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| The Gateway to the Dingle Peninsula |
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As a voluntary worker for over 20 years, I have delivered for my community and I will bring new ideas, vitality and
energy to Kerry County Council. Though truly independent, I am also a good team player, with excellent negotiation
skills, who has worked well with both voluntary and statutory organisations over the years. I ask you to seriously consider the following questions - If your answer is no to any or all of the questions posed above, then it is time for change.
I am giving you the opportunity to elect a truly independent councilor, who will represent you with honesty, energy and vitality and who is not under the thumb of any party.
Kerry County Council needs a shake-up. I intend to do just that, but I cannot do it without your help. Please give me your number 1 vote in the County Council Election on June 11th and I guarantee, I will deliver for you. Beir bua agus beannacht, Brigid O' Connor The West Kerry Roads Action Group was formed In January 2000, to address the atrocious condition of the N86 Tralee/Dingle road. After exhausting every avenue to get the road done, I decided to petition the European Parliament, and highlight the situation.
Ireland receives European Structural Funding for roads, therefore the EU are concerned that it is distributed fairly and equally. Kerry is 4th largest county in Ireland and 14th in funding. Based on my report the EU Petitions Committee took on our case.
I addressed 2 meetings in the European Parliament in Brussels in January and December
2002, on behalf of The West Kerry Roads Action Group. It was a positive experience
with a commitment given by the committee to pressurise the Irish Government and The
National Roads Authority to provide more funding for our roads in Kerry. My European
campaign is highlighted in the CSPE Programme for Junior Certificate, Secondary school
Students as an example of positive community action.
As a result of my petitions to the European Parliament an additional funding of 4 million
Euro was spent to upgrade to N86 Main Tralee Dingle road in 2002/2003.
This information is documented in - (Clar Forbartha Aitiuil Corca Dhuibhne - West Kerry
Development Plan) - Information Research from Kerry Co. Council. I support the immediate commencement of Dingle Community Hospital.
It is a vital service for the people of the entire Dingle Peninsula.
Upgrade services, so that sick people do not have to travel long distances to access vital services.
The government must address the lengthening Hospital waiting lists. Where is our booming economy now?
I support the immediate commencement of the Secondary School in Castlegregory for this area.
The high standard of education delivered by
Teachers at Mean Scoil Leith Triuigh is well documented in the high achievements of its pupils.
They deserve better conditions. I propose special support from Meitheal Forbartha Na Gaeltachta
for the development and use of the Irish Language.
Member of Kerry IRDA and Chairperson of the Lower West branch, based on consultation, I made a submission to Kerry Co. Council proposing changes to the Kerry Co. Development Plan, in order to enable young people to build in their own area. Due to pressure from the IRDA the occupancy clause was reduced from 7 to 2 years and the Rural Settlement Policy removed, which was incidentally voted in, by our outgoing elected representatives of Kerry Co. Council in 1996 dev. Plan. I welcome the new guidelines on planning, which I hope will inform better planning decisions. I am convinced that these changes would not have taken place, but for the pressure of the IRDA.
We have to discourage clientelism and the Brown Envelope Culture, our young people have a right to build a home and live in their own community.
I will fight for affordable houses for young people and sites for families who wish to remain in, or return to their native communities. The county council should endeavor to buy up land and provide affordable sites for young people.
Kerry Co. Council's Proposed levies of €6.500 on new homes, farm buildings and wind turbines were stopped when I, my colleagues in the IRDA, IFA and ICMSA and other groups protested and lobbied at a recent Co. Council meeting. The successful outcome was that the levies will remain at the present rate.
I propose reintroducing the first time buyer's grant, which was abolished by the present Government. I propose the introduction of a grant of 25,000 Euro for first time house buyers and have it backdated it for 2 years, in line with inflation.
Currently we are not competing on a level playing pitch our Infrastructure needs to be brought up to speed. As well as our roads we need to direct investment towards our telecommunications infrastructure and public transport in order to compete effectively, only then can we stem the tide of migration which still effects us here in Kerry. Why is it that the powers that be have made no credible effort to encourage the development of jobs infrastructure in our area. There has been little progress of late in provision of employment opportunities for people throughout rural Ireland.
We need to improve our Telecommunications infrastructure to facilitate development of technology-based industries and take advantage of the good living environment and skilled workforce that we can offer to potential employers.
You and I are taxpayers; sometimes politicians make it appear like they are giving us money out of their own pockets.
Over the past 11 years, I have worked as a Youth Worker with the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service in the West,
Flesk and Mid Kerry areas, I am well aware of the many issues affecting young people. I believe Investing
in Youth is an investment in the future and will pay huge dividends. Cuts in grants and increases in
university fees will affect many young people in education today.
I will fight for equal opportunity and affordable education for all especially the provision of transport
for all pupils in rural areas to primary, secondary and third level education centres. I will also seek
freedom for parents to send their children to a school of their own choice.
I am going on my record: with my experience in the development of support services such as, Rural transport,
home visits, and social recreational days for the elderly, Return to work courses for women.
I feel I am well qualified to represent you on Kerry Co. Council. I will also make representations
concerning these issues for you at European level
I will actively lobby for a mobile "Well Women Service" in every community I propose the provision
of social welfare credits to women who work as unpaid carers in the home, in order to entitle them to
a pension in their own right.
Upgrade services to support women who experience violence in the home.
Carers - Carers Allowance should not be means tested and adequate respite care should be provided.
People with Disability - I propose resources be made available for adequate provision of care and access
to education.
I am a small farmer participating in the Rural Environment Protection scheme.
Farmers are the backbone of our economy. Increasingly they are being squeezed out with bureaucracy and legislation. The Government must support them and ensure that they have a fair playing pitch, to compete with other European farmers.
Since the area is rich in history and culture, I would support the development of historical and
cultural activities.
Kerry County Council should support the development of local websites for all communities.
Increasingly business is done through the Internet as I have experienced, through my own website
at www.westkerry.com. The development of a local community based broadcasting initiative is in
my opinion crucial to the development and marketing of local communities. Again I propose that
Kerry County Council would head this project.
I support an increase in quota for the Irish fishing industry so that they can compete with other
European countries. I support the development of the fish processing industry locally, which would
create more jobs in the locality
As a member of Kerry IRDA, I have challenged current planning policies, which resulted in the Government
recently introducing new guideline for rural planning. I have also, with the support of the IFA and
ICMSA succeeded in preventing an increase in service charges for new houses, urban and rural, and farm
buildings in Kerry.
I propose a re-introduction of new house builders grant in the amount of 25,000 Euro and backdate it for
2 years, in line with inflation.
I represent your interests on Meitheal Forbartha Na Gaeltachta and ADM Comhar Dhuibhne Local Development
groups. I am a committed voluntary worker, working for a better future for you.
I support the Official Status for the Irish Language in the European Union. This will create more jobs for Irish people.
I have personal experience of this, as I was asked to stop speaking in Irish when making my statement
at the EU Parliament meeting in Brussels. Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam
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