Daly calls on County Council members to oppose closure of ward in St. Vincent’s , Athy

Speaking on the motion which he had put forward to Kildare County Council meeting opposing the closure of St. Camilus’ Ward in St Vincent’s Hospital, Athy, Cllr Richard Daly called on all of the councillors for support
“We sit here around this chamber wondering how we can make Kildare a better place to live while at the south of the county 26 elderly people have long term hospital beds removed. When events like this happen this is not a county or a country that we can be proud of. Yes, we know that there are economic difficulties to be faced and that €4 billion must be found to pay for the flagrant and irresponsible government of the past but I doubt that there is a person in this country who could approve of this injustice as an economic reaction.
My colleague on Mary O’ Sullivan on Athy Town council had unanimous support for a similar motion on the issue and my colleague Cllr Mark Wall successfully tabled a comprehensive motion on the issue at area Committee level and today it behoves us all to support this motion at county level.
There can hardly be a councillor here who is not aware of the good work done by St. Vincent’s hospital in Athy and there is hardly a family within the county which has not benefitted from the care and comfort of the facilities offered there.
I for one will not accept that this facility must suffer such a cutback. I will not see elderly people faced with costs of between €3000 and €5000 per month for private nursing care while at the same time those in banking and the top end of the public service are receiving obscene and exorbitant golden handshakes for their part in our downfall
A political party is a gathering of people who share a common vision and fight an electoral campaign to achieve power and implement that philosophy. I know the soldiers of destiny sitting here in this chamber must feel a sense of revulsion at this unkind assault on our elderly and I know them to be honourable people. I am asking them especially to support this motion and not just to support it but to carry loudly a message back to their organisation that they will not support the eviction of the elderly in county Kildare.
If you feel any doubt I can bring you to visit the affected families where grandparents are now in fear of having nowhere to go when the families can no longer care for them, where some couples will not this year get a break from their continual care of Dad because there is no respite bed for him, where another man hopes for speedy end because he cannot bear to see his son and daughter in law worry about how to find the finance for the nursing home care which he now requires.”
“This closure of St Camilus’ ward is not a temporary measure, it is not a final act but is the herald of future cuts in the provision of medical service to our region as the health authority for the region sinks deeper in debt in a country where the elderly and the young have become the collateral for the failed developer led economy” concluded Cllr. Daly.

Governments TDs take us for a spin on rural transport – Daly

Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael described as “disingenuous” the behaviour of Kildare’s government TDs who last week “took a trip” on rural Transport buses while at the same time their government is proposing the axing of this service.
“ It is really the general public who were being taken for a spin” claimed Cllr Daly when we see on one hand the Fianna Fail TDs telling us the value of the rural transport scheme while at the same time they will vote with their party when the time comes to end the service. If they genuinely wanted the service to continue the threat of the four Kildare Fianna Fail TDs alone would be strong enough to ensure its continuation.
For too long and on too many issues we have heard the government deputies claim that they support various issues but what can they do. The answer is very simple. They can vote against the measures that they oppose.
Deputies Power and O’Fearghail know who uses the rural transport scheme and it is the marginalised and isolated of our community. It is the elderly and the rural citizens who didn’t hear the Celtic Tiger growl. These deputies know what the loss of the scheme will mean to their constituents and they hold the power to speak out and vote on behalf of their people.”
“The silence of our government deputies has been deafening on the closure of St Camillus’s ward in St Vincent’s hospital and now as another assault on our elderly is being proposed I am asking our deputies to put people before party and vote to protect the rights of our citizens particularly our marginalised” he added

Improved Result for Athy in Tidy Towns – Daly

Speaking after the announcement of the 2009 Tidy Town Results, cllr Richard Daly said that great credit was due to Athy for having increased their result by 9 points on last year.
“I am personally pleased that my native hometown of Emly in Co. Tipperary is the overall winner of this year’s competition but particularly want to congratulate Athy for a marked improvement in its’ overall result. In 2008 Athy achieved a score of 253 and this year the total has gone up a remarkable 9 points to 262.
I particularly want to thank the Athy Tidy Towns Committee, the local Authorities of Athy Town Council and Kildare County Council, Athy Chamber of Commerce, ShopAthy and the many organisations, local resident groups and individuals whose work have improved the appearance of Athy.
Athy is a good place to live and is having a very successful year with several festivals and occasions from the County Show, the Bluegrass Festival, The TriAthy, The Shackleton Weekend, the National Ploughing Championship and much more.
We have seen new Youth Café, Swimming Pool, new Athy College and school buildings and the Methodist Arts Centre all open this year.
Recent successes of Eric Dovovan captaining the Irish Squad to the World Amateur Boxing Championships and Charmaine Kenny becoming this year’s Rose of Tralee ( with Romy Farrelly a very credible contestant) have made Athy known throughout and beyond this country.”
I don’t want to be accused of borrowing someone else’s phrase but we have a lot done and more to do.
“However Athy can be justifiably proud of all of its successes and well done to all” he concluded

Daly strongly opposes the impending closure of ward at St. Vincents, Athy

Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael has strongly criticised the proposed closure of a 26 bed ward for elderly patients at St. Vincents Hospital, Athy.

“I am strongly opposed to the diminution of the facilities offered to elderly patients at St. Vincent’s. The hospital has served the town and the county’s elderly population very well over the years and the reduction of service is to the most vulnerable sector of our community. How it could even be contemplated seems incredible.

Many patients come to St. Vincent’s following their release from Naas General hospital and St. Vincent’s assists their recuperation while they are not suitable to return to a domestic situation. In a caring society we should be prioritising and promoting such centres instead of cutting back on them.

I will be using every effort at County Council level to highlight this unfair situation and asking all to put pressure on the HSE to lift their embargo in the interests of continuing to provide a quality service to our elderly citizens. It is unacceptable that the weakest in our society are victims of government mismanagement of our finances over the years.”

Cllr Daly said that HSE proposals to develop quality primary cares centres and centres of excellence can not be at the price of neglecting our elderly patients. Health is a priority and this latest proposed cutback is shameful