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KEEPING IN TOUCH Michael McCarthy TD Bandon News
THANK YOU Firstly, I wish to take this opportunity to thank you, the people of Bandon, for the courtesy and kindness shown to my canvass team and I throughout the general election campaign. The level of support we received from the local community was heartening and I will now endeavour to represent your voice in Dáil Eireann where I will do my very best to effect positive change in the lives of people in Cork South-West. There are various issues that are of concern to people in the Bandon area - unemployment, access to healthcare, and education, to name but a few. We live in challenging times, however we are not without hope. The new Government, tasked with an overwhelming mandate from
the Irish people, are already putting right some of the wrongs imposed on our country by the previous administration. Reform, fairness and jobs are at the centre of Labour Party policy, and I hope to put those same things at the centre of life in areas like Bandon. I hope you enjoy this newsletter, which aims to provide you with a good insight into the work that I have been carrying out on your behalf since my election to Dáil Eireann in February. Please do not hesitate to get in contact if there are any local issues you wish to bring to my attention. Kind regards,
BANDON CO-MARKETING GROUP
FUNDING FOR LOCAL SCHOOL
Every small town in Ireland is eager to find out how it can trade its way out of the economic difficulties and Bandon is no different. Luckily, the Bandon Co-Marketing Group is extremely active on this front and recently I attended their AGM which gave an interesting insight into their work.
I was very pleased that the Presentation Convent in Bandon was among eight schools in the constituency that were approved for Summer Works Funding recently by Minister for Education & Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD. The funding enables small and mediumscale projects in school buildings to be carried out over the Summer months when pupils will be on holidays, which keeps disruption to a minimum. It has the added benefit in that it creates work for local construction companies.
At the meeting, I pledged my ongoing support for the Group and expressed my firm view that Bandon’s enterprising and community spirit could overcome the current decline. However this can only be achieved if the business environment is conducive to job creation and growth. Thankfully, the new Government’s fresh mandate means fresh thinking and we are focused on creating an environment for business expansion. While trading confidence has been shattered in towns like Bandon, Ireland has weathered recession in the past, and will do so again. Groups like Bandon Co-Marketing are vital to the recovery process.
Michael at the recent AGM of the Bandon Co-Marketing Group
Michael McCarthy TD with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore TD
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70 NEW JOBS ON THE WAY TO BANDON There was good news for Bandon in June when it was announced that €29 million was being invested into the former Schering-Plough plant at Brinny, creating 70 jobs. As a former employee of Schering Plough, I am well aware of the valuable contribution the company has made to the West Cork area over the years. Like many organisations however, the economic difficulties forced it to impose some redundancies on workers in a bid to regain competitiveness and to ensure its long-term viability. Thankfully, the company seems to have turned a corner and is in a position to provide much-needed local employment again, thanks to this new investment, which was announced by Cork-based Minister of State Sean Sherlock TD. Michael with local figures at the opening of the new Multi-Use Games Area in Bandon
BANDON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL The issue of stalled extension works at Bandon Community Hospital is proving to be a deep source of frustration for many local people. Serious delays have been experienced in the project to date, which would have brought the number of beds in the hospital from 23 up to 40. The recent public meeting at the Munster Arms Hotel was extremely well attended which indicates the
public interest and concern that surrounds the issue. As I stressed at the meeting, I will continue to give as much support as possible to the local campaign and press to the Minister for Health James Reilly the need to protect and enhance services at the hospital when possible. Community hospitals are central to the welfare of local people, and their service should be protected at all costs.
Michael at a recent public meeting about Bandon Hospital
FLOOD RELIEF SCHEME & DREDGING OF BANDON RIVER
WASTEWATER AND SEWERAGE SCHEME
In response to a recent Parliamentary Question I submitted on the issue of a flood relief scheme for Bandon, Minister of State Brian Hayes said that a feasibility study is underway. He said: “Following the completion Michael with Minister of State Brian Hayes a recent of the Feasibility Study, the local meeting about the relief scheme OPW will take the proposed scheme, if one has emerged, to full public exhibition, as required under the Arterial Drainage Acts. The Exhibition will take place over a four week period and is programmed to take place before the end of the year. Should the proposals be accepted locally, the next stage of the process will be to undertake the detailed design of the scheme and the procurement of a civil works contractor.” The study will also feed into plans for the Bandon River, which is in urgent need of cleaning works.
In May, I urged Cork County Council to move expediently on plans to upgrade Bandon’s wastewater treatment plant and sewerage scheme. This followed a Parliamentary Question I submitted to the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan TD in which he subsequently informed me that his Department were awaiting for numerous documents to be submitted by the council. In late June, Minister Hogan confirmed through another Parliamentary Question that these documents had been submitted by the council on 8 June and that they are currently under consideration. The Department is now awaiting another submission by the council so that they can move to appoint consultants for the next stage of the process. The programme needs to get underway as soon as possible so that we can mitigate any potential flooding and drainage issues which people in Bandon are all too familiar with.
GET IN CONTACT I am always interested in hearing your views on issues in the Bandon area. If you wish to get in contact, call my office on 023-8855705.
Michael McCarthy TD
Alternatively you can email michael.mccarthy@oir.ie
Working with Michael McCarthy TD
YO
Cllr Gearóid Buckley Chapel Street, Bandon, Co. Cork Tel: 085 2438330 0612