Latest news with #LocalDemocracyScheme


Irish Examiner
a day ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Kerry council to roll out pilot scheme to detect deer on roads in bid to prevent accidents
Authorities are rolling out new technology in Killarney to tackle collisions with 'marauding deer' whose numbers are out of control. The "deer pilot schemes" are needed in a county which suffers more deer collisions than most, a meeting of Killarney Municipal District was told. A 'detect and alert' scheme, which has been effective in Austria, is to be rolled out on a trial basis. 'It detects deer, it detects vehicles,' Frank Hartnett, director of roads services with Kerry County Council, said. A noise deterring deer is emitted when both vehicles and deer are detected — when there is no car passing the deer could continue to cross the road, he said. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has previously said requests by the council — and by the late south Kerry coroner Terence Casey — to erect fencing in accident prone spots, were unfeasible. A number of fatalities and some serious injuries have been linked to deer in the Killarney area. There is no national strategy to tackle deer on roads and Mr Hartnett had put forward Killarney for the pilot schemes to the Transport Infrastructure Network, on the grounds of road safety. In a second scheme, technology used to deter bird strikes in airports is also being rolled out. The pilot schemes are being operated by Kerry County Council and are in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and University College Cork, the meeting heard. If successful, the schemes will be adopted in other counties where there is risk from road collisions with deer. The deterrent system used in airports is expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks, subject to GDPR approval on the R569 Kilgarvan Road off the N22 at a point where deer are known to cross. The detection and deterrent scheme will be put in place in Ballydowney on the N70 on the outskirts of Killarney, where deer cross from the national park woodland to farmland. Several collisions, including two fatalities in which two women lost their lives, are suspected to have involved collisions with deer at and near Ballydowney. Cllr John O'Donoghue of Kerry Independent Alliance welcomed the announcement of the technology. He said he was 'sick' of raising accidents involving deer and he had come across how technology had been used elsewhere. 'The problem is not improving. No one is accepting responsibility for the deer," Cllr O'Donoghue said. This article was funded by the Local Democracy Scheme


Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Councillors shocked at footage of naked man outside asylum centre
Video footage of the incident shot by bystanders from the footpath and from passing vehicles has been widely spread on social media since it happened on Saturday, June 14. District councillors in Wicklow have called for greater lines of communication with the local engagement team after a man was recently found running naked outside an asylum centre in the town. Video footage of the incident shot by bystanders from the footpath and from passing vehicles has been widely spread on social media since it happened on Saturday, June 14. The footage captures a completely nude male running along the middle of the road outside the IPAS centre at the Grand Hotel. He appears to be in a disorientated and agitated state. The Grand Hotel in Wicklow town. Photo: Michael Kelly News in 90 Seconds - June 27th Speaking during the June meeting of Wicklow Municipal District, independent councillor John Snell called on his district colleagues to work collectively to help alleviate concerns when these incidents happen. He stressed the need for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide information about what happened to the individual in question and asked newly elected cathaoirleach Graham Richmond to write to the relevant Minister seeking clarity on the matter. He also raised concern about how the footage appeared online before elected representatives were informed about what happened and suggested a better strategy is needed to monitor certain comments and activities online. In agreement councillor Paul O'Brien issued a word of caution about how the issue is dealt with and cited the difficulty in trying to manage social media accounts and open forums. Councillor Gail Dunne added it was important that residents in the town feel safe and that such incidents don't become a common reoccurrence. The male in question has since been arrested for public order offences and was brought to Wicklow Garda Station, where he was held in custody. He was charged with several offences, which are due before the courts. He is currently receiving care at Newcastle Hospital after being sectioned under the mental health act. Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme


Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Louth's historic Millmount museum set for major upgrade
Plans for the extensive upgrade have been welcomed by local councillor, Ejiro O'Hare Stratton, who highlighted a 'growing and productive partnership between Millmount Museum and Louth County Council, a relationship that has flourished over the past year and is now delivering tangible benefits for Drogheda.' 'I am pleased to confirm that €50,600 has been allocated under the Community Recognition Fund for enhancement works to Governor's House, a key part of the museum complex.' She welcomed further funding successes including nine government grants, totalling €130,000, awarded to support the museum's ongoing development and €140,000 secured by Louth County Council to restore the historic stone wall along the walkway to Millmount Tower. The project will be delivered by McGuigan Stone Masons of Cavan, with works starting in early July. 'In addition to a €6,000 grant to modernise the museum's library archiving system, there is a new annual financial contribution from Louth County Council to support the museum's long-term sustainability.' Cllr. Hare Stratton outlined the plans to improve facilities at Millmount museum including an upgrade to windows, new bathrooms and a redecorated lecture hall along with a modernised kitchen, a full IT systems upgrade and integration with the new heating system installed last year. She acknowledged the role of Louth County Council's new Chief Executiv,e David Conway, whose support she says 'has brought renewed energy and commitment to the project.' 'This marks a turning point for Millmount. At a time when national tourism is facing challenges, we are seeing resilience, investment, and optimism right here in Drogheda. This is about partnership — between the museum, the Old Drogheda Society, and Louth County Council. It is very positive news for our heritage, our local economy, and our wider community.' Cllr Ejiro OHare also paid tribute to Mr. John McCullen, President of the Old Drogheda Society, for his 'unwavering leadership, and to the incredible team behind the scenes, their dedication and passion are the driving forces behind this success.' 'With morale high, strategic investment underway, and visitor numbers holding steady despite national trends, Millmount Museum is on course to thrive, and to shine as a cultural landmark in the northeast of Ireland.' Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme


Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
Derelict north Louth building attracting squatters and vandals
Cllr Fiona Mhic Chonaigle highlighted a derelict building in Omeath where four men had recently been squatting. The building, known as Dublin House, had a dereliction and 'dangerous' notice placed on it, but since then there have been four squatters on the property. She also pointed to incidents where teenagers had been going into the building and up on to the roof and breaking glass. She had met with local gardai and Omeath Tidy Towns at the property to look at ways in which access to the building could be blocked off. "This is on the main street, on the main road, and I am asking if the council has any responsibility in trying to secure this building.' She added that a dangerous building notice was clearly visible on a wall which is beside the footpath. Thomas McEvoy, Deputy Chief Executive at Louth County Council said the local authority had notices on the building, but that it was the responsibility of the landowner. He said that he would investigate the issues raised in relation to the building, and a council representative would go out to look at the building in the coming days. "If there is an imminent danger, and dependent on engagement with the owner, there are steps we can take, But we will inspect the situation first.' The council heard that if there were squatters in the building, efforts could be made to get them to engage with the homeless section within Louth County Council. Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme


Irish Independent
6 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
New affordable houses in the pipeline for Dundalk buyers
Cllr. Marianne Butler said she had seen recent advertising for affordable schemes in Drogheda, but added: 'It seems a very long time since there has been anything in this area. Is there anything on the horizon for us?' A council spokesman said there would be one scheme in Mount Avenue, which would be available later in the year with twenty units which they hope will be released for affordable housing. The local authority were engaging with developers in relation to any new developments that have been commenced for social and affordable housing. Rodents Cllr. Sean Kelly asked about the procedures for tenants where rodents have become an issue in their homes. "We have a lot of people who just simply could not afford to pay an exterminator.' He said that rodent activity was often linked to illegal dumping in an area, something which tenants were not responsible for. "Is this something we can go back and look at as it is nor fair for us to put the onus on social housing tenants when they are not at fault as they are not creating the problems.' A council spokesman said that rodent issues are generally a matter for the HSE, and there would be information for tenants in the tenant handbook on this. He said if there was an issue with neighbour's waste, it could be looked at by the environment section within the council. Cllr. Kelly also raised concerns about the lack of parking spaces provided in new housing estates, saying at the recent launch of one development, which had 45 units but only 23 parking spaces, with many of the residents highlighting the lack of parking. Cllr. Kelly said he 'already fears there is going to be rows between neighbours about who got parking spaces and when.' A council spokesman said this was not something the council's housing section could get involved in as it would have been part of of the planning submitted by the developer. Energy retrofits Cllr. Fiona Mhic Chonaigle queried access to housing energy retrofits, adding that one tenant had been in contact with her about his windows which are 33 years old, and a visible crack running along the gable of his house. He had tried twice to get on to the housing list, and she asked if his case would meet the criteria. A spokesman said they would look into the case, adding that energy retrofits were decided on the basis of the current energy performance of a house, which could be an issue in older houses. He said planned maintenance programmes could also involve doors and windows. Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme