Thursday 19 February 2015

Grants for Resident's Associations

Grants from Wexford Co. Council for Resident's Associations will be advertised from next Tuesday February 24th in the local newspapers and on www.wexford.ie
Application forms will be available on line and from Wexford Co. Council. Tidy Towns groups applications will also be taken under this heading.

Amenity Grants, small grants for Community Groups will also be advertised next Tuesday.
Closing date for both is March 20th.

Let me know if you want me to get you an Application Form.

Councillor Barbara-Anne Murphy
087-6736966

Fianna Fail putting Policy first


Wexford Fianna Fail are preparing for the Next General Election already. The party is focused on building policies that will include all opinions and views.
 
On Tuesday March 3rd they are holding a Policy Conference on the Theme of "Agriculture and Finance " at 8pm in the Riverside Park Hotel. Enniscorthy.
 
Guest Speakers for the evening will include the following – Darren Carty livestock Specialist with the Farmers Journal, Deputy Sean Fleming T.D. Spokesperson on Expenditure and Public Reform, and J.J. Kavanagh former National Treasurer with the I.F.A. The evening will include a Question and Answer session of the invited guests. Light refreshments will be served. All Fianna Fail public representatives will be available on the night to meet those in attendance.                                                                                                                                    

Thursday 5 February 2015

South East Ambulance Service

Councillors Joe Sullivan from Gorey and James Browne from Enniscorthy met with the head of the South East Ambulance Service at St Johns Hospital, Enniscorthy, yesterday, (Wednesday) to raise concerns over the ambulance service in County Wexford.

 Currently Wexford District has its own dedicated paramedic crew at night time but only 2 crews rotate between the 3 districts of Gorey, Enniscorthy and New Ross at night.  However, from next month, March 2015, the number of paramedics based in Enniscorthy is to increase by 50% to 6. Coupled with the 8 already based at Gorey this will allow for a full service for each of the 3 districts from Thursdays through Sunday.


Councillors Sullivan & Browne have been at the forefront in raising this issue for some time and they welcomed the news as a significant step in the provision of a full ambulance service for County Wexford.

Wexford Roads Budget Cut by €279,000

The Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Malcolm Byrne, has slammed the decision of Environment and Local Government Minister, Alan Kelly, to cut non-national roads funding to Co. Wexford by €279,000.

The non-national roads budget for all local authorities has been cut in figures sent by the Department of the Environment and Local Government to Councils.  In the case of Co. Wexford, we have estimated it to be about €279,000. Last year, local authorities in Co. Wexford spent €10,125,200 on roads and footpaths. The allocation this year is €9,846,240. That is a cut of €278,960.

This will mean that a number of road and footpath repairs planned for this year will not happen.

Wexford County Council agreed a budget for 2015 on the expectation that the roads allocation from the Department would be the same as in 2014. The Council agreed the budget unanimously, the only Council in the country to so do.

Malcolm said,

"What is really annoying is that, as you will recall, the Government had given commitments around the Local Property Tax that this tax would underpin the funding of non national roads. The LPT has now been introduced and the resources available for local government have actually been cut further. "
"I'd like to challenge Minister Alan Kelly on his commitment to local government after this move. It has serious repercussions for local communities where road works were planned this year."


Malcolm Byrne


Cathaoirleach Wexford   County Council    086 22 37 102

Call for eligible applicants to apply for UK Fuel payment.

FF Councillor Michael Sheehan calls on people to ensure they apply for the Winter Fuel Payment on time.

FF Councillor Michael Sheehan has called on people who have worked in Britain and returned to Ireland to ensure their application for the UK winter fuel Payment has applied.

The Winter Fuel Payment is a once off cash payment up to £300 paid to people who would have paid into the UK tax system and receive a State Pension as a result. Last year, over €6million was paid to residents in Ireland who have worked at some point in England and receive a pension.

Each year, people realise that they are eligible to apply after the expiration of the  deadline.
The deadline for the 2015 is March 31st and people can download applications or drop into my office for a form and guidelines.  Generally payment is made late in the year, but failure to apply on time will rule out any payment to those who need it and worked for it all their lives. 

People who have received it in the past should automatically receive notification, but is no harm to double check and get the payment date.  New applicants have until March 31st to have all their particulars and to find out how much of a grant they’ll receive and estimated payment date.  

“Speaking this morning, Michael Sheehan said that people would be well advised to double check with my office, as €300 would alleviate a good deal of pressure, particularly at this time of year with a highest demand for heat and energy.
  --
  Michael Sheehan, MCC
  (085) 1349020