Fianna Fail Councillor, John Paul Feeley has been given some reassurance about planed works to bring two of the three public nursing homes in the region into compliance with HIQA requirements.’ ‘The Breffni Care Centre, Ballyconnell is an modern building and the HSE indicate that a design team have been appointed to develop an extension and refurbishment which when completed will deliver 50 HIQA compliant beds. Work is expected to commence in Spring 2016. This is welcome when taken with details in the Sunday Business Post (Sunday 15th February) which indicate that there are ‘ongoing works being undertaken.’ Councillor Feeley noted that as the most modern of the building involved this is the one which should be most easily brought into compliance with the HIQA requirements. He remains very concerned about the other locations. ‘The response I received from the General Manager for Primary Care Services Cavan Monaghan states that ‘works to address the environmental infrastructural challenges…will be completed in June 2015,’ is welcome and the parliamentary reply referred to in the Sunday Business Post indicates merely that ‘plans are being finalised.’ Initially HIQA had indicated that twenty one centres nationally had major compliance issues. The HSE appear to have prepared costed plans for five of these but with a less clear strategy to deal with the other nursing homes involved. ‘Similarly the letter from Minister Varadkar indicates that ‘plans are being finalised’ for Arus Carolan in Mohill. These plans whilst welcome are along way off financial commitments that will see residents and staff provided with the kind of accommodation to which they are entitled.’ Concluding, Councillor Feeley stated that the desire of local and regional management to address these issues is clear, the reality is that the only way that the HIQA standards can be met, our older people and their families given the reassurance that they are entitled to require financial commitment from the HSE and Minister Varadkar. Feeley pointed out that the leaked HSE report stated that € 300 million would be required and that only € 7.3 million was available this year according to the HSE Service Plan. ENDS 
Lisdarn-Breffni-Centres-JP-Feeley-12.02.15.doc
Category Archives: Press Releases
32% drop in Garda Numbers in County Cavan in last 5 years – Feeley
Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has expressed his shock at the reduction in Garda numbers over the past five years in the County Cavan. The numbers revealed by Chief Superintendent, James Sheridan at a meeting of the Cavan Joint Policy Committee (Friday 13th February 2015) of which Councillor Feeley is Chairman. ‘The number of Gardai of Garda and Sergeant rank has fallen over the past five years by about 60 leaving 127 Gardai of those ranks in the County. This reduction of 32% is extraordinary and clearly unacceptable. There had been a huge reduction in the number of Gardai nationally from the high in 2009 of 14,317 of about 15% but the reductions in Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal have been far about those levels in fact almost twice the national figure.’ ‘Part of the rational for the reduction of Garda numbers progress of the Peace Process but in reality the Border is still used by criminal elements be they former subversives or otherwise to evade the law be in terms of drive-offs from filling stations, stealing livestock and equipment or fuel laundering or petrol stretching.’ ‘It is incumbent on all political representatives in the region, particularly the Government TDs to use their set out the situation for the Gardai in this County and the region. People are entitled to a reasonable Garda service and that cannot be done with the ridiculous and unacceptable cut to Garda numbers in Cavan over the past five years.’ ENDS
Government gives Two Thirds of Motor Tax to Irish Water as roads go from bad to worse – Feeley
Fianna Fail Councillor, John Paul Feeley has expressed his shock at the revelation at the Public Accounts Committee (Thursday 5th February 2015) that two thirds of the money collected in Motor Tax in 2014 was given to Irish Water without any service level agreement between the Department of the Environment and Irish Water. ‘It is extraordinary, at a time when the allocation to local and regional roads in Cavan for 2015 is starting off about € 900,000 less than in 2014 that the Government can allocate almost € 265 from the money collected in Road Tax to prop up Irish Water and will in 2016 allocate a further € 316 from Road Tax to them.’ These figures were provided by the Assistant Secretary General of the Department of the Environment, John McCarthy in response to questions from Fianna Fail Deputy, Sean Fleming. when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee. Irish Water is itself excluded from the remit of the Controller and Auditor General and the PAC. McCarthy further confirmed that the money had been paid over without any binding agreement between the Department and Irish Water. ‘Mr McCarthy indicated that Minster Kelly will send a ‘letter of expectation’ to the Chief Executive of Irish Water. It is unbelievable that tax payers hard earned money is being thrown around by this Fine Gael/Labour Government with no legally binding strings attached, the only conditions amount to a belated equivalent of a Letter to Santa.’ Concluding, the Fianna Fail Councillor stated that a time when our local and regional roads are falling into greater disrepair with potholes and poor surfaces becoming almost the norm this latest revelation can only be greeted with amazement. ‘We pay for water through general tax, through subvention from general taxation and now with money much needed for our roads. As a Council we are trying to improve our roads and services and in the wake of the effective abolition of the Community Involvement Scheme and the Local Improvement Scheme failing to meet the demands and expectation of the public we must work with less and less money while the taxpayers money is squandered on a quango that is neither needed or wanted.’ ENDS Contact (087) 6989304 John Paul Feeley County Councillor Stranamorth Blacklion Co. Cavan Tel. (087) 6989304 Sent from my iPad
LAMA Best Heritage Project 2015 Award for Cavan Burren just recognition – Feeley
Fianna Fail Councillor has welcomed the LAMA Best Heritage Project 2015 Award for Cavan Burren. The LAMA awards recognise excellence in Local Government and are awarded to the leading projects in their respective fields across Local Government. ‘The Cavan Burren is hugely successful. The traffic monitors on the site indicate that in 2014 there were between thirty and forty thousand visitors. That is an incredible statistic and is a testament to the huge significance of the site which, thankfully as a result of the leadership of Cavan County Council and the cooperation between the Council, Coillte the local community and the funding agencies has now been opened up for all.’ ‘This award and the number of visitors is recognition of the potential that is here in this region for tourism. There is a need for much greater investment in these and other sites, better signage and a comprehensive marketing strategy.’ Earlier this year a € 916,000 investment in the site transformed access to the key Cavan site in the UNESCO Marble Arch Geopark to all. ‘ A large portion of the 4.245 kilometres of walking trails through the forest are fully accessible for those in wheelchairs or buggies so this site is now ideal for those who have an interest in the archeology and geology of the region, biodiversity, wonderful scenery or simply wanting to ramble off road in safety in a pristine environment.’ Earlier this year the completion of works on foot of an investment of € 916,000 allowed for the provision of an un-manned interpretative building of 160m2 together with a toilet block, carparking for 37 vehicles and 9 minibuses and a turning area and a substantial amount of signage. ‘Funding for this project has been in the making for many years and was brought about as a result of close cooperation between Coilte Teoranta as the owners of the property and Cavan County Council who have reached agreement on a leasing arrangement for part of the site and for the on-going operation of the Cavan Burren. The bulk of the funding has come through the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) as part of the INTERREG IVA Border Uplands Project.’ Highlighting the partnership approach to this project, Councillor Feeley noted the work of the local community through Killinagh Community Council and in particular local historian, Harold Johnston. ‘Back in the 1980’s in a very dark time in a village like Blacklion, Killinagh Community Council and West Cavan Community Council set about the development of the Cavan Way in conjunction Cavan County Council, with a 16 mile walking route from Blacklion to Dowra linking many of the Burren sites to Moneygashel Cashel, the Shannon Pot and onwards to the first village on the Shannon, Dowra. Much has changed since that time. I don’t think anyone realised the full potential of the Cavan Burren at that time. In particular and in more recent years, the work of another local historian, Jim Nolan who has tirelessly gone through the Burren looking at site, seeking out rock-art, evidence of the pre-ice-age coral sea and other parts of the unique geology and archaeology that has built up the case for the huge investment that has now taken place and really given a glimpse of the huge significance of the site.’ The connection of the Cavan Burren with the Marble Arch Caves and a network of other sites in the region to form the first cross border Geopark has brought international recognition to the importance of the site and adding to the UNESCO designation. This designation puts the Cavan Burren and the sister sites on a different level and should form the basis for further investment and provide a catalyst for the development of significant tourism in the region. ‘This investment is, in my view but another step on the way. This project is yet another reason why the development of the old Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties (SLNCR) Railway from Sligo to Enniskillen must be re-opened as a greenway for walking and cycling. The Cavan Burren and many other Geopark sites being easily accessible from that route.’ ‘On a personal level, I am hugely proud to see this project come to conclusion, Having worked closely with the local community and with officials from Cavan County Council, Coilte and elsewhere, I am very proud of the work done by all to bring this about.’ Ends