Comments on: Youghal Town Cllr. Donie Daly calls for additional MABS resources for East Cork

By: Ryan Murphy

Ryan Murphy — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:56:24 +0000

Hear hear, to both of you

Sean Sherlock is a credit to his profession.

I can say first hand, that there are many many people out there, that are feeling financial stress for the first time in over a decade, or in some cases for the first time in their lives. Cumann Na Daoine’s proactive approach is definitely most welcome, but now, as said, is when these services, whether provided by the state (or more often, given the way this country operates-by well meaning individuals and groups who offer up their own time and effort for the good of the community), are needed more than ever.

We do know one thing however, Michael Ahern *does* know the way to Youghal. He found it fast enough when a photo opportunity with An Taoiseach beckoned recently.

By: Cllr. Donie Daly

Cllr. Donie Daly — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:29:12 +0000

Thanks for your comments Eanna,
I certainly was not advocating a cut in the services being provided for in other areas, but I would like an equitable distribution of the resources that are there!
As you stated there was an outreach service in 2005/2006, and I would agree that the relatively modest take up was due to the fact that the majority of people were in a far better financial situation than they are currently facing.
I cant see why an outreach service could not be provided for the people of East Cork – why should this region get the thin edge of the wedge yet again!
The problem all along has been a lack of desire on behalf of our public representatives to highlight this situation – the reason being? MABS is a politically controlled organisation and provision of this service has been historically at the whim of Fianna Fail.
You are correct in saying that Sean Sherlock will continue to lobby for this service for East Cork, and he has been a staunch supporter of it, ever since I made him aware of the situation. Sean has been a TD representing Cork East with a little over 2 years, however we have had 2 FF TDs ‘representing’ East Cork with 27 years (in Govt. for 19 of those years) and I for one haven’t heard too much lobbying from them on anything East of Carrigtwohill or South of Rathcormac in a long time!

By: Eanna Dowling

Eanna Dowling — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:17:00 +0000

Hi Donie,

the solution to the lack of MABS services in East Cork involves recruiting or allocating more staff or volunteers to provide an outreach service; and utilising existing community facilities to host the service. The solution does not involve cutting services where they are needed in West Cork, North Cork and Cork City.

I read the East Cork Journal and Youghal online stories expressing your appropriate concerns about the lack of a MABS service in East Cork.

When I was the co-ordinator of Cumann na Daoine CDP, we hosted MABS outreach services on the premises. That was back in 2005/06. Although we advertised the service extensively locally, the uptake was modest at that time. Mostly it was existing MABS clients from the area that availed of the outreach, saving them the journeys to Cork.

I’m quite certain that the demand for MABS services here in Youghal and throughout East Cork has grown a lot since them, and I’m absolutely convinced that there are individuals and families in our community that need to sort out their financial situation as soon as possible.

In my view, it could be relatively simple to co-ordinate an outreach service using existing community facilities such as the Citizen Information Centre or the CDP in Youghal; the Library in Midleton; the Community facility in Carrigtwohill; and the Citizens Information Centre or the Community Centre in Cobh.

The problem is going to be allocating the MABS staff to cover an outreach service. It’s a vital service and chronically under-resourced, given the way things have gone. The Citizens Information Centres provide essential information using a mix of paid staff and volunteers. This could be looked at as a model for MABS.

Hopefully Mr Sherlock and others will continue to lobby at national level for further investment in the MABS service.

Éanna Dowling