Wicklow patients are suffering due to the Government generated Health Crisis

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady raised the issue of the crisis in the Health Service during a suspension of standing orders which he requested at this week’s County Council meeting. Last week seen 601 patients lying on hospital trolleys, many of whom are from Wicklow whilst the Health Service catering for Wicklow residents continues to be downgraded.

Speaking after the meeting the Sinn Féin Councillor said "After being contacted by Wicklow residents who had loved ones lying on trolleys in St Vincent's and Nass General Hospitals last week, I felt it was important to raise the current national emergency facing Irish hospitals at council level so action could be taken. Last week 601 patients were lying on trolleys, the largest ever recorded figure. Fine Gael and Labour had promised to bring this practice to an end. James Reilly as Minister for Health in 2013 said that never again would the country see more than 569 people waiting on trolleys in a single day. The sad reality is that this government seem to treat hospitals with the same disdain as they've treated all other vital services and funding that they've slashed as part of their austerity drive”.

Councillor Brady continued “Unfortunately Wicklow has been served appallingly by successive governments when it comes to the provision of vital health services. Unlike many other Counties we never had our own County Hospital, so we essentially have had to rely on neighboring counties. What services we did have in the County have been eroded by successive Governments. Fianna Fáil and the Greens closed down Wicklow District Hospital in 2010 along with 20 beds. They also closed the Orchard Welfare home in Bray with 39 beds and St. Bridget’s ward in St. Columcilles with 23 beds”.

“Fine Gael and Labour closed down the A&E in St. Columcille’s Hospital, adding additional pressure on the already overwhelmed St. Vincent’s Hospital and we have the continued threat to Crooksling, which is in Saggart, but serves the West Wicklow area”.

Cllr Brady went onto say “At the council meeting a motion was passed calling on the Government to immediately reopen St. Bridget’s ward in St. Columcilles to alleviate some of the pressure on the health service. I've also asked for a senior official from the HSE to attend the next council meeting to give an update on the provision of health services within Wicklow and outline what progress has been made if in in relation to the promised new Wicklow District Hospital in Wicklow Town”.

“Prior to the last general election Labour candidates promised us that a new hospital would be built to replace the then recently closed Wicklow District Hospital, they claimed a site had even been identified. Labour are now unfortunately in government and now they need to deliver. There is a national crisis in the health service and patients in Wicklow are suffering, reinstating closed wards and reopening facilities they have shut down will be a starting point in ending the crisis. I await a report that’s been requested and the opportunity to questions a senior Health Service manager at the next council meeting” Concluded Cllr Brady.

Wicklow Sinn Féin Councillors to boycott meeting with Irish Water

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillors are to boycott a meeting with Irish Water on February 2 and urge all other Wicklow Councillors to do likewise.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting of Wicklow County Council Cllr. Brady said "Unfortunately after numerous requests for representatives from Irish Water to attend and answer questions from Councillors at a full council meeting, they have responded by refusing to meet in a public forum, but have said they will hold a number of clinic type meetings behind closed doors with Councillors on February 2”.

Cllr Brady continued “I believe that the refusal of Irish Water officials to meet the democratically elected representatives of the people of Wicklow in a public forum is not just disrespectful to the councillors, but it’s giving a two fingered salute to the public whose taxes were used to establish the monster that is Irish Water”.

“The Sinn Féin team of six Wicklow County Councillors has decided to boycott the meetings with Irish Water. It’s planned that councillors from the five municipal districts will be given 45 minutes per district to put questions to the officials from Irish Water on February 2, they will be held behind closed doors in secret at the council buildings. Sinn Féin will boycott the meetings and we have called on all the other councillors to do likewise”.

Cllr Brady concluded “Irish Water is toxic. It should be scrapped along with the government’s water charges. The planned meetings are an attempt to manipulate councillors into accepting an organisation that has no public credibility. In November Wicklow County Council supported and passed a Sinn Féin motion calling on the government to scrap water charges, halt water metering and to abolish Irish Water. Boycotting the private meetings in February will send a strong message to both the Government and Irish water that it’s not business as usual”. Ends

Eddie Sheehy needs to guarantee nobody will be evicted for non payment of water charges

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has called on the Wicklow County Manager Eddie Sheehy to give guarantees that no council tenants will face eviction if they go in rent arrears due to non payed water charges being added to council tenants rents. This follows confirmation from the County Manager that under new legislation the council may become debit collectors for Irish Water.

Speaking after raising the issue at Mondays council meeting Councillor Brady said "At Mondays council meeting I raised the issue of Wicklow County Council becoming a debit collector for Irish Water, collecting any unpaid water charges from its 4,301 tenants. I have a real concern that struggling tenants may have any unpaid charges added to their rents, possibly pushing them into arrears leading to possible evictions".

Cllr Brady continued "Irish water have said that where a customer goes into arrears for more than 12 months and a late payment has accrued they will advise local authorities that by law they must recover the outstanding amount over a 12-month period. This means that Wicklow County Council will effectively become a debit collector for Irish Water. In Wicklow there are 4,301 council tenants and many aren't in a position to pay water charges and due to their circumstances may already be in arrears with their rent".

Cllr Brady went onto say "Any attempt to add unpaid watercharges to tenants rents will only compound difficulties many are facing and could put their tenancy in jeopardy by going deeper into arrears. At the meeting the County Manager confirmed that these powers have been extended to Irish Water but no further information had been forthcoming".

Cllr Brady concluded "I told the County Manager that it would be totally wrong for Wicklow County Council to do the dirty work for Irish Water by becoming their debit collector. Local authorities should have no role in this issue and Eddie Sheehy must not let the council get embroiled in this that will ultimately damage the relationship between the council and tenants. He must give assurances now to all 4,301 householders in Wicklow who are tenants of the council that they will not face eviction due to these measures. The Sinn Fein team on the council in Wicklow will fight this all the way to stop Wicklow County Council being used by the Government and Irish Water for their dirty work".

Road safety measures needed at the 21 Bends on the Enniskerry Road

The Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District of Bray John Brady has called on the council to put in place further road safety measures on the R117 Enniskerry Road at the 21 bends. This follows a number of crashes into a newly replaced crash barrier at a lethal section of the road. The barrier is on top of a steep embankment over the Glencullen River.

The Cathaoirleach Councillor Brady said "In December a section of crash barrier was replaced at a lethal bend on the Enniskerry Road, it had been badly damaged after a car crashed into it. Since it was replaced at least another three vehicles have crashed into the barrier at the same location, serious damaging it."

Brady continued "This is a lethal section of road and unfortunately there have been a number of fatalities at this location. This is an accident blackspot and the council needs to look at further safety measures at this location. The barrier needs to be immediately replaced because of the damage to it and the fact that the Glencullen River is located on the other side of the barrier down a steep embankment."

"Additional illuminated road signage warning of an accident black spot needs to be looked at as well as the installation of an anti slip road surface at this particular section of road along the R117 other wise know as the 21 bends."

"I have previously raised this issue with the council engineer and intend on following it up until something is done to address the issue. I've also asked for a report from the Gardaí outlining details of reported accidents at this location" concluded Councillor Brady.

Arklow Fianna Fáil Councillor lets the mask slip on coalition with Fine Gael

Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has stated that comments made by Arklow Fianna Fáil County Councillor Pat Fitzgerald regarding going into coalition with Fine Gael after the next election are the reason the electorate don't trust most politicians. His comments are also further evidence that there is no difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and they should stop trying to fool people and merge.

Councillor Brady said "I was surprised but not shocked when I heard the comments from Arklow Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Fitzgerald when he let the mask slip and stated that if the figures stacked up after the next election he believes Fianna Fáil will enter a coalition with Fine Gael and form a Government. His comments certainly call into question the sincerity of statements made by Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin who said that option out was ruled out."

Brady continued "It reminds me of the comments Labour TD Pat Rabbitte made when questioned about promises Labour had made prior to the last election and subsequently broken he said 'Isn't that what you tend to do during an election."

"Fine Gael along with the Labour Party in Government have introduced many austerity polices that have hammered ordinary families. Many of the policies such as water charges were designed by Fianna Fáil, so it comes as no surprise to me that Fianna Fáil Councillors such as Pat Fitzgerald would see Fine Gael as a party they could prop up in Government and enter a coalition with, as in essence they are two sides of the one coin."

Councillor Brady went onto say "We need honesty in politics, not doing and saying things simply to get into power. Councillor Fitzgerald's comments give us a glimpse at how the establishment parties view the electorate and elections. This however doesn't come as a surprise because here in Wicklow Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have for many years carved up control of Wicklow County Council and continuously support each other's policies and budgets."

Cllr Brady concluded "There are no political or policy differences between the conservative parties of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael either at a local or national level. They should stop trying to fool the electorate and merge." Ends

Wicklow County Council has passed a motion calling on the Government to provide the funding to establish a Full-time fire service in Bray

Wicklow County Council has passed a motion calling on the Government to provide the funding to establish a Full-time fire service in Bray. The motion was put forward by Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady at Monday's council meeting where a report on the provision of a Full-time fire service was presented by the Wicklow Chief Fire Officer.

Speaking after the meeting Councillor Brady said "At Mondays meeting a report was given to the council outlining issues relating to the provision of a Full-time fire service in Bray and North Wicklow. I have always believed there is a l need for a Full-time service in Bray and that is backed up by the unfortunate number of fatalities the community of a Bray has experienced due to fires, many of which I believe could have been saved if we had a Full- time service. A lack of funding has always been one of the biggest issues in implementing this service. At the meeting I put forward a motion calling on the Government to give financial assistance to the council to enable it to provide a Full-time service, thankfully this was unanimously supported".

Cllr Brady continued "Unfortunately the report that was presented to the council was in my opinion a flawed one as it didn't take into account all the risks within the town and therefore given a risk designation which is lower than it should be. The large number of nursing homes located within Bray appears to have been overlooked as a risk. The report also failed to take into account the planned expansion of the town with the development of up to 7500 housing units proposed on the Old Fassaroe lands and planning granted for 1200 units on the Old Bray Golf Club lands. The increase in population would greatly increase the risks within the town and the report is not future proofed. If these factors were included it would strengthen the case to the Government for funding".

Brady continued "I've been consistent in my view that the best way to provide a full time service in Bray would be the creation of a National Fire Authority, which was one of the key recommendations in a report carried out in 2002 by Farrell Grant Sparks. This would see the operation and funding of the fire service removed from local authorities and resources deployed on a risk basis. In the report presented to the council on Monday the cost of providing the service in Bray would be €3,350,000 for two full time crews".

The Sinn Fèin councillor and long-time campaigner for improvements in the fire service went onto say "There is no way Wicklow County Council can find €3,350,000 from within its current level of funding without cutting services to other frontline services. In 2007 after the deaths of Bray Firefighters Brian Murray and Mark O'Shaughnessy the Labour Party brought forward a motion in the Dáil calling on the then Fianna Fáil/Green Government to establish a National Fire Authority and to fund a Full-time fire service in Bray. Indeed the then Wicklow Labour TD Liz McManus said it would be simply impossible for the local authority to take on the level of funding required to fund a full time service from within its own resources".

Cllr Brady concluded "Unfortunately not much has changed within the fire service since the deaths of Brian and Mark in 2007, calls are still being vetted to reduce the number of callouts to try weaken the argument for a full time service. We have a flawed report again trying to dilute the case for a better service. However what has changed is the fact that the Labour Party is now in Government and the Minister for the Environment is a Labour one,
Alan Kelly. The motion that I put forward and supported unanimously by the council calls on the Government to now step forward and provide grant assistance to provide a Full-time service in Bray, something they were calling for in 2007. It was felt we needed a full time service in 1984 when the Bray fire station was built to house one, 30 years later with a substantially increased population and it due to increase by at least 10,00 in the next few years, we need that service more than ever".

Tenants may face eviction if Wicklow County Council becomes Debit Collector for Irish Water

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has called on the Wicklow County Manager Eddie Sheehy to give guarantees that no council tenants will face eviction if they go in rent arrears due to non-paid water charges being added to council tenant’s rents. This follows confirmation from the County Manager that under new legislation the council may become debit collectors for Irish Water. Speaking after raising the issue at Monday’s council meeting Councillor Brady said "At Monday’s council meeting I raised the issue of Wicklow County Council becoming a debit collector for Irish Water, collecting any unpaid water charges from its 4,301 tenants. I have a real concern that struggling tenants may have any unpaid charges added to their rents, possibly pushing them into arrears leading to possible evictions". Cllr Brady continued "Irish water have said that where a customer goes into arrears for more than 12 months and a late payment has accrued they will advise local authorities that by law they must recover the outstanding amount over a 12-month period. This means that Wicklow County Council will effectively become a debit collector for Irish Water. In Wicklow there are 4,301council tenants and many aren't in a position to pay water charges and due to their circumstances may already be in arrears with their rent". Cllr Brady went onto say "Any attempt to add unpaid water charges to tenant’s rents will only compound difficulties many are facing and could put their tenancy in jeopardy by going deeper into arrears. At the meeting the County Manager confirmed that these powers have been extended to Irish Water but no further information had been forthcoming". Cllr Brady concluded "I told the County Manager that it would be totally wrong for Wicklow County Council to do the dirty work for Irish Water by becoming their debit collector. Local authorities should have no role in this issue and Eddie Sheehy must not let the council get embroiled in this that will ultimately damage the relationship between the council and tenants. He must give assurances now to all 4,301 householders in Wicklow who are tenants of the council that they will not face eviction due to these measures. The Sinn Fein team on the council in Wicklow will fight this all the way to stop Wicklow County Council being used by the Government and Irish Water for their dirty work".