Fianna Fail Councillor, John Paul Feeley has welcomed the publication of a new Party Policy Document, ‘Energy in Ireland’ by Michael Moynihan TD, Spokesperson on Energy & Natural Resources which commits the Fianna Fail Party to opposing ‘the use of the fracking technique in Ireland.’ ‘I share the concerns of people across the NorthWest at the potential damage to public health and the environment as a result of fracking. It must not be allowed to proceed and I welcome the clear confirmation of that policy as set out on our behalf by Deputy Moynihan. I now call on all other parties to join in that clear and unequivocal statement.’ The Policy Document outlines the Fianna Fail Party concerns regarding the potential risk to our natural environment due to the pumping technique and the fluids used in drilling, the risk to drinking water and the damage to our reputation as a high quality food producing nation. ‘The confirmation that Fianna Fail supports a ban on any fracking activity in Ireland at national level builds on the huge efforts of Councillors across the region. I secured a special meeting of Cavan County Council last year which called for a comprehensive study of all the environmental, public health and economic implications of fracking and an end to all exploratory or fracking related activities until these issues have been addressed and the work of Councillors in Leitrim in particular, Cllr Mary Bohan taking the lead in calling for a ban on fracking.’ Councillor Feeley and Councillor Bohan were also part of a cross-party delegation which met with Minister Alex White and his officials last year to convey very clearly the concerns of local communities about the potential effects of fracking. ENDS ‘Fianna Fáil also opposes the use of the fracking technique in Ireland. There are potentially significant risks to our natural environment due to the pumping technique and the fate of the fluids used in the drilling and fracturing processes. The possible risks to our drinking water from fracking are simply not acceptable. Nor is the possibility of serious damage to our reputation as a high quality food producing nation worth risking. The Government of France banned fracking in May 2011 in a response to these risks. We are not willing to subject our communities to any potential risk which could undermine the integrity of their water supply or the natural environment in which they live. As a result of these risks Fianna Fáil are demanding a ban on any fracking activity in Ireland’ Energy in Ireland, Fianna Fail Policy Document 2015
Category Archives: Press Releases
Further changes to Fair Deal Nursing Scheme further target older people-Feeley
‘It says something about a society that penalises our old and infirm whilst leaving criminals sitting in our jails at great cost to society, can have fortunes sitting in bank accounts to allow them to resume their lavish lifestyle.’ Fianna Fáil Councillor John Paul Feeley has condemned proposals to further increase the contribution from those in need of long-term nursing care as a a further and unjust tax on vulnerable people. The percentage annual contribution of 7.5% which is only caped for three years on the family home and continues on all other assets thereafter may increase under an recent review published by Minister Varadkar and the HSE. ‘It is more than reasonable for people to make a contribution to the cost of long-term care but this huge tax on the assets of the persons is unfair and unreasonable. In particular it sees an effective mortgage placed on family farms and businesses which is not acceptable. When commenced the Fair Deal Scheme had an annual levy of 5% together with 80% of the weekly income, that is now gone to 7.5% and the report published suggests figures in the region of 10% or more. There have been huge delays in the allocation of the Fair Deal Nursing Scheme allocations with the waiting time extending to over 18 weeks just before Christmas of last year leading to very long waiting times in Emergency Departments and the cancelation of elective surgery thus exacerbating waiting lists generally. ‘We need to look again at the Fair Deal Nursing Scheme. This weekend a man walked out of prison with € 1.5 million in his bank account. He had to make no contribution to the cost of his keep in prison, cost of approximately € 65,000 per annum, had he been in longterm nursing care he would have had to pay 80% of his weekly income and up to 7.5% of his capital per annum towards the cost of care. It says something about a society that penalises our old and infirm whilst leaving criminals sitting in our jails at great cost to society, can have fortunes sitting in bank accounts to allow them to resume their lavish lifestyle. ENDS
Small Schools cannot be allowed to close for the sake of a few meters of road – Feeley
Fianna Fail Councillor, John Paul Feeley has called on the Department of Education to use common-sense in the implementation of new requirements to allow two-teachers schools retain their second teacher in 2016. The new regulations state that the schools concerned must have a total enrolment of fifteen and be more than eight kilometres from the next nearest schools.’ ‘This Government have made a sustained attack on small schools in terms of the demand for higher pupil numbers to retain two teachers. This has left many such schools in a very precarious position and rightly the Government have been under pressure to change their position. On the 17th February last the Government announced something of a u-turn in that they reduced the enrolment requirement from 20 to 15 if the schools involved is more than 8km from the next nearest school. I, and the community in Glangevlin were very pleased with this announcement but it now transpires that the Department of Education’s own mapping system has determined that the distance from Curravagh NS to St. Hugh’s NS, Dowra is 7.5kms. The mapping distance can be very strongly contested but even if accepted, no regard is had for the geography of the area, the size of the catchment area and the importance of a community retaining its own identity. The School Principal, Tara McGovern and the Chairperson of the Board of Management, Fr. Charlie O’Gorman have made a formal appeal to the Department of Education to allow the School retain two teachers for the 2015 to 2016 School Year. ‘It is worth noting that Curravagh NS was refurbished in 2010 and that building are of the highest standard. The parents and local community are hugely proud of the School and support the Management and staff in every way. It is at the heart of the community. The catchment area from its farthest reach is 24 kilometres to the school in Blacklion and 18 kilometres to the school in Dowra. Regard must be had to the geography of the area and to the journey which closure would result in for students and parents. Closure would be another serious blow to a area which up to forty years ago had three schools. It would be ridiculous to close this fine school for the sake of a few metres of road and Minister O’Sullivan and her officials must use common sense.’ ENDS Contact: John Paul Feeley (087) 6989304 John Paul Feeley County Councillor Stranamorth Blacklion Co. Cavan Tel. (087) 6989304 Sent from my iPad
Waiting Lists Treble in One year; action needed – Feeley
Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has called for urgent intervention by Government to deal with the Waiting List Crisis. 24,369 people are now waiting more than six months for elective surgery which covers everything from cataract surgery to potentially life-saving cardiac and neurological surgery. ‘There are real people, waiting for life saving treatments and certainly treatments essential to allow a better quality of life such as hip and other orthopaedic surgery. It is clearly unacceptable in the space of twelve months for the number of people waiting for these treatments to treble.’ A waiting list of six months in the internationally recognised figure for adults whilst three months is he recognised target for children. The 2,116 children waiting are included in the overall figure collated by the National Treatment Purchase Fund. ‘There are also huge numbers waiting to get on the waiting lists, people who have been referred to Consultants by their GP, are awaiting diagnostic scans such as MRI and CAT scans. Many are hugely worried about potentially serious diagnosis which could be allayed by these tests being provided promptly.’ Many operations were cancelled at the end of 2014 to keep hospitals within or near budget and at the start of 2015 to try to reduce the numbers in people on trolleys who present as medical emergencies. ‘The reality is that many of those who should be dealt with as elective patients end up presenting as emergencies. Minister Varadkar needs to act to address this crisis. His predecessor essentially destroyed the National Treatment Purchase Fund whilst the failure to deal with the delays in A & E has meant that theatres in many hospitals have lain ideal for a considerable period while patients suffer in their homes. The unrealistic and unsustainable HSE service plan for 2015 will not deal with this situation without ministerial action.’ ENDS