News

Arts & Culture

Offaly Arts Grants & Exhibitions 2020

2020 applications are open for the following:- Arts Act Grants, Festival Arts Grants, Professional Artist Support Scheme and the call for submissions to exhibit in The Atrium of Offaly County Council. Closing date for all applications is Friday 31 January. Please follow this link for application forms and guidelines. https://www.offaly.ie/eng/Services/Arts-and-Culture/Grants_Awards/

Offaly 2019 IPB Pride of Place Recognition Award

At the December meeting of Offaly County Council, the three Offaly 2019 Pride of Place nominees were recognised for their huge contribution to the Social and Cultural fabric of the Communities they serve. Cllr Peter Ormond, Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council presented the groups with their awards at the December Council Meeting. Commenting Cllr Peter Ormond said ‘I would like to offer sincere thanks to Birr Tidy Towns, St. Columcille Community Centre Durrow, and St. Brigid’s Social Club for representing the County and their Communities with such distinction. He went on to mention that Birr Tidy Towns were the recipient of a Special Award at the Pride of Place Awards night in the Lyrath Estate, Kilkenny last month ‘for the ceaseless dedication to Birr Town and its environs not just this year but every year and this was finally being recognised on a local and national stage. The Birr Tidy Towns Committee took home a special award after the Judges were impressed with how the local community “takes enormous and justifiable pride in enhancing the town’s built heritage to its full potential – and whose ongoing work in this area is exemplary.” St. Colmcille Community Centre committee Durrow represented Tullamore Municipal District in the population category 300- 1,000. The centre-piece of their submission was an extremely ambitious and all-encompassing hall renovation project which the group undertook this year. Representing the Edenderry Municipal District were St. Brigid’s Social Club Cloneyhurke in the Community Well-Being Initiative. St. Brigid’s are an extremely dedicated and hugely successful group which provide a great service to the local area all year round.

Edenderry Regeneration Phase 1 Funding Granted

Rural Regeneration Development Fund 2019 Department of Rural and Community Development announced on the 6th November RRDF for rural projects. Edenderry, phase 1 regeneration project for the Old Tesco Site back lands project was successful under the above scheme and funding of €522,207 from the Department was secured to construct a Link Road from Granary Court to Fairgreen. Offaly County Council will provide match funding of €174,069 of 25% to bring the total project cost to €696,276. The project is to construct a 200m Link Road from Granary Court to Fairgreen. This link road proposes to unlock the potential of a large derelict section of Edenderry Town Centre opening up back lands and long derelict opportunity sites. The benefiting site of 13.38 hectares, stretches from JKL Street to the north all the way to Blundell Park to the south. Edenderry is located close to the county boundary with Kildare and Meath and the rural hinterland which it serves includes areas in Offaly, Kildare and Meath. This project will: • Open up the former Tesco Supermarket site 0.425 hectares, which has laid vacant for over a 15 years detracting from the appearance of the Edenderry Town Centre; Offaly County Council envisage this site as a new Public Library and enterprise, community centre • Open up the former Williams Waller Grain Stores 1.12hectares (vacant, derelict and centre of anti-social activity) • Stimulate the development of Office of Public Works (OPW) lands 1.13 hectares, formerly earmarked for decentralisation; • Open up a combination of small sites totalling 1.805 hectares • Promote more sustainable transport options through a vital link, improving permeability to Blundell Park (8.9 hectares) and canal greenway The link Road proposed would provide a road link, footways, cycle-ways, broadband infrastructure and service to support the development of this area and provide the spine for the Master plan being developed and funded by RRDF, 2018.

Draft Budget 2020 - Offaly County Council

Draft Budget 2020 - Offaly County Council and Supplementary Directors Reports now available for download

Draft Register of Electors 2020/2021

Notice is hereby given that the Draft Register of Electors for 2020/2021 was published on the 1st November 2019. This Draft Register of Electors can be checked at your local Post Office, Public Library, Garda Station, Courthouse or Local Authority Office. Make sure you can vote by ensuring that your name is on the Draft Register of Electors by 25th November 2019. If you have a physical illness or disability or your occupation or place of study prevents you from voting at your polling station, you should apply to go on the Postal or Special Voters List, as appropriate, by 25th November next. Any person who wishes to check if they are on the current Draft 2020/2021 Register of Electors may check same on Offaly County Council website – www.offaly.ie or www.checktheregister.ie. Any queries should be directed to the Voter Registration Section, Offaly County Council, Áras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Telephone 057 9357402. UNLESS YOU’RE REGISTERED, YOU CANNOT VOTE. Mary Flynn Kenny, A/Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Services. November, 2019.

Press Release LEADER Funding Offaly

Offaly County Council welcomes the allocation of an additional €500,000 in funding to the Offaly LEADER Local Action Group (LAG) which is one of the top ten best performing LAGs in the country under the LEADER programme. The €.5m bonus allocation comes on top of the approved budget of €8m for the Offaly LEADER Programme 2014-2020. Councillor Declan Harvey, Chair of the Offaly Local Community Development Committee, (LCDC) said: “This funding is fantastic news for communities and enterprises throughout Offaly, and is a welcome recognition of the impressive work carried out by Offaly LCDC. The funding will greatly benefit a variety of projects in many areas of Offaly who are looking to improve their communities through grant aid funding under the LEADER Programme.” LEADER is delivered by 29 Local Actions Groups (LAGs) in Ireland whose role is to develop local strategies and to identify, select and fund projects in their counties which support their local strategies. Offaly LCDC is the contract holder for the Programme and Offaly Local Development Company is the Implementing Partner. CEO of Offaly Local Development Company, Brendan O’Loughlin, in welcoming the additional €500,000 LEADER funding said that “it is a testament to both the co-operation and work of Offaly Local Development Company, Offaly County Council, Offaly LCDC and to the communities and businesses that have brought projects forward to date.” The bonus was announced on Monday by the Minister for Community and Rural Development Michael Ring. Nationally the top ten performing counties for Leader funding have been given a €5m boost, resulting in a top up payment of €.5m to each of these counties, including Offaly. The selection of Offaly Leader LAG comes after a nationwide assessment of the level of funding approved and the level of funding drawn down in respect of projects on 20 September 2019, with the county assessed in eight place overall. Anna Marie Delaney Chief Executive of Offaly County Council said “This extra funding will be put to good use in implementing the Local Development Strategy and is a strong endorsement of the performance of Offaly Local Community Development Committee.” Announcing the allocation of the additional funding, Minister Ring said: “I am delighted to be in a position to provide additional funding to the top 10 areas where there is a strong demand for LEADER funding. I know that the extra funding will be of direct benefit to these communities receiving additional funding and will facilitate the approval of a higher number of LEADER projects in those areas. The ten best-performing groups will now be rewarded with €500,000 in extra funding to invest in rural communities in their counties.”

Tullamore Street Enhancement Newsletters

Keep up to date with the Tullamore Street Enhancement Works with our regular newsletters

Press Release Illegal Dumping

Offaly County Council’s Environment & Water Services Section initiated proceedings against an individual for illegal dumping and the case was heard in Athlone District Court on Friday 4th October. The person involved is a serial dumper and we have taken 7 prosecutions against him, some of which are on-going. There has been a huge amount of time, resources and administration spent on pursuing this individual. In our most recent case on Friday in Athlone Court, the defendant failed to appear following the execution of a bench warrant. The Judge, clearly intolerant of illegal dumping and time wasting, imposed an 8 week prison sentence. The defendant is due in court at the end of the month for another case of illegal dumping. This highlights that both the public and the Council will not accept the blight on its countryside by irresponsible individuals and will take action to combat same. Offaly County Council has received and investigated 776 complaints to date this year which relate to illegal dumping and waste storage issues and also includes assistance with 200 voluntary clean ups. For further information, contact Caroline Clancy on 086 3803870.

Press Release 5pm Wednesday 2nd October Local Emergency CoOrdination Group

Press Release: 5pm Wednesday, 2nd October 2019. Local Co-Ordination Group A meeting took place this evening of Offaly County Council’s Local Emergency Co-Ordination Group to prepare for the possible impact of Storm Lorenzo. A status Yellow weather warning is in place for Offaly from Thursday 3rd October at 09.00am to Friday 4th October 06.00am. This is subject to change and we ask people to check Met Eireann at https://www.met.ie/ for updates. Work is happening at local level with regard to clearing gullies and drains and we would advise homeowners and business owners to check their own properties. We would ask the public to check https://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 and fuel. The main message as of now is to stay safe and don’t take unnecessary risks. Check out the https://www.rsa.ie/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/Severe-Weather-Advice/ for advice on driving in adverse weather conditions The main contact number for emergencies is 0579346800 and our out of hours/emergency number is 1890 750 750

County Offaly Joint Policing Committee – Annual Public Meeting

A PUBLIC MEETING of Offaly County Joint Policing Committee will be held in the ST. BRIGIDS SOCIAL CLUB, GARRYHINCH, PORTARLINGTON COUNTY OFFALY [R32 CY89] on Monday, 7th October 2019 at 7pm Members of the public are welcome to attend The function of a Joint Policing Committee is to serve as a forum for consultations, discussions and recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the local authority’s administrative area. Members of the public have the right to make their views known and ask questions of the Joint Policing Committee. Questions will be accepted by the Joint Policing Committee from any individual member of the public, or collectively from any group/organisation. Questions in relation to the above, or any other relevant topic, should be submitted in writing in advance to Gerard Bruton, Corporate Services, Offaly County Council, Áras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore, County Offaly, by email to gbruton@offalycoco.ie or by phone at Tel. (057) 93 57402 no later than 3pm on Wednesday, 2nd October 2019. It should be noted that in some circumstances it may not be possible to provide information requested. Name and contact details of those submitting the question should be supplied, but will not necessarily be publicised at the meeting.

Finance

Notice of Passing of Resolution to Vary Basic Rate of Local Property Tax

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.

Supplier Engagement Event

InterTradeIreland, together with the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) are hosting a Supplier Engagement event focusing on Local government procurement opportunities in greater Dublin and surrounding areas. Local government in Ireland manage contracts which support and maintain civic amenities and community services. This is your opportunity to engage with the relevant people on the ground in councils to help inform future contracting approaches, market requirements and service delivery models.

COMMERCIAL MINOR BUILDING WORKS FRAMEWORKS

The Local Government Operational Procurement Centre (LGOPC) has published a Framework for Public Service Bodies to procure Commercial Minor Building Works. The LGOPC will carry out a competition to appoint Contractors to the Framework. Public Service Bodies will then run competitions with the Contractors in their area to procure MINOR BUILDING WORKS. To access the Framework documentation, please ensure you register on the Office of Government Procurement website www.etenders.gov.ie. Should you wish to find out more about the Framework, please contact the LGOPC Helpdesk at 076 1064020 or by

National Business Conference on Climate Change set for the Midlands

The “Creating Economic and Business Opportunities from Climate Change” conference will take place in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Wednesday 9th of October. The first of its’ kind to be hosted in the Midlands, this exciting national conference explores how businesses, in addressing and responding to climate change, can realise unique economic and business opportunities. The conference is an initiative of the Regional Transition Team under the auspices of the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan to 2020 (MREP). This conference is linked to Actions of the MREP 2020, National Adaptation Framework 2018 and the recently published, All of Government Climate Action Plan - to tackle Climate Breakdown.

Corporate Services

Draft Register of Electors 2020/2021

Offaly County Council is currently preparing the Draft Register of Electors for 2020/2021. This Register of Electors will come into effect as the Live Register of Electors on 15th February, 2020.

Road Closure R357 at Lecarrow, Shannonbridge

On Monday the 16th and Tuesday 17th September a road closure will be in place on the R357 at Lecarrow, Shannonbridge.

Offaly County Council Win Digital Information Award - Public Sector Magazine

Offaly County Council is shaping the county’s smart future with primary school children through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) using VEX IQ Robotics. Earlier this year, Offaly County Council in partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development and Cork Institute of Technology delivered an exciting new digital programme to 16 primary schools in the county. VEX Robotics is an exciting programme where primary school children from 5-12 years learn about STEM in an engaging way. They design, build, code and compete with their robot and it gives children as young as five years old their first opportunity to learn about engineering and robotics while having fun.

Environment

Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund 2019

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 2019. This Fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level.

LOCAL PROPERTY TAX (LPT) 2020-have your say

LOCAL PROPERTY TAX (LPT) 2020 - NOTICE

Offaly County Development Plan 2021 - 2027

Offaly County Council is commencing the review of the existing Offaly County Development Plan 2014-2020 by preparing the new Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027. The County Development Plan is a statutory document prepared by the Planning Authority in accordance with the requirements of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Planning & Development Regulations 2001 (as amended).