Response from Seosamh Ó Cuaig - 13-7-2004
Published 16-7-2004

The Editor,
Connacht Tribune.

Connemara Area Committee

A chara,

Your headline on the Connemara Notes in last week's issue might give the impression that I intend to go out of my way to destroy the work of the Connemara Area Committee of County Councillors. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is true that I will not compromise on fundamental principles but from my experience of working with Seán Ó Tuairisg and Connie Ní Fhátharta on Údarás na Gaeltachta I do not envisage any "down to the wire" situations arising.

There is one slight cause for concern of course - the fact that Fianna Fáil did not see fit to talk to me when the negotiations were in progress to decide the balance of power in the present Council. In another article in last week's edition Councillor Thomas Mannion is quoted as saying, "There were two councillors we didn't speak to, because we felt their policy was further away from ours and that would pose difficulties." It would be interesting to know which part of my policy they find so objectionable. After all, Fianna Fáil seem to have no difficulty gulping down liberal doses of the bitter medicine of the PDs week in week out.

For the record, here is the policy for Conamara and the Islands I managed to negotiate with my colleagues in the "Technical Coalition."

1. A comprehensive traffic plan for Bóthar Chois Fharraige.

2. An immediate start to the planning of a new road from West Conamara to Galway.

3. An immediate start to the planning of a public swimming pool and leisure centre for Conamara.

4. The creation of a cemetery maintenance fund that will ensure the proper upkeep of graveyards including cutting of grass on a regular basis.

5. Irrespective of the funds coming from Scéim na mBóithre Stráitéiseacha, the Ros Muc - Cill Chiaráin - Carna - Recess Road should receive it's fair share of EU co - financed funding every year.

6. The opening of toilets at Trá Chill Mhuirbhí, Inis Mór, during the extended season.

7. A new Coiste na nOileán should be formed with more representation for islanders than was on the previous body.

8. More street lighting in Carna, An Áird Mhóir, Cill Chiaráin, Camus and on Céibh an Mháimín.

9. The County Council should make every effort to force the Government to fulfill its commitments in relation to the visitor centre at Teach an Phiarsaigh, Ros Muc.

10. The County Council should take whatever steps are necessary to solve the water and sewerage scandal in An Cheathrú Rua.

11. Initial steps should be taken towards forming a separate Council for Conamara with a study of the regionalisation plan of Cork County Council and immediate consultation with Údarás na Gaeltachta on the matter.

12. The planning and building of children's playgrounds. 13. A determined effort to secure blue flag status for a beach in Iorras Aithneach (Carna area).

14. Important local public services to be provided in Carna, such as a library and an office where motor tax etc. can be paid.

15. The Council will do all in it’s power to provide up- to date facilities at Ros a Mhíl Harbour.

News from our Correspondents in your area

Connemara – Conacht Tribune 9-7-2004

Disagreement on local level decision-making at council

THE newly elected Independent Councillor in Connemara, Seosamh Ó Cuaig, has said that he would not be willing to stick with decisions taken by the Connemara Area  Committee of County Councillors, if they did not conform to what he wanted. Councillor Ó Cuaig said that he would go to the “Technical Coalition” in the County Council - made up mostly of East Gaiway Councillors - to amend, or overturn, a decision taken by the Connemara Councillors, if needs be.

While he did not forsee the need for this, he would not rule it out, Councillor Ó Cuaig said.

This would be a major new departure from the tradition that has been established in the Connemara Area Council, since the early nineties. The decision taken by the seven  Councillors west of the Corrib - sometimes on a vote - has, up to now, been supported by the Councillors when it went to the full Council meeting.

The seven members of the new Connemara Area Council will be: Séamus Walsh and Seosamh Ó Cuaig (Independents); Sean Ó Tuairisg, Josie Conneely, Connie Ní Fhátharta (Fianna Fáil), Thomas Welby (Progressive Democrats) and Seán Kyne (Fine Gael).

This week, two Fianna Fáil County Councillors, Josie Conneely and Connie Ní Fhátharta, have said that any strategy to abandon the Connemara Area councillor decisions  could totally undermine the structure of the Area Council, west of the Corrib.

“We wanted this system locally and we fought for it,” Connie Ní Fhátharta said. “We are the elected voice of the people west of the Comb and it would be a bad thing to  weaken this structure which has established a pattern of work, over the years. Indeed, Fine Gael, Independents and Fianna Fáil have made the Connemara Area Council work - despite occasional difficulties - over the years. I do not remember any suggestion being made before that some Councillor would abandon the decision taken here, when we sent  it on for ratification, to the full Council meeting.”

Councillor Josie Conneely said that roadwork programmes came before the Connemara Councillors, and that they could prove a contentious issue. “But I think it is up to us in  Connemara to come to a decision and stick with it, when it comes to roads, town and village plans, or whatever else we can.”

The Area Councils discuss, and vote on, a wide range of issues at local level in County Galway, including spending proposals for roads, town and village plans and other  matters relating to the Councils work. The Area Councils have been in existence for over ten years - the idea was strongly pushed by Carna community development groups in the early nineties,  who suggested that Connemara Councillors should meet regularily to deal with local issues. The then Councillor, Éamon Ó Cuív, was one of the people who strongly pushed for the implementation of the Area Councils on a formal basis in County Galway.

The Connemara Area Council meet fairly regularly and officials and management also take part in the meetings.

Councillor Ó Cuaig said he did not see a contradiction in his willingness to abandon a decision taken by the Connemara Area Committee while, at the same time, campaigning  for a Local Authority for Connemara. “I have put forward my policy and I have made an agreement with the Technical Coalition in Galway County Council”, Councillor Ó Cuaig said, “and I will champion that, even if it would mean breaking with the Connemara Area Council.”