The Government's decision to axe the Sports Capital Grant is an abuse of National Lottery funds and is legally questionable according to John Duffy, Fine Gael local election candidate for Drumlish.
"The National Lottery was set up to provide funding for sports, charities and the Irish Language. For the Government to simply pocket the Lotto funds is a 'numbers game' that Al Capone would be proud of," said Duffy.
"Many clubs and associations throughout Longford have had to put their plans on hold because of this high-handed decision by Minister Martin Cullen. These schemes provide good local employment at a time when we need to keep people in jobs. Many of the big infrastructure schemes, such as the Dublin underground, will cost billions while providing very few jobs," he added.
Duffy said that local people were being delivered a double whammy. They were losing out on the spending on these schemes and were losing out on the benefits of the projects. He called for the decision to be reversed immediately.
"Fine Gael is investigating whether this decision is legitimate. The National Lottery was set up under legislation and Minister Cullen's decision is of dubious legality. We've been hearing for years that lotto funding is impartial and beyond political control. Now the Minister thinks he can cut lotto spending as he pleases. It's time the Coalition came clean on this," concluded Duffy.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Government party candidates ‘keeping their heads down’
Fianna Fail candidates in the Drumlish electoral area are ducking their responsibility for Government failures in the area. Fine Gael local election candidate John Duffy said that many of the coalition councillors and candidates were trying to pass themselves off as ‘opposition’ candidates.
“What we are seeing is Fianna Fail candidates refusal to take responsibility for Fianna Fail failures. For example, the redevelopment of Moyne Community School is stalled at the design stage. A decision to go ahead would create local jobs and underpin the future of the school. But no local Fianna Fail candidates are prepared to take on their own party and fight for it. Where’s the ‘John McGuinness’ figure around here who is prepared to take on this failed government? They’re keeping their heads down.”
Duffy also called on coalition candidates to opposed the reintroduction of third level fees. He said that fees would discourage young people from continuing in education and encourage emigration.
“Fine Gael has given a commitment that fees will not be introduced. Instead we propose a form of graduate tax where people who benefit from third level qualifications will pay when they can afford it,” said Duffy. “This is the only fair way to proceed. What we need now is for Fianna Fail candidates to put pressure on Batt O’Keeffe to hold off on fees. But they don’t have the backbone.”
“What we are seeing is Fianna Fail candidates refusal to take responsibility for Fianna Fail failures. For example, the redevelopment of Moyne Community School is stalled at the design stage. A decision to go ahead would create local jobs and underpin the future of the school. But no local Fianna Fail candidates are prepared to take on their own party and fight for it. Where’s the ‘John McGuinness’ figure around here who is prepared to take on this failed government? They’re keeping their heads down.”
Duffy also called on coalition candidates to opposed the reintroduction of third level fees. He said that fees would discourage young people from continuing in education and encourage emigration.
“Fine Gael has given a commitment that fees will not be introduced. Instead we propose a form of graduate tax where people who benefit from third level qualifications will pay when they can afford it,” said Duffy. “This is the only fair way to proceed. What we need now is for Fianna Fail candidates to put pressure on Batt O’Keeffe to hold off on fees. But they don’t have the backbone.”
Smear Garda Station vital to the community
Any attempt to close Smear Garda Station will be stoutly resisted by the local community says John Duffy local election candidate for the Drumlish area. Many rural people are already feeling under threat from burglaries and raids in the area and the closure of the station would only increase their sense of insecurity.
“This type of cost-cutting exercise is undermining Ireland’s traditional close relationship between the rural community and the gardai,” he said. “It’s a false economy because it damages the quality of policing in the long-term, something that we will all pay a price for. If people don’t know their local gardai they are less likely to report suspicious activity, for example. Equally, gardai living miles away won’t know what’s happening the local area.”
Smear Garda Station near Aughnacliffe was listed in a media report as being under threat of closure. Duffy pointed out that this type of centralisation was counter to good planning where facilities should be kept local to prevent people commuting to access services.
“It increases costs for local people as well because they have to travel further to have documents signed at the station. What’s the point of designating Aughnacliffe for development and then withdrawing state services?”
“This type of cost-cutting exercise is undermining Ireland’s traditional close relationship between the rural community and the gardai,” he said. “It’s a false economy because it damages the quality of policing in the long-term, something that we will all pay a price for. If people don’t know their local gardai they are less likely to report suspicious activity, for example. Equally, gardai living miles away won’t know what’s happening the local area.”
Smear Garda Station near Aughnacliffe was listed in a media report as being under threat of closure. Duffy pointed out that this type of centralisation was counter to good planning where facilities should be kept local to prevent people commuting to access services.
“It increases costs for local people as well because they have to travel further to have documents signed at the station. What’s the point of designating Aughnacliffe for development and then withdrawing state services?”
Duffy queries legality of forestry cuts
The Government’s decision to cut forestry premia in the recent budget had undermined confidence in state contracts according to John Duffy, Fine Gael local election candidate for Drumlish.
The 8 per cent cuts have been widely criticised as the payments are part of long-term contracts entered into by the state to encourage farmers to plant trees on their land.
“Local farmers entered these understanding in good faith and they have been badly let down by the Government,” said Duffy. “Once land is set aside for forestry, it can’t be used for other purposes. People made decisions to plant trees based on very small margins and now the Government has pulled the rug on them.”
Duffy said that the cuts were of dubious legality, given that the payments are part of a long-term contract. He pointed out that some hasty decisions by ministers have had to be reversed.
“This is typical of the panic thinking of this Government. Why would farmers plant new tracts of land if they can’t have confidence that the state will keep their side of the bargain?”
The 8 per cent cuts have been widely criticised as the payments are part of long-term contracts entered into by the state to encourage farmers to plant trees on their land.
“Local farmers entered these understanding in good faith and they have been badly let down by the Government,” said Duffy. “Once land is set aside for forestry, it can’t be used for other purposes. People made decisions to plant trees based on very small margins and now the Government has pulled the rug on them.”
Duffy said that the cuts were of dubious legality, given that the payments are part of a long-term contract. He pointed out that some hasty decisions by ministers have had to be reversed.
“This is typical of the panic thinking of this Government. Why would farmers plant new tracts of land if they can’t have confidence that the state will keep their side of the bargain?”
Call for traffic calming in Aughnacliffe
Speed limit signs are being ignored in Aughnacliffe and new traffic calming measures are needed now if a serious accident is to be avoided, according to Fine Gael local election candidate John Duffy.
Having been contacted by some concerned local residents, Duffy has called for new safety measures to protect pedestrians and school children, particularly at the southern end of the village.
"The population of Aughnacliffe has increased in recent years and so has the volume of traffic through the village," said Duffy. "But apart from erecting the speed limit signs, very little has been done to improve safety within those speed limits."
Duffy has lobbied James Bannon to put pressure on the county council to draw up plans for traffic calming measures, especially in the vicinity of the junction of the Granard Road, the community centre and the national school.
He also pointed out that footpaths had been promised in the centre of the village but never delivered. "There can't be many towns in Ireland still left with no footpath in the middle of the village and local people really shouldn't have to put up with this," said Duffy. "It's a situation that needs to be remedied post-haste."
Having been contacted by some concerned local residents, Duffy has called for new safety measures to protect pedestrians and school children, particularly at the southern end of the village.
"The population of Aughnacliffe has increased in recent years and so has the volume of traffic through the village," said Duffy. "But apart from erecting the speed limit signs, very little has been done to improve safety within those speed limits."
Duffy has lobbied James Bannon to put pressure on the county council to draw up plans for traffic calming measures, especially in the vicinity of the junction of the Granard Road, the community centre and the national school.
He also pointed out that footpaths had been promised in the centre of the village but never delivered. "There can't be many towns in Ireland still left with no footpath in the middle of the village and local people really shouldn't have to put up with this," said Duffy. "It's a situation that needs to be remedied post-haste."
Vigilance called for in North Longford
There have been a number of 'daylight robberies' recently in the North Longford area and people need to be vigilant, according to John Duffy, Fine Gael local election candidate.
"A number of premises and yards have been robbed while their owners have been away," said Mr Duffy. "People need to up their guard and keep an eye out for any suspicious activity in the area. It's absolutely deplorable that these thieves have become so bare-faced. If anybody knows anything about these robberies or if they suspect that any goods offered for sale might be stolen they should contact the gardai immediately."
Mr Duffy pointed that tools and equipment seem to be the focus of these robberies.
"A number of premises and yards have been robbed while their owners have been away," said Mr Duffy. "People need to up their guard and keep an eye out for any suspicious activity in the area. It's absolutely deplorable that these thieves have become so bare-faced. If anybody knows anything about these robberies or if they suspect that any goods offered for sale might be stolen they should contact the gardai immediately."
Mr Duffy pointed that tools and equipment seem to be the focus of these robberies.
Duffy calls for farm waste payments clarity
Farmers are being put under pressure by the Dept of Agriculture's failure to make payments under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. According to John Duffy, Fine Gael local election candidate, farmers are paying the price for the Department's blunders.
"Minister Brendan Smyth has an obligation to clear up this mess," said Mr Duffy. "It is unbelievable that the Government could make an underestimate of up to e400m in payments due under the scheme. Many farmers have taken out loans to cover the work and it has now emerged that the Department has not made proper provision for these grants."
"It is difficult to see why the final cost of the scheme wasn't estimated accurately as the Department knew how many farmers had applied. Here in north Longford many farmers are now concerned about the mix-up, especially in the current economic climate."
"The IFA have pointed out that around 17,000 farmers across the country are waiting for payment under the scheme, which amounts to half of the farmers who have completed the work. This is simply not good enough."
"Minister Brendan Smyth has an obligation to clear up this mess," said Mr Duffy. "It is unbelievable that the Government could make an underestimate of up to e400m in payments due under the scheme. Many farmers have taken out loans to cover the work and it has now emerged that the Department has not made proper provision for these grants."
"It is difficult to see why the final cost of the scheme wasn't estimated accurately as the Department knew how many farmers had applied. Here in north Longford many farmers are now concerned about the mix-up, especially in the current economic climate."
"The IFA have pointed out that around 17,000 farmers across the country are waiting for payment under the scheme, which amounts to half of the farmers who have completed the work. This is simply not good enough."
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