Disability Cuts

The Government’s decision in the budget to slash income supports for young people with disabilities is direct attack on equality.

People with disabilities have many obstacles to overcome on a daily basis. Entering the jobs market is no different. There are many types of disabilities, therefore the duties that define a job description, are not accessible to all.

People with disabilities living in rural areas have no access to public transport.

During these harsh economic times it is more difficult for people with disabilities to find suitable employment.

There is a loss of independence due to these cuts. This error of judgement should be withdrawn immediately.

16 and 17 year olds will no longer be able to claim Disability Allowance

The  rates of payment for new claimants aged 18 to 21 are being cut from €188 to €100 a week .

The rate for new claimants aged 22 to 24  is being cut from €188 to  €144  a week.

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Hawthorn Avenue: Flooding

That this council alleviate the severe pounding in Hawthorn Avenue which happens on a regular basis.

Reply: Flooding at the entrance to Hawthorn Avenue occurs during periods of heavy rainfall. The gullies at the entrance drain to soak pits which become saturated over the winter months. These gullies need to be piped across the Ballycasheen road to the Flesk River. The estimated cost of this work is €30,000. There is no funding at present for this work.

As the flooding causes difficulties for all the residents of the Estate, Cllr Tom Doherty has requested that this project be made a priority for the 2012 works programme. 

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Countess Grove: footpaths

That this council repair the footpath at the entrance to Countess Grove.

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Killarney Town Council has erected signs at disabled parking bays stating the cost of the fine for parking illegally.


tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Park Right: Disability

National Accessibility Week 2011 will run from the 28^th November to 4^rd December.The week –long campaign will coincide with International Day of people with Disability which is taking place on the 3^rd December.

As in 2010 the accessibility week has been designed with a particular focus on illegal or inconsiderate parking, poor parking behaviour and the difficulties and access issues that are caused by parking on footpaths, blocking entrances etc.  The theme of the week  is “Park Right”

Parking illegally on the footpath effectively forces people with disabilities ,wheelchair users, parents with pushchairs, older people and all pedestrians onto the roadway and into traffic.  The campaign aims to create general awareness of this issue on both a national and local level.

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

School Water Charges

That this Council contact the relevant Department to evaluate the extra cost of education on parents due to water charges.

The Eu, water framework directive should not include schools as a commercial outlet. With each local authority setting different rate, schools in different Counties pay different amounts in water charges.

With conservation measures in place schools should be rewarded under real time education.

With the ever increasing cost of sending children to school the cost of water charges to schools should not increase and at the very least stay static.

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Disability Parking Bays

That this Council erect signposting at disabled parking spaces stating the cost of the fine for parking illegally.

Killarney Town Council is to erect signs at disabled parking bays stating the cost of the fine for parking illegally. Killarney Town Councillor Tom Doherty raised the motion at this month's meeting of the local authority saying that some, show no respect for those with disabilities.

Cllr Tom Doherty has in the past, also called for an increase in the fines but this measure is outside the remit of the town council. Cllr Doherty says unfortunately the signs are an extra cost burden on the council but he feels it is a worthwhile one as Killarney is a tourist town and it's important that it is fully accessible to all.

Cllr Doherty pointed out that 10% of people have a disability and they spend money in Killarney like everyone else.

RADIO KERRY

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Killarney App

That this Council creates an information technology sub committee and (A) to give a update of the Killarney.ie website improvements. (B) To start the process of inviting tenders for an Killarney app ( smart phone application)

A new and improved Killarney.ie website will be up and running in the next few months. The web site should be reviewed on an annual basic to ensure it stays up with the changing pace of technology.

Within four years Sales of smart phones are expected to exceed 300 million and will make up around one quarter of all new phones sold.

With the popularity of smart phones, the use of Apps are now a important feature of any dedicated tourist destination. The process of inviting tenders for a Killarney App needs to be expedited to be ready for the forthcoming year. The Council has now agreed to pass this responsibility on to the twinning and marketing committee.

Information at a touch of a button before and during a vacation is what the modern tourist looks for. Tourist destination Apps have the potential to market our product along with other digital media to increase traveller numbers. Apps are easily searchable, portable and easily personalised. This therefore enables visitors to relay their experiences of Killarney with other potential tourists.

By creating and controlling our own smart phone application, we can offer tourist information about places to stay, eat, night life, placesof interest, festivals and special offers. Also we review information such as correct opening and closing times of facilities. The large travel and trips adviser companies, have already started to move in this direction. Such apps are downloaded easily and can be of little cost or indeed downloaded free by the consumer.

While paper information and guides still have great value, apps provide the discerning visitor with information on the go, up to date and in real time. 
A smart phone application created specifically for Killarney can be used before, during and after a visit to Killarney.

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

State Assets

That this Council contact the relevant authority to give the opportunity to individuals to invest in profitable state assets.  the National Lottery has been included in a list of assets which could be sold by the Government. The McCarthy Report recommended that the granting of a new seven-year licence be the subject of an open competition. The National Lottery is a successful Enterprise. This government’s Economic Management Council will have to think outside the box to keep the lottery in Irish hands and maximum monies going to deserved causes.

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

water service

That this council evaluate the water service provided to commercial business in the Town Centre. Small and medium size business are a integral part of our town centre development plan. Therefore it is vital that this council takes all possible action to ensure supply of this valuable service during peak trading periods

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Advertise Killarney

That this council investigates the possibility of ”product placement”, to advertise Killarney as a tourist destination. This could be incorporated into Irish TV programs such as Fair City and Ros na Rún as examples

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Quality of Life, the heart of our communities.

The duty of a government is the protection of its citizens. The value system that defines us is overshadowed by cold analysis of the unelected, such as “An Bord Snip Nua”. Examples of this are highlighted recently in Gneeveguilla and Shrone. By making cold financial academic decisions, instead of protecting the warmth and wellbeing that defines our communities, does not define true value.

Primary schools could close if they have less than fifty pupils. There is a real danger that this could happen to Shrone national school.  The protection of small rural schools against government policy is a must.

According to the HSE website, “Your Local Health Office is the focus of our community health and personal social services”. The possible loss of the local clinic centre in Gneeveguilla contradicts this statement.

Local services are disappearing. In many townlands local Creameries and local post offices are in the history books. Making decisions far removed from real communities must be challenged. Are these decisions being made by city dwellers that have the advantage of transport and other services at their doorstep? With emigration unfortunately now the norm again, will families have a community to come back to. Local objective planning is needed to give real definition for real people in real communities. All public representatives of all parties have to work locally together in the national interest.

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Suicide prevention

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tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Suicide Prevention

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tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Suicide Awareness

Cllr Tom Doherty requested that Killarney Town Council declare this week, Monday the 21^st of March as “Suicide Awareness Week”.

I presented each of my fellow Councillors with a wristband from the 1life Campaign. This action of wearing the wristbands as public representatives will help us to bring this issue into the public consciousness. The 1life wristbands are available in spar shops nationwide.

“1life” is a dedicated 24 hour freephone national suicide prevention helpline. The number is 1800 24 7 100 or you can text HELP to 51444.

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

meeting Micheal Martin

Fianna Fail have to return to "grassroots" politics

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Safety in the home.

It was resolved on a proposal of  Cllr. Tom Doherty that Killarney town council  would request funding from the department for the provision of fire blankets and fire alarms for our housing stock.

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Killarney Town Council Budget 2011

Local Gov fund: -9% to €1.6 milliom

Total expenditure estimate for 2011: €13.6 million

Rates: 2% reduction

Tourism promotion: €53,000

Economic development and promotion:  €83,000

Refuse charge: no increase

Burial ground acquisition: €500,000

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260

Killarney Pharmacists Seek Planning Ruling

Ireland's planning board is expected to rule shortly on a bid by chemist businesses in Killarney, Co Kerry to overturn acceptance of a major medical centre project as unfair competition.  They are asking An Bord Pleanála to rule on whether the town council's decision to allow a major medical centre into a new multi-storey building, originally planned for office and commercial use, in fact needs new planning permission. The Irish Times has reported that the 105,000sq-ft glass-fronted Reeks Gateway, comprising multi-storey blocks at the northern entrance to Killarney, was built by developers Sundays Well Properties Ltd.  The local company was granted permission in 2004 and it was built at the height of the boom, but was never fully occupied. However, last June most of the town's GP practices, comprising 12 GPs, with the healthcare company Prime Healthcare Group, announced they were to fulfil a long-held ambition of a modern primary healthcare centre.  They said they would take up 50,000sq ft of the Gateway - just under half of the development - at a cost of some €25 million and that move is now nearing completion. However, pharmacists in Killarney have been opposed to the plan, fearing for their livelihoods.  In October, after a submission, Killarney Town Council ruled there was no distinction in the planning between a medical centre and commercial uses of the building and therefore the move to the Gateway centre did not require planning and was exempt. Now agents on behalf of Cormac and Owen Deasy, Park Road Pharmacy, Countess Road, Killarney, have referred the matter to An Bord Pleanála. They say there is "a clear distinction" between commercial and medical uses and that medical centres give rise to different planning issues than commercial office uses. Government policy was also against the co-location of retail pharmacies and medical centres, the pharmacists state.

tomkillarney@yahoo.ie 087 2942260