Annual Report 2010 Publisher full - Offaly County Council

JOINT ADDRESS BY THE CATHAOIRLEACH
AND COUNTY MANAGER
_______________________
weather conditions; prolonged salting of roads during the coldest winters
experienced for many decades; the adoption of the Midland Region Planning
Guidelines; the commencement of the project to upgrade Tullamore Wastewater
Treatment Plant under the Water Service Investment Programme; the adoption of
Offaly Local Authorities Customer Services Action Plan; the adoption of Tullamore
and Birr Town & Environs Development Plans 2010-2016; the completion and
allocation of 18 houses in Shinrone and Cloghan and acquisition of 21 houses in
various locations throughout the county; the introduction of a Library Development
Plan.
Other highlights included the visit of the US ambassador, Mr. Dan Rooney, to Áras an
Chontae in August 2010. The opportunity afforded by Mr. Rooney's visit was used to
invite President Obama to Offaly in the event of the President choosing to visit
Ireland during his incumbency. A civic reception was also held in December to
recognise the achievements of the Offaly Intermediate Camogie Team, who
surpassed all expectations in winning the All Ireland championship in their first year
in the grade
Danny Owens
Cathaoirleach
Pat Gallagher
Bainisteoir Chontae
We are very pleased to present the Annual Report of Offaly Local Authorities for the
year 2010. This report contains information about the services provided by Offaly
County Council, its elected members, staff and departments. It looks at the
achievements of the local authorities in 2010, which, despite a very difficult
operating environment, proved to be a year of progress in some very significant
ways.
The production of an annual report such as this is a vitally important element in the
work of our organisation. The local authorities are accountable to the people of the
county they serve, and all citizens have a right to be informed of the details of the
programmes undertaken by the authorities on their behalf and to be able to
examine their associated expenditure. But it is also a time for the elected members
and the staff of the County Council to reflect on the reporting year, to examine
successes and failures, to take stock, in a very practical way, of the direction the
organisation is moving in and the priorities it has set itself. Above all, it is an
opportunity to question rigorously the effectiveness of all the elements which make
up our services.
In reviewing the year, it will be seen that many important interventions were
demanded of the council. Some of the most notable achievements evident in the
report include: major flood relief works in towns and villages affected by the severe
However, the year's work is not all about the delivery of exciting new projects or
responding to emergencies. A significant element of the Council's work is in the
continued delivery of existing services, maintaining the roads and water services,
providing quality housing, dealing with planning applications and many other
activities. It can never be our prerogative to become complacent about these
services: they are too important in the daily lives of the people of Offaly. An annual
report may not be able to capture adequately the level of dedication required to
ensure that services continue to be delivered to the highest of standards, but these
notes are a good opportunity to acknowledge the ongoing commitment and cooperation
of the elected members, management and staff, indoor and outdoor, for
their work throughout 2010.
In conclusion, we would like to pay tribute to former Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Noel Bourke
and to Mr. Barry Cowen, T.D., who held the office of Cathaoirleach of Offaly County
Council from June 2010 until February 2011 when he was elected to Dáil Éireann.
_____________________
Danny Owens — Cathaoirleach
_____________________
Pat Gallagher— Bainisteoir Chontae
Page 2 | Offaly County Council Annual Report 2010