Cllr. Orla Leyden has welcomed the lifting of the boil water notice for Roscommon Central Water Supply following the completion and commissioning of works at the treatment plant and on the advice of the HSE. Cllr. Leyden said that this is good news for the community in general and businesses served by the Roscommon Central Water Supply.

Cllr. Orla Leyden said that it was really important to have got the approval of funding from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government for €309,258 towards the installation of an interim treatment plant at Roscommon Central water supply and that the balance of the total cost of the scheme was funded by Roscommon County Council. The total cost of the scheme was €412,344.

Cllr. Leyden said that it was a huge drain on local businesses and households who had to boil water and buy in water or get water from family living in areas not affected by the boil water notice.

She concluded by saying that it is positive that the works have been completed within the 10 week contract period and within the budget. She thanked Roscommon County Council and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government for responding to the need in the Roscommon town and surrounding area to have this interim treatment plant installed

At the December meeting of Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board held in Roscommon town, CEO David Leahy referred to the recent agreement between Co. Roscommon VEC and Athlone Institute of Technology following a question from Cllr. Orla Leyden.  Mr. Leahy said that there were benefits from the agreement and that he would like to see such agreements extended throughout the GRETB area.

Cllr. Orla Leyden welcomed the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between Co. Roscommon Vocational Education Committee and Athlone Insitutute of Technology at the end of June 2013 just prior to the formation of the new GRETB.  Cllr. Leyden who is a member of the Board of Governors of Athlone Institute of Technology since 2010 having been nominated by Co. Roscommon VEC said that she has actively sought to forge greater links between the two bodies to deliver increased educational opportunities for Roscommon over this time.

Cllr. Orla Leyden said that she was satisfied to have successfully progressed the

the signing of the cooperation agreement between AIT and Co. Roscommon VEC ahead of the amalgamation of Roscommon with Galway VECs under the new Galway Roscommon Education and Training Boards.  Present at the signing of this important cooperation agreement were President of AIT, Professor Ciaran O’ Cathain, Registrar at AIT, Dr. Joseph Ryan, Chairperson of County Roscommon VEC, Cllr. Jimmy Kenny, A/CEO Elma Nerney and Cllr. Orla Leyden.

Cllr. Orla Leyden highlighted a number of positive recent initiatives by AIT that have benefitted young people in Roscommon, namely an introduction to Music development and Games development for young people from Roscommon at AIT in association with the Quad Youth Centre and Foroige which was held for a week the last couple of Summers.

Cllr. Leyden said that the introduction of a Level 6 Business Management at Roscommon Community College is another positive initiative between AIT and Roscommon where upon successful completion of this PLC course, students may proceed directly to the 2nd Year Higher Certificate in Business Administration at AIT. Cllr. Leyden said that she hopes that the new Co-operation agreement between AIT and Co. Roscommon VEC now GRETB will manifest even more education opportunities. Similarly she said that she would like to see PLC opportunities in the area of science developed in the coming year in Roscommon town.

She added that she can see the opportunity of developing a Level 6 in Business in Sports and recreation at at Boyle Community School which could similarly progress into further certification and progression into a Higher Certificate in Business in Sports and Recreation at AIT. At present Boyle Community College delivers a Level 5 Business Studies with Sport and Recreation options. Cllr. Orla Leyden said that she will continue to work to develop increased educational opportunities for the community in Roscommon as a member of the Board of Governors of AIT and on the newly formed Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board. .

Congratulations to Castlecoote on winning the Tidiest Village in Ireland today at the All Ireland awards ceremony at Farmleigh House,
A great achievement for Castlecoote and County Roscommon.