16th May, 2002
Notice
Board
SIMON COVENEY, TD., WRITES
Violent crime has increased significantly. People are more
fearful of being attacked now than ever before. In this Election
campaign locally crime is high on the agenda. ‘I won’t
go into town at night, I wouldn’t feel safe there, I’d
rather socialise closer to home now,’ noted one resident to
on the canvass trail. This reaction is not uncommon, as the fear
of crime is now significant in many areas.
We were promised zero tolerance by Fianna Fail five years ago but
in truth this concept never made the slightest impact. We have to
be tough on crime and make it clear that violence will not be
tolerated. The core elements in Fine Gael’s method of
tackling crime immediately involve Close Circuit TV, increased
policing with a better equipped force, improved late night
transport, a statutory identity card scheme and night courts.
However, for a long-term answer to stem the growth in violent
crime we need to tackle the root causes. We want to expand Youth
Diversion Schemes nation-wide. These schemes are particularly
successful in diverting away from crime young people aged 8 to 16,
who are seen to be at risk of falling into a life of crime. These
schemes currently operate but only on small-scale in particular
locations.
We must provide after-care for young offenders to ensure that
progress made during the process of rehabilitation is not wasted.
We must establish local Consultative Policing Committees. To
tackle local problems effectively, communities need to be able to
influence policing priorities. These committees will allow Gardaí,
local politicians and local youth representatives to meet and
discuss together to decide on the best way to reduce crime.
We must put statutory protections in place for the victims of
crime, including the right for victims to be kept informed of the
progress of an investigation and the right to submit a victim’s
impact statement to the court before sentencing.
We must also reduce the levels of alcohol and drugs consumed
which is a major factor contributing to public disorder.
The issue of street violence and crime needs strong political
leadership as well as energy and commitment by a minister to make
a positive impact. Fine Gael can provide that leadership where
the present Government has failed.
Huge response to Students' Charity efforts
Douglas Community School students have raised almost € 10,000
for charity in the past few weeks. Three different groups
collected for charities of their own choice and the cheques were
presented to the charities at the school today.
One of the fifth year Leaving Cert Vocational Project classes
organised a charity soccer match between staff and pupils and
raised € 1,077 for the Cork University Hospital Sick
Children's Fund. A second LCVP class in fifth year raised €
4,236 by organising a Jump for Joy day for the first and second
year classes and that sum goes to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick
Children in Crumlin. A final sum of € 4,632 was announced
for the Trócaire Lenten Fast, in which 140 students
participated, which goes towards development work in Trócaire's
projects.
All of the fund-raising was done by the students getting
sponsorship from family and neighbours and great credit is due
both to the students themselves and to the classes in the school
who organised the events.
People of Cork - Golf of Chernobyl
The Chernobyl Orphans Fund Golf Classic of 2002
will take place on Thursday 30th May at the Cork Municipal Golf
Club. The cost for a team of three is just € 150 and this
includes lunch. An array of fantastic prizes is on offer
including weekends at 5 Star hotels, green fees at top class Golf
Courses, Televisions etc. Advertising at T Boxes and Greens are
also available at € 100. Interested players are advised to
please contact us with requested time, we are also seeking a
sponsor for the event, we appeal to Cork Business people to call
us at the Chernobyl Office on 021 4307328.
We are presently working with the infants and children at the
Pediatric tuberculosis Hospital in the Chernobyl affected area of
Ukraine. This hospital houses many abandoned children suffering
from TB and also inflicted with many other illnesses. It is our
intention to bring facilities of this hospital into the 21st
Century, with the help of others we can achieve this difficult
task.
As a. result of the constant effect of low doses of radiation,
the number of cases of cancer, mental fatigue, nervous and
psychiatric disease and genetic mutation rises ever year. We must
continue to help those that suffer as result of the Worlds Worst
Nuclear Disaster.
Elena Corcoran Executive Officer of the Chernobyl Orphans Fund
NOTICE BOARD
KILNAGLERY RESIDENTS Litter Clean
Up, Saturday 18th. May. Meet Factory Units (Carters Corner) Bring
Garden Gloves, working clothes advisable. Inquiries Michael
McGloin Tel.021-4372552
Carrigaline I.C.A.
Swimmimg on Thursday mornings with Pauline. Waterarobics on
Friday mornings.
An Grianan
Saturday 18th May. Trip to Grenagh to Ghosts in the Sunshine
Monday 25th worknight in the Day Care Centre @ 8PM Inquiries
4373861
Lace Exhibition
There will be an exhibition of Irish Lace Fans in the Titanic
restaurant in Cobh on Sunday 19th may from 12 noon to 4PM
CURA.
CURA, Cork who are situated in 34, Paul St. provide free
counselling services to any woman experiencing a crisis pregnancy
or anyone effected by it i.e. boyfriend, parents, friends etc. It
is a voluntary service with forty five volunteers who are
specially trained in this area. CU RA's primary objective is to
ensure that any woman who is unhappily pregnant has immediate and
easy access to the help which she needs during her pregnancy, the
birth of the baby and following the birth. The first response
CURA offers is to listen and offer emotional support.
CURA services include a free pregnancy test at its drop in centre.
POST ABORTION COUNSELLING is also available by appointment. Other
services include, accommodation and referral.
The Centre also runs a Schools Awareness Programme. Members of
the team travel throughout the county raising the awareness of
students to the services offered by CURA.
Client’s of CURA will be treated with the utmost
consideration and respect.
ALL OUR SERVICES ARE FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL.
You can reach CURA at our local telephone number 021-4277544 or
on our national Help-line Number 1850 622 626.
Frankfield Petanque Club
Mixed Doubles Boule Competition sponsored by Complete Cuisine and
Loftus engineering takes place on 25th and 26th may at Frankfield
Golf Club Complex. Details 021 454 6008. Spectators and new
members welcome.
Frankfield Flower and Garden Club
Frankfield Flower and Garden Club will host Carla Blake as their
guest on Wednesday may 22nd – 8PM in Grange / Frankfield
Community centre.
Carla will speak on gardening including, the growing of lilies,
clematis, making compost, taking cuttings, etc. She will bring
along slips and examples of what is in bloom in the garden.
The evening will also include the annual decorative and
horticultural show of the club
Members please note our outing is on June 8th. Names are now
being taken.
DOUGLAS LIBRARY
Further Bealtaine events
“Down Memory Lane” with Vera Welcome
An hour of music and nostalgia.
Friday May 17th at 11.00 am. This is open to everyone
Wednesday May 22nd 11.30 am
Patricia Chalmers gives a talk on Tai Chi for older people.
Tai Chi, can perhaps best be thought of as a moving form of yoga
and meditation combined. The aim of Tai Chi is to foster a calm
and tranquil mind based on these exercises. It is easy to learn,
safe and attested by thousands to relieve pain and stiffness of
arthritis.
BATT O'KEEFFE, TD, WRITES
Cork to benefit from health
funding with new A&E Department and Radiotherapy Unit for
Cork University Hospital.
Fianna Fáil has been responsible for the most significant
investment ever in Ireland’s health capital infrastructure.
This investment will bring positive benefits to all sections of
our health services and in particular to Cork.
Cork will benefit from funding which will allow for the
progression of major projects which have been started. These
include the construction, equipping or commissioning of Cork
University Hospital Radiotherapy.
During Fianna Fáil’s term in office well over 500
individual projects throughout the health services have been
initiated ranging from major acute hospitals to minor works at
health facilities. We have provided funding to the Health boards
to support a further range of initiatives in A&E Departments.
This includes planning of a new A&E department at Cork
University hospital.
Among the many significant acute hospital projects at planning
and design stage around the country are Cork university hospital
– maternity Unit and cork university Hospital – A&E
Unit / Day Procedures Unit.
However it is true that our health system has many problems but
these will be addressed. We are the only party showing and
providing the full cost of implementing our promises on health.
In our policy document on heath we are pledging to:
· Build new hospital facilities and hire the doctors, nurses and
other staff required to reduce and permanently end waiting lists
for public patients.
· Invest in primary care, ensuring 24-hour GP cover,
modernisation of facilities and the development of a new model of
integrated primary care teams.
· End the waiting list for disability care places.
· Implement a major programme for developing community nursing.
· Ensure that the reform programme we have laid out is completed
to deliver a high-quality health system for all which delivers
value for money to the taxpayer.
Health is central to the work of FF in government. Since 1997, FF
has provided a record 120% increase in funding for health and
reversed years of historic under investment. Compared to 1997, we
have over 4,000 more doctors, nurses, dentists and paramedics are
delivering care, waiting lists are down 19%, there are almost 4,000
more day, residential and respite care places to help people with
disabilities and their families. There are 500 more nurse
training places and 1700 more nurses have been recruited.
Fianna Fáil has the policies and the funding to ensure that we
have a world-class health service for all.
KATHY SINNOTT WRITES ...
The Creation of an Ombudsman for
the Health Service
So now that it is underway we are being told that solving the
problems within the health service are not as complicated as it
seemed to be in pre-election times………
Is that Sinicism or is that only me? Well I’m sorry but I
have worked and campaigned in this area for over 20 years and I
have seen first hand how non-user friendly our health service is.
The bureaucracy that exists, and which looks likely to be
continued, will never allow our Health Service to become user-friendly.
We all complain that there are not enough beds, there are not
enough specialists and there are not enough………so
on and so on.
However, once again we are being treated to the same litany of
solutions that we are given election after election and as in the
past I have no faith in any of these promises becoming a reality.
Even if we were to elect a government that were to actually
fulfill their election promises, an occurrence as rare as the
dodo, would these promises have any real effect on the Health
Service.
As I have consistently argued the main problem is that the level
of bureaucracy is so immense that it will never allow the service
to work to anywhere near its full potential. And as long as we
allow this situation to continue we will have more and more
people dying in the hallways of our hospitals due to the lack of
beds or the lack of services.
Therefore, I am advocating the creation of an Office of the
Ombudsman with direct responsibility for the Health Service. An
Ombudsman would ensure finally the Health Service would not have
to rely on successive governments whims and fancies when it comes
to the implementation of services and facilities. An Ombudsman
independent of the Government and the Health Boards would have
the power to address the real problems and ensure that effective
solutions would be implemented regardless of personal loyalties.
He / She would also have the ability and the authority to address
complaints in a fair and frank manner, a situation I’m sure
would please those of us that have had the misfortune of having
to battle with the over inflated bureaucracy that exists today.
The History of Douglas by Con Foley
Cork to benefit from health
funding with new A&E Department and Radiotherapy Unit for
Cork University Hospital.Part 85 The “Red and Whites”
The "Red and Whites" was the local name for a small
harrier club whose proper name was the Rochestown and Douglas
Harrier Club as distinct from the Douglas Harriers. Their colours
were red and white - hence the name. Their club room, with the
title over the door is now the Legion of Mary Hall next to the
East Village where Piper's Amusements used to be. The room was
used by St.Columba's Boyst National School as an extra before the
building of the new school in 1965. Dances were held, Wednesday
and Sunday nights from 8 to 10:30 with an extension to 11p.m. on
certain occasions! They had a three piece band with performers
Tom Beale, Jack Beale and Michael Kenneally. Admission was 4p (old
money, one and a half cents new money) on Sunday and 3p on
Wednesday. One prominent member of the club - so I was informed -
was John Manning, well known as a cross country runner.
The Augustinians in Douglas: Inquisition 31st Oct. 4th Jan. 1,
finds that the friars were siezed of one-third part of a
watermill called Ye Upper Mill of Douglas, that William White and
his son, by writing dated 13th of Edward IV, granted to ye
friary, a parcel of land in Shandon, near Cork. Aquisition Oct. 7th
Jac., finds that the said mill was built by the O'Dalies and that
the said lands of Ballibrackey contain by estimation, two acres
and ye same did belong to ye friars.
It is intersting to note that in the 19th century, the White
family, like the friars before them, utilised the water power to
operate a flour mill in the same area. The mill was partially
destroyed by fire in 1858 and production was never resumed.
Next week The land League and Douglas Farmers
