Codd: A Plan to increase the bee population in County Wexford

Cllr Jim Codd has said that he intends to bring local bee keepers, environmentalists, the men’s shed movement and Wexford County Council together to dramatically increase the bee population in County Wexford over the next five years. The Aontu rep said that bees were vital to Irelands agricultural industry and were estimated to be worth €85 million to the economy per annum.

“It’s my intention to bring the expertise of Wexfords bee keepers to the general public,” Cllr Codd said. “We are lucky enough to live in a very rural area. The Rosslare LEA in particular still contains very open countryside and an average of a quarter of an acre per household. We are in an ideal situation to find homes for more bee hives.”

“I have spoken to many people already who are interested in becoming hosts for beehives. What they need is training, which we could deliver through a group of bee experts, and then the physical hives, which we hope to construct with the help of volunteers from the Mens Shed movement.”

“Bees are the most important pollinator of crops and native plant species in Ireland. About one third of our 101 native bee species are facing extinction. This plan would be an immediate positive environmental step and would create a whole new generation of bee keepers.”

Urgent traffic safety measures needed in Bridgetown village

The entry to Bridgetown village from the Mulrankin side is an accident waiting to happen according one Wexford County Councillor. Cllr Jim Codd said that he had been contacted by a number of local businesses and residents who were extremely worried about the speed at which some traffic entered such a built up area.

 “There have already been a number of accidents between the AOH Hall and the bridge in the village, but thankfully none have been too serious,” Cllr Codd said. “Locals believe it’s only a matter of time before this changes and someone is seriously injured or killed however. Traffic calming restrictions have been placed in other parts of the rapidly developed village already but not here.”

“Some drivers enter the village at high speed coming in on the straight and forgetting that there are three roads and a public carpark entrance leading onto this small stretch of road. There is also a housing estate, several businesses and homes. The potential for a serious accident is high.”

 “This is something that has been ignored for a long time despite several locals consistently highlighting the dangers over the past number of years. We cannot wait until a fatal accident to act. This needs to be dealt with as soon as possible, and I intend to work closely with council engineers to ensure it will be.”

Wexford County Councillors should work together for benefit of the Wexford people – Codd

A newly elected Wexford County Councillor has called on his colleagues to avoid power pacts, partisan politics and grand standing on national and international issues, in favour of working together to benefit Wexford. Cllr Jim Codd said he would take no part in council pacts but would work with any member of the council on proposals that would benefit the Wexford people.

 “In the last six months of the old County Council, only 6% of motions concerned the plight of rural Wexford,” Cllr Codd said. “The same amount of time was given to discussing the location of the Eurovision Song Contest. I have as much concerns about international issues as anyone but I was elected as a local Councillor and that is what I intend to be. If you were working in a job and ignoring the parameters to do what you felt motivated by, you wouldn’t be in employment for long.”

 “I oppose the partisan nature of local council politics and the idea of pacts for power in particular. I understand why many reps, particularly independents, might feel insecure enough to join a party in the chamber, but these pacts do not benefit the county and do stop an even distribution of Council grants across the county.”

 “I intend to work with any councillor who puts forward proposals that benefit the Wexford people. I will be pushing motions that I believe will benefit rural Wexford and the people of my LEA. That’s what I was elected to do. For too long, the villages of South Wexford have been ignored by our local government.” 

“Some will accuse me of being a parish pump politician. I have been called worse. If some of these critics had acted positively while elected instead of grandstanding on international issues far beyond their remit, then maybe they would still be sitting in the Council chamber instead of shouting from the sidelines.”

Codd: Wexford County Council should oversee growth of 10,000 native trees in next 5 years

A newly elected rep is endorsing an ambitious plan for Wexford County Council to oversee the growth of 10,000 native trees in the county over the next five years. Cllr Jim Codd said that he felt this was a very necessary measure to help combat our greenhouse gas emissions and prevent massive EU environmental fines.

“I would hope that my new Council colleagues would back a plan to hand out 10,000 native Irish trees free of charge to local groups and individuals who would then plant and care for the trees,” Cllr Codd said. “It’s critical that these are native plants such as Ash, Willow, Alder and Birch, as oppose to the quick grow conifers favoured by the commercial forestry industry. Only 2% of the state is currently covered with native trees.”

“The government's national strategic plan for forestry in Ireland is to expand from 11% to 18% of land area by 2046. According to EU targets, Ireland must reach a greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 30% from 2005 figures by 2030. To do this, we will have to plant a minimum of 15,000 hectares per annum.”

“Most of this will be achieved by Coilltes commercial forestry and grants offers to farmers, but this will not be enough and will feature very little inclusion of native species which are more time consuming to grow. The answer is for the County Council to reach out to concerned individuals, especially those in rural Wexford who on average will live on half acre sites, and offer them these plants for free as well as guidance to grow them properly. Community and Tidy Towns groups already avail of an annual planting grant. This should now be altered to a strictly native tree planting grant.”

“This year Wexford County Council and Gorey Tidy Towns are teaming up with locals in a bid to plant 400 native trees for the Gorey 400 celebrations. This is proof of what can be achieved. I believe that there would be great take up from community groups, sports clubs and schools if our native tree project was rolled out countywide. 10,000 trees in five years might sound like a lot, but it’s very little when we realise the threat of fines we are facing from the EU if we don’t take action.”

Codd wants your views on rural regeneration

A newly elected Wexford County Councillor is planning to travel the Rosslare LEA, holding public think ins and meeting local groups, in an effort to establish a rural regeneration unit in the electoral district. Cllr Jim Codd said that he hoped to hold up to twenty events before the end of the year as part of an initiative to save rural Wexford.

 “Rural Wexford is on its knees,” Cllr Codd said. “Even now, five years after the apparent end of the recession, we are struggling to create real employment, sustainable business and unceasing prospects in our rural villages and communities. I feel one of the problems is a decidedly dire lack of cohesive planning and thinking among the very many different organisations, communities and small businesses that make up our rural sphere.”

 “In the next few months I plan on holding a series of public think ins, encompassing everyone from business people to community activists to farmers to sporting organisations to ordinary citizens, in an effort to create the most efficient model for a rural regeneration unit for this area. This unit would be integral to the establishment of a unified tourism plan for the area, the identification and roll out of sustainability projects and the creation of food co-opts for local growers and suppliers. It would also identify projects that support job creation, entrepreneurship and innovation, such as enterprise hubs and creative hubs.” 

“There is already much we can learn from what is working in our district, such as the rejuvenation of old buildings in Bridgetown for small commercial entities, the creation of walking paths on GAA grounds and the social inclusion offered by story telling groups. What we want is to encourage encourage residential living and sustainable commercial development in villages, utilising old and maybe vacant buildings, the creation of rural based employment and the development of a more coherent and dynamic tourism plan.” 

“The National Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will provide €1 billion in investment over the next 10 years to support the renewal of small towns, villages and outlying rural areas, as part of Project Ireland 2040. The fund will support ambitious, collaborative projects in rural settlements of less than 10,000 people and outlying areas, and will contribute to sustainable rural regeneration. It will also support job creation in rural areas. It’s my hope that a rural regeneration unit in the Rosslare LEA, working with the co-operation of Wexford County Council, could greatly enhance life for everyone in our area.”

Fishermen need to be treated fairly by Tax office – Codd

A newly elected County Councillor has called for greater fairness and common sense in how the Department of Revenue deals with self employed fishermen. Cllr Jim Codd said that some fishermen are suffering huge mental anguish as a result of constantly changing tax regulations.

 “Fishing crews out of Kilmore Quay often work eighteen hour days,” Cllr Codd said. “They are incredibly hard working and operating in often dangerous conditions where ones wits are required. They are not accountants and, spending so much time off shore, find it difficult to handle the paperwork involved.”

 “Many skippers of fishing vessels are classed as self employed despite simply managing someone else’s boat. Despite asking for their tax to be deducted at source for many years, they are still treated the same as a small business owner. Operating under these restrictions while spending most of your time away from land is just not possible.”

 “Recently a series of audits and seemingly harsh treatment of certain skippers by Revenue has left many fishermen in a state of worry. Our fishing communities have already been run into the ground by unrealistic EU quotas and unsympathetic national and local government, and now they are further harassed with penalties and restrictions despite all meeting payment plans to stay compliant.”

 “The easiest way to handle this situation is to deduct tax at source for the fishermen who fall into this category. The alternative is putting many local fishing crews out of business and further damaging the sustainability of communities like Kilmore Quay.”

Codd wants to rebrand rural Wexford

Local Election candidate Jim Codd has said that a serious rebranding of rural Wexford is needed if it’s going to survive. The Rosslare rep plans to organise a new rural regeneration unit to tackle the major afflictions facing our communities.

“I’m told consistently while canvassing that rural Wexford has not been represented by either national or local government,” the Aontu rep said. “Many of the villages across South Wexford have lost their post offices, Garda stations and businesses. Villages like Duncormick, Murrintown and Tomhaggard have been reduced to empty shells of their former selfs. Despite plenty of talk, no efficient effort has been made by Wexfords politicians to save our rural communities.”

“I’m interested in holding meetings across the rural communities of the Rosslare LEA if elected, with a view of establishing a new rural regeneration unit. I would see this group being integral to the establishment of a unified tourism plan for the area, the identification and roll out of sustainability projects and the creation of food co-opts for local growers and suppliers.”

“It’s very important that we can use models that are working as templates such as the seemingly natural growth of small businesses in converted out buildings in Bridgetown or the success of farmers markets. It’s vital that we give young people an opportunity and a reason to stay in rural Wexford while we still have a rural Wexford to stay in.”

Pay our fishermen to collect plastic from sea – Codd

The Aontu Local Election candidate for the Rosslare LEA has called for fishermen from Kilmore Quay and other Irish ports to be paid for collecting plastics while out at sea. Jim Codd said that such a plan might give fishermen a lifeline in the face of extreme economic hardship motivated by unsustainable EU Quotas and the Irish political establishments utter failure to represent them.

 “Wexford fishing vessels are picking up plastic debris in their nets everyday,” Mr Codd said. “The Irish Government had promised to provide funding through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) to provide storage facilities on board Irish fishing vessels and financial incentive to enable our boats to bring this waste home. So far, little has been done to achieve this.”

 “Fishing crews out of Kilmore Quay and other Wexford harbours are suffering incredible financial hardship as a result of unsustainable EU Fishing quotas and our own political establishments utter failure to represent them. Representing fishermen means more than holding public meetings every time that there’s an election. It means fighting their corner and ensuring their survival.”

 “The EMFF funding is also intended for the construction of on-shore facilities and infrastructure for the environmentally friendly disposal of all plastics, waste, ghost fishing gear, etc recovered at sea. These on-shore facilities will also be available for fishermen to dispose of unwanted fishing gear and other items with plastic content.”

"Up to 80% Of marine debris floating off our beautiful coastline is made up of plastics yet not one of our current crop of County Councillors, who claim to be very green when it suits them, have ever brought any plan or proposal before our local government, or approached local fishermen, in order to tackle this crisis.”

Codd: We'll put drivers lessons into Schools

Rosslare LEA candidate Jim Codd has vowed to fight to make Wexford the site of the first Secondary School driving lesson programme. The Aontu rep said that a similar programme to a recent New Zealand pilot project could result in drastic improvements to road safety and insurance prices for younger drivers.

Mr Codd said;

“A recent pilot programme in New Zealand’s Massey University saw the successful rollout of a comprehensive driving programme to 16 year olds in a secondary school environment. The results of the programme were increased road safety among participants, a much higher success rate on participants driving tests and, ultimately, lower insurance quotes for those who had participated. Other key benefits included a boost to teens sense of independence and development as responsible adults, as well as reducing family tensions that can arise when parents are the main driving instructors.”

“At the start of the programme, students studied the road code and did practice online tests to sit their provisional licence. Students who failed any part of their licence were given extra support to re-sit until they passed. During the six months they were required to have a learner licence before they could sit their restricted licence test, they spent time in the school holidays with instructors and mentors who taught them the basics of driving.”

“They then received six one-hour driving lessons from a professional driving instructor throughout the next six months, as well as additional 52 hours practice with mentors (family, friends of family, community volunteers – including retired police officers and business people).” “The benefits of such a programme being rolled out in Ireland would be huge. As it stands many young people struggle to get driving, which often means they can’t get to work or college. Much of this could be cut out if secondary school students were leaving school with a full driving licence. It would lead to an inevitable average reduction in young people’s car insurance and road accidents.”

“This is a project I will fight to see become a reality here and Wexford is the perfect place for a pilot scheme.” 

Codd supports CE supervisors in strike action

Community Employment Supervisors are going on strike tomorrow after being refused legitimate rights to a pension scheme, according to Rosslare LEA election candidate Jim Codd. The Aontu rep has condemned the government’s handling of both scheme participants and CE supervisors.

“Despite obviously being state workers, CE Supervisors are denied their right to a pension because the government has managed to categorise them as community employees,” Mr Codd said. “This is blatant misrepresentation of the situation as clearly CE Supervisors have full time, 39 hour per week jobs while community scheme participants are engaging in what is suppose to be temporary employment with a view to gaining skills that will get them full time employment. It’s obvious that CE Supervisors are job activation officers and should have the same rights to a pension as an intreo employee.”

“I support the CE Supervisors fully in their legitimate strike action to force the government to implement a 2008 Labour Court ruling to grant them a pension scheme. The Minister should meet with the union representing these workers immediately and resolve this issue.”

“An issue arising out of this is that Community Employment schemes were established in the early 1990s at a time of mass unemployment as an emergency, temporary measure. Instead it has now become an industry and the provision of this subsidised cheap employment is vital to a wide range of organisations and community groups. It seems to me that the government is setting out to screw both the CE Supervisors and the Community Employees here.”

Cole: Wexford needs a market to be a market town

Local Election Candidate Elaine Cole has proposed a radical five year plan to revive Wexford as a market town. The Aontu candidate has put forward steps including the establishment of a local online shopping hub co-operative, rates reductions by dramatically reducing rate rebates on vacant commercial premises and the creation of an ‘empty shops network.’

“Wexford people have always been proud of their market town,” Mrs Cole said. “From it’s birth, Wexford has flourishing as a trading point and indeed some of its iconic features, like the Bullring derive from market places. In recent years, the retail apocalypse has taken its toll on the town. High rent and rates, and the detrimental effects of online giants like Amazon have sent family run businesses to the wall.”

“Up until now, our local politicians have said little about the collapse of local family businesses. There’s been no protests to decry the effects of unrestricted online capitalism on local family businesses as the issue is not seemed trendy enough. No one has represented these traders and fought their corner in the council chambers.”

“Wexford needs a dramatic innovative plan to bring back our market town. The next council must use it’s five year term to do everything possible to revive our main street and market areas. I propose lowering commercial rates and reducing the rate rebates on vacant commercial property in the next council budget.”

“There will be plenty of businesses looking to rent property if rent and rates are made sustainable. In the meantime, the establishment of an empty shops network to fill vacant units with social entrepeurship like small markets, theatres and live music venues could dramatically reduce the empty properties around our town and create the community atmosphere around our streets that will allow commerce to thrive.”

“Aontu is also proposing the setting up of local online shopping hubs which would act as trade co-operatives, allowing expertise, tech and discount postage rates to be spread between SMEs in a locality. Aontú will work to establish an online e-commerce platform, providing local businesses an opportunity to compete in the digital age. E- marketplace would put local products and services within a click of a button to consumers across the county and into the global marketplace. A countywide, united approach would ensure it is cost-effective, professional and mobile friendly service for the consumer, while also maximising online traffic for the retailer.”

“We would also like to see Wexford County Council adopt a ‘incubator rent’ model which would allow start ups with a clear business plan subsidised rent relief for a set period. This could be the crucial difference that would keep new small businesses in action long enough to become sustainable.”

“We estimate that Wexford retailers could boost their annual income by up to 500% under these plans. By 2020 Irish consumers will be spending €10 billion online. For our local councillors not to take action and keep their heads buried in the sand knowing these figures, indicates incompetence and unwillingness to serve the small business community and the families and workers they provide for.”

“Austerity didn't work with the country, and it is continuing at local and national level even though the government say its not and say we're out of recession. A decade on and we're seeing austerity measures on Wexford towns main street, in our villages and rural enterprise. That will not lift the town or the county. It prohibits growth and strangles entrepreneurship and development. Austerity needs to be left behind for a local economic model that fosters businesses rather than puts up barriers.” 

Over 5000 Wexford people on hospital waiting lists – Codd

According to the latest statistics, there are now over 5000 Wexford people on hospital waiting lists, spread out between Wexford General, Waterford Regional and several Dublin hospitals. Jim Codd, Aontu rep for Rosslare, has called for emergency measures to utilise all available private beds until the waiting list is cleared back.

“The hospital waiting list crisis has been ongoing for a decade now with no end in sight,” Mr Codd said. “Over 5000 Wexford people are currently stuck on hospital waiting lists. Many are waiting for over a year. There is no doubt that these incredible waiting lists have caused deaths.”

“Aontu believes that all available capacity, every bed and room whether private or public, must be utilised now to deal with the terrible backlogs that have left three quarters of a million citizens on waiting lists. Funding for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) should be front-loaded not randomly rationed year after year so as to eliminate the present unacceptable waiting times for public patients.”

“There is a bureaucratic mess within the HSE. Every government and Health Minister faces an near impossible task to shift deadwood in management who are draining health funding. Opposition parties put motions before their county council’s calling on Ministers to deal with the issue but these are effective for nothing except publicity for the councillors. No one is actually tackling the waiting lists which continue to grow.”

“This is an crisis situation and emergency measures are required. Standing around with placards or putting forward weak council motions have accomplished nothing for the sick and elderly people stuck on hospital lists. It’s done nothing to stop people dying from curable conditions or help their bereaved relatives come to terms with their loss. It’s time to stop playing politics. The problem with our health system lays within the system and it will never be fixed until we are brave enough to acknowledge that and begin to deal with these inefficiencies.” 

64% rise in children seeking psychiatric help in Wexford General A&E

Aontu election candidate Jim Codd has voiced his disgust at the HSE for presiding over a 64% increase in children requiring psychiatric help at Wexford General Hospitals A&E. Mr Codd said that this was proof that the HSEs failure to deal with the CAMHS crisis in Wexford was having catastrophic effects.

“It’s been a year since we've had a full time consultant child psychiatrist in Wexford,” Mr Codd said. “According to the Wexford Mental Health Warriors, who cite government figures, we only have 5.5 CAMHS staff for 80,000 people in South Wexford instead of the government recommended 11 staff for every 50,000. It’s no wonder these young people are showing up at the A&E. There’s no where else to go for help.”

“A 64% rise in five years is startling but the shocking thing is that these numbers will continue to rise unless action is taken. A new CAMHS facility is needed in Wexford immediately or else we will not be able to attract child psychiatrists to our area. Real efforts need to be made to solve this crisis now instead of leaving it off to be a general election issue that the government can win votes with.”

Use of unpaid trial periods of employment is outrageous and illegal – Codd

Businesses advertising jobs with the requirement of carrying out unpaid trial periods are engaged in illegal exploitation of workers, according to a local election candidate. Jim Codd of Aontu said that the use of stipulations demanding unpaid labour ‘up front’ to gain employment represented a new low in Irish employment.

“It’s come to my attention that some employers, mainly in the service industry, demand unpaid labour from potential employees,” Mr Codd said. “This is illegal as the National Minimum Wage Act does not contain any exemption for work trials, and failure to pay the minimum wage is punishable by a fine not exceeding €2,500 or a prison sentence not exceeding six months. The Restaurants Association of Ireland and the Vintners Association have both came out hard against unpaid trials.”

“So desperate is our current labour market, that some young people put a note on their CVs to indicate that they are happy to offer unpaid work in a trial if it helps their chances of getting a job. Even in these situations, any employer taking advantage is clearly exploring the worker and breaking the law.”

“These type of situations shouldn’t exist in a healthy labour market. If our economy was as strong as the government claims, and jobs were as freely available to all, then unpaid trials would not exist. This is a symptom of a much larger issue; a fake economy that has been allowed to develop in the wake of recession and has resulted in 100,000 people in employment living in poverty in this state.” 

Codd launches with pop song

Jim Codd has become the first of this year’s local election candidates in County Wexford to have his own campaign song tailored made for him. “Give Jim Codd the Nod” was unveiled at the Aontu candidates official launch in Rathangan last Saturday night by local band L.I.V.E.L.Y. and their young support base.

 “Two months ago I was marking homework, reading books and fishing in the evenings,” Mr Codd said. “Now I’m trust into political work and even have my own campaign song. It’s more than a little surreal.”

 Mr Codd, a teacher at Bridgetown College, said he was both surprised and humbled by the amount of support he had received over the past few weeks. “I’m meeting people I might have taught twenty years ago and they’re saying they’ll vote for me, that they trust me and that, above all, County Wexford needs radical change. I’m meeting people every single day who are working longer hours but seem to be earning less. The working poor are the forgotten citizens of this Republic. No one speaks up for them.”

 “I took on this task reluctantly because I believed a stand had to be made against the tired, ineffective and manicured politics that had replaced integrity and public spirit over the years. I’m glad I did now because I have met so many former students, people who left my school as hard working, clever and idealistic young people, who are being cheated and worn down by this failed state and our ‘talent contest hopeful’ politicians, who will do only the things that award good publicity and ignore the hard decisions and the needs of ordinary citizens.”

High car insurance premiums are crippling the working poor – Codd

Irish car insurance premiums are still over 30% more expensive on average than they were in 2015 a local election candidate claims. Jim Codd of Aontu says shocking insurance quotes are crippling young people and the working poor and encouraging a culture of uninsured driving.

“Our car insurance industry remains deeply flawed despite government efforts to reform it,” Mr Codd said. “Car premiums are rising, particularly for young drivers and owners of older cars. Many drivers of cars that are over ten years old find it hard to even get an insurance quote, even though their car may have just passed the NCT. The argument that older cars are more likely to be involved in claims based on recorded stats does not hold up as it very obviously fails to acknowledge the great number of older cars on the road and the high number of them being driven by ‘at risk’ categories of drivers.”

“The government’s plan to deal with unsustainable car insurance is to make both premium calculation and details of past claims more transparent. This is nothing short of ineffective bureaucratic shadow boxing and will do little to help people struggling with unaffordable insurance bills.”

“Radical action is required. In Australia, all cars must be registered, which usually comes with a vehicle test similar to the NCT. They are then given state appointed compulsory insurance which covers personal injuries to the driver or third parties. We could adopt this system and, by further developing the NCT and DOE, offer all passed vehicles a basic third party insurance. This would eliminate the uninsured drivers problem and create an unbiased form of base insurance for younger drivers and owners of older cars. Obviously fire and theft, and comprehensive insurance would still be privately purchased.”

“Greater regulations on accident claims must also be introduced. In 2012 strict cut off points were introduced on accident claims in Florida resulting in a drop of 13% on average car insurance premiums over the next two years. Thinking differently is the only way to tackle this crisis. Setting up government sub committees advised by the very insurance companies who are profiteering off the current premiums will do nothing but ensured continuing escalating annual quotes.”

Commercial vacancy rates rebate is counterintuitive – Cole

Over 12% of commercial properties are unused in Wexford town. Local election candidate Elaine Cole says that this figure could be reduced by dramatically lowering the commercial rates rebate in the town, which she claims is counterproductive and a contributing factor to high rates for existing businesses.

 The Aontu rep said; “Owners of commercial sites that remain vacant for a year or more are eligible for a rebate on their rates of up to 85%. This reduces the encouragement for owners to drop high rents to attract tenants. In turn this means that SMEs and start ups struggle to rent property they need while owners can afford to leaves sites empty. This is counterintuitive.”

“Last year our local councillors once again refused to lower the generous rebate and instead are complicit in the recent rise in commercial rates for many businesses across Wexford. A massive lowering of the rebate would have helped the argument to reduce rates on small, struggling businesses.”

“One business owner I met while canvassing had her rates raised by €1400 this year – a 34% increase. To top this, the rates incentive offered to her by the Council to open her business in a vacant premises two years ago has still not been given. Add to this the increase in VAT and the cost of bins which the rates should but do not cover, and we see the burden placed upon small business owners. They are squeezed rather than fostered.”

“If elected, I will strive to work towards the lowering of the rate rebate on vacant sites and a reduction on rates payable on leased premises. This would help rejuvenate Wexford, which in turn will attract more tourism, more footfall and more jobs."

Codd: State wastage is impacting on autistic kids

Qualified teachers are being paid by the government for one on one services with children under the home tuition grant because there is a severe lack of ASD unit space in Wexford. Aontu Rosslare LEA rep Jim Codd has challenged the states wasteful approach to dealing with the 1300 plus waiting list for children to see an occupational therapist in County Wexford.

 “I’ve been a teacher for over two decades in Bridgetown College and I’ve seen first hand the huge difference that ASD unit, SNAs and additional services have made to students over the past few years. These services prevent vulnerable children from disappearing through the cracks in our education system and allow them to open up as confident individuals.”

 “There are over 1300 children stuck on waiting lists to see an occupational therapist in County Wexford at the moment. This is 33 times the national average and a damning indictment of Wexford services.”

 “Some children can’t manage in mainstream classes because of sensory overload or extreme social anxiety. We don’t have enough ASD spaces available across the county. This has led to a situation where qualified teachers are being paid by the government for one on one services with children under the home tuition grant. This is unsustainable and clearly not the most efficient way to handle the huge backlogs in the system.”

 “There is huge wastage in our public service. If this was adequately addressed, funding would become available to help those who are most at risk and end these shameful waiting lists.”

Taghmon eviction must be stopped - Aontu

Jim Codd, an Aontu rep in the Rosslare LEA, has called on the County Council to show compassion and halt the eviction of a young man from his family home in Taghmon. Thomas Fitzgerald faces eviction from his family home on the basis of an antiquated rule from a council tied up in legal jargon, Mr Codd said.

“Thomas Fitzgerald grew up and lived all but one year of his life in number 6 Monastery Avenue,” Mr Codd said. “He stayed nearby after moving out and regularly stayed over night with his parents when they both fell into bad health. Mr Fitzgerald moved back in permanently to care for his mother after the death of his father. He should be given a medal for doing so, not an eviction notice.”

“Mr Fitzgerald informed the County Council of the change of circumstances following the death of his mother. He never missed a rent payment and was the perfect tenant. Yet, because of an antiquated rule, the Council has deemed it fit to evict him from his family home. When challenged on the unfairness of this, they had the audacity to take the high moral ground and claim they couldn’t break the rules because there were 2500 people on the housing list in Wexford. Yet they only bothered building 21 council houses last year!”

“The eviction of Thomas Fitzgerald will mark a new low for our local administration. Throwing people out of their homes is something that the Irish have always opposed. It was a deciding factor in our national struggle and to have compassionate local politicians claim that this is some morally justified act to ease the housing crisis at a time when no real effort is being made to build either social or affordable homes in this county is scandalous.”     

Old Garda Station must be used for benefit of town, not property developers

The sale of the old Garda Station in Wexford town by the OPW would benefit nobody except property developers, according to a local election candidate. Elaine Cole said that statements in today’s edition of the Wexford People suggesting that the building was too far gone to be used for community projects were misleading and biased.

“It’s a thorough disgrace that this public building has been left to lay idle and fall into disrepair,” Mrs Cole said. “It’s easy for Wexford County Councillors to talk about it being utilised now when an election is looming but why didn’t our elected reps ensure that this building was used over the past few years in a time when Wexford people are sleeping rough and it’s estimated that there are 120 homeless people in the locality. Just last week the main charity helping homeless people in the town lost their shop and main source of fundraising due to a disgraceful rates bill imposed by these same council reps.”

“The idea that the old Garda Station can’t be restored and the best solution is for the OPW to sell it off to property developers is disgusting. Other abandoned Garda stations, like the one in Baldwinstown, that have been sold on by the OPW have yielded zero benefits for the people of Wexford. The money disappeared into a public sector black hole while locals were still left with lack of basic services.”

“Why has the old station been left to rot during a local homeless crisis? Why has Wexford County Council been able to increase spending on homeless emergency accommodation by 900% in the last five years? Why did our local reps think that spending over €1 million of taxpayers money on private B&Bs and hotels was a better idea than developing their own emergency hostels in publically own buildings? These questions have to be asked because, despite all the spin and the thin veneer of piety, this Council has effectively stood idly by while a shanty tent town developed around the Wexford and young people inhabited the underside of our bridge.”