​Cllr. Orla Leyden highlighted the need for a ‘Round Town Local Link Bus Service’ for Roscommon Town at the recent plenary meeting of Roscommon County Council which was addressed by Camilla Kelly, Manager of Local Link in Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim.
  Cllr. Leyden said that a scheduled bus service is very much needed in Roscommon, a county town which she described as a growing urban centre. She said that a local link bus service would make it easier to get from the various housing estates and houses in Roscommon Town environs to essential services and amenities; to get, for example, to work, the doctor, primary care centre, hospital, schools, pre-school, Quad Youth Centre, Library, Cinema, Leisure centre, sports clubs, the train station, etc. 
  Cllr. Orla Leyden said that she had initiated a rural transport service in the Oran area, servicing the Ballinheglish and Cloverhill area (including Fourmilehouse, Tonlegee and Mullymucks) into Roscommon Town and another (DRT) demand responsive transport service in the Donamon, Fuerty, Castlecoote rural area (via Mount Prospect and Ballybride). She said that she would like to see additional rural local link services now being developed.
  Cllr. Leyden said she believes there is a need for a local link service in Kilteevan, Portrun, Ballymurray, Knockcroghery, Fourmilehouse (parts not presently served), Derrane, Ballagh, Ballyleague, Cloontuskert and Ballintubber into Roscommon Town, as well as a round town bus service in Roscommon town. 
  She stressed that people living in rural areas would be able to access services and facilities in Roscommon Town independently and at an affordable price if a local link service was in place. The Free Travel Pass is valid on all local link services and U-5s can travel for free. There are affordable fares on all routes with adult, child and student rates. 
  Cllr. Leyden said that she will work with the community to develop these vital rural transport services via Local Link in Roscommon.

PROPERTY MARKING CRIME PREVENTION SCHEME: Photo clipping of Coverage in this weeks Roscommon People:
I am working to have a Property Marking Crime Prevention scheme introduced in County Roscommon. 
At a recent meeting of Roscommon County Council I put down a motion calling on the Council to purchase a Property Marker Machine in association with Roscommon Joint Policing Committee. This Telesis dot peen machine works by stamping the individuals EIRCODE into the item to be marked thus making it more difficult to sell on if it’s stolen. It can be used on everything from steel to plastic items. 
The Property Marking Machine could be loaned to Community Alert Groups and other groups free of charge who wish to organise property marking events for items such as lawnmowers, strimmers, trailers, TV’s, smart phones, – this could be of interest to Sports Clubs too –on equipment such as carbon fibre bikes, riding tackle or fishing rods and engines; Schools could avail of marking equipment belonging to the school; and businesses might have power tools, generators and other portable equipment usually transported in the back of a van and Farmers could have machinery and equipment that would benefit from being marked. 
The matter is now going before the next meeting of Roscommon Joint Policing Committee. I am confident that the Property Marking Crime Prevention scheme will be introduced in Roscommon following the positive response I received at both Roscommon County Council where the motion was agreed and at the Public meeting of Roscommon Joint Policing Committee in December where the proposal was supported by all present including An An Garda Síochána . 
Cllr. Leyden concluded the Property Marking machine will be an invaluable resource. It will assist the Gardai trace and recover stolen property. And most importantly it will act as a determinant to t
hieves in the first place where signs and stickers saying Beware Property Marking in Operation can be erected in the community. 
End.
At a recent meeting of Roscommon County Council I put down the following motion
12:18 Purchase of a Property Marker Machine - Notice of Motion from Councillor Leyden
That Roscommon County Council in association with Roscommon Joint Policing Committee purchase a property marker machine that could be loaned to Community Alert Groups throughout the County to roll out property marking at a local level to act as a determinant to criminal activity.
The Meetings Administrator read the following reply: This matter will be brought before the next meeting of Roscommon Joint Policing Committee for discussion.
Cllr. Leyden welcomed the response and requested that when the matter is discussed at the JPC that Roscommon County Council funds it. Other Local Authorities are considering such a move. If an item is marked, it cannot be sold on if stolen and this would be of particular use for items of machinery.
On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Leyden
SECONDED by Cllr. Doherty
It was AGREED that Roscommon County Council in association with Roscommon Joint Policing Committee purchase a property marker machine that will be loaned to Community Alert Groups throughout the County.
It varies the strength of the stamp to suit the material it is marking, and can mark carbon fibre, metal, wood, plastic – anything except glass which may shatter. Both rounded and flat surfaces can be marked.