Government attempts to brush the healthcare crisis under the carpet in Budget 2016 - Cllr John Brady

Sinn Fein’s Wicklow General Election candidate Cllr John Brady has said that the government has attempted to brush the healthcare crisis under the carpet in Budget 2016. He stated that the measures introduced by the Fine Gael and Labour Party government do very little to improve frontline and equality of access to health services.

Councillor Brady added that the lack of vision Budget 2016 will only compound the problems faced by patients in Wicklow which followed from the closure of the A&E department in St Columcille's hospital and the consequent overcrowding at St. Vincent's Hospital.

He said;

"The Government has attempted to brush the healthcare crisis under the carpet with the measures introduced in Budget 2016. They have gone for a headline-grabbing measure by extending free GP Care to children under the age of twelve. Any extension to this scheme should have been done on the basis of income and medical need.

"We have to remember that this government promised to extend free GP care to the entire population, starting with the holders of long term illness cards. They have long abandoned this commitment to those with chronic illness and disability.

"Instead of investing in improving frontline delivery and improving equality of access in our hospitals and A&E departments, this government has decided to only invest a paltry €18 million in our health system. This is an astonishing decision when you consider the scale of the overcrowding crisis and the fact that so many people have to wait years before they can access vital treatments and procedures.

"It is clear that the problems faced by the people of Wicklow, in the area of healthcare, will only be compounded by the lack of vision in Budget 2016.

"In their first three budgets Fine Gael and Labour cut €2.5b from the health budget. In 2013 they also closed the A&E department in St. Columcille’s hospital. 21,000 patients annually used that critical service. It was vital service for the people of Wicklow. These patients have been forced upon the already overwhelmed St. Vincent's Hospital, where the nurses are currently engaged in a work to rule due to their concerns about patient safety and the trolley crisis there.

"There is nothing in this budget to address the crisis in our hospitals. There is only an additional €18m new health spend after demographics and a pay restoration.

"Sinn Féin would have allocated an additional €383m for healthcare. This would provide for 1900 new positions within the system and gone some way to addressing the unequal, two-tier delivery of healthcare in this state.”

Wicklow TDs helped create crisis in St. Vincents Hospital

Speaking in response to the crises at Saint Vincents Hospital Emergency department where nursing staff have initiated a work to rule protest; Sinn Fein Councillor and candidate for Wicklow in the upcoming general election John Brady has said the dispute is a direct consequence of the closure of emergency services at Saint Columcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown.

“The nursing staff at St Vincents have taken this action due to the hospital’s failure to provide extra staff to care for overcrowding in the emergency department, and concern over the difficulty to provide the best possible care to their patients in such circumstances. They are under immense pressure with as many as 100 patients crammed into an area that is designed to care for just 18. Trolley numbers at St Vincents are up by almost 140 % in comparison to the same period last year. This reflects the problem nationally where hundreds of people are left on trolleys waiting on treatment along corridors in emergency units all over the state. I fully commend and support the nurses who have taken this action out of concern for patient safety.”

Councillor Brady went on to say that the consequences of closing the emergency department at St Columcille’s Loughlinstown are now being played out in the corridors of St Vincents:

“At the time Sinn Fein fiercely objected to the closure of services at St Columcilles. However all 5 Wicklow TD’s; Stephen Donnelly, Anne Ferris, Simon Harris, Billy Timmins and Andrew Doyle supported the move back in 2013. In fact, Billy Timmins was quoted as saying that he fully believed the ‘public will see an improvement’ within two or three years. He was wrong. Simon Harris at the time said he accepted that Wicklow was the ‘poor relation’ of the HSE and called for better primary care and ambulance services for the area. Four years in government and he has not lifted a finger to deliver the very services he accepted were necessary. As a result we now have a crisis in the emergency department of one of the largest hospitals in the state. Had St Columcille’s service been upgraded and kept open as Sinn Fein argued for, St Vincents would have far fewer patients on trolleys and nursing staff would not be forced into taking the action they have embarked on. ”

In conclusion Councillor Brady called on Local TD Simon Harris to appeal to Health Minister Leo Varadker to intervene in the dispute:

“The closure of St Columcille’s emergency department was as a result of another broken promise courtesy of the Labour Party. Now that St Vincents is suffering the effects, I would plead with Wicklow TD and Minister of State Simon Harris to intercede on behalf of the patients and staff, and call on Health Minister Leo Varadker to immediately address the staffing and financial crisis at the hospital.”

Wicklow Sinn Féin Councillor welcomes the Abandonment of Eirgrid Pylon Project

Wicklow Sinn Fein Councillor Welcomes Abandonment of Eirgrid Pylon Project

Responding to the announcement that Eirgrid have abandoned plans to construct a string of pylons across the Irish countryside; Sinn Fein candidate for Wicklow in the upcoming general election John Brady has hailed the decision as a victory for all those groups and individuals across South West Wicklow who opposed the plan from its inception:

“Sinn Fein along with community groups from across South West Wicklow opposed the plans from the outset. The €500 million Grid Link Project had proposed to develop an overhead 400kv power line linking the electricity transmission networks in Leinster and Munster. The Stage 1 Report for the project had identified a number of route corridor options for the proposed overhead power line. There was however huge concern and opposition in South West Wicklow as the D1 and D2 routes pass through the County adjacent to Carnew, Shillelagh and Baltinglass. This would have resulted in massive unsightly pylons cut through some of the most scenic parts of Wicklow. Sinn Fein called on the government to launch an independent commission to look into the possibility of an underground option.”

Councillor Brady went on to say that the real heroes today are the community groups that stood fast against the plans:

“Sinn Fein stood with thousands of groups and concerned citizens all over the country in objection to the project; dozens of demonstrations, meetings and letter writing campaigns have led to Eirgrid’s sensible decision to abandon plans to construct the cable carrying pylons and opt to upgrade the existing grid structure instead.”

In conclusion Councillor Brady said that Sinn Fein is fully behind the development of Irish Infrastructure:

“Sinn Fein fully supports Ireland meeting its renewable energy targets, we believe that Ireland should be energy independent and we are also in favour of developing green and clean power. It is crucially important that Ireland’s infrastructure - on every level – is constantly reviewed and improved. However, Sinn Fein will always reasonably oppose projects that might damage the natural architecture of our landscape, affect the quality of life of Irish citizens or ignore the genuine concerns of local communities; particularly when appropriate alternatives are available; as has been the case with the Eirgrid Pylon Plan from the outset. The question has to be asked however, how much public money has been wasted before this plan was scraped.”

Sinn Féin Alternative Budget will centre on fair taxation and delivering for ordinary people - Cllr John Brady

Sinn Féin Alternative Budget will centre on fair taxation and delivering for ordinary people - Cllr John Brady

Sinn Féin's Wicklow General Election candidate Cllr John Brady has welcomed the launch of the party's alternative budget proposals and stressed that the plan is centred on the principles of fair taxation, investment in public services and improving frontline deliver.

Councillor Brady stated that tax payers will benefit from the fair and progressive nature of Sinn Féin plans.

He said;

"Sinn Féin has put forward tax proposals that are about delivering fairness and putting money back in the pockets of ordinary people in Wicklow.

"We will put between €600 and €2,000, depending on their wage and personal circumstances, back into the pockets of average citizens by scrapping water charges, the tax on the family home and by taking minimum wage workers out of the USC net. These are progressive measures that are about ensuring that ordinary families feel the recovery in real terms.

"Sinn Féin is looking to end the regressive and deeply unfair approach to taxation in this state. We don't think that is unreasonable to ask people earning over €100,000 to contribute an additional 7 cent out of every euro on income over €100,000.

"These are the kind of measures we need to implement if we are to deliver first class public services from which everybody in the state will benefit. Therefore, we believe that those who can pay a little extra should.

"In many ways the differences between the tax proposals of Sinn Féin and those of the government reflect the choice the people have to make at the election. Our proposals meet the €1.5b adjustment but we are fully investing the money in public services while the government is intending to implement a 50/50 spilt between tax cuts and spending, the majority of which will be used to service the Landsdowne Road Agreement.

"To support the government's proposals means to endorse an approach built on the chronic underfunding of our schools, hospitals and housing provision. It will mean a continuation and worsening of overcrowding in our A&Es and the ballooning of housing waiting lists. The consequences for lives of people and for society and general have been well documented over the last number of years.

"Sinn Féin is aiming to pocket money back into the pockets of ordinary people and ensure that everybody has access to quality healthcare, education and housing.

"These Sinn Féin's proposals demonstrate that an alternative is possible."

Brady calls on Council to take action on their expensive Pigeon Loft on Eglinton Road, Bray

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor and General Election candidate John Brady has called on Wicklow County council to take immediate action in securing, refurbishing and putting to good use 3 large vacant residential properties that they are owners of on Eglinton Road in Bray. The only purpose they are currently serving is as an expensive pigeon loft. The properties were part of the land portfolio put together by Ballymore Properties for the Florentine Development in Bray. The entire portfolio, including the three large houses, was purchased by Bray Town Council for €1.95m in December 2013.

Speaking after a recent Municipal District meeting were Councillor Brady raised the issue of the vacant, derelict properties; the Sinn Féin Councillor said “At our Municipal meeting I raised the issue of the three vacant residential properties on Eglinton Road that the council are owners of. These properties are listed buildings and have been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair that they are dangerous and an complete eyesore. At a time when we have a housing crisis, for the council to have boarded up like properties such as this is an absolute disgrace.”

“The properties were originally purchased by Ballymore Properties, mainly for the large rear gardens which boarded the Florentine site. When the council purchased the entire Florentine site in 2013 the residential properties were included in the sale. It is hoped that plans for the development of the Florentine shopping centre will be in place in the next month or two. However the actual houses will not be part of that development. In response to a question I put to the Manager about what plans are in place for the houses, he stated that only when the Florentine Centre is developed will he start looking at putting in place a plan and making a proposal to the Councillors.”

Cllr Brady went onto say “I think that the responses to my questions about these properties are absolutely disgraceful and shows a complete disregard towards the people of Bray and the housing crisis that exists. Anyone that knows the history of the Florentine site knows that it has taken 20 years to get to this point; it will take a few more before any development is completed there. We can’t wait until then before something is done with these properties, action needs to happen immediately.”

Councillor Brady concluded by saying “Not only are these valuable protected structures that the council owns in a prime town centre location, they are opposite a public Library and beside businesses, they are dangerous and a complete eyesore. A plan needs to be put in place now to secure, make them safe and ultimately refurbish them so they can be put to use trying to tackle the housing crisis that exists. The only purpose they are currently serving is as an expensive pigeon loft.”

Closure of Garda Stations in Hollywood and Donard saves just €8,000 per annum while costing communities their security - Cllr John Brady

Closure of Garda Stations in Hollywood and Donard saves just €8,000 per annum while costing communities their security - Cllr John Brady


Sinn Féin General Election candidate Cllr John Brady has issued a stinging criticism of the Fine Gael and Labour Party government for jeopardising the safety of communities in West Wicklow in order to save a measly €8,000 per annum.

Garda stations in Hollywood and Donard were closed by the government in 2013. A response to a Parliamentary Question, submitted by Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Padráig MacLochlainn, now shows that the state only saved €4,000 per annum from the closure of each station.

Councillor Brady said;

“Figures from earlier this year, for the Baltinglass District where the two Garda stations were closed, show there was an increase of 50% in aggravated burglaries and a 41% increase in theft/unauthorised taking of vehicles since the closures. This has resulted in people living in rural Wicklow feeling more isolated and vulnerable. It is incredible such a state of vulnerability has been created in order to save a measly €8,000 per annum.

“It is clear that misguided decisions to close Garda stations in order to make small savings to the exchequer merely increase the opportunity for criminal activity and add to the uncertainty and fear that the citizens in this state are already experiencing under seven years of austerity.

“Minister Fitzgerald has also stated that objective the of closures wasn't cost savings but to allow for the ‘more efficient and effective deployment of resources’. It is very difficult to reconcile that justification with the fact that the closure these Garda Stations left people in our towns and village feeling far from safe. Many communities feel extremely vulnerable given the rise in crime in rural Ireland.

How can this be the outcome if the government is claiming that it is using policing resources more effectively and efficiently?

“The people of this constituency deserve first class public services. This means a fully resourced policing service and it means keeping our Garda stations open.

“We need to get Garda numbers back over the 14,000. That must be a priority in the forthcoming budget.”


QUESTION NO: 654

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)

by Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

for WRITTEN on Tuesday, 22nd September, 2015.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the total savings to her Department resulting from the closure of Garda stations from 2011 to 2015..


- Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

REPLY.

The formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations is a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner in the context of annual policing plans, as provided for in section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

The Garda District and Station Rationalisation Programme was implemented in An Garda Síochána during 2012 and 2013. The primary objective of the programme was to identify opportunities to introduce strategic reforms to enhance service delivery, increase efficiency and streamline practices within the organisation. In its review of the Garda Station Network that informed the rationalisation programme, Garda management concluded in relation to certain stations that Garda resources could be better deployed and more effectively used on the front line if those stations no longer had to be staffed and maintained. In reaching these conclusions, Garda management reviewed all aspects of An Garda Síochána's policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the overall operation of Garda stations.

The Garda authorities advise me that policing services in all areas continue to be provided as required through the revised structures. In addition, the centralisation of services will facilitate the introduction of enhanced patrolling systems that will be operational and intelligence led. This patrol system will ensure that a high visibility and community oriented policing service continues to be delivered throughout the country and will yield the following benefits:

Increased Garda visibility and patrol hours

Increased mobility and flexibility within an area resulting in an improved policing service to the public

Enhanced co-ordination of Garda activity resulting in a greater visibility and presence in the communities

More effective use of limited resources across a wider area

Continued Garda presence in communities

An Garda Síochána is committed to providing the best possible policing service to the people of Ireland within the resources available. An Garda Síochána regularly reviews and assesses the capabilities and the deployment of Garda resources to provide a policing service that meets the needs of the community.

The ability of the organisation to contribute to Public Safety. Public Service and Community Protection remains the foremost consideration of An Garda Síochána.

The estimated savings on utilities and maintenance as a result of the closure of each station building is approximately €4,000 per annum. The closure of 139 Garda Stations has resulted in an estimated total saving to the state of €556,000 per annum. However, as I have stated, the key objective involved when closing Garda stations was to promote the more efficient and effective deployment of resources rather than to secure modest cash savings.

Empty Dáil Seats an Insult to the People of Wicklow/East Carlow

Speaking in response to revelations that Wicklow TDs are failing to attend Dail sittings for crucial votes; Sinn Fein Councillor and candidate in the upcoming general election John Brady has hit out at what he sees as a shocking disregard for Wicklow/East Carlow constituents.

“Billy Timmins of Renua and Labour’s Anne Ferris should hang their heads in shame. At a time when the country has been struggling to cope with the tragedy of Fine Gael and Labours Austerity, resulting in soaring housing lists, chaos in hospital corridors and heart-breaking homelessness; it seems our Wicklow TDs are either bored with their jobs or so out of touch with reality, they are incapable of appreciating their privileged position. What other employer would tolerate such a brass demonstration of contempt from their employees? Billy Timmins has the worst attendance of the Wicklow TD’s, he has missed 81.1% of the votes in the Dáil this year. The second biggest offender is Labour’s Anne Ferris, who has missed 70.9% of all votes.”

Councillor Brady continued by pointing out how these TD’s are paid employees of the Irish people and are not giving value for money:
“It is now generally accepted that the Country is in the grip of a health, homeless and housing crisis which has reached ‘National Emergency’ status. The indifference shown by our local representatives is nothing short of stunning. Dail TD’s are paid tens of thousands of Euros in basic pay and expenses, far in excess of what most people could ever dream of earning. Despite this our local Wicklow representatives don’t even have the courtesy to show up to work and do the job the people have elected them to do.”

Councillor Brady concluded by saying “Since 2011 Anne Ferris has received € 569,623.57 in pay and expenses. The Labour TD was recently involved in controversy after claiming an additional €16,000 a year for travelling ‘the long way to the Dáil’, despite her massive pay and expenses she has missed 70.9% of the votes in the Dáil this year. Meanwhile Renua TD Billy Timmins has received €542,460.50 since 2011, yet missed a staggering 81.1% of the votes. I think the electorate are justified in asking what exactly are these TDs doing in the Dáil if they are not participating in important Dáil debates and votes.”

Brady urges Councillors to support campaign to develop a Skate Park in Bray

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has called on Bray Municipal District Councillors to support the campaign to get a Skate Park in Bray and commit to identifying a site so it can be constructed as swiftly as possible, to meet the needs of the large numbers of Skaters in the locality.

Speaking on the campaign, Councillor Brady said “There are huge numbers of Skaters in the Bray area and they have come together under the banner of the Bray Skaters Association with the sole purpose of getting a skate park developed in Bray. I’ve been working closely with the group and fully support the campaign. We have identified a funding source and we now need the support of the Bray Municipal District councillors to identify and agree a site so the project can move forward.”

“Following my request a delegation from the skaters is due to address the next council meeting in Bray. I hope that the other councillors in the Bray District also pledge their support to this campaign and commit themselves to identifying a site for the new Skate Park. There are a number of successful Skate Parks across the County and Bray is the largest urban area that hasn’t got one.”

Brady concluded “There is a huge demand for a Skate Park; unfortunately the skaters are constantly getting moved by council staff and Gardaí from locations that they meet to skate. Young people don’t all have the same interests, so it’s important that there are choices for them to ensure that they have some positive activity to engage in. Recently a skate jam was held on Bray seafront and up to 60 skaters took part, this highlighted the scale of the demand for a skate park in the town. In the past skaters in Bray had been given false hope, this time with the support of all councillors we can turn this into a reality.”

Decision to increase Property Tax in Wicklow by 15% will hit struggling families

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor and General Election candidate John Brady has stated that the decision to increase the Property Tax rate in Wicklow by 15% will hit low and middle income families across Wicklow hardest and impact detrimentally on the economy of Wicklow. Assurances were given by the Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly that Wicklow was one of six local Authorities that could cut the tax by the maximum of 15% without it impacting on local core services.

Speaking after the meeting the Sinn Féin Councillor said “The Labour Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly has given assurances that Wicklow was one of six local authorities that could cut the Local Property Tax by the full 15% which is allowed under the legislation without it impacting on local core services. Having received those assurances, Sinn Féin put forward a proposal to maintain the cut of 15% that had been agreed by the majority of the council last year. Unfortunately the Sinn Féin proposal was defeated by 22 votes to 8, with 2 councillors abstaining. A Fine Gael proposal to increase last year’s property tax rate by 15% was unfortunately supported by Fianna Fáil and a large number of Independents.”

Councillor Brady went onto explain the impact that the decision to increase the tax will have on families across Wicklow “The unfortunate decision to increase the Property Tax in Wicklow will hit struggling low and middle income families right across Wicklow, and potentially push them closer to homelessness. There were 120 house repossessions listed for Wicklow Circuit Court before the summer recess and a further 255 active bills for repossession. This increase in the unjust Property Tax will push many other families in debit, mortgage arrears and compound the financial difficulties they are experiencing.”

“The vast majority of people in Wicklow aren’t witnessing any recovery. The decision by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independent pact to increase the tax by 15% will suck a further €2,493,096 from the Wicklow economy which is still on its knees due to government cuts and increased taxes. Over €30 billion was taken out of the Irish economy by the austerity policies of Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail over the last 8 years.”

The Sinn Fein Councillor concluded “The Government duped the people on the Local Property Tax. The purpose of Local Property Tax is not about the funding of local services. The reality is that the local property tax is a tax that was created to aid the process of diverting finances from central government away from the funding of locals councils to the supporting of toxic banks. Sinn Féin remains opposed to this tax which is proving a complicated, regressive and insufficient way of funding our local democracies. Last year the majority of councillors in Wicklow supported a Sinn Féin motion opposing the Property Tax and called on the Government to provide adequate funding to council to provide critical services. Even though the majority of councillors in Wicklow appear to be speaking out of both sides of their mouth on the tax, Sinn Féin in government will abolish the property tax.”

Homeless Crises is now a National Emergency and a National Disgrace

Speaking in response to comments made by the President of Focus Ireland, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy; the Sinn Fein candidate for Wicklow/East Carlow in the upcoming general election Councillor John Brady has said it is time for government to accelerate plans to build social housing.

“The situation is spiralling out of control in front of our very eyes. The numbers of homeless or those imminently at risk including families and children has rocketed over the last three years. According to Focus Ireland the number of people registering for help has increased from 8,000 in 2012 to 11,500 last year. By June of this year they registered 8,000 people in trouble meaning by the end of 2015 the situation could possibly become unmanageable”

Councillor Brady went on to say that the issue of providing social housing units has been ignored by successive governments:
“ We had years of Fianna Fail governments during the Celtic Tiger squandering public money with not a penny invested in social housing, over the last four years we have had a Fine Gael Labour coalition enforcing an austerity agenda pushing more and more people onto the housing waiting lists and rendering many families homeless and helpless. Ironically, rather than invest in housing this government have instead preferred to spend millions of tax payer’s money housing people in unsuitable accommodation including expensive hotel rooms. As a result the situation has become a national emergency. According to Sir Stanislaus Speaking on RTE radio last week, Focus Ireland warned this government as far back as 2012 that the crisis was rapidly deepening, but it is clear the government paid little attention to the warning.”

Councillor Brady pointed out some harsh consequences as a result of government inaction:
“The numbers of people who are now affected by homelessness is not just a national emergency, it is a national disgrace. The numbers represent real people and we should be careful that we do not allow the statistics to render us unfeeling. Parents are distraught, children are suffering and an entire cohort of our population are crushed under the weight of despair and self-loathing. There needs to be an immediate freeze on rents and an increase in rent supplement if we are to stop the numbers rising further.”

Councillor Brady pointed out that back in 2014 Sinn Fein published a plan that would have kicked started a serious attempt to deal with the issue:
“At that time we asked for an immediate injection of one billion euro to be made available to address the issue. Instead the government in the subsequent budget decided to reduce the tax burden on the wealthiest by half a million Euro. Sinn Fein also believes that Local authorities should be given the tools whereby they can raise the finances necessary to provide adequate social housing in their respective areas. Moreover, the number of houses made available as social housing units by private developers should be increased. The government should immediately release funding as a matter of urgency, they managed to find a way to waste almost one Billion Euro on Irish Water but they cannot seem to find the cash to provide homes for its citizens. As Sr Stanislaus has pointed out ‘Government policies are causing people to be homeless’. It is way past time that government listened to appeals from organisations who have worked tirelessly for decades helping homeless people in this country such as Focus Ireland. Despite the upcoming election, it is not too late to start listening now.”

Wicklow Councillors are being blackmailed by the Government not to cut the Local Property Tax by 15%

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor and General Election candidate John Brady has labelled the Local Property Tax as undemocratic and a Government tool being used to further starve local authorities of critical core funding which is needed to carry out essential functions. Wicklow County Council is to meet on Monday 28th September to set the Local Property Tax Rate for 2016. Under the legislation Local Authorities may vary the basic rate of the Local Property Tax within its own area by a maximum of 15%.

Speaking ahead of the council meeting Councillor Brady said “Wicklow County Council will meet on Monday 28th September to set the Property Tax rate for 2016. However figures that have been produced show that the level of funding available to the council will be substantially down on previous years and that the General Purpose Grant from the government of €6.8m is far too low and is not sufficient to cover the council’s core services. As a result council officials are being left having to rely on the 15% discretionary funding in the LPT to try fund core services”.

Cllr Brady continued “In the coming year the council will need and extra €1.6m just to maintain its current level of services. Already officials are asking councillors not to reduce the LPT by the 15% as it’s needed to maintain services. Sinn Féin have opposed the Property Tax from the outset, we have said that if we receive a mandate after the next election to form a new government we will abolish the unfair tax. Under the legislation Local Authorities may vary the basic rate of the Local Property Tax within its own area by a maximum of 15%. This means that Wicklow County Council can either increase or decrease the rate of the Local Property Tax in Co Wicklow in 2016 by 15% of the 2014 rate. Prior to the local elections Wicklow Sinn Féin committed to reducing the tax by the full 15% allowed”.

Councillor Brady further explains where the funding problem is “The main problem is the gross under funding of Wicklow County Council by the Government. Wicklow only receives €6.8m government funding from the General Purpose Grant. This is in contrast to the €17.5m received by Mayo in 2015 or the €22.7m Donegal got, not only are we the poor relations here, we also have to hand over 20% of all Property Tax money collected in Wicklow to an equalisation fund to help other counties. At a council meeting this week I proposed that the 5 Wicklow TDs be contacted and asked to attend a meeting with the councillors to discuss the under funding of the council and to make the case for Wicklow at a national level, for additional government funding from the General Purpose Grant. The populations of Wicklow and Mayo are similar, however there’s a massive difference is government funding levels. We have 3 Government TDs in Wicklow, why are they so silent on the under funding of Wicklow? And why aren’t they making a business case for Wicklow to have the grant increased?”

Brady was critical of the lack of consultation with the public in setting the rate for 2016; he called the process totally undemocratic “The Property Tax legislation provides for public consultation in setting the annual rate for the LPT. Unfortunately the council merely carried out a box ticking exercise by sticking an ad in the back of one of the local papers at the height of the summer holidays. Unsurprisingly the council only received two submissions, 1 in favour of cutting the rate by 15% and 1 looking to retain it without any reductions. Public representatives weren’t even informed that the consultation process was being held. I believe the failure to carry out a meaningful consultation process is fundamentally undemocratic, carried out by senior council officials who don’t want the public demanding the full 15% reduction”.

The Sinn Féin Councillor concluded “The people of Wicklow and across the state have been sold a pup with the Property Tax; they were promised properly funded local authorities with beautiful parks, playgrounds and many, many other greatly enhanced services due to the additional taxes going to fund them. Unfortunately what we have here in Wicklow is a council struggling to balance its books, and a council that is trying to force the hand of its councillors into not reducing the LPT by 15% because it needs it to pay for core services. I for one will not be blackmailed; I gave a commitment to the electorate to cut the LPT by the full 15%. If there is a cut to core services it’s because of the governments under funding of Wicklow County Council and not a decision to cut discretionary funding in an attempt to put some money back into the pockets of hard hit families that have been squeezed by Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil over the last 8 years”.

Outrage as Bus Eireann plans to cut bus stops at Barndarrig, Jack Whites and the Beehive

Wicklow Sinn Féin General Election candidate John Brady and Arklow District Councillor Mary McDonald have expressed serious concerns about the future of the Bus Eireann service that stops at Lil Doyles, the Beehive and Jack Whites. These stops were discontinued in December 2012 after Bus Eireann revised its timetable, however after a campaign by locals the stops were reinstated in 2013. Service users have now been informed again that from 27 September the stops will only be served by one stop in each direction every day.

Speaking on the impact to the local communities Councillor Brady said “I have been contacted by many service users from the Barndarrig, Brittas Bay area’s who are incensed that their public transport is again facing the chop. Rural public services have been decimated over the last few years and locals have had to fight hard to retain the vital Bus Eireann service they have. Bus Eireann has again dealt a blow to the communities around Lil Doyles, the Beehive and Jack Whites that rely on the service to get to Arklow, Wexford or into Dublin by moving to cut their service”.

Sinn Féin Arklow District Councillor Mary McDonald said “There is real anger again in the community by the fact that no public consultation has taken place. Bus Eireann is aware of the anger that was generated in 2012 when they first attempted to remove the service. Public pressure forced them into a u turn then and the anger that exists now must be channeled into a focused campaign to retain the service”.

Cllr Brady concluded “Having one pick up in the morning at these stops and one drop off in the evening services no purpose. This will impact detrimentally on the many people who rely on this critical service. It’s simply not feasible or practical for the communities that live in these areas to have to make their way into Arklow or Wicklow Town to be able to access public transport. Sinn Féin have contacted Bus Eireann and demanded that these stops would be retained, we have also organised a petition for the community to sign and let their views be know”

Vacant Premises Incentive Scheme and other measures to be introduced by Bray Municipal District to help the retail industry

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has welcomed plans that have been developed by Bray Municipal District to help lift the retail industry in Bray and Enniskerry. The plan will see a number of measures being put in place to try helping increase footfall and attract new retailers to set up in Bray and Enniskerry.

Speaking after the council meeting Councillor Brady said “I’m delighted that a number of proactive measures have been agreed and are to be progressed to try help Bray re-establish itself as a major retail town. Bray is currently at a crossroads; unfortunately we have lost a large number of retailers in the recent past including Smyth’s. We have however attracted other retailers to establish in Bray and this has to be welcomed. What we need is a good mix of retail which will attract a higher footfall in the town which will help the many struggling retailers. The council is introducing a number of measures to try helping the retail industry, a Town Team will be set up, this will consist of key stakeholders and they will be tasked at making sure the town centre of Bray reaches its full potential”.

Brady went onto say a substantial fund has been set aside to implement a number of key measures “There is a fund in place of €100,000, there will be a number of key measures put in place. One of the main measures will be a Vacant Premises Incentive Scheme. This is being devised to try attract new retail into the District, it will offer a Grant payable to the equivalent of 50% of the Rates paid for the first year and a reduction of 25% in year two, key will be getting landlords to buy in the scheme and in tandem reduce the rents over the two year period. It’s important however to get a good mix of retail in this scheme and that it doesn’t impact on the existing retailers”.

“There will be a pilot scheme offering free parking in the towns two main car parks on Saturday’s, a public awareness campaign will be needed to promote this. At the meeting I raised the issue of traffic within the town and the need for the serious congestion that people experience getting into and out of the town to be addressed, the sequencing of the towns traffic lights needs to be looked at to ensure traffic runs smoothly and it doesn’t take 30 minutes to get from one end of the town to the other”.

Following a request from Councillor Bray an update on the Florentine Centre was also given at the meeting “I raised the status of the Florentine Centre and how that held the key to Bray’s upturn, it’s no secret that the 20 year saga has added to the town’s demise. The council purchased the 1.58 acre site in 2013 for €1.95m and have been progressing plans for its development. It’s hoped that a planning application for the site will be lodged prior to Christmas and it will consist of substantial retail space and a cinema. We need to get a major anchor tenant in the centre, it will also have a number of smaller retail space. This purpose built retail space in tandem with a badly needed cinema will bring the badly needed footfall into the town which in turn will entice further retail” explained Cllr Brady.

Cllr Brady concluded “Sitting back and doing nothing is not an option, I welcome these measures, and other measures such as Christmas in Bray and the hanging baskets which will help set the conditions to kick-start the retail industry in the Bray District. Discussions with major retailers will also continue to try entice them into the town. These measures will need to be monitored closely to ensure they are working, if they prove to be successful it could prove to be a template for other towns such as Arklow and Wicklow Town. Further discussions are due to held with some of the key stakeholders in the coming weeks”.

Brady welcomes upgrade of fire hydrants in Kilmacanogue

Wicklow Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady has welcomed the news from Wicklow Fire Service that upgrade work will be carried on the fire hydrants in the Carraigoona Close and Rockfield Park housing estates in Kilmacanogue.

Speaking after receiving the news the Sinn Féin Councillor said “Having been contacted by a number of residents from the Carraigoona Close and Rockfield Park housing estates who had concerns about the fire hydrants in the area. I contacted the fire service who checked all the hydrants in the area and identified a number that needed to be upgraded. Thankfully this work will be carried out in the next week or so”.

Speaking about the importance of the hydrants Brady said “There have been a number of emergency incidents in the past when tackling a blaze the fire crews have had difficulties trying to locate them and in some cases the hydrants weren’t operational. In 2006 following a blaze in Bray where a hydrant was found not to operational I forced Bray Town council to carry out an extensive survey of all hydrants in the town council area. They mapped over 700 fire hydrants, 70 need upgrading and 30 need replacing”.

“Fire hydrants are a connection point by which firefighters can tap into a water supply, which means they don’t need back up water tankers. It’s essential that when needed they are easily found and functional. All hydrants within Wicklow need to be checked on an annual basis to ensure they are functional and that the water pressure high enough. I’m calling on the council to ensure this is done and that all hydrants are mapped and all covers are painted yellow so they are clearly identifiable”.

Brady concluded “I welcome the news that the hydrants in Kilmacanogue are going to be upgraded in the next week or so, this will also be met with relief by the residents in Carraigoona Close and Rockfield Park”. Ends

Wicklow Sinn Fein launch a series of Public Information Meetings “A Fair Recovery is Possible”

In response to the continuing imbalance in the so-called national economic recovery. Sinn Fein candidate in the upcoming General Election Councillor John Brady, sets out why he has decided to host a series of public meetings over the coming weeks

“We are constantly been assured by Fine Gael and labour that the country is on a path to economic recovery, but the hard facts on the ground clearly demonstrate that whatever kind of recovery exists; the vast majority of citizens are not seeing any of benefits”.

Councillor Brady describes how government policies are simply not delivering for hard pressed families and those on lower and middle incomes.
“Unemployment is still stubbornly high at around 10% which does not take into account the half a million (mainly young people) who have emigrated because of a lack of opportunity. The unemployment rate amongst the young is twice the national level at just above 20%. The housing crisis has spiralled out of control while the on-going chaos in the health service has seen a continued increase in the numbers of people on trolleys and waiting lists. In education, class sizes in our schools are the largest we have seen in decades while students with special needs are often deprived of access to crucial services”

Speaking in relation to tax and revenue, Councillor Brady is critical of the government’s regressive budgets;
“Simply put, the only way to invest adequately in job creation and to provide essential public services such as Health, Housing and Education is through the tax system. As it stands the Irish government takes 31% of Gross Domestic Product in taxation. Compare that to countries like Britain, France, Germany and Belgium who take between 39 and 46 percent of their GDP in tax revenue. The coalition have failed to generate the necessary revenues because they have employed a failed economic model and introduced a number of regressive budgets. The coalition have focused on cuts to spending that have adversely affected lower and middle income families while at the same time they have adopted a tax policy that disproportionately favours individuals and multinationals that enjoy higher incomes and profitability”.

Councillor Brady expresses concern that the government is ignoring warning signs in the same way Fianna Fail did just before the recent economic crash;
“The government have adopted a ‘Trickle Down’ economic model. This approach is supposed to result in delivering improvements at the top end which eventually trickle down to the benefit of all. The reality is quite different and the policy has been widely discredited. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is the world’s leading economic think tank. It has declared that trickle down economic policies have had a major negative impact on economic growth; the organisation claims that only an increase in taxation on wealthier sections of society alongside more favourable tax policies directed toward the lower 40% can halt the growth in income inequality. This assessment has been backed up by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) who released a report in June of this year stating that trickle down economic policies are one of the main causal factors leading to the damaging cyclical ‘boom and bust’ periods that have become a hallmark of contemporary economic society. However, the Irish Government have demonstrably ignored these warnings in the same way the previous Fianna Fail government ignored economic warnings leading to the worst economic recession in the history of the state”.

According to Councillor Brady, the situation in Wicklow reflects the situation nationally;
“Sinn Fein are not manufacturing these reports, they are conducted independently and reflect what Sinn Fein have been saying for years. Today, we are witnessing a so-called recovery benefitting a small section at the top of our society with no sign of much improvement for the vast majority on the lower and middle rungs of the economic ladder. The situation in Wicklow can be seen as a microcosm of what is happening nationwide. This year alone there has been an 18% increase in the numbers of people presenting as homeless. All over Wicklow hundreds of adults and children have nowhere to call home while hundreds more are facing the prospect of eviction. Almost 11,000 people in the county are currently out of work with little hope of employment opportunities on the horizon, while Health service facilities for Wicklow residents are virtually non-existent. Sinn Fein believes that a fair recovery is possible, one based on equality, sensible public service spending, rational revenue raising initiatives and logical redistributive policies”.

Councillor Brady finishes by inviting people to attend the various meetings taking place across the county in the coming weeks;
“These public meeting present an opportunity for us to reach out to the wider Wicklow public and allow me to explain directly what we mean by a fair recovery and how we believe it is possible to deliver. Moreover, these meeting will give me a chance to listen to the concerns of groups and individuals who are struggling in the present and worried about the future. The meetings also lend an opportunity for citizens and businesses to share their experiences in a way that can be of benefit to all. With a focus on devising initiatives that can be specifically formatted to cater for the needs of the broader Wicklow community, my hope is that these open meetings will provide a platform from which we can launch a determined effort to lobby local TD’s and the government to change their failed economic approach before it is too late”.

Dates and Venues. All meetings commence at 8pm.

Aughrim, Lawless's Hotel, Wednesday 2nd September
Baltinglass, Germaine's, Thursday 3rd September
Wicklow Town, The Grand Hotel, Friday 4th September
Bray, The Wilton Hotel, Tuesday 8th September
Roundwood, The Old School House, Wednesday 9th September
Arklow, The Arklow Bay Hotel, Thursday 10th September
Rathvilly, The Phoenix Centre, Tuesday 15th September
Blessington, St. Kevin’s Hall, Wednesday 16th September
Kilcoole, The Community Centre, Thursday 17th September
Tinahely, Murphy's Hotel, Wednesday 23rd September

Government drenched in Water Fiasco - Brady

Recent speculation that the government is considering changing the terms under which people can avail of the conservation grant by excluding all those who have not paid their water bills has brought the Irish Water debacle into the spotlight once again.

Commenting on this most recent turn of events, Sinn Fein Councillor John Brady and Wicklow candidate in the upcoming general election suggested the government has lost complete credibility on the issue.

“How many U-Turns can you make before you eventually forget what direction you actually want to travel in? On the one hand the government are insisting there are no plans to change anything while on the other hand a number of TD’s are insisting that non-compliant citizens should be denied the so called ‘conservation’ grant from next year, while the minister in charge Alan Kelly seems to change his mind on various issues on a weekly basis. At this point in time the government cannot seriously expect the public to have faith in any statements, suggestions or proposals on the future of Irish Water”.

Councillor Brady went on to point out just how disastrous the Irish Water project has been;
“Can anybody seriously remember a government initiative that has been such a spectacular waste of time and money? Similar to Fianna Fail’s electronic voting machine catastrophe, Irish Water has now become an expensive joke with almost a billion Euro spent and not as much as a cracked water pipe fixed. The government have failed to have Irish Water assessed ‘off balance sheet’ and failed to get even half the population to pay their bills. More worryingly the government have failed in their duty to listen to their citizens and abolish Irish Water once and for all”.

In relation to public disquiet on the issue Councillor Brady took an opportunity to remind people of the upcoming anti-water charge protest;
“The only way we can convince a stubborn and clearly obtuse government that Irish Water and water charges need to be abolished immediately is by speaking with our feet. Citizens have mobilised peacefully and respectfully on a number of occasions in an effort to communicate their objection to what is now widely regarded as a farcical and failed government policy. People will have an opportunity to have their voices heard again this month on Saturday 29th August at the next public demonstration. There are two meeting points; Heuston Station and Connolly Station Dublin at 2pm, with the March then proceeding to O’Connell Street’

Councillor Brady went on to reiterate Sinn Fein’s commitment to the abolition of Irish Water
“Sinn Fein are committed to the abolition of Irish Water and water charges. For us it is a non-negotiable position in any future government formation arrangement. We will stand full -square behind the many groups and individuals who will march together in an effort to force the government to finally bring an end to this unjust, unfair and wasteful experiment”.

Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour; Fantasy Coalition Scenarios, It's the elections, stupid

If the current government runs full term as Enda Kenny has declared it will, we are potentially eight months away from the next the general election, but listening to the commentary emanating from some members of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour; the public would be forgiven for thinking the election is imminent.

Commenting on some of the remarks being made, Sinn Fein candidate for Wicklow in the upcoming election Councillor John Brady said;
“The traditional parties of government have tied themselves into knots devising imaginary coalitions with chaotic commentary and contradictory positions. The missing element in all of the gossip and conjecture of course is the electorate. After decades of swapping power between themselves, they seem to have forgotten an inconvenient fact; the people are the final arbiters, they will decide who will form the next government, not self -obsessed politicians”.

Councillor Brady also referred to the level of confusion and poor communication clearly affecting the other major parties; ”Labour TD Alex White suggested that an electoral pact between Fine Gael and Labour could offer the best chance the coalition would have of returning to government. However, Mr White failed to share his views in advance with his party colleagues who quickly distanced themselves from the idea, suggesting a transfer arrangement or a statement of aims prior to the election might do the trick”.

Councillor Brady continued; “On the other side of the house Fianna Fail are in a shambles. Front benchers such as Eamonn O Cuiv and others have stated they might be prepared to do a deal that saw Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein share power, yet their party leader has ruled out such a scenario. In fact Michael Martin has already ruled out coalition with both Fine Gael and Sinn Fein, but now he suggests his party could support a minority Fine Gael led government on a case by case basis – so much for stable government. However, Fianna Fail TD Michael McGrath has recently stated that he envisages Fianna Fail could form a coalition as a junior partner but he does not come out and say exactly who with. TD Niall Collins on the other hand says Fianna Fail could not share power with Sinn Fein as we would ‘destroy the economy’. It is odd that he fails to see the Irony in this statement given his party were almost wiped out in the last election for doing just that – destroying the economy”.

Councillor Brady also responded directly to comments made by Fine Gael Wicklow TD Simon Harris; “According to Simon Harris, Sinn Fein in power would be a disaster for the country and has somehow managed to conjure up the notion that a vote for Fianna Fail is actually a vote for Sinn Fein. In this TD’s fantasy coalition arrangement apparently Sinn Fein will waste the benefits of the so-called hard won economic recovery. Many people might ask if Fine Gael’s policy of throwing away hundreds of millions of taxpayer’s money on the discredited Irish Water aberration constitutes waste, or is this failed entity a model of frugal responsibility”.

In respect to Simon Harris’ most recent comments on Gerry Adams, Councillor Brady points out what some might see as arch hypocrisy; “Simon Harris has been recently reported as saying the country is not ready for ‘terrorist Gerry Adams in cabinet’, this sort of comment is typical of Fine Gael desperate tactics as they try to cope with the fallout from an electorate anxious to punish them at the polls. What is most striking is how Harris fails to see the hypocrisy of his claims when set against the backdrop of his own ‘enjoyment’ in the commemoration of O’Donovan Rossa recently at the Pearse Museum in Rathfarnham. Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa was the architect of the first ever bombing campaign on English cities launched by Irish Republicans”.

Councillor Brady continued; “Central to Simon Harris’ argument is that Sinn Fein should not be let next or near the levers of power. This in itself is peculiar given statements by former Green party leaders Trevor Sargent and John Gormley who disclosed that Fine Gael had approached them to ‘sound out’ if Sinn Fein would support a Fine Gael led coalition after the 2007 General Election”.

Regardless of the comments, Councillor Brady is very clear as to what is driving such comments;
“The reality in all of this is pretty simple. Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour are so used to bouncing power around between themselves, they are willing to say anything to try and fool the electorate. Their confusing statements and abject failure to communicate within their respective internal party structures suggests an air of desperation has gripped the traditional parties of power”.

Councillor Brady finishes with a clear message to Simon Harris and Fine Gael; “The Irish people deserve better and have little time to be listening to self- interested politicians fumble around in the dark of their own incompetence. Simon Harris and his government should expend their energies on serving an electorate who are more concerned with back to school expenses, over- crowded hospitals, housing shortages, water bills, property taxes and rural decimation. If Simon Harris put as much effort into reviving the fortunes of his Wicklow constituents as he does attacking Sinn Fein (and fantasising about coalition scenarios) we would see an end to the rural decline occurring in his own back yard. We would see boarded up business premises in towns re-open, we would see a concerted effort to tackle the housing crisis, we would see improved transport links, we might even see a return of some of the half a million young people his party forced to emigrate in desperation over the last few years. Harris and his colleagues can fantasize all they like about future coalition possibilities but the suffering on the ground amongst the people who have borne the brunt of Fine Gael and Labour’s austerity catastrophe is real and debilitating. All parties will stand before the electorate next year and it is the people who will decide the formation of the next government. If they give Sinn Fein a mandate to form a government; that’s exactly what we will do; in-line with our policy objectives and election manifesto we will deliver a fair recovery to the benefit of all. There will be no U-turns and no broken promises. Simon Harris needs to wake up and take stock of the damage his government have done is his own constituency rather than engaging in self- obsessed and useless meanderings on where he might be after the next election and who he fantasises might be a good terrorist or a bad terrorist. The people will decide his fate, the sooner he realises this the better”. Ends

Safety to be improved on Dargle Flood Protection scheme after locals raise concerns

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has welcomed a commitment given by the Council that the Slang area along the river Dargle is to be cleaned up and new safety fencing erected. Work on the Dargle flood protection scheme is ongoing in the area; however local residents have voiced concerns regarding safety and the condition of the area.

Speaking after meeting with local residents Councillor Brady said “Essential flood protection works are ongoing along the Dargle and work is expected to continue until late 2016. Local residents have voiced serious concerns regarding safety and the condition of the Slang area which is a key gateway into Bray. Children have been seen playing on site and the security fencing is regularly fallen on the ground, blocking footpaths and leaving the site completely open”.

“I welcome the commitment that has been given that Irish Fencing is the remove the existing Herras fencing and replace it with a stronger fence. Remedial works will also take place and overgrown vegetation will also be removed”.

Cllr Brady concluded “Great progress is being made on the Dargle Flood Protection scheme, its important however that local residents can live in a clean, safe environment. I welcome the news that this work is to carried out. I would also appeal to children not to enter the Slang area as it is a construction site with heavy machinery in use”.

Brady welcomes granting of planning permission by Wicklow County Council for Colaiste Raithin and St. Philomena's Primary School.

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has welcomed a decision by Wicklow County Council to grant planning permission to St. Philomena’s Primary School and Colaiste Raithin in Bray for new schools on the Old Bray Golf Club lands. The application for a 450 pupil two story Post Primary School for Colaiste Raithin and a 24 classroom for
St. Philomena’s Primary School along with a PE hall, playing courts, playing pitch and car parking was granted by the council after the application was lodged in February.

Welcoming the news Councillor Brady said “This is fantastic news for the two schools that have been campaigning for new schools for many years now. Permission has been granted, subject to 25 planning conditions. The schools have been included in Bundle 5 of the Schools Public Private Partnership (PPP) for funding and it’s hoped that the schools will be completed in late 2016, early 2017”.

“This is a major hurdle to get over, there had been a slight set back when Dún Laoghaire turned down an application relating to access to the schools from the Dublin Road, its hoped that this can be resolved as quickly as possible”.

Cllr Brady concluded “These are excellent schools that deserve to have first class schools. I want to pay tribute to the teachers and management in both schools and to the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB), in particular to Kevin Lewis, Chief Operations Officer with KWETB. Hopefully the commencement of the construction works on the schools can happen as quickly as possible”.

Wicklow Homeless Crisis Escalating – 18% increase since start of year

Wicklow Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady has said that the homeless crisis is in Wicklow is escalating out of control and the same focus needs to be given to Wicklow as Dublin has got prior to Christmas following the terrible death of Jonathan Corrie. This year to date there has been an 18% increase in homelessness in Wicklow, compared to the overall figure for 2014.

Cllr Brady said “The homeless crisis in Wicklow is escalating to a level never seen before and immediate action needs to be taken by the Minister with responsibility Alan Kelly. Since the start of 2015 we have seen an 18% increase in the number of homeless households so far this year in comparison to all of 2014. To date 107 families have presented as homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, this is made up of 152 adults and 204 children. Separately 74 adults have presented as homeless in Wicklow.”

The Sinn Féin Councillor went on to say “There is no let-up in the number of individuals and families presenting as homeless. Difficulties with rent supplement, rising rent costs and rising house repossessions are driving the homeless crisis. The council is aware that there are another 66 families who have been given their notice to quit by their landlords. Unfortunately this is no surprise to me. Every day I am getting more and more calls from desperate people, particularly parents of young families who have been forced into emergency accommodation or trying to get emergency accommodation and see no way out. They are often people who are working or had been working recently or people on Rent Supplement who are barred from work. They have lost their rented home because rent levels have simply become too high to pay and still be able to feed and clothe their children.”

“The ongoing lack of investment in social housing means that the long term housing solutions are simply not available. The Government also need to deal with the rents crisis through rent controls and the mortgage crisis through substantive changes to the insolvency legislation.”
“We have heard a lot of tough talk from housing Minister Alan Kelly. What people need now, especially those families languishing on the homeless list, is action. I’m calling on the Minister to step up to the mark here in Wicklow, meet with all stakeholders and tackle this escalating problem” concluded Councillor Brady.