Property Management (D1001

Funding of €23k was granted from the Heritage Council to implement projects from the Clare Heritage Plan 2017-2023. This funding was used to generate two pieces of work: • A study of Holy Wells in County Clare • Biodiversity management on Clare County Council land

A bespoke Biodiversity Resource Manual was produced in 2020 for all Clare County Council staff, looking to build upon staff awareness of Biodiversity and to put in place procedures to improve the Local Authorities work practices across all directorates. A roll out of a comprehensive programme of biodiversity training will take place in 2021 and this training will be available to all Clare County Council staff.

Construction works completed in 2020 on the Turret Lodge in Kilrush, following the awarding of €190k funding to Clare County Council under the Historic Towns Initiative. Kilrush and District Historical Society have taken occupation of the building with the intended use being a Heritage and Genealogy Centre.

Property Management (D1001)

The Property Management Team has as our primary objective ensuring that the corporate and business needs of the Council are fully met by our property portfolio. This includes the acquisition, refurbishment and maintenance of property to meet our needs.

A second priority is the identification and classification of properties and land owned by the Council and perfecting title with the Property Registration Authority of Ireland. The objective of having an economic use of our assets has resulted in number of further leases and licenses being granted during 2020 and this will continue in 2020. Many of these are to community groups, which supports the work of the Rural Development Directorate.

In addition, the Team work closely with the Department of Education to identify sites for new schools. There is active engagement and progress being made in relation to the proposed new Gaelscoil Donnacha Rua for Shannon, land for a new Gaelscoil in Kilrush and for a new primary school in Ennis.

A number of exciting capital projects were completed in 2020 and others are underway and planned and are detailed in the Section 135 report attached.

The Adopted Budget 2021 provides for the management of the corporate buildings at a number of locations. This includes building management systems, improvement works, waste management and cleaning, utilities and security. During COVID-19, the standards of our buildings have to be maintained to a very high level and the budget provides for the costs for the additional sanitisation required.

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