Fianna Fáil Councillor and Chairperson of County Cavan Joint Policing Committee (JPC), John Paul Feeley has called for the reinstatement by the Government of the Scheme to support the development of CCTV networks so as to assist the Gardai after a report from the Cavan Crime & Drugs Unit at a recent meeting of the JPC. ‘The CCTV network in Cavan Town works well. During the course of Operation Sarto last year the main location for arrests were those not covered by the current CCTV network. The Gardai report that as a result of Operation Sarto, those who engage in the sale and distribution of illegal drugs have moved to other more discrete locations. Both of these facts point to the usefulness of the existing cameras and also the acute need to extend them to other areas of the Town.’ Initially installed through a joint initiative of the then Cavan Town Council, the Gardai and funding from the former Department of Community & Gaeltacht Affairs, the network, monitored by the Gardai is used extensively to deal with anti-social behaviour and monitor the movements of suspected criminals. ‘Cavan County Council, through members raising concerns about undesirable activity in certain locations, the issues raised as part of the consultation for the preparation of the Community and Economic Plan have already highlighted the need to extend the CCTV network in Cavan Town and also the need to provide a similar network elsewhere in the County.’ ‘The JPC have already contacted the Department of Justice about the need to develop a new Scheme to support the expansion of existing CCTV networks and the provision of new schemes without delay. The Report from the Cavan Crime & Drugs Unit supports the need to act urgently. ENDS
Category Archives: Press Releases
FORESTRY MUST BE PROPERLY REGULATED TO PROTECT RURAL COMMUNITIES – FEELEY
‘If Rural Communities are to survive, forestry must be properly regulated,’ stated Councillor John Paul Feeley at the May Meeting of Cavan County Council. Outlining his concerns and those expressed to him by constituents about the lack of strong regulation of forestry he stated that forestry can play a part in the overall agricultural sector of the economy but it must not be given preferential treatment over other sectors. He noted that at present jobs in the timber industry are not spread throughout the country and that much of the timber felled in Ireland is exported unprocessed and therefore no added value to the Irish Economy. ‘Currently the system appears to give preferment to forestry to the determinate of active farmers and with a generally negative impact on local communities. There is little or no regard for the impact on visually sensitive areas especially those important for our tourist sector. From an environmental prospective, monoculture forestry does not support biodiversity as it provides a limited habitat, acidifies our lakes and rivers, affecting fish stocks and during planting and felling causes silting in those rivers and streams.’ ‘In addition, when felled, forestry companies leave lands in a state akin to a ‘nuclear landscape.’ It is disgraceful that these lands are left in this state and this is something that must be dealt with by the Department. Lands must not be left in a manner that is so disgracefully unsightly.’ ‘In terms of impact of the local community, no regard is had for the isolation that is caused by the afforestation of large tracts of the countryside, it cuts off homes and other lands.’ ‘The current regime does not allow a level playing field for adjoining farmers. They cannot realistically complete with investors and forestry companies who wish to purchase lands for forestry. Obtaining adjoining lands can improve long-term sustainability for farmers and this must be a key objective to protecting rural communities.’ ‘When we consider that to build a house or most other structures a person must go through the rigours of the planning system and most, even modest developments attract payments of Development Contributions. A family, who by living in a community contribute to its sustainability must pay a hefty Development Levy to the local authority and ongoing Local Property Tax, a forestry which will make little or no contribution to the local economy and has a major negative impact on local roads is exempt from Development Levies and effectively exempt from the planning system.’ ‘We must have a playing field for local communities, adjoin landowners must have a say in terms of the negative impact on their property by afforestation through the open and transparent planning system. Local Authorities must be empowered to impose development levies on the same basis as other developments within their areas.’ ‘Caps should be imposed on the percentage of a townland or area which can be subject to afforestation so as to ensure communities survive and whole regions are not completely lost to monoculture plantation.’ ‘Finally, Government should ensure that grant aid for forestry is targeted at active farmers rather than large scale investors. Like most payments on other lands, the Department confines payments to active farmer, why should forestry be treated any differently?’ ENDS
‘Further delay in role-out of Rural Broadband Scheme unacceptable’- Feeley
Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has called on the Acting Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Alex White to intervene urgently to prevent the further delay in the implementing of the National Broadband Scheme; the contract for which will not now be signed until 2017 according to the Department thus delaying implementation. ‘A hold swathe of the country has no or totally inadequate broadband coverage, a service that is not an optional addition or a luxury but an absolute necessity like electricity, water which should be regarded as a given. Rural communities feel especially forgotten given the very poor levels of mobile telephone coverage in many areas also.’ The National Broadband Scheme was initially announced by then Minister Pat Rabitte in 2012 but the preliminary phase of ‘stakeholder consultation’ did not commence until 2014. The contract for the new National Broadband Scheme was to be signed in the second half of 2016 with role-out to be complete in three to five years. The taxpayer investment of 275 million was to provide 30mphs to every house and business throughout the country. ‘Up to 2014, Ireland has has some of the lowest levels of broadband access in Europe. Through some investment in large urban centres in terms of the role-out of fibre-broadband that has increased somewhat. Broadband for much of the country is haphazard and for many a distant hope. Once again hopes have been dashed through a complete lack of political will to drive this project to its conclusion. Minister White remains in office, he has full power to act, he must move to clear the remaining road-blocks so that the targets of 85% coverage by 2018 and 100% coverage by 2020 are met.’ Concluding, Councillor Feeley noted that the lack of proper broadband is stifling investment in rural area and an impediment to families in terms of access to educational, entertainment, banking and other services and a particular impediment to farmers and other rural based businesses. ‘Business cannot exist without this most basic of service, fibre-broadband is only available in the most limited of area in some towns, this has to change. We are all aware of business which suffer hugely and who have had to relocated because of poor service.’ ENDS
Tullinamoyle Former NS, Dowra included in 1916 Commemorations Programme
Fianna Fail Councillor, John Paul Feeley has welcomed confirmation that the former National School where Sean MacDiarmuida attended to learn Irish at Tullinamoyle, Dowra has been included in the Cavan County Council official programme for the 1916 Commemorations. “Earlier this year, I suggested to Tom Sullivan, County Librarian that the fact that Sean MacDiarmuida attended Tullinamoyle National School, just outside Dowra should be commemorated. The National Programme of Commemorations includes specific reference to the Irish Language and the Cultural Revival that occurred in the years proceeding the Rising. Tullinamoyle School falls perfectly into this heading: a signatory of the Proclamation and his efforts to learn Irish.’ Following approaches to the current owner of the property, the Council have agreed that a commemorative plague will be erected, informative signage about the general history of the now closed School and direction signage from the village of Dowra. ‘The school is in private ownership. It has been tasteful restored by the current owner, Karsten Konig, a German native, who brought the derelict property to its state as his home. Karsten has been most cooperative with the Council and the Council must now work closely with him to complete to put in place a tasteful monument.’ Welcoming the programme, Councillor Feeley confirmed that the plaque will be unveiled in March 2016. ‘The programme for the coming year is balanced and considered. Along with various ceremonies we will have a number of lectures, plays and other events looking, not just at the Rising but also the cultural, economic social and political background. A commemorative lecture on the Irish Language and Conradh na Gaeilge, which was very well organised in County Cavan at that time will be organised for Dowra to co-inside with the unveiling of the plague. The County Library will also engage in an Oral History project to gather the stories told locally about Sean MacDiarmuida as he attended Tullinamoyle and activities surrounding the Rising and the years of the War of Independence.’ Picture Cllr. John Paul Feeley at Tullinamoyle Former NS, Dowra, Co. CAvan ENDS
