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25th November 2014 • Volume 21, Issue 43 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Money For Nothing! Rural residents of the North County are set to benefit from a bonanza from Irish Water, whether they are customers or not. This unlikely windfall comes about as a result of Irish Water’s decision to grant a conservation subsidy of €100 to each household in the country, as long as they register with Irish Water by 2nd February.
By Patrick Finnegan In a quirky twist, this subsidy also applies to rural residents, many of whom are not customers of Irish Water, including those on group water schemes. They will get the €100 water subsidy - but it will be September 2015 before it is paid. The new payment will be paid out on a one-off basis, rather than on a quarterly system as previously envisaged, the Department of Social Protection has confirmed. This payment is not means tested, and all householders will be able to apply for it on their primary
residence - including those on group water schemes, or with private supplies - as long as they register with Irish Water. Swords councillor, Anne Devitt (NP), who lives in rural North County Dublin, was gobsmacked at the news. She told the County Leader, “Irish Water are charging people for water coming in and water going out. If you don’t have water coming in, you don’t pay, and the same applies if you don’t have water going out (wastewater). “If you have only one of them, you pay half. The charge currently stands at €160 for one person for both
water in and water out. I don’t have water out, as I have a bio cycle system. This means that I will only be charged €80. However, this new conservation grant means I will pay €80, and they will give me back €100 - a profit of €20 for nothing. I find that a nonsense,” she said. “Some of my neighbours have their own water, both in and out, through having a well, and a septic tank, or bio cycle system. That means that these people will not be paying for water, but as long as they register with Irish Water, they will get a nice cheque for €100 next September. All of us in the rural area have always known that we had to pay for the privilege of living in a rural area, and accepted that we had to pay for water services. The question I ask is why, and it just goes to show the nonsense of this, and the notion of giving money back to willing payers, is disgraceful. I’m actually upset by it,” she said. However, she conceded that it makes no Cllr Anne Devitt is pictured at the bio economic sense for rural cycle system in her back garden near people not to register Rolestown. She is not a full customer of with Irish Water, and to Irish Water, yet she will receive a cheque avail of this unlikely payment from the company bonanza.
New Purpose For Phone Boxes Sought Local councillor, Darragh Butler (FF), has expressed his concern over the disused Smart Telephone kiosks on Swords Main Street and Dublin Road. At a recent Council meeting, the councillor asked the Chief Executive, Paul Reid, for an update with regards to the removal of the disused kiosks. A Council spokesperson confirmed that, owners, Westont Ltd have been in contact with Fingal County Council Operations Department in relation to the unused Smart Telecom phone kiosks and associated structures at a number of locations across the county. The Council also confirmed they are currently in negotiations with Dublin City Council and other local councils, with a view to repurposing the units into more suitable services, including free WiFi. “We hope to roll this out to all areas later in the year,” the Council said. “We will send an engineer out to look at the units in Swords and clean them up as much as possible.
“If this question is passed, a further letter will issue requesting an update on these kiosks and when a reply is received, the members for the Electoral Area will be notified,” the Council explained. Butler welcomed the decision of the local authority in trying to find a new purpose for these eyesores. He told the County Leader, “It is great to hear that the County Council are in negotiations with Dublin City Council and other local Councils, with a view to repurposing the old Smart telephone kiosks in Swords into something more suitable, incorporating a free WiFi service.” “Along with Swords Tidy Towns, we have been trying to get something done with these disused kiosks, as they are a real eyesore and really do take away from our town centre,” he said. The local authority have confirmed to Butler that they hope to Continued on page 15
Dubs Star Lyndsey Fundraises For Molly
Little Molly McNally, the brave six year old Balbriggan girl, is continuing to charm people all over the North County. Molly, who has stage four Neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer, is having treatment at Crumlin Hospital. Molly is a mascot for the Dublin Ladies football team, and local girl Lyndsey Davey from Skerries, who plays for the Dublin senior team, raised funds for the loveable little Balbriggan girl at an event recently. The Kube is a fundraiser for Skerries Harps GAA club. They are raising money for the new clubhouse that is currently being built. A total of 41 contestants took part on the night at CityNorth Hotel, Gormanston. Once all contestants raised their entry fee, they could pick a charity to donate the remainder of their sponsorship money. Also, the prize fund of
€3,000 went to your chosen charity. Darren Bailey won on the night, and his chosen charity was Pieta House. Lyndsey told the County Leader, “I play Gaelic for the Dublin senior ladies and Molly was our mascot for the AllIreland final against Cork. A week before the final, we learnt that Molly was going to be our mascot and that is when I found out about her battle with neuroblastoma. Molly and her family came to visit the team the week of the final, and she was presented with a Dublin jersey and pink boots.” “After the final, I was asked to take part in The Kube. When I found that I could donate my sponsorship money, the Molly McNally Miracle Trust was my first choice. Thanks to the generous donations from my friends and family, I managed to raised over €1,100 for Molly,” said a delighted Lyndsey.
Pictured: Dublin Ladies GAA star Lyndsey Davey from Skerries, who raised funds at the Kube fundraiser for the Molly McNally Miracle Trust, is pictured with little Molly and her father, Gerry McNally