Monday, August 29, 2011

Council Can Help Reduce Litter in Knocknaheeny- Nugent

Council Can Help Reduce Litter in Knocknaheeny- Nugent

Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent today said Cork City Council could do more to support residents in Knocknaheeny to prevent litter in the area.

Cllr Nugent said:

“The news that Knocknaheeny was identified as a litter blackspot in the Irish Business Against Litter survey is disappointing. It must be borne in mind however that this is the area’s first time to be included in the survey and that as a neighbourhood of the city it is not strictly comparable to towns like Killarney or Cobh.”

“Local people in Knocknaheeny take pride in their area and are willing to do their part to keep it looking well. Evidence of this is the recent community clean-up, in which I was happy to participate.”

“However there are aspects of council policy which do not help. The large number of empty and boarded-up houses in Knocknaheeny is one. As I have pointed out before, these have become dumping grounds which degrade the appearance of the area.”

“The council needs to move faster to allocate these houses to some of the almost 9,000 people on the housing list. It also needs to give more resources to the community warden and the local council staff, who are doing very good work.”

“If the council shows the way, I have no doubt that the local community will rally to make Knocknaheeny litter free.”

For further information contact Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793

Government Must Take Action on Fuel Poverty- Nugent

Government Must Take Action on Fuel Poverty- Nugent

Speaking after the announcement by the ESB that it will be hiking electricity prices by 12% from October, Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent has called on the government to reverse cuts in the gas and electricity allowance for the elderly.

Cllr Nugent said:

“Yesterday’s announcement by the ESB that electricity prices will be going up by 12% in October follows an earlier hike in gas prices of 22%.”

“At the same time as gas and electricity prices are going up, the government is imposing a 19% cut on gas and electricity allowances for elderly people.”

“Fuel poverty contributes to up to 2,000 deaths across Ireland every year. With the prospect of another hard winter ahead, it is vital that elderly people are able to heat their homes.”

“The government should immediately reinstate the full gas and electricity allowances for elderly people. It should also give some relief to hard-pressed householders by reducing VAT on fuel in the next budget.”

For further information contact Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793

Government Must Take Action on Fuel Poverty- Nugent Speaking after the announcement by the ESB that it will be hiking electricity prices by 12% from

Government Must Take Action on Fuel Poverty- Nugent

Speaking after the announcement by the ESB that it will be hiking electricity prices by 12% from October, Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent has called on the government to reverse cuts in the gas and electricity allowance for the elderly.

Cllr Nugent said:

“Yesterday’s announcement by the ESB that electricity prices will be going up by 12% in October follows an earlier hike in gas prices of 22%.”

“At the same time as gas and electricity prices are going up, the government is imposing a 19% cut on gas and electricity allowances for elderly people.”

“Fuel poverty contributes to up to 2,000 deaths across Ireland every year. With the prospect of another hard winter ahead, it is vital that elderly people are able to heat their homes.”

“The government should immediately reinstate the full gas and electricity allowances for elderly people. It should also give some relief to hard-pressed householders by reducing VAT on fuel in the next budget.”

For further information contact Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793

Council Engaged in a Deliberate Campaign of Misinformation – O’Leary

Council Engaged in a Deliberate Campaign of Misinformation – O’Leary

Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary tonight accused council officials of a deliberate campaign of misinformation over the controversial €300,000 revamp of the Lord Mayor’s chambers. He was responding to the council’s statement which claimed members had voted to approve the expenditure.

Cllr O’Leary said:

“Today’s statement by Cork City Council, which claims the elected members voted to endorse the expenditure of €300,000 on the Lord Mayor’s suite at City Hall, is completely untrue. The measure in question was never voted upon, as minutes of the relevant council meeting clearly record.”

“At the council’s meeting on 13th June 2011 the City Manager presented council with a report titled “Update on Capital Expenditure Programme”. One item in this report – alongside an announcement that funds for housing maintenance were to be cut by €700,000 – was the statement that €250,000 had been set aside for improvements to City Hall.”

“I attempted to query the report, only to be ruled out of order on a number of occasions when I sought to have it put to a vote. The meeting was subsequently adjourned for a brief period. No vote was taken on the report, which was simply “noted” by the council. This is clearly recorded in the minutes of the meeting, under item 4, which can be accessed publicly on the council’s website. See http://www.corkcity.ie/services/corporateaffairs/minutesofordinarymeetings/Min.s%20Council%20Meeting%20130611.pdf���

“Since then the expenditure in question has increased to €300,000 – again without any consultation with or vote in the council – and it has transpired that the bulk of the money is to be spent on the Lord Mayor’s suite in the building. Tens of thousands are to be spent on carpets and interior designers for the Mayor and Lady Mayoress, while council tenants have to put up with rising damp and rotting windows.”

“The statement from City Hall is a case of gross and deliberate misinformation. It is bad enough that council officials would sanction an abuse of public money on this scale; it is even worse that they would put out untrue statements in the media in an attempt to justify it.”

For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Manager Challenged on €300,000 Revamp of Lord Mayor’s Chambers- O'Leary

Manager Challenged on €300,000 Revamp of Lord Mayor’s Chambers- O'Leary

Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary has asked the City Manager to explain why the council is planning to spend €300,000 on a revamp of the Lord Mayor’s chambers at City Hall at a time when council services are being cut back.

Cllr O’Leary said: “The City Council is planning to spend €300,000 renovating the Lord Mayor’s and Lady Mayoress’s chambers at City Hall. Together with the €100,000 cost of the Mayor’s salary and expenses, this will make him one of the most expensive office holders in Europe next year.” “At the same time, council services are facing deep cuts. Elderly tenants are being denied basic maintenance to their homes.” “This news comes in the same week that it was revealed how former Fianna Fail ministers, including Cork’s Billy Kelleher, are claiming thousands in ministerial severance payments on top of their Dail pensions.

It seems that some elements of our political class remain completely disconnected from the harsh reality that most people in this country are facing.” “I think the City Manager needs to explain to the people of Cork how an expenditure of €300,000 on the Lord Mayor’s chamber is justifiable at a time when council programmes are being cut back for lack of funds.”

For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Sinn Féin Councillors Support North Main Street Traders

Sinn Féin Councillors Support North Main Street Traders

The leader of the Sinn Féin group on Cork City Council, Cllr Chris O’Leary, has said the council needs to engage urgently with traders on North Main Street about improving access to the area.

Cllr O’Leary said:

“Yesterday I and my colleague Cllr Mick Nugent met with traders in the area who raised a number of issues affecting the street.”

“Ongoing works in the Coal Quay are having a detrimental impact on the area by making it difficult for motorists to access North Main Street or secure parking nearby. This in turn is causing local businesses to suffer.”

“Traders were also concerned that the street is being left behind and is not receiving the investment and attention from the council that other city centre areas, such as Patrick Street and the Coal Quay, have received.”

“They have requested a meeting with council officials, and the Sinn Féin councillors will support their efforts to have these issues addressed. In particular, the local authority needs to look seriously at how it can minimise disruption to traffic and pedestrians resulting from the work at the Coal Quay.”

For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307

Minister Must Intervene to Secure Alternative Carrier- O'Brien

Minister Must Intervene to Secure Alternative Carrier- O'Brien

Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien has called on the Minister for Transport to intervene to secure an alternative carrier to continue the Cork-Dublin air connection after Ryanair’s announcement that it will discontinue flights on the route from 30th October.

Deputy O’Brien said:

“Ryanair’s decision is an extremely disappointing one for Cork. It is vital for the economic development of the city that it has effective transport links and the absence of a direct air link to Dublin will leave a major gap.”

“I believe the Minister for Transport needs to intervene directly to work with the airport to secure an alternative carrier for the route.”

“They must also examine whether, as Ryanair has claimed, the level of charges at Dublin and Cork airports are a disincentive to airlines and what steps can be taken to make Cork airport more competitive.”

For further information contact Deputy Jonathan O’Brien at 085-2133907

Friday, August 5, 2011

“Cash for Gold” Outlets Need Regulation

“Cash for Gold” Outlets Need Regulation

Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent has said the “cash for gold” outlets which have proliferated across the city in recent years are badly in need of regulation, after Sinn Féin representatives received several complaints about their practices.

Cllr Nugent said:

“In recent years dealers offering “cash for gold” have opening across the city. It appears that anybody can open one of these shops, and the sector is completely unregulated.”

“No attempt is made by these dealers to trace the origin of gold and jewellery which is presented to them. Anybody can walk in off the street with gold and walk out again with cash.”

“This creates an obvious opportunity for criminals.”

“In recent weeks a number of complaints have been made to Sinn Féin representatives about these outlets, including by people who have been the victims of crime.”

“There is an urgent need for regulation of “cash for gold” dealerships. Their proprietors should be required to hold a licence, and an obligation should be placed on them to accept gold only where the person offering it for sale can offer reasonable proof that it was legitimately theirs.”

For further information contact Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793