Readers of the County Leader have closely followed the story of Molly McNally, the young Balbriggan girl, who suffered from Stage Four Neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer. Thankfully, brave Molly has made a great recovery and has been given the all clear. Her mother, Emma confirmed that Molly does not have to return to Crumlin Hospital until August, which is great news indeed. The good news continued last Saturday, 20th May, when Molly, who is a pupil at St Benignus NS, Balscadden made her Holy Communion at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Balscadden. She is pictured here enjoying her big day with her mother, Emma and father, Gerry McNally
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30th May 2017 • Volume 24, Issue 19 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. K67 P5W4. • Tel: 01 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie • www.northcountyleader.ie
Controversial Spanish Preferred Bidder For Local Hospital The HSE has selected a Spanish construction company, OHL, that has allegedly been linked to a major political scandal, as a preferred bidder for the €125m contract to build the new National Forensics Hospital in Portrane. OHL will partner with builder, JJ Rhatigan to build the new hospital in Portrane. The HSE said contracts for the deal have yet to be signed, but confirmed that the OHL/Rhatigan proposal has been identified as preferred bidder. Last year in Spain, OHL was one of a number of construction companies named in an investigation into alleged wrong-doing by Spanish politicians in the award of large government infrastructure
By Leslie Murphy projects. The controversy concerns the investigation into seeking to identify the source of payments to a slush fund run by Luis Bárcenas, former treasurer of Spain’s ruling centre-right People’s Party (PP). Mr Bárcenas has claimed that the money was used to pay senior figures in the party, including current prime minister Mariano Rajoy. Last week was a poor one for the State, with proper investigations by semi-state bodies into irregularities where public money is concerned, being identified. The case of the acquittal of Sean
FitzPatrick of Anglo Irish Bank, where billions of euros of taxpayers’ money was wasted, led us to wonder if the HSE had followed the same lack of thorough research as the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE). In light of these revelations, the County Leader contacted the HSE to ask if, when choosing OHL as the preferred bidder for the National Forensic Hospital, they were aware of the allegations levelled against the Spanish construction company. We also asked if they had fully investigated the financial affairs of the company. A spokesperson for the HSE replied saying, “The HSE has concluded the tender process and is
satisfied that it was carried out in accordance with all appropriate regulatory requirements and followed government led procurement and tendering policies and procedures. While we note your reference to other matters outside this jurisdiction, we are not formally aware of any issues at this time,” the statement concluded. The County Leader has no issue concerning the tender process and recognises that the delivery of the new National Forensics Hospital in Portrane will be welcomed by all and one wonders if OHL will employ local people in the construction of the hospital, or will they bring workers from Spain to complete the work. It is understood the National Forensics Hospital contract is the first of many public procurements OHL is seeking in Ireland. Reports in the Spanish media suggest the company is targeting further contracts here, with tenders also prepared for the new National Rehabilitation Hospital and satellite centres for the new National Children’s Hospital. JJ Rhatigan is currently building nine primary care centres in an €80m contract, garda stations in Dublin and Galway for a combined cost of €50m, and the new €50m Trinity Business School.
Prosper Fingal Opens Balbriggan Facility Prosper Fingal, which provides services and facilities for young people with intellectual disabilities, has opened a new facility in Balbriggan last week. The new centre was officially opened by Minister of State for Disabilities, Finian McGrath. The centre, which is called ‘The Lodge’, located on Drogheda Street in the town, will create new and exciting opportunities for the individuals it supports. People will come and go from this centre with a new sense of adventure and confidence through the welcome, opportunities and services of Balbriggan town. Prosper Fingal is part of the Prosper Group and is a not-for-profit community organisation with charitable status. Today, the Prosper Group, incorporating Prosper Fingal and Prosper Meath, provides services to 500 individuals from 22 locations in North County Dublin and County Meath. The Lodge, Balbriggan is its latest addition. The Fingal Association for the Handicapped, was established in 1968 – a time when services and facilities for young people with intellectual disabilities were extremely limited. Made up of parents and friends of young people with intellectual disabilities, the Fingal Association quickly established local committees in Skerries, Balbriggan, Rush, Lusk, Swords and Donabate/Portrane and had an overseeing Executive Committee. As there was practically no State funding
By Patrick Finnegan available to cater for children and young adults with special needs, the Association took on responsibility for fund-raising. On the very first Executive Committee was a local Balbriggan man, Hughie Reilly. He and his wife Kitty had a son, John, with special needs and throughout their lives they both worked tirelessly and heroically for the advancement of services for John and people with
intellectual disabilities in the locality. John and Minister McGrath cut the ribbon at the opening. Hughie Reilly was also one of the first Directors of Fingal Workshop Limited, later to be renamed Prosper Fingal, when it was established in 1978. The Reilly family has been a true friend and supporter of the Prosper organisation from the very beginning. As a testament to their commitment to people with disabilities, and with the full support of their sons and daughters,
Hughie and Kitty Reilly bequeathed their family home to Prosper Fingal. The money raised from the sale of the house was put into the purchase of The Lodge and its site. The generosity of the Reilly family has made this day possible. Speakers at the opening ceremony included Minister McGrath, Chairperson of Prosper Fingal, Dr Mary Murphy, Prosper CEO Pat Reen and Mary Walshe from the HSE, all of whom praised the Reilly family for their outstanding generosity.
Pictured at the official opening of Prosper Fingal's new facility 'The Lodge' at Drogheda Street, Balbriggan are Pat Reen (CEO Prosper), Cllr Tom O'Leary, Minister of State for Disabilities Finian McGrath, Senator James Reilly, Mary Walshe (HSE) and Cllr Gráinne Maguire
The new Dublin Rose to compete in the International Rose of Tralee festival is Maria Coughlan, a 25 year old school teacher from Malahide. This is the second year in a row that Malahide has produced the Dublin Rose after Lorna Whyte was chosen last year. Maria is the youngest of three children and teaches at St. Vincent de Paul Infant School on Griffith Avenue. She is a champion Irish dancer, having retired last year as a two time World Champion, five time All Ireland Champion and three time Dublin Regional Champion. She has recently set up her own school, the Coughlan School of Irish Dancing. Maria came out on top of a pool of 47 roses, 24 of whom qualified for the Dublin Rose Grand Final, hosted by RTE’s Marty Morrissey in the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport Hotel. Maria, who is pictured here with the current Rose of Tralee, Maggie McEldowney, will now go on to represent the capital at the 2017 International Rose of Tralee Festival in August