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New Figures reveal shocking attack on the old and disabled in Cavan by the Government

New Figures reveal shocking attack on the old and disabled in Cavan by the Government – Cllr John Paul Feeley

West Cavan Councillor John Paul Feeley, has expressed his shock and outrage at the shocking figures which reveal the scale of the cuts that the Government has imposed in Cavan, on the elderly and disabled people.

There has been an almost 50% cut in the number of families in Cavan that have received the Mobility Aid Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People grant, since 2011.

According to John Paul Feeley “what we are talking about here is the equivalent to a butchers knife being taken to the applications for Mobility Aid Grants and the Housing Aid for Older People schemes, which now stand at just over 50% of what it was in 2011 throughout Cavan.”

“This is cruel and it is heartless. How can the Government preside over this devastation to the lives of elderly people and their families of caring for them.  Mobility Aids Grant is available of up to €6,000 to cover a basic works to address the mobility problems of a member of a household. The areas covered include the provision of stair lifts, level access showers, access ramps, grab rails and some minor adaptation works. These grants are small, but they can have a profound impact in the lives of those who need them.”

“Looking at the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a disability, the figures for Cavan again display the scale of the cutbacks that the Government are imposing. These have been slashed from 57 in 2010 to only 36 in 2013. Housing adaptation grants are a lifeline for families and for individuals, which can help them live with dignity and comfort in their own homes.

“What is happening is that families are left with no but to put their loved ones into long-term care, despite the fact that there is no need to do so. Small grants such as those for housing adaptation, can transform the lives of those in need. Has the Government lost sight of this most basic human right.”

“All of these grants are now administered by Cavan Co. Council and it is shocking to think the Government representatives have tried to sweep this under the carpet and pretend that it isn’t happening.”

 

Table A

Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (HAG) 2010 – 2013 in Co. Cavan

2010 2011 2012 2013
57 48 41 36

 

Table B

Mobility Aids Grant Scheme (MAG) & the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme (HAOP) 2010 – 2013 in Co. Cavan

2010 2011 2012 2013
138 138 113 81

 

These figures were obtained from Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (Ms. Jan O’Sullivan T.D.)

Swanlinbar Water Supply Restored

Councillor John Paul Feeley has confirmed that the Water Supply in Swanlinbar has been restored following the discovery of a fault last (Wednesday) night. It will take some hours for full pressure to be restored but a completely normal service should be restored by mid-night tonight (Thursday).

Complementing the local Water Maintenance Caretaker and the staff of the Council who worked late into last night to deal with the issues which caused the fault he stated that there is a need for significant investment in the months ahead to ensure that there are no further disruptions to the supply in the village and the surrounding areas.

‘A completely reliable and safe water service is needed and is an absolute entitlement for all. There are ongoing problems with the source of water in Swanlinbar and whilst the Council do work quickly and efficiently to restore the supply and resolve the problems when they happen it is not acceptable that these faults arise so regularly resulting in water outages’

Councillor Feeley confirmed that the he had placed the issue on the Agenda for the next meeting of Cavan County Council.

Time for Government to Leave our Primary Schools alone!

Councillor John Paul Feeley has called on the Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn TD and the Government to stop attacking our primary schools in response to a demand from Minister Quinn that schools drop religion in favour of maths and literacy.

‘Minister Quinn seems to have some sort of fix on the issue of religion in our schools. He seems to think that the education of children is purely about producing economic units instead of well rounded citizens and that the solution to every ill in the primary system involves an attack on religion and more often than not the Catholic Church.’

Noting that Minister Quinn is presently implementing a policy that has designated 48% of our national schools as ‘small’ and therefore subject to a higher pupil teacher ratio that will, this year see 148 small schools lose a further teacher the Fianna Fáil Councillor stated that Minister Quinn is following an ‘anti-rural, anti-small school and anti-faith policy’ in the Department of Education.

‘One of the key elements of a Republic is the right of citizens to equality and the free practice of religion. Across this region schools of all Christian dominations serve their community and it is the duty of Government to protect the right of all religions to have such facilities. Many of these schools cater for pupils of other religions or indeed none and do so in a respectful manner. It is worth noting in UK and the US schools with a religious ethos at their core are growing and are achieving the highest academic results whereas this present Government seems determined to blindly follow its anti-faith policy.’

Councillor Feeley commented that he felt that Minister Quinn was pushing a Labour Party ideology rather than a well thought educational policy.

‘We want an education system that respects religion, that has high literacy and numerous standards. That can be achieved in our current system if the Minister respects local schools and gives them proper support not constantly undermining their future, not constantly cutting funding, not constantly reducing teacher numbers.  It is a disgrace that he constantly attacks them and uses every opportunity to run-down the contribution of the various churches to education in Ireland.’

Concluding Councillor Feeley called on the Fine Gael Party to stand up for small schools and for the role of religion in our primary schools.

Cavan County Council to pursue access to Cuilcagh Mountain

Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has called on Cavan County Council to pursue the provision of proper access for walkers to the summit of Cuilcagh Mountain noting that Cuilcagh is a key location within the wider UNESCO Marble Arch Global Geopark it is a unique visitor attraction in its own right as the highest point in County Cavan.

‘There are significant numbers now seeking to climb Cuilcagh whether as individuals or in organised groups such as those organised by local festivals in Swanlinbar or Glangevlin or the Cavan Lions Club. I want Cavan County Council in conjunction with local landowners and other agencies to provide carparking at an appropriate location and a marked walkway to the summit.’

Highlighting the importance of the location of Cuilcagh Mountain, the highest point in the County, Councillor Feeley referred to the impressive views from the summit across adjoining counties, the national monuments, the importance of the mountain in the mapping of Ireland by the Ordinance Survey who used it as a point of sight from Slieve Donard to Croagh Patrick, Slieve Snacht and Keepers Hill.  In addition the Cavan County Councillor noted that there is a huge increase in the number of walkers anxious to climb locations such as Cuilcagh.

‘In recent years there has been a hugh increase in the numbers engaged in hillwalking. More and more people want to pursue activity based holidays and areas such as County Cavan and particularly County Cavan are well placed to take advantage of this market and initiatives like the Cavan Walking Festival, the development of walks all over the County and in particular the huge investment ongoing in and around the Cavan Burren’

There is an substantial investment underway under the Border Uplands Programme and the Harnessing Natural Resources Programme to create a neckless of attractions or to enhance visitor experiences in the catchment of the Marble Arche Geopark including the investment in the Cavan Burren, the development of an Interpretative Centre in the Market House, Blacklion, the restoration of Dowra Garda Station, improvements at the Marble Arch Caves Visitors Centre and ongoing investment in walks and other attractions such as the River Walk in Blacklion.

‘There are a number of locations around Cuilcagh Mountains which would be suitable to develop as an access point whether from Gowlan, Glangevlin, Corlough or Swanlinbar or indeed in County Fermanagh. I would think as a start the obvious place would be in Glan Gap and I have asked Cavan County Council to take the lead in this project and prepare plans that can be actioned once funds become available.’

Part of the site is designated as a Special Area of Conservaton but Councillor Feeley noted that rather the best way to protect a site visited by significant numbers of people is to to ensure that they are guided through the site in a controlled and safe manner.

When the matter was discussed at a recent meeting of Cavan County Council the proposal received unanimous and cross party support. Responding to the proposal, Eoin Doyle, Director of Services noted tat in the context of the other developments in the region this would be an obvious and welcome proposal and would be followed by the Council in respect of the funding which might be available.  He confirmed that Cavan County Council had commenced a study of the location and are anxious to see the development take place.