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9th October 2012 • Volume 19, Issue 31 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Primary Care Centres At Risk Of Being Lost Forever T
During the month of October we will be collecting
he ongoing controversy surrounding the location of Primary Care Centres in Swords and Balbriggan is causing great political discomfort for Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly. However, the general consensus from people in the area is that the centres would be welcome additions to the North County and a terrible shame if they were lost. Political commentators that have By Patrick Finnegan spoken to the County Leader have expressed the view that, should the potato and would be dropped immeMinister be removed from office, diately.” Councillor Anne Devitt (NP) there would be no chance that any was scathing of the actions of Mayor subsequent Minister for Health would O’Callaghan. She told the County deliver Primary Care Centres in the Leader, “I believe that the mayor North County, as they would have represents all the people of Fingal cost the careers of two government and he should not have made that statement in his capacity as mayor. ministers. County Mayor Cian O’Callaghan (Lab) People are angry with him for making has called on his party leader, Eamon such an opportunistic and populist Gilmore, to seek for the removal of call at this time.” Reilly from office. Many residents feel Devitt has sympathy with the Health that this would have a detrimental Minister, when she said, “It’s quite clear that a town like effect on the Primary Care Swords needs a Primary Centres being delivered Care Centre, or maybe two. here, and such demands The way the debate is for his removal from going, as to whether Reilly office by local politicians went about it correctly, would be viewed harshly suggests that Swords by the electorate. doesn’t need one. The This view was endorsed public perception that by Dennis Barry, neither Swords nor President of St Finian’s Balbriggan have the popuConference of St Vincent lations that deserve a de Paul in River Valley, James Reilly TD Primary Care Centre is very Swords, who was in no doubt about far from the truth,” said Devitt. the value of a Primary Care Centre in She was confident that the Taoiseach Swords and the part played by Dr would do the right thing in relation to Reilly. Barry, who is used to dealing with the Reilly. “I think that Enda Kenny will hardship of people, told the County realise that there are outside forces trying to discredit the Minister. Leader, “In my area, the People are playing the population is getting man, not the ball, and I older, and in the medium fear that anyone taking future, a Primary Care over from Dr Reilly will Centre would be a great distance themselves from help. I’d love to see all projects associated something like this with him, including the happening, with care on Primary Care Centres for your doorstep, without Swords and Balbriggan. having to travel long This would be a retrograde distances.” He went on to step,” she concluded. defend the role played by Cllr. Anne Devitt Meanwhile, representaDr Reilly when he said, “I t i v e s i n B albriggan feel that a can’t see anything wrong with him looking after his constituency. He Primary Care Centre in the town will was elected by the people to look be of enormous benefit. President of after our concerns. All constituencies Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce, with a minister are normally well Kevin Tolan said, “As a Chamber of looked after. I’d safely say that if he C o m m e r c e , w e a l s o w e l c o m e t h e goes, then the Primary Care Centres employment that will accrue as a will definitely go, as it is a really hot result of construction of the centre.”
“It is unfortunate that Balbriggan’s name has been used as a ‘political football’ in recent weeks. It should be remembered that in 2007, Balbriggan was identified by the previous Government as being a necessary location for a Primary Care Centre. The current census figures sho w tha t the n e e d is n o w e v e n greater. Minister for Health James Reilly TD has thankfully continued to recognised the need in Balbriggan for a Primary Care Centre, and the sooner it arrives the better, for the Balbriggan area and its population.” The closest hospitals to Balbriggan are Beaumont Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, and neither of these locations have a direct public transport link to or from Balbriggan. At present, public Healthcare is provided by the Medical Centre, which was formally a public house and is far too small to cope with the existing population,” he concluded.
President’s Award For Three North County Recipients
T
hree people from the North County have received Gaisce Gold Awards from President Michael D. Higgins for outstanding community work and significant personal achievements. Seventy Gaisce Gold Awards were presented to young people north and south who excelled and achieved their goals at a ceremony in Dublin Castle. Tomás Bell (20) from Portmarnock was among the winners. He’s a scout leader with Portmarnock Scouts who covered the full distance of The Kerry Way in five days. He already holds both a Bronze and Silver Gaisce Award. A member of the Reserve Defence Forces, he has just achieved his lifelong dream of securing a place in the Defence Forces. Nadine Lattimore from Baldoyle, who is visually impaired, was also an award recipient. She represented Ireland on the Shot Putt team at the recent Paralymics in London. She achieved silver and bronze Gaisce awards over the years as her eyesight began to fail. Nadine holds the Irish female shot putt record. She sings in her local gospel choir and has completed an Enable Ireland programme in Assistive Technology. The third North County recipient is Shona O’Donoghoe (21), a primary teacher from Donabate. She spent her summer helping with the St Vincent de Paul Summer camp for children in Sunshine House, Balbriggan. She set herself the challenge of learning Italian and walked part of the Camino de Santiago Pilgrim Route. Gaisce, the President's Award, is presented to modern day heroes and heroines aged between Pictured here is Tomas the ages of 15 and 25 years who achieve personal Bell, from Portmarnock Scout Club proundly goals in different types of activities including displaying his Gold community involvement, personal skills, physical Gaisce Medal. recreation and adventure.
Swords Youths Receive Awards On Wednesday October 3rd last, the Community Gardai and new Superintendent of Coolock Garda Station, Ronan Galligan, came together to award certificates to all the volunteers of Swords Youth Group who were recently involved in the Alcohol Misuse & Knife Crime programme. The certificates were presented by the Superintendent. Following the presentation, the young people and the Gardai ventured into Garda headquarters in Harcourt St and Tara St. Fire Station, where they had an opportunity to have a bird's eye view of how the Communications section of the Gardai works. They also
were shown how a 999 call is processed and the follow up process of it. It was a busy, but educational day of fun, that was enjoyed by all. Earlier this year, the group came together for two evenings to partake in this programme. Its aim was to break down barriers and challenge attitudes between the young people and the Gardaí, therefore creating an opportunity to build up positive, sustainable relationships between both groups. The idea for this originally came from local community Sergeant, Kevin Toner. The programme was devised by the Gardaí due to the increase in knife crimes around the locality.
Members of Swords Youth Services were presented with certificates at a ceremony at their new building in Swords recently. The awards were presented by Garda Superintendent, Ronan Galligan. Pictured at the event are Shauna Hunt, Leanna Hunt, Garda Pamela Harte, Erinn Murtagh, Ryan Reddy, Shannon Lowndes, Superintendent Ronan Galligan, Shanika McCormack, Erin Dolan, Rebecca Hickey, Hannah Reel, Josh Reel, Sgt. Kevin Toner and Garda Dongdong Zheng.