Kildare needs urgent medical attention – Daly

With an EU average of one doctor for every 1000 of the population Kildare has a staggering average of 3100 people to every doctor putting it as one of the highest in Ireland and in Europe according to Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael.

“The growth of population in Kildare has not been matched by a similar increase in the provision of GPs and the HSE has not increased the number of GPs to correspond with the demand. Annually hundreds of doctors attempt to qualify as GPs but are turned away by a 121 limit by the HSE. Despite promises to increase this number and despite the proven demand the number of places has failed to increase to 150.

Kildare has the second highest ratio in the country with 3105 potential patients to each doctor while some “lucky” counties like Sligo have a ratio of one doctor to every 1485, which is still 50% greater than the European average.

The shortage of GPs has significant consequences for the health of a county because inevitably diagnosis and treatment are delayed as appointments are more difficult to schedule and this could conceivably put lives at risk. Kildare GPs themselves are under immense pressure to expand patient lists and provide a service to numbers way in excess of what would be the norm anywhere else in Europe.

The Minister for Health needs to examine the situation, particularly in Kildare, as people moving could find that they can’t get included on doctors patient lists. The demand for GPs certainly exists in the county and it is the responsibility of the Minister and the HSE to ensure that there is adequate doctor provision throughout the county.” said Cllr Daly

Daly congratulates Athy boxers on National success

Congratulations are due to members of Athy’s St. Michael’s Boxing Club following fantastic success in the National Amateur Boxing Finals in Dublin last night according to Athy’s Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael.

“Athy must be very proud of the four boxers who gave excellent performances in the National Stadium last night and brought credit to the town, their club and their families. Not only did three of the boxers win national titles but they did it under the watchful eye of National President Dom O’Rourke.

Unfortunately Tommy Sheahan’s sterling performance was not enough for a title but Roy Sheahan, David Oliver Joyce and John Joyce won their categories and saw St Michael’s club win the lion’s share of the national titles.

Ross Hickey from Grangecon was also a title winner having beaten Athy’s Eric Donovan the previous night so another title also came to the locality.

These young sportsmen now prepare for Olympic qualification and are examples of perseverance and commitment to all of our young people.

I congratulate the club, Dom O’Rourke and the fine sportsmen who brought honour to the town once again.

Minister pours cold water on schools finances - Daly

For schools throughout the country that have been waiting for school buildings, extra staffing, resource teachers and classroom assistants the latest announcement that water charges are to be applied to schools comes as no surprise. The charge is in reality a cutting of the schools budget as it represents a new liability, according to Athy’s Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael

“Obviously conserving water should be a priority for all of us, schools included. Has the Department of Education included the provision of storage tanks for roof water in all of its newly built schools? Has the department included the provision of environmentally friendly renewable fuel burners in the heating system of all new schools? Has the Department of Education included the provision of solar panels, lighting timer switches, CFL bulbs, ICT paperless recordkeeping and administration systems within its organisation or many of the other “green” initiatives. Instead all of these issues are passed down to local school management.

The mixed logic of on one hand providing funding for school meals and simultaneously charging for the use of water seems to indicate a lack of thinking on this issue.

Conservation of water in schools is a design issue and the use of half flush toilets, recycled natural water, etc., require remedial and expensive plumbing changes. This year instead of prioritising an aggressive Summer Works scheme to address plumbing and water conservation issues in school in advance of water charges, the Department instead abandons the very scheme which could make inroads into these issues in older schools and declares that it will not be operating a Summer Works scheme this year.

The Minister for Education must begin to take responsibility for the operation of schools within her charge and should begin to address the water conservation issue in advance of punitive charges” said Cllr Daly.

Government has become like a Christmas Panto - Daly

As we start a new year the need for real government was never more apparent than at the moment with a complete lack of confidence and direction in and by a government which seems ill equipped for the job according to Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael

“At the end of last year we saw Noel Dempsey practice his “Oh yes, we will!/Oh no, we won’t routine” in his pronouncements about provisional driving regulations. Mary Hanafin also auditioned for the part of the jester with her dictate to charge schools for water usage “Oh yes, we will/ Oh no, we won’t”. Meanwhile in another theatre Taoiseach Ahern has treated audiences to “Oh yes, I did/ Oh no, I didn’t”. While this is the panto season the audiences are not laughing when they realise that the performance fees for the total government cast, although slightly deferred, have increased by an industrial wage.” said Cllr Daly

“At a time of such economic uncertainty we need strong government and well planned economic policy. The current programme is not the one advertised on the posters last Summer. The promised health and educational improvements which were promised have not materialised and six months later we are getting the mixed messages from the government parties who told us that they were the only ones who could ensure fulfilment of their election promises. So now is the time to deliver.

House sales and manufacturing are suffering while oil prices are posing a new challenge to our economy. Crime and the prominence of drugs in our community are the hallmarks of the government which promised zero tolerance.

We need delivery of commitments to the people and we need strong economic strategy which will lead to investment in our country.

It may be panto season but it is time for our government to get its act together and get the show on the road”.