with extreme care Priority 2 R438 Cloghan to Taylors Cross Passable with extreme care R439 Taylors Cross to Birr Passable with extreme care Priority 3 R356 Wynnes Cross to Banagher Clear R436 Ferbane to Clara Clear R439 Taylors Cross to Banagher (County Bounds) Passable with extreme care R440 Birr to Kinnitty to Cadamstown (County Bounds) Passable with extreme care due to significant snow drifts present; Difficult conditions in this area R357 Blueball to Shannon Bridge Clear R438 Taylors Cross to junction with R489 Passable with extreme care R445 (Old N7) South of Moneygall (County Bounds) to Roscrea North of Dunkerrin (County Bounds) TBC R491 Shinrone to Roscrea Clear R491 Shinrone to Cloughjordan (County Bounds) Clear R492 Sharavogue to Shinrone Clear Edenderry Birr Municipal District Edenderry Town Main roads and Town Centre clear: extreme care advised in minor roads and estates Portarlington Roads Clear, clean up operations and clearing of footpaths ongoing Priority 2 R402 Edenderry to Ballina Cross Clear R420 Ballina Cross to Portarlington Ongoing: plant mobilised to clear from Geashill towards Portarlington R420; R420 around Raheen and the railway bridge The R420 Geashill to Portarlington Clear R419 / R442 Portarlington to Clonbullogue Passable with extreme care due to significant snow drifts present Priority 3 R423 Portarlington to Mountmellick (County Boundary) Ongoing: plant mobilised to clear; R401 Clonbullogue to Edenderry Clear R401 Edenderry towards Kinnegad Not clear R401 Clonbullogue to Rathangan Not Clear R400 Rhode to Motorway interchange Clear R400 Rhode to Mountlucas Clear R400 to Cushina To commence: plant mobilised to clear; R441 Edenderry to Rhode 2 JCB working out of town from Fr Paul Murphy St towards the tunnel (Rathangan road) and clearing out towards Rhode around Jonestown Cross (R441). Fahey Hill Not clear L-5001 Drumcooley Link Road ( link between R402 and Rathangan road) Ongoing: plant mobilised to clear; R-5006 Ballykilleen Ongoing: plant mobilised to clear; L-1001-2 Rathangan Road Clear to Cushaling Bridge; Not clear past bridge L-1017-2 Daingean to Croghan Ongoing: plant mobilised to clear; L-1010-2 Croghan to Rhode Ongoing: plant mobilised to clear; Rhode Village Ongoing: plant mobilised to clear; Ballykesne to Walshe Isalnd Ongoing: plant mobilised to clear; ESB issues reported.

Offaly remains at Status ORANGE until 12pm tomorrow. Significant progress has taken place today ploughing and treating all Priority 1, 2 and 3 routes throughout the county. Detaied updates on the status of all these can be found in the seperate Roads Update attached. Please be advised that routes listed as passable are only passable with extreme care and are subject to change due to potential worsening weather conditions. Details of all routes can fe found at http://offaly.ie/eng/Services/Roads/Winter-Maintenance/. The following roads in the County remain closed: Kinnitty to Mountrath Road, the R440 Regional Road and the L8001-1 (across the Slieve Blooms); L-4025-1 and L-4025-2 Kinnity Road to Roscrea is closed in Kinnity Village to Brertons Pub; The Whitehall Bridge in Tullamore town is closed. All priority 1 routes will be treated tonight and any priority 2 and 3 routes which are ploughed. Local roads which have not been ploughed may have significant snow and drifts and extreme care is advised. Water has been restored to Clonbullogue and Rhode. Safety Advice: • No unnecessary recreational or social travel should be undertaken in areas where road clearance activities still need to be undertaken • Stay away from downed power lines and report any downed power lines to ESB Networks • Exercise extreme caution if it is necessary go outside on foot. Footpaths remain treacherous with the risk of slips, trips and falls. • Please check on vulnerable neighbours. • Businesses and householders are asked to clear footpaths outside their premises. • Watch for flooding – stay away from watercourses over the next few days as river levels will rise in some catchments. • At a household and individual building level, melting snow will cause leaks, may pull down gutters and people should please watch out for snow sliding off roofs. The main contact number for emergencies is 1890 750 750. Please follow us https://twitter.com/offalycoco on Twitter and like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/offalycoco/ for regular updates. Updates will be also be posted on http://www.offaly.ie

Offaly remains at Status ORANGE until 6pm this evening. We are asking all members of the public to only travel if absolutely necessary. Other advice we would ask the public to heed is to watch out for overhead powerlines as snow and ice can cause them to hang and fall. If you are able to get out safely please, take care and check on vulnerable neighbours if you can. We would also ask all Households and Businesses to clear footpaths and areas outside their premises of snow to ensure the safety of the public. Tips on all the above can be found at https://www.winterready.ie Please be advised that routes listed as passable are only passable with extreme care and are subject to change due to potential worsening weather conditions. Details of all routes can fe found at http://offaly.ie/eng/Services/Roads/Winter-Maintenance/. All Priority 1 routes are passable this morning albeit with extreme care. There were additional snow showers overnight last night with road temps dropping below -2 degrees across the county. Our crews were out overnight treating these routes. Prolonged snowfall between 10pm and 2am last night in the south of the county has further compounded the situation. Snow is drifting still an issue, in particular N52 at Fivealley and N62 at Sharavogue and between Kennedy’s cross and Cloghan . Crews are being redirected to these areas to assist. We have commenced work on ploughing the Priority 2 and 3 routes with the assistance of hired plant from contractors i.e JCBs, Bobcats, Loading Shovels, Agricultural Machinery this morning. Priority routes will consist of the Mount Lucas to Tullamore and Cloghan to Shannonbridge routes to facilitate Bord na Mona fuel deliveries to power stations. A request has been sent in for assistance from Defence forces for footpath clearing in our 3 main towns, Tullamore, Edenderry and Birr. Water has been restored to Clonbullogue and we are working in conjunction with Irish Water to restore water to the parts of Rhode without it. A tanker will be deployed to Priority Lawnsin Rhode at 10 am. The main contact number for emergencies is 057 93 46800 and our out of hours/emergency number is 1890 750 750. Please follow us https://twitter.com/offalycoco on Twitter and like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/offalycoco/ for regular updates. Updates will be also be posted on http://www.offaly.ie

Offaly remains at Staus RED until 6pm this evening. We are asking all members of the public to remain indoors unless a medical emergency. People who are attempting to drive are significantly hampering our treatment efforts and slowing down and obstructing our ploughing. Please be advised that routes listed below as passable are only passable with extreme care and are subject to change due to potential worsening weather conditions. Our crews have been out since 10am ploughing and treating Priority 1 Roads throughout the county. Severe snow drifts are hampering these efforts. Driving conditions remain extremely poor and we have reports of cars venturing out and getting stuck which is further hampering our efforts to get the road network back up and running. Priority 2 and 3 routes will only be treated once all Priority 1 routes are passable and as of now it will be at least tomorrow before this commences. Tullamore Municipal District M6 Motorway section through Offaly Section....passable N52 Tullamore – Kilbeggan...passable N52 Tullamore By Pass – Blueball...passable N80 Charleville Roundabout – Killeigh Co Bdy...not passable currently being worked on R420 (Old N80) Clara -Tullamore...passable R420 Bachelors Walk – Cloncollig Roundabout – Ballina Cross...passable Birr Municipal District M7 Motorway section thru Offaly Section.. passable N62/N52 Roscrea - Kennedys Cross.. passable N52 Birr-Riverstown. Passable N52 Kennedys Cross-Fivealley ......passable with extreme care ( snow drifts present) N52 Fivealley – Blueball.....passable with extreme care ( snow drifts present) N62 Ballinahown - Cloghan. Passable N62 Cloghan - Galross Cross. One lane ploughed N62 Galross Cross-Kennedys Cross.....one lane ploughed Edenderry Municipal District R402 Edenderry - Tullamore. One lane ploughed and passable , working on opposite lane presently Crews are currently deployed to clear the road from Rhode to Edenderry via Ballybryan Power disruptions continue in the following areas: Edenderry and Clonbullogue. Water pumps are out in Toberdaly and Irish Water have been informed and are working to restore Our Fire and Civil Defence Service have been assisting key workers in the HSE, both in the hospital and the wider community to get to work in extremely difficult conditions. They have also responded to other emergency incidents throughout the county. The main contact number for emergencies is 1890 750 750.

Offaly remains at Staus RED until 6pm this evening. We are asking all members of the public to remain indoors unless a medical emergency. Roads are currently impassable throughout the county and severe drifting has taken place. We will recommence ploughing operations on Priority 1 routes from 10am this morning. Details of routes can be found at http://offaly.ie/eng/Services/Roads/Winter-Maintenance/ Gardai reported a number of abandoned cars throughout the county and have advised these won’t be moved until the weather conditions improve. Further clean up operations will resume today, Friday 2nd March once the status red weather alert has passed. The situation will be monitored as the day progresses. There has been disruption to power in the following areas: Edenderry and Clonbullogue. Our Fire and Civil Defence Service have been assisting key workers in the HSE, both in the hospital and the wider community to get to work in extremely difficult conditions. They have also responded to other emergency incidents throughout the county. The main contact number for emergencies is 057 93 46800 and our out of hours/emergency number is 1890 750 750. Please follow us https://twitter.com/offalycoco on Twitter and like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/offalycoco/ for regular updates. Updates will be also be posted on http://www.offaly.ie

Ploughing of Priority 1 roads in Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry towns will continue until 1pm today. At 1pm operations will cease due to the safety of staff driving in blizzard conditions. Ploughing, treating and clean up operations will resume once the Red Alert storm has passed. Members of the public should stay indoors during this time as blizzard conditions are expected. Medical emergencies are the only reason to travel. Please do not endanger your own life or those of the emergency services and abide by this national advice. Our main contact number for emergencies is 057 93 46800 and our out of hours/emergency number is 1890 750 750

Roads Update: Please note as of 9am today only Priority 1 Routes listed below continue to be treated. Weather conditions are continuining to worse so please do not travel on any road unless essential Priority 1 Roads Offaly Tullamore Municipal District M6 Motorway section through Offaly Section* N52 Tullamore – Kilbeggan N52 Tullamore By Pass – Blueball N80 Charleville Roundabout – Killeigh Co Bdy R420 (Old N80) Clara -Tullamore R420 Bachelors Walk – Cloncollig Roundabout – Ballina X Birr Municipal District M7 Motorway section thru Offaly Section* N62/N52 Roscrea - Kennedys Cross *** N52 Birr-Riverstown N52 Kennedys Cross-Fivealley N52 Fivealley – Blueball N62 Ballinahown - Cloghan N62 Cloghan - Galross Cross N62 Galross Cross-Kennedys Cross R445 Roscrea – Borris in Ossory** Edenderry Municipal District R402 Edenderry - Enfield

Significant snowfalls have occurred over night and Met Éireann have advised Offaly and indeed the whole country is now at Status RED until at least 12pm tomorrow. Roads were treated and ploughed overnight and continuing this morning. There is heay snow and accumulations on all routes despite continued ploughing throughout the night. Due to major visibility issues and the depth of snow on our Priority 2 and 3 routes, drivers were unable to continue ploughing some of these roads. These issues were most prevalent on the Birr and Edenderry routes with drivers only able to plough the N52, N62 and Tullamore to Edenderry/Portarlington routes only. Details of these priority routes 2 and 3 which we were unable to plough can be found at http://offaly.ie/eng/Services/Roads/Winter-Maintenance/. Priority 1 routes continue to be treated. Crews are working to keep treated routes operational. However road users are advised to exercise extreme caution due to the significant snowfall. Treatment and ploughing has been deployed in Tullamore, Edenderry and Birr Town from 6am this morning. A risk assessment will be carried out this morning to assess treating and ploughing in extreme blizzard conditions. The following roads in the County remain closed: • Kinnitty to Mountrath road, the R440 Regional Road and the L8001-1 (across the Slieve Blooms). • L-4025-1 and L-4025-2 Kinnitty Road to Roscrea is closed in Kinnitty Village to Brereton’s Pub. • The Whitehall Bridge in Tullamore Where resources are available, footpaths in our main towns are also being cleared but we would ask all Households and Businesses to clear footpaths and areas outside their premises of snow at an early stage to ensure the safety of the public. Road users are advised to exercise extreme caution. Don’t travel unless absolutely necessary. Where travel is essential be where you need to be before 4pm. Please follow the advice at http://rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/Severe-Weather-Advice/ if you have to travel. From 4pm no travel should be undertaken. Gardaí have advised that they are prioritising and risk assessing all calls and that in the event of minor accidents where no injury arises, details should be exchanged and the accident can be reported at a later date. Gardai have reports of a number of minor material damage traffic accidents. We would ask the public to check www.winterready.ie for advice on how to deal with potential adverse weather conditions. Please check on the elderly and isolated neighbours and friends and ensure they have adequate stocks of food, fuel and medicine. All Council Offices, including libraries and civic amenity centres, will be closed to the public for the remainder of this week. Staff will continue to maintain essential services during this current weather event.

Met Éireann have advised Offaly remains at Status Orange today. All major routes continue to be gritted and ploughed. Where resources are available footpaths in our main towns are also being cleared but we would ask all Households and Businesses to clear footpaths and areas outside their premises of snow at an early stage to ensure the safety of the public. As of now all roads in the County remain open apart from the following: • Kinnitty to Mountrath road, the R440 Regional Road and the L8001-1 (across the Slieve Blooms). • L-4025-1 and L-4025-2 Kinnitty Road to Roscrea is closed in Kinnitty Village to Brereton’s Pub. • The Whitehall Bridge in Tullamore Road users are advised to exercise extreme caution. Don’t travel unless absolutely necessary. Please follow the advice at http://rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/Severe-Weather-Advice/ if you have to travel. Gardaí have advised that they are prioritising and risk assessing all calls and that in the event of minor accidents where no injury arises, details should be exchanged and the accident can be reported at a later date. Sufficient stocks of salt are in place to grit roads as per Offaly County Council’s Winter Maintenance Plan which is available here. http://offaly.ie/eng/Services/Roads/Winter-Maintenance/ The Council has ensured additional emergency accommodation is available for those who need it and are working with all agencies to identify and accommodate vulnerable people. We would ask the public to check www.winterready.ie for advice on how to deal with potential adverse weather conditions. Please check on the elderly and isolated neighbours and friends and ensure they have adequate stocks of food, fuel and medicine. All Council Offices including libraries and civic amenity centres will be closed to the public for the rest of this week. Staff will continue to maintain essential services during this current weather event. Please note from 4pm tomorrow Thursday 1st March until 12pm Friday 2nd March a RED weather alert is in place for Offaly. We are asking all members of the public to stay indoors during this time as blizzard conditions are likely. Please do not endanger your own life or those of the emergency services and abide by this national advice. The main contact number for emergencies is 057 93 46800 and our out of hours/emergency number is 1890 750 750

All Offaly County Council offices including Áras an Chontae, Municipal Districts, Libraries and Civic Amenity Centres are closed to the public from 1.30pm today. Staff are maintaining essential services during the current weather event. Updates will be updated on the Council’s website, social media and through the local media. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and remind everyone to exercise extreme caution if you have to travel. The main contact number for emergencies is 0579346800 and our out of hours/emergency number is 1890 750 750

Met Éireann have advised Offaly remains at Status Orange today. All major routes continue to be gritted and ploughed. Where resources are available footpaths in our main towns are also being cleared but we would ask all Households and Businesses to clear footpaths and areas outside their premises of snow at an early stage to ensure the safety of the public. As of now all roads in the County remain open apart from the following: • Kinnitty to Mountrath road, the R440 Regional Road and the L8001-1 (across the Slieve Blooms). • L-4025-1 and L-4025-2 Kinnitty Road to Roscrea is closed in Kinnitty Village to Brereton’s Pub. Road users are advised to exercise extreme caution. Don’t travel unless absolutely necessary. Please follow the advice at http://rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/Severe-Weather-Advice/ if you have to travel. Gardaí have advised that they are prioritising and risk assessing all calls and that in the event of minor accidents where no injury arises, details should be exchanged and the accident can be reported at a later date. Sufficient stocks of salt are in place to grit roads as per Offaly County Council’s Winter Maintenance Plan which is available here. http://offaly.ie/eng/Services/Roads/Winter-Maintenance/ The Council has ensured additional emergency accommodation is available for those who need it and are working with all agencies to identify and accommodate vulnerable people. We would ask the public to check https://www.winterready.ie/en for advice on how to deal with potential adverse weather conditions. Please check on the elderly and isolated neighbours and friends and ensure they have adequate stocks of food, fuel and medicine. The main contact number for emergencies is 057 93 46800 and our out of hours/emergency number is 1890 750 750

Significant snowfall was recorded in Offaly overnight and as of now Offaly is at Status Orange. As of now all roads in the County remain open apart from the Kinnitty to Mountrath road, the R440 Regional Road and the L8001-1 (across the Slieve Blooms). All treated routes are operational albeit with caution due to lying snow.

Press Release Local Coordination Group 27/02/2018 2pm A meeting took place this morning comprising Offaly County Council, the HSE and an Garda Siochana.

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.

A notice in relation to the public consultation is available to view in the office of the Planning Section, and on the website, of each planning authority, together with a printed copy of the correspondence from DBEIS and associated documents identified by DBEIS as the relevant documents for the purpose of the consultation. A copy of these documents is available for inspection or purchase from the planning authority. The notice may also be viewed in the public consultation section of the website of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government: www.housing.gov.ie, together with the correspondence from DBEIS, relevant associated documents and links provided by DBEIS to other environmental information relating to the project.

Current Jobs advertised in Offaly County Council.

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.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2017 has recently been launched by Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD and Minister of State for Regional Economic Development, Michael Ring, TD. For 2017, there will be €20 million available in funding for rural towns and villages for projects nationally.

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.

A key component of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is a new scheme, the Vacant Housing Repair and Leasing Scheme, which targets the delivery of social housing and also ensures that existing housing stock is used to the maximum degree possible.

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).