Kelly worried about threat to frontline HSE staff

A Wexford Councillor has said that he has grave concerns about the effects that the latest HSE funding crisis will have on frontline staff in County Wexford and on the staffing of the new A&E unit at Wexford General Hospital.  Cllr Anthony Kelly, a long time critic of health cuts, is fearful that the expected €78 million shortfall in this year's health budget may lead to further service cuts like the closure of operating theatre 2 in 2012.

The Sinn Féin Councillor said;

"I'm highly concerned that the HSE once again appears to be running well over budget this year.  Sinn Féin has stood against the threat of downgrading of health services in this county for a long-time now and we always remain vigilant to any threats coming down the line.  This appears to be a serious storm brewing."

"We are all looking forward to the opening of Wexford General Hospitals new A&E unit and it is obviously a hugely positive story for the whole South East.  I don't think it's too much to ask that the Minister for Health confirms that this latest shortfall will not affect the HSEs ability to staff the new unit or lead to any closures or staff loses, temporary or otherwise, at our county hospital."

Carrig estate has been abandoned by the local government - O' Connell

Speaking after canvassing the Caislean an Dinigh estate in Carrig-on-Bannow recently, Oisin O' Connell said that this campaign had opened his eyes to the disconnect between the County Council and the unrepresented people of South Wexford.  The Sinn Féin candidate has urged people who feel let down and abandoned to use their vote on May 23rd and vote for change.

"I would not consider the service that the residents of Caislean an Dinigh are receiving from their local government as representation," Mr O' Connell said, "This is yet another estate that has effectively been left to its own devices, not seeing a local rep from one election until the next.  They have managed to keep the estate in great condition despite having access to absolutely no help or funding from the County Council."

"Its shocking to learn that when the electricity goes off in Caislean an Dinigh, so does the water.  This in turn causes residents to have extinguish their fires because of how the back boilers were installed in their homes.  When a local questioned a member of the County Council about this, they were told, 'Well sure, you got the lovely view didn't you?' "

"Without a doubt the view is beautiful but unfortunately you can't eat scenery and it certainly won't keep you warm when your electricity and water cuts off and you are forced to put out your fire to stop the boiler exploding."

"Everywhere we go, every estate we canvass, every person we meet, we hear more of these horror stories that illustrate the complete incompetence of local and national government and the mismanagement mess they have made of our county.  People should not have to live in these third world type of conditions in modern Ireland.  Something has gone very wrong in our local government and the time has come to rectify it."

Roche welcomes allocation of housing funds

The allocation of €140,000 to complete the unfinished houses in the Hazelwood estate in Bridgetown as been welcomed by a local Sinn Féin candidate who has been campaigning for the utilisation of the buildings.  Mick Roche said that it was essential that this funding should be put to use in converting these houses into family homes and not used to demolish the abandoned buildings as was done in nearby Cleariestown last year.

"The boarded up houses in Bridgetown have long been a source of embarrassment and anger for a community that is trying hard to pull itself out the recession," Mr Roche said, "To have our children, who have been denied a playground or any other leisure facilities by the local council, playing in the shadow of dank, abandoned buildings is an utter disgrace and a constant reminder of how our rapidly developing village was forgotten about by the powers that be."

"Sinn Féin has campaigned long and hard to get these buildings unboarded and finished.  They should now be completed and used for family homes.  At the moment there are 98,000 people on social housing waiting lists so the need for homes is obvious."

"We would strongly oppose any moves made to knock these buildings.  Last year several near completed houses were demolished in nearby Cleariestown.  Such an action would not benefit the local community and would be a slap in the face for those families stuck in limbo, crying out for a home."

Kelly refuses to support Water Charge Payment motion

The last ever meeting of Wexford Borough Council saw a tense standoff between reps after a motion was put forward calling for the government to introduce better payment options for the new water tax.  Sinn Féin Councillor Anthony Kelly immediately refused to support the motion, tabled by Fianna Fail, claiming that his party opposed water charges full stop.

"I could never support any motion which would give creditability to the water tax," Cllr Kelly said, "Sinn Féin fundamentally opposes this tax.  Our reps in the six counties managed to defeat water charges last year and we intend to continue to fight them down here."

"I understand that the Councillor who put the motion forward was not necessarily doing so in support of the tax but as a strong critic of unfair austerity taxes, I could never lend support to such a motion."

Cllr Kelly and Cllr Padge Reck voted against the motion while Cllr Davy Hynes abstained.  The motion was carried by the combined support of all other reps.

Roche: Tax on undrinkable water has to be resisted

Residents of the Hazelwood estate in Bridgetown had no option left but to physically resist the installation of water meters outside their homes last week according to a local Sinn Féin election candidate.  Mick Roche said that while his party were absolutely opposed to water charges, the idea of taxing what he called the undrinkable water in Hazelwood had an added insult to injury.

"I fully support the action taken by residents in Hazelwood last week," Mr Roche said, "Its an unforgivable indictment of this present government that law abiding residents were forced to physically prevent the installation of water meters outside their homes.  People have to realise that these residents have spent hundreds of euro on water filtering systems and bottled water because the public supply is so bad in this area and now they are being told that they are to be taxed for it.  What choice was left open to them?"

"Sinn Féin opposes the water tax.  Currently we lose 60% of our water through leaks in our antiquated public water supply network.  This tax, which was supposed to be about conservation, will do nothing to change that.  Had the government spent the money its pumped into the set up of Irish Water on fixing these leaks, then the crews hired to install water meters would still have jobs but would be tackling the obvious failings in the system."

"If this is not about water conservation, and it is just another tax as Sinn Féin has said all along, then there are very real, common sense alternatives.  We would support the introduction of a 1% wealth tax on those with assets in excess of €1 million, not including the family home or working farmland.  We would support the introduction of a third rate of income tax for those earning over €100,000 per annum.  We are not anti tax but we are opposed to unfair taxes like water charges."

Introduce rates on public buildings - Kelly

A Wexford Councillor is calling for radical action to be taken to combat the commercial rates crisis which he claims is putting shops, pubs and other businesses across the county out of action.  Cllr Anthony Kelly said that the introduction of rates on public buildings would raise €50 million every year and allow for the much needed reduction of commercial rates.

Cllr Kelly said;

"Sinn Féin is completely opposed to commercial rates as they exist in their current form.  They have played caused excessive damage to the retail industry and continue to send shops, pubs and other businesses to the wall.  A fairer system must be introduced."

"We support the introduction of revenue neutral rates.  This would mean that a business that was most under stress would have an increased chance of survival as the rates would be set by their profits.  Currently rates are a flat tax, inflicted upon businesses whether they are in profit or not."

"The government says that it does not have the money to deal head on with the rates crisis.  The reduction of commercial rates, it maintains, would have a crippling effect on the state.  We have an answer for this - the introduction of new rates on public buildings which would generate €50 every year.  This would leave no excuse for the states refusal to tackle a problem which has put so many smes out of business in recent years."

'A Plan for County Wexford' represents SFs commitment to tackling unemployment

County Wexford's five Sinn Féin local election candidates launched their plan for the coming County Council term last week.  'A Plan for County Wexford' charts out a number of steps to stimulate the local economy including the construction of a sugar beet refinery plant in New Ross, the roll out of superfast broadband across the county, major new investment in Rosslare Europort and the creation of a new heritage centre in North Wexford.

Speaking at the launch, New Ross candidate Oisin O' Connell said that the plan represented Sinn Fein's commitment to tackling the unemployment crisis in this county.

"Recently a survey put New Ross as the eighth poorest town in the state," Mr O' Connell said, "The effects of the recession and both national and local governments failure to adequately deal with it have been felt hard by the people of South Wexford.  Our unemployment and emigration rates are among the highest in the state."

"We believe that local government has an important role to play in getting this county back to work.  I am pleased to be part of a strong team that has identified several initiatives that could bring sustainable employment to this region."

"The current sugar beet quotas change in 2018 giving Ireland the perfect opportunity to get our national quota back.  Beet Ireland has already identified New Ross as being one of a number of suitable locations for the construction of a new state of the art sugar beet refinery which would produce sugar and ethanol.  The construction of such a facility would bring 5000 direct jobs to South Wexford as well as having a massively positive knock on effect on the local economy."

"Some would say that projects like these are only dreams or pre election political posturing, but we have been pushing this initiate for the past three years and, with the right team on the new council, there is absolutely no reason why this project cannot be successful.  All it takes is political will and hard work."

'Common sense policies that will enhance the lives of ordinary families'

County Wexford's five Sinn Féin local election candidates launched their plan for the coming County Council term last week.  Speaking at the launch, local Sinn Féin representative Fionntán O' Súilleabháin said that the plan laid out his partys aspirations for the county.

"Sinn Féin is the only party that has consistently opposed the harsh austerity measures favoured by Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour as well as offering realistic, progressive alternatives," Mr O' Súilleabháin said, "Attempts have been made to criticise our proposals but people are waking up, and its getting harder for the powers that be to criticise things that make common sense."

"When we proposed that the government invest €500 million into upgrading our antiquated water supply network, we were told that we were economic illiterates and asked where the money would come from.  So far, Irish Water has managed to squander €2 Billion on staffing over a seven year period, and over €80 million on consultancy fees.  We dont have to ask where the money is coming from.  Its coming from you."

"What we are proposing in our plan for the county is a series of common sense projects that will enhance the lives of ordinary families across this region.  The creation of a new heritage centre in North Wexford would boost tourism and showcase the natural beauty of our local area.  The development of Rosslare Europort would bring larger freight and more traffic into the South East.  The creation of a 1916 Revoluntionary Quarter in Enniscorthy would boost historical tourism, act as a educational aid and bring new revenue into that town."

"These policies make common sense and, with the right team on the new look county council, are attainable.  The battle between austerity and recovery will be fought in the County Council and this plan shows what side we are on."

Sinn Féin will be 'force of progressive change' on County Council

County Wexford's five Sinn Féin local election candidates launched their plan for the coming County Council term last week.  Speaking at the launch, the Chairperson of Enniscorthy Town Council, Cllr Johnny Mythen, said that this plan demonstrated his partys commitment to being a force of progressive change on the new look County Council.

"Phil Hogans political reform means that the whole way local government works has changed.  The four local town councils are being abolished and the new look County Council will be the only game in town.  It is there that the battle between austerity and recovery, between the status quo and the agents of change, will be fought.  The electorate needs a strong team standing up for them on the council and this plan shows that we are up to the challenge."

"We are the only party that has consistently opposed austerity measures like cuts to snas, the introduction of unfair property and water taxes and the unsustainable hike in commercial rates.  We are also the only party to offer realistic, costed alternatives, and the only party to truly believe that local government has a fundemental role to play in getting this county back to work."

"The construction of a new sugar beet processing plant in South Wexford would create jobs.  New development of Rosslare Europort to make it accomodate larger freight would create jobs.  The roll out of next generation broadband across this county would create jobs.  The development of a new heritage centre in North Wexford and the designation of a new 1916 Revolutionary Centre in Enniscorthy would boost tourism and create jobs."

"These are all attainable aspirations and the Sinn Féin team will fight for these developments on the new County Council, just as we will continue to oppose the harsh austerity measures and unfair taxes being rolled out be central governnment."

Sinn Féin launch 'A Plan for County Wexford'

County Wexford's five Sinn Féin local election candidates launched their plan for the coming County Council term last week.  'A Plan for County Wexford' charts out a number of steps to stimulate the local economy including the construction of a sugar beet refinery plant in New Ross, the roll out of superfast broadband across the county, major new investment in Rosslare Europort and the creation of a new heritage centre in North Wexford.

Speaking at the launch, Cllr Anthony Kelly said that this county was on the verge of massive political change and this plan was sending a very clear and concise message to the electorate that Sinn Féin are serious and competent about offering strong representation on the new look county council.

"People have woken up," Cllr Kelly said, "They won't be fooled by the political manoeuvres, spin and posturing from the very parties who implemented the disastrous response to the recession and the subsequent austerity programme.  Support for Sinn Féin, the only party to consistently oppose the austerity measures and offer realistic, progressive alternatives is surging."

Cllr Kelly's running mate, Mick Roche, said that the measures outlined in the Sinn Féin plan could create employment across the county if implemented.  "The deepening of a berth and the construction of a new rail cargo depot in Rosslare Europort makes sense.  The reopening of the Rosslare to Waterford Rail link makes sense.  A major renovation and the introduction of water softening facilities at the source of supply in the Fardystown Water Scheme makes sense.  The roll out of superfast broadband across Wexford makes sense."

"The County Council has made no real difference in the lives of ordinary families over the last few years.  Many of our representatives say it is not the job of local government to create the conditions for employment.  They say it's not their job to oppose austerity measures that have crippled people across the county or to change the business rates that are closing shops and pubs around Wexford.  They say it's not their job to take over boarded up houses and convert them to social housing.  Well what is their job then?"

"Wexford needs people who say they can and will, and not people who say that they can't on their local council."