Latest news with #AlanLawes
Irish Independent
09-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
256 individuals in emergency accommodation in Meath
At the July meeting of Meath County Council, Independent Councillor Alan Lawes called for improved fire safety measures across emergency accommodation facilities, as homelessness figures remain high both locally and nationally. Cllr Lawes raised concerns about the safety of residents living in temporary housing, saying: 'I am calling on Meath County Council to ensure that all emergency accommodation facilities have a current fire certificate.' A Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) is required for all new buildings—including apartments and flats—except for private houses and agricultural structures. It certifies that a building or works comply with Building Regulations and must be obtained before construction begins. In response, the council confirmed that a 'Minimum Standard for Emergency Accommodation' is currently being developed. 'If agreed, and where applicable, the need for a valid fire certificate can be included in the minimum criteria,' the council said. 'It is anticipated that the draft document will be presented at the next meeting of the Housing and Integration SPC.' According to Meath County Council's July management report, 256 individuals, including 122 children, were in emergency accommodation in the county at the end of May 2025. The report also noted that 71 families have been placed in short-term private rented accommodation through the Council's Settlement Team, while seven families are currently housed in Family Hubs. As of May, there were only nine emergency accommodation beds available in the county, spread across Trim, Navan, Athboy, and Drogheda. The council added that it is not the sole user of these facilities, as some property owners also work with neighbouring local authorities, including Louth, Fingal, Westmeath, and Kildare.
Irish Independent
06-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Johnstown in Meath 'left behind' as new Navan community centre secures funding
Meath County Council's planned community centre at Cluain Adain is set to receive €400,000 under the 2025 Community Recognition Fund. In total, four projects across Meath have been awarded €696,496, as part of a national package of €17m for 212 community initiatives across the country. The scheme supports communities that have welcomed new arrivals in recent years. Senator Linda Nelson Murray welcomed the funding for Cluain Adain, but noted the ongoing demand for more community infrastructure in Navan. 'Navan is really struggling for community buildings, we don't have enough places for the elderly to go and be together, we don't have enough places for the youth to go, so the fact there is going to be a new community building built near Clauin Adain, which is a brand new housing estate, is very welcome news,' she said. 'However, I think we need more community centres; one in the Johnstown area, and one in the centre of the town.' Her call was echoed by Independent Councillor Alan Lawes, who said Johnstown has been overlooked for too long. 'Any new community centre is always welcome but people in Johnstown feel left behind. The town has about 12,000 people living in it but there's still no community centre,' said Cllr Lawes. 'We have clubs like boxing or dancing clubs with no home. All these community groups have nowhere to call home….they need somewhere to call home. Every population should have one.' Meanwhile Minister for Education and Meath East TD, Helen McEntee, also welcomed the announcement. 'This investment will empower our communities to become more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, making them better places to live, raise families, and socialise,' she said on a post on social media. Ms McEntee added: 'Congratulations to the community groups in Meath listed who have been the driving force behind the successful applications. I look forward to seeing the completed projects and the benefits they will bring to our local communities.' The four Meath projects to receive funding under the scheme are: Meath County Council's new community building in Cluain Adain (€400,000) Flexibus, Navan, for a new wheelchair-accessible bus (€146,496) Ashbourne and District Community Council CLG (€80,000) Cushinstown Athletic Club, Duleek, for facility upgrades (€70,000).
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Meath councillor calls for ban on ‘barbaric' fox hunting
Councillor Alan Lawes, who travelled to the Dáil this week to support a bill that would outlaw fox hunting in Ireland, said public opinion is shifting — even in areas where the tradition was once accepted. 'No tradition should involve causing pain and suffering to an animal,' he said. The bill, introduced by People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger, seeks to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to state explicitly that 'fox hunting and related practices are banned and therefore cannot be considered as lawful hunting.' Mr Lawes added: 'It's a cruel and barbaric practice; it's a left-over from colonial times and now most people don't want to see fox hunting continue. We want it banned.' 'England has had the ban in for a couple of years and we need to do the same. This practice has no place in the 21st century.' He also confirmed plans to propose a local motion, following the example of Fingal County Council, which recently adopted a measure prohibiting hunting on council-owned land. 'There was a motion passed in Fingal to ban hunting on council land, and I'll be bringing a similar motion before Meath County Council,' he said. A Red C poll found that 77pc of the population wants fox hunting banned, including 74pc in rural areas. The Leas-Cathaoirleach of the Navan district added that not everybody in the farming or rural community supports fox hunting.
