July Council Update
Council Update
Municipal District AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Laytown Bettystown Municipal District was held last month at County Hall in Navan. We took to the chambers as opposed to our usual venue of the Civic Offices in Duleek to ensure we were adhering to social distancing. It was and exciting day as we welcomed two new councillors to the Municipal area having earlier been co-opted into their seats vacated by Senators Sharon Keogan and Senator Annie Hoey. We Welcomed Councillors Elaine McGinty and Geraldine Keogan. I was also delighted to be elected Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District for the coming year and I am very much looking forward to the year ahead in which I hope to work with our local businesses, clubs, community organisations and volunteer groups as they begin to get up and running again. I would also like to add my note of thanks to all who have been working on the frontline during this pandemic, and for the invaluable service you have been providing in these times of uncertainty.
Beach Parking
There has been alot of conversation over the past few months over whether or not we should ban cars off the beach. At our July council meeting it was proposed that we keep our beaches closed to vehicular access whilst social distancing measures are still in place. Whilst this motion was not adopted by the council it was referred to our special environmental committee to review on the 3rd of July.
The Council are however looking at putting in place arrangements that will facilitate parking for a lesser number of vehicles on the southern side of the main entrance and which would cater for people with disabilities , the elderly etc and proposals in this regard will be presented to the aforementioned SPC at their meeting to be held on Friday next 3rd July at 10 o clock in County Hall Navan.
Arrangements have also been made with Coláiste na hInse for use of the school car park in the interim and signage to be put in place directing the public to an access point to the beach via Brookside Lane which is less than a five minute walk away.
Officials at the SPC meeting will also explain the efforts being made to identify potential parking facilities in or around Bettystown and which would assist in delivering the objective contained within the Beach Management Plan for the complete removal of vehicles from the beach on a phased basis.
Business Restart Grants
As many businesses prepare to reopen or get up and running it is important that they avail of every support mechanism they can to allow them to get back to some sort of normality. Local businesses can avail of a restart grant. Applications for the restart grant, which will give direct grant aid to micro and small businesses to help them with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following covid 19 closures are open from Friday 22nd of May to the 31st of August. Minimum grant available is €2000, and the maximum grant available is €10,000. This grant is available to any business that has a commercially rateable premises, or where rates are paid on your behalf and attributed to the business premises you occupy. Further information can be found on restartgrant@meathcoco.ie or application forms can be filled in at https://consult.meath.ie/en/applications.
Recycling Facilities
There has been an increased demand on our recycling facilities throughout the County. In particular our bottle banks. I would ask that if you do use these facilities, if they are full please take your recycling home until the bins are emptied. The council are working hard to ensure the bottle banks are emptied more regularly so if they are full please take your recycling home until they are emptied.
Back to schools Clothing and Footwear Allowance
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear allowance is a means tested once off payment aimed at helping families with extra costs when children start school each autumn. This Scheme is open from 1 June to 30 September each year. From July 6, if you have not received an award letter for back to school clothing and footwear allowance and you are in receipt of a weekly social protection payment, you will need to apply online. For more information or application forms visit www.mywelfare.ie.