Posts from — April 2009
Local News
Don’t forget deadline to register
Don’t forget deadline to register to vote before 18th May 2009. If you require a voting registration form, please contact me and I will be happy to post one to you.
Care & Repair
The Care & Repair Programme was established to assist older people to carry out necessary small repairs and improvements to their homes, enabling them to live independently in the community in increased comfort and safety.
In order to meet the needs of older people, Care and Repair provides a range of practical repair and care services including:
- Small repairs service
- Home Visiting/Befriending Service
- Daily Contact Service
- Trades Referral Service
- Quote Check Service
- Working with other local voluntary groups in establishing a Care & Repair Service
Care & Repair is funded by Irish Life Plc. For more information Lo-Call: 1890 369 369
Home energy saving scheme
This scheme provides grants to homeowners who improve the energy efficiency of their home in order to reduce energy use and costs as well as greenhouse gas emissions. The scheme is open to owners of existing houses built before 2006. Measures currently eligible under this scheme are roof insulation, wall insulation, high efficiency boilers and heating control upgrades. There is also a grant for households who choose to get a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment before and after the works are completed. For details on the scheme go to www.sei.ie/hes to download the application form.
Extra Chorus charge
It has been brought to my attention that Chorus are adding an extra €3 to your bill if you chose not to pay by direct debit or pay through the post office for instance. Not everyone has a bank account or in a position to set up a direct debit. I contacted Chorus to query this charge and they are allowed to charge this fee under Section 48 and 49 of the Customer Protection Act. I will take this up with the Oireachtas members as this seems somewhat discriminatory and I fail to see how it can be justified.
Dental services for to people with special needs
People with special needs, whether adult or child, are eligible to avail of the services provided by the HSE, i.e. immediate access to emergency care & early access to routine care. Every effort is made to ensure that clients do not have to wait unduly for these services and all waiting lists are reviewed and prioritised regularly.
The Principal Dental Surgeons co-ordinate the service and have dentists employed who are qualified to deliver routine care including cleaning, extractions and fillings to people with special needs. Referrals are accepted from Intellectual Disability Service Providers, parents/carer’s, GP’s, and private Dentists etc
Dental care for adults with special needs using General Anaesthetic
The School of Dentistry has a weekly theatre session in Cork University Hospital to deal with the waiting list for both adults and children. The service is provided to all clients residing in Cork City and County and will be delivered by the PCCC Dentist.
The HSE is currently in the process of reconfiguring Dental Theatre Services, in order to make provision for theatre time, to enhance and increase the level of routine dental care to adults with Special Needs who require anaesthesia. In the interim, adults with special needs will continue to avail of emergency General Anaesthetic dental services from the Dental School & Hospital in Cork. I believe that a decision in relation to same is due this April and I know many people will watch with interest.
Missing Persons Amber Alert
The go-ahead has been given for the establishment of an “amber alert” system for missing persons. This will be a challenging task and it will require the support of a whole range of governmental agencies, NGOs, the media as well as the support of the public.
I welcome the recommendation to establish such an alert system for missing children I hope that the Gardaí will receive the necessary support from all concerned to put an alert system in place. More details can be found at www.gsinsp.ie
Interest rate cuts to be passed to Council Mortgage holders
All interest rate decreases to date apart from the most recent announcement by the ECB have been passed onto mortgage holders. The last change took place on 1st March 2009 when the variable interest rate was cut from 3.5% to 3%.
Cork County Council adjusts the interest rates when notified by the Housing Finance Agency. The most recent decrease announced by the ECB will be implemented once notification of the new rate and implementation date is received from the housing authority.
Social housing
The 2009 social housing allocation is estimated to be €35m representing a 33% reduction on 2008. There is no provision for new housing in 2009. This allocation is seriously inadequate and at least the same figure as 2008 €52m should be allocated.
The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has requested all local authorities to submit applications for short term loans arising out of the reductions in allocations. The Council is seeking authorisation to borrow €41m to fund the shortfall for the Social Housing programme 2009 and if the sanction does not come through the Council will have its hands tied and many people will continue to be placed in very difficult situations.
Exemption from development contributions
Under the Development Contribution scheme, individuals who qualify under the Disabled, Mobility or Elderly scheme are given an exemption from development contributions. The scheme provides a 100% reduction in development contributions for the first 60sq. metres of extensions to private dwellings including new builds.
Cork airport parking charges
The car parking charges at Cork airport are more expensive than at Dublin airport and the matter will be brought to the attention of the Dublin airport Authority for consideration.
Rochestown Road Traffic Calming update
The Area Engineer is in discussions with Bus Eireann in relation to relocating bus stops. The contract for the Safety Audit will be awarded and public lighting will be upgraded where needed. Work has started i.e. bus stop at Landsborough and footpaths will be improved and bus stop facilities would be installed.
Work will begin at the Douglas Court end of the Rochestown road. €400k from the Department of Transport will be spent on overlay of the western part of the Rochestown road and some footpath work during 2009, with the remainder of the money being spent over two years. The pedestrian crossings will be in the vicinity of the bus stops. With regard to the water main, this project is to be put out to tender, then a decision will be made.
Douglas
Residents of St Patricks Terrace Douglas West have asked for appropriate provision for car parking. The Area Engineer said a facility for residents parking will be taken into account.
I have requested that the lighting at the Fingerpost Roundabout be upgraded. The Lighting Engineer will examine the area.
Council has been requested that some type of cleanup of the Famine graveyard at Carr’s Hill be arranged just to make it presentable for the service on 17th May 2009. The Area Engineer will report back at the April meeting to confirm if funding is available.
Rochestown
The public open space area in Wainsfort has a turning circle which is being blocked by vehicles. It is a turning circle and not a permanent parking space. I have requested the Gardai to contact the Area Office about the problem as residents do not want any encouragement for anti social behaviour.
Council has confirmed that pot-holes from the Fingerpost Roundabout to Wainsfort in Rochestown will soon be filled.
Road markings at Upper Belmont, Rochestown are very bad. Health and Safety issues have delayed work but Council has assured they will be resolved.
Grange
I have requested the Council to provide footpaths to Ardfield in Grange. An application was made for funding and €60k was received and work will be completed by end of summer/early autumn.
Carrigaline
I have requested the Lighting Engineer to activate the Public Lighting at the new roundabout on the Ballea road, near the soccer club and he will see if the lights for the roundabout can be activated separately from those serving the private road.
The Council are to upgrade the footpaths in Ard Na Rí, Carrigaline. There will not be a large number of footpaths repaired this year but Ard Na Rí is on the schedule of works.
The Bus stop at the Mount Rivers entrance on Church Hill is to be moved but there is an open drainage channel which reduces road width at this location. This open channel is to be replaced with a piped drain and it is planned for during the summer.
Passage
€130k grant has been allocated for footpaths for Passage West. The County Manager is to decide if Council can provide the required additional funding.
Council has written to the Property Capital section for details on the plans for the former tennis club grounds in Passage West.
The sign for Passage West is in the wrong place and the Engineer is examining if it can be moved as it is part of the signage programme.
Budget
During my canvas over the last number of weeks and meeting people from all walks of life, I am mindful of comments made to me regarding the state of the country at the moment and the confusion and worry for the future. In order that people may make an informed analysis of Fine Gael, who has a completely different approach to solving Ireland’s economic crisis, the following are Fine Gael’s proposals to get us out of the current mess. I examined the Labour Web site but couldn’t find any proposals from their side.
| Fine Gael | Fianna Fáil | |
| Jobs | Promoting and protecting employment at the centre of our budget strategy:
|
Accepts that unemployment will rise to 15% next year (520,000 on the live register)
|
| Fairness and Middle Income Families | No increases in tax rates for average (60k) familiesEmphasis on:
|
Emphasis on taxes for young, middle income families:
|
| Tax vs. Spending | Emphasis on savings on day-to-today spending (55%) over tax increases (45%) | Emphasis on tax hikes (62%) over savings on day-to-today spending (38%) (2009-11) |
| Reform vs. Blunt Cuts | New budgeting system to drive efficiencies and reduce bureaucracy:
|
Cuts in entitlements and at the front-line – not making the system more efficient
|
| Keeping National Debt Down | Eliminate the deficit quickly to restore confidence
|
Too slow in restoring the public finances back to health
|
| The Banking Crisis | Fine Gael wants the banks, the professional investors who funded them and developers to take care of their own mess. The tax-payer should only invest in “good banks” that lend to small businesses. | Fianna Fáil wants the tax-payer to pick up the tab for €90 billion dodgy developer debts, € 30 billion of which relate to overseas property |
Next Area Roads meeting
I have the following items on the Agenda of the next Area Roads meeting on 20th April:
- That the Engineer report on safety issues affecting residents exiting from Fort Hill and the crèche in Moneygourney.
- That the Engineer installs a pedestrian crossing at St Columbas Church.
- That the Engineer comment on the standard of footpaths and road surface in Grange Park and identify a solution to stop rat running through the estate.
- That the Engineer looks at the feasibility of installing footpaths/traffic calming at Scart Cross from the bus stop to College Corinthians.
- That the Engineer examine solutions for alleviating parking congestion and install 2 ramps on Inchvale Road which were sanctioned 5 years ago.
- That the Engineer provides a safer pedestrian crossing at the South Link R610 roundabout.
- That the Engineer examines the feasibility of further traffic calming on Monastery Road.
- That the Engineer installs a safe pedestrian crossing on Donnybrook Hill in the vicinity of Hillcourt.
April 16, 2009 1 Comment
Urgent need for Credit Institutions Amendment Bill
Urgent need for Credit Institutions Amendment Bill.
Speaking in the Seanad, Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan welcomed the Tanaiste’s announcement of her intention to bring forward legislation to amend the Companies Act, increasing the powers of the Director of Corporate Enforcement but said the measures do not go far enough.
“While I welcome the Minister’s stated intention to introduce legislation to enhance the powers of the Director of Corporate Enforcement with regard to transparency, loans to Directors and powers to enforce compliance, these measures do not go far enough as they do not give leave to the Director to investigate Building Societies and Credit Unions.
“The suggestion has been made that this loophole will be closed in the future however we should not have to wait another day on this matter in light of the recent disturbing allegations in relation to Anglo Irish Bank, Irish Life and Permanent and Irish Nationwide, which is a Building Society not a company.
“There is no excuse for such a large section of the financial sector to be excluded from investigation when such a prima facie case exists. As the Government is aware our Private Members Bill, The Credit Institutions Amendment Bill, provides for the removal of this anomalous situation and I would urge the Government to accept it forthwith.”
April 5, 2009 No Comments
Local News
Ballygarvan School boost
The long running campaign for a new primary school in Ballygarvan received a boost when a proposal from Cllr Deirdre Forde formally recommended disposal of 0.245 acres if land to Cork Diocesan Trustees. This land is required as part of the process to develop a new school, as the number of pupils has risen from 145 to 265 in the past decade and space is limited. Cllr Forde who has two nephews attending the school, said disposal was of immense importance.
Crosshaven
Cork County council are preparing a tourism strategy document, covering an area from Kinsale to Youghal. Crosshaven and the harbour are central to this. The provision of an integrated tourist product including development of the forts for access to the public along with the marketing of this facility will be central to the growth of Crosshaven. The increase in the population of Crosshaven, its proximity to Cork city and with the planned reintroduction of the Cork–Swansea ferry would given this area a huge economic boost.
Carrigaline Citizens Information Centre
The Carrigaline Citizens Information Centre is situated in the portacabin in the Owenabue Car Park on the Main Street of Carrigaline. The information centre is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 1.30pm and the telephone number for enquiries is 021 4376793.
This is a free confidential information advice and advocacy service.
Ringaskiddy still waiting for traffic calming
€10,000 has been allocated for traffic calming 3 years ago but there is no allocation from the National Roads Authority for 2009. A lot of industrial traffic uses the road and the main road through Ringaskiddy is wide and difficult to cross. With plans for a playground, traffic calming is needed in the area more than ever.
N28 Project
Following the decision by government to postpone the upgrade of the Cork to Ringaskiddy road, in favour of the major inter-urban routes, this project has slipped further down the scale. The decision has huge consequences for the entire region and in particular for the future viability for Cork Harbour and the industries based there.
Road in Passage Estate
The roads serving St Marys and St Josephs Terraces in Rockenham, are in dire need of resurfacing. The pedestrian crossing is also in need of upgrading with more markings and signs as it is a hazard. The matters have been referred to the Area Engineer for investigation.
Derelict property on Rochestown Road
Cllr Forde welcomed the action by Council to make secure a derelict property in a prominent position on Rochestown Road.
Home Energy Saving scheme
I am pleased to inform you that the scheme is now open for Homeowner applications. Full details about the scheme, including the application form may be found on the website at www.sei.ie/hes. You can also apply online.
Graffiti – immediate removal is the only solution
“Concerned people and community groups are desperate to help themselves but often do not know what they can do and how easy it can be. I worked with residents groups in the past doing graffiti clean ups and they were very successful and additionally they actually built community spirit too” Tom Solan, client services manager Safe Graffiti Removal Ltd, a former Graffiti Officer with London Borough Council, LBC.
The solution is DIY Graffiti Removal by the provision of graffiti removal kits. This acknowledges the fact that the Council, although supportive of community efforts, cannot do everything. The way forward is encouraging local interest groups to take ownership in the community.
Some prevention methods that help deter graffiti vandals from using walls:
Attractive To Vandals Not So Attractive To Vandals
Smooth Surface Rough Surface
Light-Coloured Surface Dark-Colored
Regular paint Anti-graffiti shield
Patched and dirty Clean and freshly painted surfaces
Tips to make it harder for vandals to get close enough to your walls to write on them:
Use Clinging plants such as ivy, on vulnerable walls. This breaks up the writing space and makes it harder for the paint to reach the wall.
Plant bushes in front of walls (make sure no windows or doors are too close!). This will make it harder for vandals to get close to the wall.
Erect fences between your business and public property. This helps people know where the boundaries are, and also makes it harder for graffiti vandals to get close enough to your wallsResearch has shown that the most effective way to prevent graffiti is prompt removal.
Studies show that removal within 24 to 48 hours result in a nearly zero rate of re-occurrence.
Safe Graffiti Removal is presently supplying graffiti removal kits to county council, local authorities, residents associations, schools. For further information, go to www.safegraffitiremoval.ie
April 5, 2009 No Comments