Measures sought to combat loneliness

LONELINESS among younger and older people in County Monaghan has been identified as a major issue of concern during the public consultation process for the preparation of the county’s new community safety action plan.

Co-ordinator Barry Eaton told last week’s meeting of the County Monaghan Local Community Safety Partnership that lack of Garda visibility, drug and alcohol issues and road safety were the other major concerns raised by the public during the consultation phase of the plan’s preparation.

Putting a Local Community Safety Action Plan in place is a core initial function of the recently established LCDC.

The Chairperson, Cllr Alan Johnston (FG) told the meeting that the Monaghan plan is now well advanced but it had been stated at a meeting in May of LCSP Chairs and Co-ordinators that no local plan can be published in advance of the publication by the Department of Justice of its national strategy in this area. Mr Eaton said the national strategy is due to be published in draft form in the coming week.

The Co-ordinator said the Monaghan plan contains 43 actions across five themes which have been determined through input from the organisations represented on the partnership.

“The action plan will continue to be updated if any significant proposals are submitted before the national strategy is published,” Mr Eaton said.

The Cathaoirleach said some other LCSPs haven’t begun work on their plan or haven’t yet submitted it to public consultation. Monaghan’s view has been to get work completed and move quickly to begin implementing some of its actions.

Garda Superintendent Pat O’Connell thanked the Co-ordinator and the plan’s steering committee for their work, stating that it is excellent to see the project so advanced.