Remarks by UCC President are Arrogant and Elitist
Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien has hit out at remarks by the President of UCC Dr Michael Murphy, who has claimed that widening access to third level has been at the expense of the education provided to top students.
Deputy O’Brien said:
“The remarks by the President of UCC display a breath-taking arrogance and elitism. He appears to see third level education as existing solely to serve what he calls “the top 2% to 5% of performers” and to dismiss those he would consider weaker students from consideration.”
“He claims that efforts to improve access to higher education have led to declining standards and a flight of top students from the country, without providing a shred of evidence to prove his case.”
“The reality is we need to do more to improve access to further education, not less. Currently the participation rate in third level on the Northside is only 7%. Is Dr Murphy saying people from working class areas of the city should be permanently denied the opportunity to go on to third level?”
“There is certainly an increasing pressure on third level education in Ireland, with student numbers rising at the same time as staff numbers are being reduced. But rather than hit out at disadvantaged students for the failures of the education system, Dr Murphy should be laying the blame where it belongs – on government cutbacks.”
“He might also want to look closer to home. With the highest salary of any university president, at €232,151, perhaps he should show leadership by taking a voluntary pay-cut and ploughing the money saved back into the university.”
For further information or comment contact Jonathan O’Brien TD @ 086-0274142
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Cut in Disabled Persons Grant Condemned
Cut in Disabled Persons Grant Condemned
Sinn Féin councillor Fiona Kerins has condemned last night’s decision by Cork City Council to reduce funding for the Disabled Person’s Grant to social housing tenants by 50%.
Cllr Kerins said:
“Last night the council voted to reduce funding for the Disabled Person’s Grant to social housing tenants from €800,000 last year to €400,000 in 2012. This was despite an amendment tabled by Sinn Féin which would have redirected some of the budget currently allocated for plant hire to maintaining the Grant. There is evidence that much of the machinery hired by the council from outside contractors is currently under-utilised. ”
“The Disabled Person’s Grant is a lifeline for many elderly and disabled people in our communities, providing them with financial assistance to adapt their homes in ways that aid mobility and give them a decent standard of living. The council’s decision to impose such a large reduction in the Grant will mean these tenants are denied basic facilities which they need to live with dignity in their homes.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Fiona Kerins @ 085-1091758
Sinn Féin councillor Fiona Kerins has condemned last night’s decision by Cork City Council to reduce funding for the Disabled Person’s Grant to social housing tenants by 50%.
Cllr Kerins said:
“Last night the council voted to reduce funding for the Disabled Person’s Grant to social housing tenants from €800,000 last year to €400,000 in 2012. This was despite an amendment tabled by Sinn Féin which would have redirected some of the budget currently allocated for plant hire to maintaining the Grant. There is evidence that much of the machinery hired by the council from outside contractors is currently under-utilised. ”
“The Disabled Person’s Grant is a lifeline for many elderly and disabled people in our communities, providing them with financial assistance to adapt their homes in ways that aid mobility and give them a decent standard of living. The council’s decision to impose such a large reduction in the Grant will mean these tenants are denied basic facilities which they need to live with dignity in their homes.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Fiona Kerins @ 085-1091758
Councillors Fail to Show Leadership – O’Leary
Councillors Fail to Show Leadership – O’Leary
Councillor Chris O’Leary has accused councillors other parties of failing to show leadership after a series of motions to reduce conference expenses and the Lord Mayors’ salary were voted down at the budget meeting last night.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“Councilors from Labour, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail last night repeatedly voted down motions which would have allocated money to areas such as housing maintenance, estate resurfacing and traffic-calming at the expense of payments to public representatives.”
“Sinn Féin motions that would have seen the Lord Mayors’ salary of €114,200 reduced to €35,000, a moratorium on conference expenses, and the €10,000 payments to chairs of SPCs abolished were all voted down.”
“Despite the fact that councillors from all parties lamented the absence of any provision for estate resurfacing in Cork City next year, they also rejected a motion from my colleague Cllr Thomas Gould which would have reallocated €60,000 from conference expenses – just €10,000 per ward – to deal with the worst cases.”
“This shows an appalling lack of leadership from elected representatives in Cork at a time of deep crisis and hardship for many ordinary households. The councillors have shown that given a straight choice, they prefer to maintain an exorbitant salary for the Lord Mayor, conference expenses and other perks of the job rather than put the money into basic services.”
“In particular, that the Labour Party voted en bloc against every motion to reduce conference expenses speaks volumes about how out of touch that party is with the hardships being experienced by working families in Cork.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Councillor Chris O’Leary has accused councillors other parties of failing to show leadership after a series of motions to reduce conference expenses and the Lord Mayors’ salary were voted down at the budget meeting last night.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“Councilors from Labour, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail last night repeatedly voted down motions which would have allocated money to areas such as housing maintenance, estate resurfacing and traffic-calming at the expense of payments to public representatives.”
“Sinn Féin motions that would have seen the Lord Mayors’ salary of €114,200 reduced to €35,000, a moratorium on conference expenses, and the €10,000 payments to chairs of SPCs abolished were all voted down.”
“Despite the fact that councillors from all parties lamented the absence of any provision for estate resurfacing in Cork City next year, they also rejected a motion from my colleague Cllr Thomas Gould which would have reallocated €60,000 from conference expenses – just €10,000 per ward – to deal with the worst cases.”
“This shows an appalling lack of leadership from elected representatives in Cork at a time of deep crisis and hardship for many ordinary households. The councillors have shown that given a straight choice, they prefer to maintain an exorbitant salary for the Lord Mayor, conference expenses and other perks of the job rather than put the money into basic services.”
“In particular, that the Labour Party voted en bloc against every motion to reduce conference expenses speaks volumes about how out of touch that party is with the hardships being experienced by working families in Cork.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Council Support for Vita Cortex Workers
Council Support for Vita Cortex Workers
Cork City Council last night voted unanimously to back a motion declaring solidarity with workers at Vita Cortex.
The motion – proposed by Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary – called on both NAMA and the Minister for Enterprise to use every effort to secure redundancy payments for the workers.
Speaking afterwards, Cllr O’Leary welcomed the council’s backing for the motion:
“There is huge sympathy among the people of Cork with the plight of these workers, laid off a week before Christmas and left without redundancy payments after years of service.”
“I would like to extend my personal sympathy and solidarity to them in their campaign for justice.”
“Whatever the precise legal form of the relationship between Vita Cortex in Cork and Athlone, there is a moral obligation on the company, NAMA, and the Minister for Enterprise to work together to ensure these workers receive the redundancy payments to which they are entitled.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Cork City Council last night voted unanimously to back a motion declaring solidarity with workers at Vita Cortex.
The motion – proposed by Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary – called on both NAMA and the Minister for Enterprise to use every effort to secure redundancy payments for the workers.
Speaking afterwards, Cllr O’Leary welcomed the council’s backing for the motion:
“There is huge sympathy among the people of Cork with the plight of these workers, laid off a week before Christmas and left without redundancy payments after years of service.”
“I would like to extend my personal sympathy and solidarity to them in their campaign for justice.”
“Whatever the precise legal form of the relationship between Vita Cortex in Cork and Athlone, there is a moral obligation on the company, NAMA, and the Minister for Enterprise to work together to ensure these workers receive the redundancy payments to which they are entitled.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Monday, December 19, 2011
Sinn Féin Councillors to Challenge Budget
Sinn Féin Councillors to Challenge Budget
Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary has said the party will be challenging the council’s budget proposals in a range of areas when they come before tonight’s meeting.
Cllr O’Leary – who is also chair of the council’s finance committee – said:
“Councilors have now been notified that the council’s capital programme for 2012-2013 is under review and parts of it may be shelved due to reductions in government funding. This is an alarming development which has serious implications for the authority’s ability to deliver services in the future.”
“We are already facing cuts of up to €12 million in current expenditure, which will hit areas such as housing maintenance, road resurfacing, and the disabled person’s grant.”
“Sinn Féin has identified alternative areas where savings could be made, including expenditure on plant hire, fuel and the rent of office spaces around the city which are currently lying idle. Frontline services should be cut only when every other alternative has been exhausted, and I am not convinced the council has looked at all the other options for savings.”
“We will also be proposing that the Lord Mayors’ salary of €114,200 should be reduced to €35,000, and that there should be a moratorium on conference expenses. This would save €220,000 – but equally importantly it is a way for elected representatives to show leadership and demonstrate solidarity with those who are suffering hardship due to the current economic crisis.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary has said the party will be challenging the council’s budget proposals in a range of areas when they come before tonight’s meeting.
Cllr O’Leary – who is also chair of the council’s finance committee – said:
“Councilors have now been notified that the council’s capital programme for 2012-2013 is under review and parts of it may be shelved due to reductions in government funding. This is an alarming development which has serious implications for the authority’s ability to deliver services in the future.”
“We are already facing cuts of up to €12 million in current expenditure, which will hit areas such as housing maintenance, road resurfacing, and the disabled person’s grant.”
“Sinn Féin has identified alternative areas where savings could be made, including expenditure on plant hire, fuel and the rent of office spaces around the city which are currently lying idle. Frontline services should be cut only when every other alternative has been exhausted, and I am not convinced the council has looked at all the other options for savings.”
“We will also be proposing that the Lord Mayors’ salary of €114,200 should be reduced to €35,000, and that there should be a moratorium on conference expenses. This would save €220,000 – but equally importantly it is a way for elected representatives to show leadership and demonstrate solidarity with those who are suffering hardship due to the current economic crisis.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Friday, December 16, 2011
Sinn Féin to Resist Cut in Disabled Persons' Grant-Kerins
Sinn Féin to Resist Cut in Disabled Persons' Grant-Kerins
Sinn Féin councillor Fiona Kerins has criticised proposals by Cork City Council to reduce funding for the Disabled Person’s Grant to social housing tenants by 50%.
Cllr Kerins said:
“The Disabled Person’s Grant is a lifeline for many elderly and disabled people in our communities, providing them with financial assistance to adapt their homes in ways that aid mobility and give them a decent standard of living.”
“In the draft budget, the council is proposing to reduce the funds available for the Disabled Person’s Grant to social housing tenants from €800,000 last year to €400,000 in 2012.”
“This is a massive reduction which will mean elderly and disabled tenants being denied basic facilities which they need to live with dignity in their homes.”
“The proposed cut must be reversed. It is scandalous that the council should be proposing to spend €114,000 on the Lord Mayor’s salary and €145,000 on conference fees while some of the most vulnerable people in our city are treated in this way.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Fiona Kerins @ 085-1091758
Sinn Féin councillor Fiona Kerins has criticised proposals by Cork City Council to reduce funding for the Disabled Person’s Grant to social housing tenants by 50%.
Cllr Kerins said:
“The Disabled Person’s Grant is a lifeline for many elderly and disabled people in our communities, providing them with financial assistance to adapt their homes in ways that aid mobility and give them a decent standard of living.”
“In the draft budget, the council is proposing to reduce the funds available for the Disabled Person’s Grant to social housing tenants from €800,000 last year to €400,000 in 2012.”
“This is a massive reduction which will mean elderly and disabled tenants being denied basic facilities which they need to live with dignity in their homes.”
“The proposed cut must be reversed. It is scandalous that the council should be proposing to spend €114,000 on the Lord Mayor’s salary and €145,000 on conference fees while some of the most vulnerable people in our city are treated in this way.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Fiona Kerins @ 085-1091758
Council Must Move Faster to Grit Roads-Nugent
Council Must Move Faster to Grit Roads-Nugent
Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent has criticised the slow response by Cork City Council to this morning’s icy road conditions and said it raises questions over how much the council has improved its preparedness after last year’s freezing weather.
Cllr Nugent said:
“As part of the new winter emergency plan introduced after last year’s cold weather, councillors are now getting a daily weather update. But the council has done something as basic as to get gritting trucks out on roads around the city after last night’s freezing temperatures.”
“Many roads and footpaths are extremely treacherous, particularly in areas of the Northside and off the main routes. I have received numerous phone-calls from constituents about the conditions.”
“However, there is little sign of council teams out gritting the roads. Surely after the experience of the last two winters the council should be prepared to move immediately in response to freezing conditions?”
“It is also important, with the weekend coming up, that the council makes roads and paths across the city safe today, and does not wait until Monday.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793
Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent has criticised the slow response by Cork City Council to this morning’s icy road conditions and said it raises questions over how much the council has improved its preparedness after last year’s freezing weather.
Cllr Nugent said:
“As part of the new winter emergency plan introduced after last year’s cold weather, councillors are now getting a daily weather update. But the council has done something as basic as to get gritting trucks out on roads around the city after last night’s freezing temperatures.”
“Many roads and footpaths are extremely treacherous, particularly in areas of the Northside and off the main routes. I have received numerous phone-calls from constituents about the conditions.”
“However, there is little sign of council teams out gritting the roads. Surely after the experience of the last two winters the council should be prepared to move immediately in response to freezing conditions?”
“It is also important, with the weekend coming up, that the council makes roads and paths across the city safe today, and does not wait until Monday.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793
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