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Ronnie Delaney from Ballyboughal was voted Overall Winner of the Fingal County Council Community Person of the Year 2014, at a ceremony which was held at the Draoicht Theatre, Blanchardstown last week. Ronnie is a tireless community volunteer in Ballyboughal and was a very popular and deserved winner. He is pictured here with his award in the presence of Paul Reid (Chief Executive Fingal County Council), Anne Marie Farrelly (County Council), County Mayor, Mags Murray, Patricia Delaney (Ronnie's wife). Mary Kennedy (Chairperson, Ballyboughal Pitch and Putt Club, who nominated Ronnie) and RTE personality, Mary Kennedy. See page 6 for more pictures.
11th November 2014 • Volume 21, Issue 41 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Chief Executive Buoyant After Inaugural Budget Pictured here are pupils of St Cronan's Junior National School in Swords who were winners of a highly commended award for best Junior Film "The Fish Who Cried Shark" at the 10th annual FIS Film Festival which took place in the Helix DCU recently. See story on page 10
DAA To Bypass Union In Pension Dispute On foot of our front page story last week, regarding the pension problems at Dublin Airport, it has come to light that SIPTU’s Pensions Committee at the Dublin Airport Authority, will not support restructuring proposals. The union has told the company that it will not recommend acceptance of pension restructuring proposals to address the €750 million deficit in the joint Aer Lingus/DAA pension scheme. However, it has emerged that DAA has hit back and has instigated measures that will allow it bypass the trade union, should they fail to reach agreement on a proposed new pension fund.
SIPTU claims DAA employees will come out with worse pension entitlements than Aer Lingus members of the scheme. This, along with the failure to reach
agreement with airport fire and police staff, has become a major stumbling block in the bid to reach a final settlement. The DAA has categorically rejected that claim, arguing that the proposals in the two companies are completely different and cannot be compared.
Workers in Aer Lingus voted to accept restructuring proposals to address the deficit, in their part of the joint pension scheme shared by the airline, the DAA and the Shannon Airport Authority. However, DAA and its unions have not yet finalised arrangements to address their portion of the deficit. SIPTU, which represents a majority of employees at the DAA, has told the company that it’s proposals to address the pension deficit are inadequate, and will not be recommended for acceptance. DAA has now advised the trustee of the troubled IASS pension fund that it will make a once-off lump sum payment available to all eligible staff, for the new defined contribution pension scheme, upon completion of the appropriate waiver form.
Continued on page 16
surplus from the Local Property Tax and €1m from NPPR arrears, as well as savings in spending of €2.1m in 2014. Reid spoke to the County Leader and said, “This was a very well supported budget and we want to get the good news out to residents. There are three key things from my perspective,” he said. “Investing more in services to our citizens, secondly, investing in key strategies to help to invigorate tourism in the region, and finally to By Patrick Finnegan create an environment to strengthen the local Investment in local services, job creation and economy, create jobs and build sustainable tourism are key elements of 2015 budget. It communities,” he said. represents the culmination of a huge “We believe that Budget 2015 delivers amount of work, and a period of extenon some key issues. We are putting an sive engagement with councillors, which extra €1.25 million into the Operational has been ongoing since late July. Works Programme, like road Discussions included the debate around maintenance, parks, pitches and the adjustment of the Local Property Tax traffic calming.” rate in the North County, which had a Perhaps the most significant funding knock on effect on the budget preparawill be the €1 million, which will be Chief Executive, tion. made available for Swords Castle, for Speaking at the budget meeting, an Paul Reid it’s development, as well as the develenthusiastic Chief Executive, Paul Reid set out opment of a cultural quarter in Swords. Reid the primary objectives, as increased investment confirmed that there is a design architect in citizen focused services, enhanced economic working on this at the moment, and the plan is activity and job creation, and investment in to develop the immediate area around the strategic assets to strengthen tourism potential. castle, like Main Street and North Street. This Important spending has been earmarked for was been given a very broad welcome by local some special projects in the county, as a result councillors, many of whom now believe that of extra funding, which has come to pass. this will open the way for Swords to become a This extra money has come from an extra major tourist destination. €2m from commercial rates, a €2m Continued on page 16 A real sense of hope and confidence is in the air, after County Council officials and councillors agreed their first annual budget for the year ahead. This new budget promises to be the start of exciting projects coming on stream by the local authority. The budget, which was the first one to be overseen by chief executive, Paul Reid, as well as many of the newly elected councillors, promises to be citizen focused.
Amie’s Cheque for Little Molly Lusk woman, Amie Doyle, who runs a beauty shop in Skerries called Amie’s Beauty Boutique, held a Shave and Dye event at Murray’s Top Shop In Lusk recently. She donated the funds, which amounted to €912 to the Molly McNally Miracle Trust on Friday last. The Molly McNally Miracle Trust was set up to fundraise for the little six year old Balbriggan girl, who is suffering from Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer. Amie has just returned from Jamaica,
where she qualified to compete in the Miss Europe competition. The competition is not the classic beauty contest, and is open to people who have undertaken exceptional fundraising events. Amie was victorious, winning the Miss Europe title. I’m representing four charities this year, as Miss Europe, and I’m delighted that the Molly McNally Miracle Trust is one of them, and I hope to undertake more fundraising for her in the next year,” said Amie. She presented the cheque to Molly’s
father, Gerry at his Balbriggan home, in the presence of little Molly, who was delighted to be the centre of attention. Amie wore her tiara, and Miss Europe sash, which little Molly took a shine to. “I got on amazingly. I won four awards altogether, but the most important one was the Miss Europe award, and I’m delighted to be here today to present a cheque to Gerry, who was very happy to receive it. “Amie has been brilliant and I want to thank her for her continuing support for us,” said Gerry
Pictured is Amie Doyle, as she presents a cheque for €912 to Gerry McNally for the Molly McNally Miracle Trust. Also pictured is a beaming Molly