Demands for Connemara already in hand by FF
- claim by Minister Ó Cuív
A chara,
I read with great interest a letter from Seosamh 0 Cuaig in your edition
of the 16th July 2004. 1 was particularly fascinated to see how much of his
policy is based on actions already in hand by Fianna Fáil. I will take these
one by one:
|
No more delays is answer to Minister
Dear Editor,
Nothing wrong with that: the aim now should be the full implementation of the policy - no more obfuscation, no more long-fingering, no more reviews of reviews.
Minister Ó Cuív tactfully avoids mentioning that my 15 point plan is also part of the official programme of the Technical Coalition which has the majority on Galway County Council. With friends like these - Fianna Fáil and the Technical Coalition - does Connemara or the Islands have enemies?
I look forward to discussing each of the 15 points face to face with Éamon Ó Cuív at a later date.
I think he misses my point about another road to Galway: I was, of course, referring to a new road to relieve the pressure on Bóthar Chois Fharraige and to open up Ros a' Mhíl harbour, and other points west, to national and international trade.
Connacht Tribune 6-8-2004 |
Seosamh Ó Cuaig le Johnny Bailey (Captaen "An Chapaill" agus Muintir Bhriain (Mairín agus Pete) as Cladhnach ó thús sa bhaile ó Minnesota, ag Féile an Dóilín 2004. Bhíodh Pete ag seoltóireacht sa Tónaí sna daicheadaí.
1. A comprehensive traffic plan for Bóthar Chois Fharraige.
There have been major improvements on this road since 1997 including the
provision of a continuous footpath from Bearna as far as An Tulach in Baile na
hAbhann. As well as that, money has been provided to upgrade junctions at the
head of bóithríní, in joining the Cois Fharraige road. A large part of this work has been funded by the Department
of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. As well as that, work is continuing
on the early delivery of the
Galway outer by-pass, which will join the Cois Fharraige road to the rest of
Bearna. This will have a major
beneficial effect on traffic in this area. Minister Séamus Brennan T.D., has
made it absolutely clear to the NRA that the completion of the Galway to Dublin road from Beama, is of
immediate priority.
2. An immediate start to the planning of a new road from West
Connemara to Galway.
The road from West
Connemara to Galway is the N59. There have been ongoing discussions
between myself and Minister Séamus Brennan T.D., regarding the need for further
funding to be provided to national secondary roads and I am delighted that €2
million has been provided for this road this year.
3. An immediate start to the planning of a public swimming pool and
leisure centre for Connemara.
As a member of Údarás na Gaeltachta, Seosamh Ó Cuaig will be well aware
that there have been plans in place for some considerable time to provide a
major educational, leisure and culture centre in Connemara. My Department have
indicated that they are willing to provide funds for such a centre. There has
been a hold up for some considerable time in relation to the purchase of land
but once this is completed it is intended to go ahead with it. This centre was
always to include a swimming pool.
4. The creation of a cemrtery maintenance fund that will ensure the
proper upkeep of graveyards, including cutting grass on a regular basis.
While welcoming this particular proposal, I would point out that this is
work that could easily be carried out by workers on the new Rural Social
Scheme, recently set up by my Department, subject to agreement between the
various parties.
5. Irrespective of the funds coming from Scéim na mBóithre
Straitéiseacha, the Rosmuc-Cill Chiarán-Carna-Recess Road should receive its
fair share of EU co-financed funding every year.
I fully accept the principle of this, as I have stressed continuously
the importance of the money being provided under the Strategic Roads Initiative
by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs being additional to
normal funding and not being a substitution of same. My department have (sic) stressed
time and time again to the local authorities, the importance of mantaining the
spend in the Gaeltacht areas from EU co-financed funding, and I welcome Seosamh
Ó Cuaig's commitment to ensuring this will happen.
6. The opening of toilets at Trá Chill Mhuirbhí, Inis Mór, during the
extended season.
I welcome this objective, as it is very much in line with investments
made by my Department over the years at Cill Mhuirbhí, particularly the
investment by the Department in the refurbishment of the pier. There is no
doubt that there is a need to ensure the balanced development of Inis Mór and
it was for this reason that my Department have invested in both ends of the
island, including the opening of the bungabhla road, as far as the sea.
7. A new Coiste na nOileán should be formed with more representation
for islanders than was on the previous body.
I welcome this very much and regret that Galway County ~Council did not
have an Islands Committee in recent years. I have encouraged local authorities
to maintain these committees in recent years and welcome the fact that some
did. I particularly welcome the decision by the previous council to
re-establish Coiste na nOileán, which was a very effective vehicle for delivery
when I was a member of Galway County Council.
8. More street lighting in Carna, An Aird Mhóir, Cill Chiaráin, Camus
and on Céibh an Mhaimín.
It is a fact that in recent years, mosty of the village enhancement
carried out in Connemara, has been carried out by schemes under the ageis (sic)
of my Department. It is intended by my Department to continue to provide
funding for village enhancement.
It should be noted that this was a scheme initiated by me as Minister of
State, about six years ago. I would welcome a commitment by Galway Co Council,
that the funding from my Department would be additional and would not be a
substitution of funding by them. Money has already been provided by my
Departmnent for streetlights in Cill Chiaráin and for work on footpaths etc.,
in Camus and Carna.
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.
I am fully committed to this centre, as is, I know, Seosamh Ó Cuaig, who
has promoted it for a long time. The situation at present is that the
responsibility for the provision of interpretive centres, which formally lay
with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, has been
transferred to two Departments, the Department of the Environment, which deals
with capital and policy issues and the Office of Public Works which deals with
ongoing provision of the services at visitor centres. I have had very
productive discussions with the Minister and the Department of Environment
regarding Teach an Phiarsaigh, and I'm at present in contact with OPW and the
Minister of State at that Department regarding same. I will continue to press
that notwithstanding any review of the programme, this important visitor centre
be provided.
10. The County Council should take whatever steps are necessary to
solve the water and sewerage scandal in An Ceathrú Rua.
As Seosamh Ó Cuaig is well aware, work is ongoing in relation to the
regional water scheme for South Connemara which will include An Ceathrú Rua and
also in relation to the sewerage scheme An Ceathrú Rua. The Department of the
Environment and the Minister have made it absolutly clear that funding is
available for both schemes and what remains to be done is for the final stages
of planning and tendering to be completed. Largely thanks to the work of Connie
Ní Fhatharta, huge progress has been made on both schemes since they were
prioritised in her time as ~Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council. I will
continue to press that the department of Environment treat these schemes as
matters of urgency, and I have no doubt that Cllr. Ó Cuaig will also press tgat
Galway Co Council will complete it's part of the work as expeditiously as
possible.
11. Initial steps should be taken towards forming a separate Council
for Conamara with a study of the regionalisation plan of Cork County Council
with immediate consultation with Údarás na Gaeltachta on that matter.
I am absolutely delighted that Seosamh Ó Cuaig has adopted my approach
in relation to this matter, particularly in relation to an examination of the
arrangements of Cork County Council. In relation to Údarás na Gaeltachta, I
have received proposals in relation to the amendment of the Údarás na
Gaeltachta Act from Údarás na Gaeltachta. I intend in the near future to initiate
a public consultation process in relation to possible changes in the Act. I am
firmly of the opinion that one cannot review the structures of Galway County
Council and examine the issue of a possible separate Council for Conamara
without also considering the future role of Údarás na Gaeltachta in the
Gaeltacht areas.
12. The planning and building of Childrens playgrounds.
This year for the first time ever the government have provided direct
funding of €4 million specifically for children's playgrounds. €1.5 million of
this was provided by my Department for RAPID areas with the balance provided by
the Department of Health and Children. The Government is committed to a
comprehensive play policy and will continue to provide funding the same. Of course there is also an onus on
local authorities to provide direct funding for childrens playgrounds. It is
also possible to make progress on this issue through schemes under the ageis of
my Department, such as the Scéimeanna Feabhasúcháin Gaeltachta and CLAR.
13. A determined effort to secure blue flag status for a beach in
Iorras Aithneach (Carna Area).
I welcome this objective by Cllr. Ó Cuaig and would suggest to him that
some funding might be available towards this end from both the Scéim
Feabhasúcháin Gaeltachta and the Scéim CLÁR.
14. Important local public services to be provided in Carna, such as
a library and an office where motor tax etc., can be paid.
I would suggest that the provision of public services in Carna could be
expedited by a joint approach between Galway Co Council and Údarás na
Gaeltachta, similar to that pioneered in An Ceathrú Rua, particularly during
the tenure of Connie Ní Fhatharta as Cathaoirleach of the County.
15. The council will do all in its power to provide up-to-date
facilities at Ros a Mhíl Harbour.
As Seosamh Ó Cuaig knows, the Government recently announced a commitment
of €6 million to be spent in 2004 and 2005 on Ros a Mhíl. I understand the
praparatory work is continuing. The Government are also committed to the
completion of the plan as proposed by my colleague Frank fahey TD when he was
Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, as speedily as possible.
I hope that the above gives a clear outline of the work being done by
the Government already in initiating programmes very much in line with what
Cllr. Ó Cuaig now supports. It is good to see such coherence in policy in
Conamara (sic) between people of differing political persuasions and is
particularly pleasing to me as Minister of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
to know that I have the full support of Cllr. Ó Cuaig in continuing the work I
am doing, and I in particular look forward to his working with my three
colleagues in Connemara, Cllrs. Ní Flatharta, Coneely and Ó Tuairisg to ensure
that the expenditure under the CLAR, Gaeltacht and Islands programmes are
additional and are not used to to substitute for funding that should have come
from the local authority to Connemara anyway.
Is mé, le meas
Éamon Ó Cuív T.D.
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
Connacht Tribune 30-7-2004