Sinn Féin launch Job Creation Plan in New Ross

Sinn Féin launched their job creation plan in the Community  Development Project Building in New Ross last Monday night.  Speaking at the meeting, County Wexford Sinn Féin Chairperson Oisin O' Connell said his party's plan had the potential to take 156,000 unemployed people off the live register and put them back into the work force over a period of four years.

Mr O' Connell said;

"The old policies and approaches of austerity favoured by the political elite in this state have failed the people.  We have 460,000 out of work.  In this county it is estimated that 46% of people under twenty five are unemployed.  200,000 have been forced to emigrate in the last three years.  Something has to be done."

"Sinn Féin is proposing a  €13 billion additional investment in job creation and economic growth over the next four years.  This would create 156,000 jobs as well as leading to the retention of 15,000 jobs which may be lost without the introduction of a stimulus."

"This plan can be achieved.  The funding is there if our government is prepared to use it.  We propose using €5.8 billion in discretionary funding from the National Pension Reserve Fund, €1.534 billion from the European Investment Bank and €3 billion incentivised investment from the private pension sector.  On top of this the €2.6 billion which the government plans to cut from the capital budget for next year should be retained."

"Among the local proposals contained in this document are the deepening of one of the berths at Rosslare Europort and the revitalisation of the south east sugar beet industry.  Full details of the our plan can be found at www.wexfordsinnfeinnews.blogspot.com."

Prominent Campaigner burns Household Tax bill outside Wexford Ministers office

A prominent campaigner against the Household Charge burned what he described as a 'threatening letter' which he had received from Wexford County Council demanding €127 outside of Minister Paul Kehoe's Enniscorthy office last Saturday morning.  Dominick Gaughan, a member of the Loch Garman against Austerity group and Sinn Féin, said he would not pay what he dubbed an 'unfair charge' and warned that from next year families would end up paying between €400 to €800 a year for the privilege of living in their own homes.  Mr Gaughan will be one of the main speakers at a number of anti household tax events this week.

Mr Gaughan said;

"We all know from 2013, families will be charged between €400 and €800 a year just for the privilege of living in their own home's.  In future years, coupled with Water Tax, the average family home will be paying over a €1000 on average per year."

"Despite massive protests and a nationwide boycott of the household tax, the main political parties of the establishment have ignored the Irish peoples declaration that the household charge was an unfair form of double taxation.  We would expect that from our government with Labour and Fine Gael being the teacher's pets in the class for Bankers and non-secured Bond holders, the IMF and Troika.  The so called main opposition party of Fianna Fail have equally supported the implementation of the household tax.  In fact, Fine Gael and Labour are only singing from the hymn sheet that Fianna Fail created."

"Those of us who campaign against this unjust charge are just ordinary people from ordinary families.  We are not in the habit of burning council letters outside the office of government TDs but if that's what it takes to be noticed, then so be it.  Something has to be done as it seems that banks are still too big to fail and people still too small to matter.  The much hyped property tax and the planned Austerity budget cuts in social welfare, child benefit and health will push hundreds of thousands of people over the edge."

Mr Gaughan will be one of the main speakers at a public meeting in Whites Hotel on Tuesday night at 8am.  Deputy Mick Wallace and Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan will also speak.  A day of protest against the household tax will be held nationwide next Saturday.  Protest rallies will be held on the Fairgreen in Enniscorthy at 10pm and on Wexford Quay at 2pm.   

Sinn Féin to remain vigilant over Wexford General Hospital

Following on from recent assurances by a local government TD that Wexford General Hospital is safe from any form of downgrading, and other information that came to light today, Sinn Féin has put its weekly protest outside our county hospital on pause.  Speaking at last Saturdays protest, Cllr Anthony Kelly said that his party was calling off the protests for now, but would remain extremely vigilant, promising a fresh campaign of escalated protests if the government broke its promises concerning Wexford General.

Cllr Kelly said;

"Following on from government promises made by a local Fine Gael Deputy last week concerning the safeguarding of Wexford General Hospital from any form of downgrading, and after receiving new information concerning the future of operating theatre 2 earlier today, Wexford Sinn Féin is putting its weekly protests outside our hospital on pause.  Sinn Féin will remain highly vigilant, and at the first sign of any form of downgrading at Wexford General, we will initiate a fresh campaign of escalated protests."

"Though we put our weekly protests on ice, our campaign to reopen operating theatre 2 has not ended.  Signatures are still been collected for the campaigns petition across this county, and it is my intention to lead the delegation that brings those petitions to Leinster House next month."

"Sinn Féin welcomes the government's promise to protect all services at Wexford General Hospital and at Waterford Regional Hospital.  Both hospitals play integral roles in this region, and full services must be preserved at both.  Securing Waterford as a regional hospital is not an excuse to pilfer vital services out of Wexford."

"I would like to thank the people of County Wexford for their continued support for the campaign to protect our hospital.  We all know that further cuts are coming to the national health budget, but if the Waterford rally last week showed us anything it is that people power can force governments to back down on poor decisions.  Together we will safe guard County Wexford's health services into the uncertain years that lay ahead."

"Wake up little SUSI wake up"

Cllr Johnny Mythen has slammed the governments botched handling of the SUSI student grant system.  The Sinn Féin rep said that this Minister Quinns decision to 'fix' something that was not broke is putting some students out of college.

Cllr Mythen said;

"Student universal support Ireland is the company in charge of processing student grants.  This whole new innovative system was supposed to be the panacea of all future student grant applications.  Instead we have 66000 applicants in total.  Only three thousand and ten have been paid out to date,  25310 are still being processed and a further 25500 are awaiting documentation."

"This was a job that the local V.E.C.s and Co. Councils could do in their sleep.  These teachers and civil servants quiet often knew the applicants personally and could go through the application forms on an individual basis, making sure the documentation was correct."

"Minister Quinn's apologies are falling on deaf ears.  Parents are at their wits end.  Some will have no choice but to take their children out of college.  Students are under severe pressure to pay rents and keep themselves fed for the week.  This is a prime example of when something is not broken then don't fix it."

"Minister Quinn must act and act fast if he is sincere in providing a state of the art student grant system.  He should make sure the company he awards the contract to should be capable  of delivering a first class service just like the excellent  system we had before."

Sinn Féin to launch Job Creation Plan in New Ross

Sinn Féin will launch their Job Creation Plan in New Ross next week.  According to County Chairperson Oisin O’ Connell, the full implementation of the plan would create 156,000 new jobs and retain up to 15000 existing jobs. 

 Mr O’ Connell said;

“Ireland is about to enter its fifth year of recession.  During that time more than 200,000 people have emigrated.  We currently have 460,000 people on the live register.  The failure by Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail to competently manage our economy, create jobs and stimulate growth has left us in this mess.  It’s time for new ideas.”

“Sinn Féin is proposing almost €13 billion additional investment in job creation and economic growth over the next four years.  This would create an average of 156,000 new jobs and retain up to 15000 existing jobs according to the ERSI.”

“Among the proposals contained in our jobs plan is the revival of the Irish Sugar Beet Industry through the construction of a new bio-refinery plant in New Ross.  This would create 5000 jobs.  We also propose €2.5 billion investment in the roll out of next generation broadband and sequence investment in water infrastructure.  Currently 43% of water is wasted through leaks.  This would be addressed under our plan.”

 

“The development and full utilisation of Rosslare Europort is also contained in the plan.  Such investment in the port could also lead to the reopening of the Rosslare to Waterford Rail Line and the construction of a new rail cargo depot in the port.  Other proposals include the abolishment of upward only rents, the capping of utility costs for a period of three years and the introduction of PRSI for the self employed.”

“Sinn Féin will be launching this document at a public meeting at the Community Development Project building in New Ross next Wednesday at 8pm.  We invite anyone interested in a new approach to job creation and anyone who believes that this state can be taken back and made a prosperous place once again to attend.  More details of this plan can be found at www.wexfordsinnfeinnews.blogspot.com.”

Gorey families told to renegotiate rents or find new accommodation six weeks before Christmas

A spokesperson for local Sinn Féin has slammed the Department of Social Protection for sending out hundreds of letters to families receiving rent allowance in the Gorey town area demanding that they renegotiate their rents immediately or find new accommodation six weeks before Christmas.  Fionntán O’ Súilleabháin said that this rushed job to get those in benefit of the rent supplement entitlement in Gorey updated to the new lower criteria was the clearest indication yet that further cuts to the allowance are planned  in the budget.

Mr O’ Súilleabháin said;

“I have been contacted by many worried people today who have received letters from the Department of Social Protection informing them their rent supplement entitlement is up for review.  In some cases families will have to renegotiate their rent with the landlord immediately, and if unsuccessful, look for alternative accommodation six weeks before Christmas.”

“Where a tenant who is up for review finds that their lease agreement is up for renewal, the Department has ordered that they must renegotiate their rent to meet the new criteria immediately.  Where this is not possible the tenant must seek alternative accommodation.  The cost of the new premises should be within the new rent limits and the applicant must find it and move in within eight weeks to keep their payments.”

“It will be impossible for all the people affected by this to find alternative accommodation that meets the new criteria.  There simply isn’t enough rentable property within that price range.  A simple search of Daft.ie showed that there were only two properties available in the Gorey area today that meet the requirements of a single person on rent supplement within the new limits.  Where will everyone else live once these two properties are taken?”

“The government has left the onus completely on the tenant to successfully renegotiate their rents with the landlord.  They are offered no help and told very clearly that if they fail they will lose their homes and have to look for new accommodation.  All of this is happening in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  It’s like something out of a Dickens novel.”

“These review letters should be withdrawn.  Families have enough to worry about in the run up to the budget without having this hanging over their heads as well.  The government needs to address the very real problem of housing.  Adequate social housing does not exist to meet the growing demand.  It is unrealistic to believe that tenants will be able to out bargain landlords across the state without any problems.  The state needs to take part in these negotiations themselves to avoid people losing their homes.”

Grassland sheep payment scheme should continue - O' Connell

The Chairperson of County Wexford Sinn Féin has called on the government to continue the grassland sheep payment scheme until new CAP regulations come into place.  The scheme which was introduced in 2010 for a three year period to support flock owners and to halt the decline of the national sheep flock was set to end this year, but Mr O' Connell believes that the delay in the implementation of new CAP rules should influence the length of this particularly important scheme.

Mr O' Connell said;

"It has been estimated that the Irish sheep industry is worth €250 million to our economy.  Over two thirds of the product is exported.  However before this scheme was introduced the national flock was declining rapidly.  The investment of €54 million has revitalised the industry and increased its worth to the state."

"The agri sector has the potential to create many more jobs as well as sustainable development in rural areas if it is managed right and protected.  This scheme was originally due to end this year and I feel that may have been due to the expected CAP renegotiations that have since been delayed."

"Wexford Sinn Féin is calling on Minister Coveney to keep the grassland sheep payment scheme in place until the new CAP plan is implemented.  The Minister knows how important this scheme is to sheep farmers and must also realise its value to the wider economy."

Protest outside Wexford General Hospital today

A protest will be held outside the grounds of Wexford General Hospital this afternoon to highlight the continued closure of an operating theatre there.  Operating Theatre 2 will be six weeks closed this Monday.

Wexford Sinn Féin Cllr Anthony Kelly is organising the event but has reiterated that this protest is not political but rather about protecting services at Wexford General Hospital.  Everyone is welcome.

Those taking part are asked to meet by the traffic lights at the entrance to the hospital at 1.30pm.

D’Arcy comments on Waterford Regional Hospital unhelpful and disgraceful – Ó Súilleabháin

Sinn Féin spokesperson in North Wexford, Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin has described the comments of local senator Michael D’Arcy that Waterford Regional Hospital is the worst performing hospital in the country as disgraceful and inaccurate.

Senator D’Arcy made the comments this week in the Seanad, as Sinn Féin Senator David Cullinane, the leader of the house Senator Maurice Cummins, and South Tipperary based Labour Senator Denis Landy all called for the retention of services at the hospital.

The North Wexford Sinn Fein spokesperson has called on Senator D'Arcy to back up his comments with facts.

Speaking on Friday Ó Súilleabháin said:

“These comments by Senator D’Arcy are appalling, disgraceful and inaccurate; it is untrue to suggest that Waterford Regional Hospital is the worst performing hospital in the country.

“In fact many reports have pointed to the hospital’s success in providing high quality, specialist services in areas such as cancer care. It is also clear that Senator D’Arcy is out of touch with the views of consultants in Wexford General Hospital who voted overwhelming to stay with the South East Hospital grouping.

“Senator D’Arcy needs to explain to cancer patients in Wexford, why they should face the long road to Dublin for treatment rather than the shorter route to Waterford Regional Hospital.

“I commend the Oireachtas members and Councillors from all parties across the region, who are uniting on this issue and who are sending a very clear message to the Minister for Health, James Reilly that Waterford Regional Hospital must not be downgraded.”

Commercial Rates should be Reviewed - Kelly

Cllr Anthony Kelly has said that now it the time to begin the process of reviewing commercial rates across the state.  The Sinn Féin Councillor insisted that businesses should pay rates based on the services provided by the state and that the rates should be reflective of the size and scale of the particular business.

"Commercial rates are strangling small businesses across this state," Cllr Kelly said.  "Rates have increased by 47% in the last ten years, well in excess of inflation and certainly not in line with increases in the provision of state services."

"In the last few years businesses have seen an enormous fall off in revenue.  There has been no fall off in the price of rates however.  Instead we have seen outlandish rates demanded in an effort to plug the gap in the cutting of government funding for local authority services."

"The process of reviewing commercial rates state-wide would be time consuming and would have to be carried out by local authorities under the guide of the Department of the Environment.  Minister Phil Hogan has been busy pushing taxes and cutting local councils over the past year.  Maybe he could now act in the welfare of struggling small businesses with the same zealousness."