Roscommon County Council Business Advice Services

"Supporting micro to macro business"

Roscommon County Council recently established a Business Support Unit to provide support to existing and prospective businesses. The unit will be managed through the Community & Enterprise Department within the remit of its existing resources and will:

• Act as a single point of contact for businesses in County Roscommon accessing County Council services or departments, including
  • Facilitating business during the planning process by offering relevant advice and assistance.
  • Providing information on waste management, water connections, water treatment etc.
• Offer a range of information on enterprise centres, broadband, training etc. to facilitate and encourage business development in County Roscommon
• Liaise between business customers and the various departments of Roscommon County Council including fast-tracking of service delivery to ensure a quick, co-ordinated response to business customers.
• Act as a referral service for enterprise support agencies operating in County Roscommon.
• Provide information on public bodies, agencies and private institutions located in County Roscommon and the western region that may offer business support, advice and/or financial assistance to businesses.

Contact with Roscommon County Council is a fundamental part of establishing or expanding a business in County Roscommon. The Roscommon County Council Business Support Unit aims to make it as easy as possible for businesses to access and use the relevant sections of Roscommon County Council in order to encourage business in the county. It also pulls together other information about the county that is relevant for people locating here.

Planning

The Planning & Development Department of Roscommon County Council is located at Golf Links Road, Roscommon.

The Planning Department's functions can be divided into three main areas:

1. Development Control and Enforcement - involves ensuring that planning permissions are obtained and all conditions complied with.
2. Forward Planning - covers the making and adoption of the County Development Plan and statutory plans for the four scheduled towns of Ballaghaderreen, Boyle, Castlerea and Roscommon. This section also includes the making of non-statutory or action plans for smaller towns and villages and amenity areas.
3. Building Control - This is a new code introduced in 1992 to ensure good building practice in the design and construction of buildings.

The Business Support Unit can arrange pre-planning consultations with relevant staff in the Planning & Development Department. Pre-planning consultation can present significant benefits to applicants by:

• helping to highlight difficulties associated with particular sites or planned developments
• avoiding the necessity for the Council to seek additional information
• clarifying whether it is necessary to apply for a 'Change of Use' for a premises that was not previously used for commercial purposes
• clarifying whether or not particular development require planning permission

As many of these issues can delay, or even result in a possible refusal of a planning permission we recommend that businesses / enterprises arrange a pre-planning consultation before finalising their planning applications. Pre-planning consultations can be set up by contacting the Business Support Unit at 090-6637325 or edu@roscommoncoco.ie.

Further information, including legislation, guidelines and relevant application forms can be accessed at the Planning section of the council's web site.

Forms pertaining to applying for planning permission, site notices, newspaper notices, treatment systems for houses, percolation test forms are all available on the Roscommon County Council web site here.

Building and Fire Regulations

The law governing building regulations and procedures is set out in the Building Control Act, 1990, the Building Regulations, 1997-2002 and the Building Control Regulations, 1997-2000. These may be purchased from the Government Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (Phone 01-6476995/4).

Fire Safety Certificate.pdf (size 157.2 KB)

Water Services

The Water Services Department of Roscommon County Council provides, improves and maintains Water Supply Systems, Drainage Network and Waste Water Treatment Systems to meeting existing and future needs. The Council has 18 public water schemes and 24 sewerage schemes under its jurisdiction. The quality of drinking water supplied is monitored regularly to ensure compliance with the Drinking Water Regulation.

The Water Services Department also provides a range of services including the management of Road Opening Licences for water and sewerage connections. All connections in respect of planning permission applied for on or after 10th March 2004, must apply for a Road Opening Licence as the water and/or sewerage connection charges are included in the Development Contribution Scheme. The 2009 fee is €600 per road opening. Connections to a semi-private or private group water scheme are also subject to a road opening fee of €600.

Further information on Road Opening Licences can be set up by contacting the Business Support Unit at 090-6637325 or bsu@roscommoncoco.ie.

Water and Sanitary Services Forms can be downloaded here.

Environment

What environmental issues do I need to consider when starting up a new business?

1. Waste Management. Depending on the nature of the new business/venture the following areas may need to be looked at;

1. Waste Collection - If involved in the collection of any type or amount of waste a permit is required. Collection permits are processed by the Connacht Regional Office in Castlebar.
2. Waste Facility - If involved in the acceptance and/or processing of waste a waste permit will be required. Waste Permits are dealt with by the Roscommon County Council Environment Section. Application form available on the Council's website.
3. Waste Disposal - Roscommon County Council operates four Recycling Centres in Roscommon town, Castlerea, Ballaghaderreen and Boyle. A landfill facility also operates in Ballaghaderreen. Details of opening hours, materials accepted and charges are available on the council's website.

Private contractors collect refuse in county Roscommon and their details are available on the council's website. Please note that it is imperative that you use only a licensed operator to dispose of waste and use of non-licensed operators can result in fines and/or legal proceedings.

Water and Environment Forms can be downloaded here.

2. Water Quality

1. Discharge Licence - Trade or sewage effluent discharges to waters require a licence in accordance with section 4 of the Water Pollution Acts. Sewage effluent of less than 5m³ per day discharging to groundwater is exempt from licensing. Discharges to sewers (other than domestic discharge or storm-water) require a licence. Roscommon County Council deals with applications for discharge licences. Licences granted are monitored by the Council on a regular basis depending on the level of the risk rating associated with the business.

3. Pollution Control - Roscommon County Council is responsible for the areas of water pollution, air pollution and noise pollution. Monitoring of businesses with discharge licences is undertaken on a regular basis by the Council to ensure compliance with the licence issued. Discharge licences can also be reviewed where the need arises due to the nature and/or volume of the discharge.

1. Air Pollution - The type of processes that may require an Air Pollution licence are listed in the Third schedule of the Air Pollution Act 1987 and would mainly involve large industrial concerns.
2. Use of solvents - Dry cleaners and garages with spraying facilities are registered and regulated by the Council under the Solvent Regulations 2002.
3. Noise pollution - Investigation is usually carried out as a result of complaints received and mainly involves the use of generators or machinery on building sites.

4. Litter Control - Roscommon County Council is responsible for implementation of the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 - 2003. Businesses are visited by the council's litter wardens to ascertain compliance in the following areas;

1. Plastic bag levy. Retailers have a responsibility where using plastic bags to charge customers and display the charge on till receipts.
2. WEEE Directive. This Directive requires that all producers of electrical and electronic equipment finance the recovery and recycling of waste electrical and electronic household equipment. Retailers have to register with Roscommon County Council for an annual fee of €20 in order to avail of civic amenity sites for disposal of WEEE. Retailers also have to book in advance at the Environment Office before they bring any old electrical goods to any of our recycling centres.
3. Advertising Policy - Roscommon County Council operates a policy on advertising which covers commercial advertising on public and private property. The policy is available on the council's website.
4. Construction & Demolition Waste - The Council has a policy relating to the proper disposal of C & D waste which is available on the website for those engaging in that type of activity. A waste permit and/or collection permit may be required for this type of activity.

5. Environmental Education & Awareness. The Council employs an Environmental Education Officer to work with schools, community groups and businesses in respect of environmental protection issues. From time to time courses are organised for small to medium enterprises to work with organisations such as Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and Roscommon County Council Water Conservation Team to gain practical knowledge on how to achieve saving in areas such as water conservation, energy conservation, waste management. Details of the courses would be published on the Council's website and businesses written to informing them of the courses being organised.

Contact Persons;

Waste Management. Senior Executive Engineer -
John Mockler 09066 37348 jmockler@roscommoncoco.ie.
Pollution Control & Water Quality. Chief Technician -
John O' Gorman 09066 37234 jogorman@roscommoncoco.ie.
Litter Control. Senior Staff Officer -
Sarah Scott 09066 37261 sscott@roscommoncoco.ie.
Environmental Education & Awareness. Environmental Education Officer -
Suzanne Dempsey 09066 37268 sdempsey@roscommoncoco.ie.
Senior Executive Officer -
Pat Murtagh 09066 37332 pmurtagh@roscommoncoco.ie.

Development Contributions

Under Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, a Planning Authority can, when granting a planning permission under Section 34 of the Act, include conditions requiring the payment of a development contribution. This contribution is in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the Planning Authority. The Development Contribution Scheme adopted by Roscommon County Council can be accessed here.

Rates for a Business

Rates are payable by the occupiers of commercial and industrial properties. The Commissioner of Valuation for the whole state carries out the valuing of property for rating purposes. There is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal against valuations determined by the Commissioner. Local Authorities do not have valuing powers. When the Budget is being adopted the Local Authority determines the rate for the year. The amount of rates payable is then calculated by multiplying the valuation for each property by the rate.