Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has called for the return of
responsibility for Third Level Grants to local authorities after the
disaster of the centralised SUSI System.
Speaking in the light of the huge delays in processing applications
for Third Level Grants which will see many students wait until after
Christmas for payment of their Grants, the Fianna Fáil Councillor has
called for SUSI to be dismantled.
‘We have seen, yet again, Government setting up a centralised
bureaucracy that has failed to deliver, that is inefficient,
ineffective, incompetent and inaccessible. I have attempted to contact
SUSI a number of times and have not received a reply. When these
matters were dealt with by County Councils, officials had a local
knowledge and adopted a practical approach to assessing applications.
All common-sense has gone from the system.’
Students across the country who have applied for the Third Level
Maintenance Grant are facing long waits for much needed grant aid,
people who by definition are not in a position to support themselves
financially, all away from home for the first time. Many of the
families involved are already hard-pressed to meet their existing
financial commitments.
Councillor Feeley, demanding urgent action has said that the Minister
for the Education, Ruairi Quinn TD issuing an apology amounted to
‘Wessel Words.’
‘An apology from the Minister won’t pay the rent, won’t pay the
bus-fare, won’t pay the food bill, and won’t pay the library bill. The
Minister needs to follow the apology up with action and insist that
SUSI gets it act together, puts sensible and practical procedures in
place to get grants approved and payments issued.’
Referring to a case he has dealt with directly, Councillor Feeley
stated that a constituent had been asked to produce her passport and
that of her son to prove citizenship in order to get the Grant. He
stated that it will cost this family over €200 to obtain the Grant
which they need so badly.
‘When these Grant Schemes were administered locally, an applicant and,
I as a public representative could meet a relevant official and ensure
that the matters could be dealt with in a sensible and practical
matter. I am calling that this responsibility be returned to the
County Council. SUSI is another example of how centralising services
has reduced the level of service to the people rather than increase
it,’ concluded Councillor Feeley.
Category Archives: Press Releases
BORDER UPLANDS PROJECT LAUNCH A WELCOME BOOST FOR BURREN GEOPARK WORKS
Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has welcomed the Border
Uplands Project. This programme will be formally launched by at the
Marble Arch Visitors Centre, Marlbank, Co. Fermanagh on the 24th
October 2012 by Minister Arlene Foster and Minister John Perry TD.
‘This funding, in excess of € 800,000 is funded by the INTEREG 4A
Programme with a 25% contribution from the Government of Ireland and
the Northern Executive. This programme will focus on work at the
Marble Arch Visitors Centre and the surrounding area. However, the
bulk of the funding will be spend on an unmanned information point in
the Cavan Burren together with the provision of parking facilities, a
toilet block and marked walks around the most significant site in the
Geopark.’
The work programme agreed for the Burren was concluded by Cavan County
Council and Coillte after careful consideration of the environmental
and archaeological consideration. Planning Permission was granted for
the work in July 2012 under Part VIII of the Planning & Development
Act. It is envisaged that the works will go to public tender in the
coming weeks.
‘The Burren in the key part of the Global Geopark in County Cavan. We
must recognise that after careful re-evaluation of the Geopark
throughout this summer, UNESCO inspectors have continued the
designation of this region as a UNESCO International Geopark for a
further period of four years. This is a huge vote of confidence in the
work done by Cavan County Council working in conjunction with Coillte,
Fermanagh District Council, local communities and land owners and
other stakeholders.’
Concluding, Councillor Feeley noted that in these days the
announcements of funding for projects are welcome good news. These
projects are vital for the future of West Cavan and the surrounding
areas and will build up the tourism product in the region.
CUTS TO BALLLYCONNELL, BAWNBOY AND SWANLINBAR BUS SERVICE HIT OLD AND YOUNG
West Cavan Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has condemned Bus
Eireann’s decision to cease servicing West Cavan as part of the No.30
service linking Donegal and Dublin.
‘For many years as a student in Dublin, I, like many people from West
Cavan availed of this service on a weekly basis and know, all to well
how important the service is to the people of all of West Cavan but in
particular the towns and villages served, Swanlinbar, Bawnboy and
Ballyconnell.’
The decision to terminate the Expressway Service with effect from the
14th October 2012 was announced last week also advised passengers in
Swanlinbar that they could avail of a once weekly service to
Enniskillen and passengers from Ballyconnell that they can now avail
of once weekly service to Cavan Town.
‘This decision, if not reversed is devastating for the communities
involved. The short timeframe from the public announcement to the
implementation and the suggestion that a once weekly service will be
available is insulting in the extreme.’
Emphasising that this service is vital for people with limited access
to private vehicles especially older people and students, the West
Cavan Councillor noted that the service was especially useful and
popular with third level students.
‘Rightly we must highlight the problem of rural isolation. Young
people can be totally dependant on others to get them to college and
to neighbouring towns to meet friends and avail of services. The
removal of this service increased the lack of access for young people
as well as that for older people; both groups are more likely to need
public transport.’
Bus Éireann are in receipt of substantial public subsidies and must
therefore adhere to a public service obligation and Councillor Feeley
has called on the Minster for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD and the
National Transport Authority to intervene to ensure that this service
is maintained.
‘My understanding is that when the Aghalane Road reopened Bus Éireann
diverted some of the Donegal service along the new road via Derrylin
to Enniskillen but also guaranteed that that Swanlinbar, Bawnboy and
Ballyconnell would continue to be serviced. Thos commitments must be
lived up to and I have communicated my feeling and those of the local
communities clear to Department of Transport, to the Office of the
Chief Executive and the Chairperson of the Board of Bus Éireann and
the National Transport Authority.’
KEY WEST CAVAN PROJECTS GET PLANNING APPROVAL
West Cavan Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has welcomed the
approval of work under Part 8 of the Planning & Development
Regulations 2006 for three major West Cavan Projects.
‘At this months meeting of the Council approval was granted to allow
significant work to be completed at the Courthouse, Dowra, the
extension and redevelopment of the Market House, Blacklion and the
provision of an unmanned interpretative centre and other works at
Burren, Blacklion, a key site in the Marble Arch Geopark.’
Because the properties involved are all either owned by the Council or
the projects are heavily supported by Cavan County Council they can
avail of the fast-track planning procedure under the Planning &
Development Act 2000.
‘The work on Dowra Courthouse will restore a building that is the very
key to the Village of Dowra and ensure that the building continues as
a focal point for Dowra. It will involved the demolition of
outbuildings in the courtyard of the building, the construction of a
new equipment store, an internal lift, an external glazed link
corridor at the rear of the building and internal alterations. This
sympathetic programme of work will protect the building whilst
allowing a future productive use of the building. This project is now
proceeding to tender and is the largest project funded in County Cavan
under the Harnessing Natural Resources Project funded by INTEREG under
the auspices of Cavan County Enterprise Fund.’
Highlighting the plans for development at the Burren, Councillor
Feeley noted that this is the key element of the Marble Arch Geopark
in County Cavan.
‘The significance of the Burren is really only becoming clear given
the concentration of megalithic and geological features. The proposed
work, to be funded under the Border Uplands Programme will involve the
construction of an unmanned interpretative centre on the site of an
abandoned farmhouse in Burren Forest, the construction of a number of
marked trails to a verity of access standards, interpretative signage,
improved roadways, enhanced, improved car and bus parking facilities
and the provision of toilet facilities. The Burren site is extremely
sensitive from a visual, historical and ecological point of view. The
careful planning and close cooperation between Coilte Teoranta, the
Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture and other agencies
have allowed these proposals to progress. I congratulate all of those
involved in this important project.’
Finally, Councillor Feeley welcomed the approval of plans for work at
the Market House in Blacklion. This plan in conjunction with Killinagh
Community Council will facilitate the development of the primary
visitors and interpretive facility for the entire Marble Arch Geopark.
This Centre will act as a guide pointing visitors to the Marble Arch
Caves, the Burren and the other site. It provides for an extension to
the present building and other works.
These three projects are of major significant to the local community
and will bring an investment of over € 1.3million to the area in the
short term.