HSE to meet groups on ambulance changes
By JOE LEOGUE

Thursday December 15 2011

INNOVATION Minister Sean Sherlock has confirmed late Wednesday evening (as The Corkman was going to press) that the HSE is to meet local Dr Bertie Daly and members of a Youghal-based protest group to discuss proposed changes to the Cork ambulance service with a view to ‘working out, compromising and engaging with people on their proposals.’

“The view amongst doctors on the ground was that this was being presented as a done deal, as if their concerns are not being listened to.

“As a Minister, my view is that if there are changes it should be about bringing people with you, to work towards engagement with a progress reporting mechanism coming back to local representatives,” he said. CORK people have been called upon to volunteer to respond to heart attacks within eight minutes — so the Health Service Executive can reach its targets for responding to cardiac incidents.

At a press conference on changes to the ambulance service in Cork and Kerry last Monday, the National Ambulance Service confirmed that members of the public trained to use defibrillators are counted as ‘first responders’ under the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) evaluation system.

 

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De Valera street to stay two-way as Youghal council finally adopts a traffic management proposal. – By Christy Parker

YOUGHAL TOWN COUNCIL will hope to have ended four years of uncertainty and discontent having adopted a resolution to the traffic management issues surrounding the Ashe Street-De Valera Street-Emmet Place-Church Street routes at a special meeting last Tuesday morning (November 29th).

The meeting, which was held ‘in committee’ (private) was attended by all nine councillors –Mayor Eoin Coyne (FF) and Cllrs Barbara Murray (FG), Michael Beecher (FG), Michelle Hennessy (SF), Eoin Flanagan (SF), Liam Burke (Greens), Sammy Revins (FF),Tara O’Connell (Lab) and Mary Linehan-Foley (FF) and lasted about 90 minutes.

The meeting considered two proposals according to Mayor Coyne. “The first proposal, by Liam Burke was to leave matters as they are, i.e. De Valera Street two-way, Ashe Street and Emmet Place two-way, Church Street downwards only but closed through the tourist season of June, July and August to facilitate the Heritage Trail and increased tourism,” he says.

A counter proposal, from Cllr Linehan-Foley, also argued for the status quo to be retained but with Church Street open throughout the year. “She felt the three-month closure would cause too much hassle and confusion” says he mayor.

The first vote saw Cllr Linehan-Foley’s proposal also supported by Cllrs Hennessy, Flanagan and Mayor Coyne. The proposal was defeated 5-4 with Cllrs Beecher, Murray, Burke, O’Connell and Revins opposing. Cllr Burke’s proposal was then adopted 5-4 with the councillors retaining their stance.

Lines and signs

The mayor explains that both proposals carried an amendment that double yellow lines will apply to both sides of De Valera Street and the residents consequently obliged to avail of the lane’s car park, where resident permit parking is in place. However, a set-down area is to be provided for the veterinary surgeon’s practice. The mayor adds that “elongated rumble strips in the less populated parts of Ashe Street and Emmet Place will also be installed to calm traffic.”

Furthermore, access to Ashe Street via Hayman’s Hill is to be limited to local traffic, with appropriate signage to this effect erected at the entrance to Hayman’s Hill and the junction of Windmill Hill/Ashe Street. Again Mayor Coyne hopes and believes that people will observe this restriction, while deciding it is up to drivers to obey the law traffic warden and gardaí to enforce it. He expects the signage to be erected within six weeks.

Self-calming

Meanwhile it was decided that traffic calming –whether rumble strips or chicanes- on De Valera was unnecessary.  Instead the council opted to lace faith in Cork County Council traffic engineer Eileen Coleman’s opinion that traffic would ‘be self-calming’ on the basis that drivers approaching each other in opposite direction would slow down. How drivers will react on a clear stretch of laneway when there is no approaching vehicle nearby will soon become evident! “People aren’t stupid. They know it’s a built up area,” trusts the mayor, with abounding faith in that portion of humanity that has been sitting behind wheels and causing regular carnage since the horse became expendable!

The agreed measures will see traffic flow on DeValera Street relived for most of the year but possibly increase dramatically during the peak summer season, unless the ‘locals only’ stipulation is observed, in which case the main street will bear the extra volume.

In the coming weeks residents of the affected areas will be formally notified of the council’s ruling. Undoubtedly some will be happy and some will be quite the opposite. To be fair, it’s easy to find weaknesses in any proposal, given Youghal’s infrastructure and the dearth of car parking space at the southern entrance to town.

Any new system cannot hope to please everyone and only time will tell if there is sufficient support and effect to see this adopted proposal and its various accessories survive to permanency. The mayor accepts that time will provide the test but adds that everything “is open to review and people can always make representations.” He assures, finally, that the council will be flexible and considerate wherever and whenever it is deemed necessary to be so. It took a long time to get there. Hopefully the journey is over.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork East, Sandra McLellan, has claimed the ambulance service in the HSE South area is at breaking point and that the planned reconfiguration of the service will drive it over the edge.

Speaking in response to leaked HSE memos Deputy McLellan said:

“Internal HSE memos revealed by the Corkman this week confirm that there were several instances when areas in Cork were left without adequate ambulance cover due to new work directives. The HSEs answer to this appears to be to ask ambulance crew to routinely cover on-call after already working a 16 hour day. This is completely outrageous and in direct contradiction to earlier instruction issued in May.”

“It beggars belief that the HSE would expect ambulance staff to be in any fit state to deliver appropriate care after such a long day. The role paramedics play in the pre-emergency care of patients is vital. I have said from the outset that the HSEs plan to reconfigure ambulance services is seriously flawed. I have called on the Government and the HSE to invest in the ambulance fleet and in ambulance personnel. The recruitment embargo continues to have a devastating effect on the service.”

“This series of internal communications highlights the fact that the service is at breaking point, with insufficient staff and an inappropriate skills mix to deliver the service in the new dispensation. That the HSE would even contemplate reconfiguring the service without addressing these deficiencies is life threatening.”

Related Video: Save Youghal Ambulance – Protest Walk 29 July 2011

YOUGHAL SEWERAGE SCHEME  PROGRESS REPORT – By Christy Parker

Youghal Town Clerk Liam Ryan provided the November town council meeting with a progress report on the long-awaited Youghal Sewerage Scheme. There isn’t, in lay man terms, anything immensely significant to report, with the final assessment in the 11-point synopsis the most telling factor, ie “Subject to funding….”

The report runs as follows:

1.Finance:

The scheme is included in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-12, with the marginal capital cost calculated as 32%. Should tenders be returned at the budget estimate of €18m, Cork County Council will be asked provide €5.76m.

2. Planning

Youghal Town Council has granted planning permission for the pumping stations and same is not required for the waste water treatment plant.

3. Land Acquisition:

Cork County Council has purchased the site for the Waste Water Treatment Plant, with agreement made regarding land for an access road to the plant. Contracts are presently being prepared.

4. Foreshore Licence:

Cork County Council has applied to the Dept. Of Environment, Community and Local Government for a

Foreshore Licence for the proposed main outfall.

5. Waste Water Discharge Licence:

Cork County Council has applied to the EPA for a Wastewater Discharge Licence, with additional information returned as sought.

6. Archaeology and Ecology:

There were no adverse findings following an Appropriate Assessment for the Waste Water Treatment Plant site and the discharge to the Blackwater. Archaeological monitoring of the Investigations contracts did not record anything of significance.

7. Investigations Contracts/Surveys:

All Investigation Contracts and Surveys required for the design have been completed, while a preconstruction condition survey will be procured to access the condition of building close to sewer routes.

8. Design:

Design is now complete, with elements of the scheme revised to provide cost savings.

9. Contract Documents:

Comments have been received from the Dept. of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Contract documents have been revised to incorporate design and comments returned.

10. Construction Procurement:

Pre-qualification of Contractor to Tender has commenced.

11. Construction:

Subject to funding and approvals, commencement is anticipated for mid-2012.

A NEW ART GALLERY will open its doors for the first time on Wednesday, 30th of November.The official opening of  Gallery Frida will be performed by the Mayor of Youghal, Eoin Coyne. The first exhibition will support an Orphanage Project in Uganda (Toro Babies Home) run by Norwegian volunteers. The gallery is run by Danish man Lars Moeslund and artist Lora Murphy and the public are welcome to the opening. The gallery has its name from the mexican painter Frida Kahlo, who by her life has inspired Lora. Gallery Frida is situated at 38 South Main Street, Youghal.

The gallery will open with an exhibition called “Summer in December”, Plein Air, to bring in light and warmth in this dark and cold season. There will be represented around 20 established painters from all over Ireland. The plein Air part of the exhibition will be at the ground level and at the first floor Lora will exhibit some of her own paintings together with another female painter Barbara O’Meara from Greystones.

The exhibition will be opened on the 30th of November from 5-8 pm and the Mayor of Youghal, Eoin Coyne, will officially open the exhibition at 5.30 pm.

Part of the commission from selling the paintings will be used to support an Orphanage Project in Uganda (Toro Babies Home)run by Norwegian volunteers.

Dan Aage Mortensen from Norway is part of the volunteer group that raises money for the project in Norway. All money for this project is given by donors (private persons and companies).

This exhibition will become part of the project by donating 25% of the commission directly to the project in Uganda.

Gallery Frida will continue to donate money to the project in Uganda after this exhibition is over.

The Orphanage houses 50-60 children, who have no parents or their parents are dying of AIDS. The children live at the Orphanage with a “substitute mother” and have a life as normal as possible going to school and having a family. Almost all money from donation goes directly to the Orphanage. The plan is to make the Orphanage self sufficient with its own food (vegetables, milk, egg and honey) in the years to come. That will cost a good deal of money and therefore the money from this exhibition will be welcomed very much.
The exhibition will run from 30.th of November to 24th of December 2011 (12-6 pm every day).

Mayor calls for clubs and organisations to come together for 2013 Tourism Initiative to help Youghal prosper.

THE MAYOR OF YOUGHAL, EOIN COYNE, would like to extend an open invitation to all clubs (sporting and otherwise), associations, voluntary organisations and interested members of the public within the town of Youghal to attend an information meeting in relation to Ireland’s 2013 tourism initiative titled “The Gathering”, which takes place in the Mall Arts Centre, Youghal Town Hall on Wednesday the 30th of November at 7.30pm.

The Gathering, which was announced by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar, is being labelled as a global Irish “homecoming” which has been billed as the biggest tourism initiative ever staged in Ireland. The Gathering will be a year-long event in 2013 and the Government is anticipating it will attract as many as 325,000 extra visitors into Ireland. Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar described it as an “invitation to the world to come and join in Ireland’s renewal”.

“It’s about getting communities, local authorities and sports clubs and families behind the whole concept, and getting actively involved and inviting people to come, and organizing specific events for that purpose”, said the Minister.

It is my hope that Youghal, as a community will take a unified approach in coming up with ideas and concrete plans into ensuring we prosper to our full potential from this initiative.

It is said that if the event can meet its targets it could be worth €220m in extra tourism revenue for Ireland. It is imperative that Youghal can as one whole community can work together in putting forward a cohesive plan that will enhance the town’s tourism potential and I believe that this is the perfect opportunity for us to achieve this.

It is my belief and my hope that EVERY organisation within the town will buy into this initiative and within five months, when “The Gathering” is due to be officially launched on St. Patricks Day 2012, we as a community, inclusive to all, can be steps ahead of other towns in Ireland in putting plans together for 2013.

I look forward to welcoming you to the Town Hall on the 30th of November next where I hope to explain in greater detail about what is hoped to be achieved. If you require any further information on this, please do not hesitate to contact me on e-coyne@hotmail.com alternatively, a quick internet search on “The Gathering, Ireland 2013” will provide you with all the information you need.

Eoin Coyne, Mayor of Youghal.

 

Labour TD Sean Sherlock attends special meeting of Youghal Town Council. – By Christy Parker

CORK EAST LABOUR TD SEAN SHERLOCK discussed a range of local issues during a specially convened meeting with Youghal Town Council on Monday October 24th. Deputy Sherlock is Minister of State, Department of Enterprise, Jobs & Innovation and Department of Education & Skills with responsibility for Research & Innovation.

Due to various circumstances, just four councillors attended the 10 am assembly, they being Cllrs Mary Linehan-Foley, Eoin Flanagan, Liam Burke and Tara O’Connell. Town Clerk Liam Ryan and assistant town clerk Helen Mulcahy, were also present.

Cllr O’Connell:

The occasion marked the first attendance and formal co-option of Tara O’Connell, who was succeeding her late father Tommy in the chamber. All present in turn offered words of welcome and encouragement to the new member. For her part the councillor thanked the council executive and staff for its support during the occasion of her father’s passing. She also expressed gratitude to the council for providing a guard of honour at her late father’s funeral. She looked forward greatly to doing her best in the chamber “for the town, for my family and for my dad.”

Deputy Sherlock:

Deputy Sherlock then explained that he was liaising with all town councils in his constituency, while reassuring that he would do all within his capability to advance Youghal’s interests. He drew comparisons with his native Mallow in terms of both areas being RAPID towns “lacking in inward investment.” He added that he would be meeting IDA Chief Executive Barry O’Leary later that week to discuss the issue of investment in such towns, particularly given Mr. O’Leary’s recent statement that investment was primarily focused in the larger urban areas. “We need to know why this is,” he observed.

Broadband and IDA:

The deputy stressed the importance of infrastructure, including broadband, being upgraded to meet and attract investment. Asked by Mayor Eoin Coyne if there was a national strategy towards such broadband infrastructure, Deputy Sherlock said there was a proposal through Cork Chamber of Commerce to develop a transatlantic cable link through a consortium. It was being proposed that the State would meet part of the cost. The venture would have widespread communications and economic benefits, he noted, to the entire southern region.

In terms of industrial initiatives, the deputy felt that small units – employing 10-20 maximum- was now the realistic aspiration. He believed that towns like Youghal were best suited to acquiring such models as start-up companies aka the Rubicon Centre in CIT.

Town Clerk Liam Ryan said the IDA’s apparent policy of focusing on larger urban areas was “very concerning” regarding school leavers and college graduates who could not see a future in Youghal beyond the struggling retail sector. He inquired whether there was any advance from the IDA on the Amgen site and was told that “it seems to be off the agenda.”

Tourism -and waste water treatment:

Deputy Sherlock said he envisaged tourism as a lynchpin in Youghal’s development and viewed it as being open to practical, day to day assistance from central government under local strategy initiatives as against being part of the national economic strategy. Mr. Ryan said Youghal had benefited somewhat under the economic strategy but that RAPID statistics showed persistent underlying problems regarding education, unemployment, etc.

The town clerk argued that the provision of a secondary treatment and waste water plant as crucial to Youghal’s tourism development, especially given its reliance on blue flag status. He said the present situation offered no guarantee that the three flags in residence will remain. The deputy promised to investigate the status of the project within the Department of the Environment.

Education:

Deputy Sherlock said education was fundamental to improving job prospects and asked whither Youghal’s status on night classes, courses etc.  Mr Ryan said the uptake on such classes in Youghal was unfortunately quite small and presented a challenge. In the course of some discussion, it was agreed that Midleton, with its immense variety and quality of courses, was attracting Youghal people to the detriment of local provision. The visitor agreed to seek out ideas on improving the balance through talks with the VEC and SECAD. Cllr Burke said the town needed a dedicated adult education officer, which the visitor noted.

The town clerk asked if it was possible to increase the number of Fás course deployed in the town from the current total of three, which incorporates about 45 workers. He said most Fás workers were engaged in sports and heritage projects, while an envisaged course in stonemasonry seemed to have been shelved. The deputy asked whether there had been any engagement by Youghal Town Council with Rubicon technological advances centre at CIT on heritage matters. “The Enterprise Centre has,” said Mr. Ryan, adding that, while the centre is doing quite well, remained interested in acquiring spin-off benefits from Rubicon as part of its expansion plans, which also included arts and crafts.

Mr. Ryan further reminded that the town was particularly dependent on the town council’s involvement in job creation and tourism, etc. and that the proposed restructuring or diminishment of local government could seriously jeopardise that. He cited Aura, the Enterprise centre and heritage projects by example. “The county council could not provide the same level of service,” he advised. Cllr Burke echoed the sentiments. “Duly noted,” was the measure of the deputy’s reply.

Deputy Sherlock then said that the Rubicon is working on mp3 wireless technological to augment the Mallow heritage trail. He proposed that he accommodate contact between Youghal Town Council and Rubicon by way of investigating the potential for Youghal in that field.

Academic links:

Mayor Coyne again asked for an update as to any national strategy to enhance rural areas for enterprise investment. Deputy Sherlock again stressed that increasing the level of education attainment in Rapid towns particularly, was the first step necessary. He also suggested that a certain degree of emigration/travel was inherent in the Irish post-graduate practice as an island nation. That aside, he repeated his view that smaller units of 10-20 employees –as against large factories- was the likely blueprint for the future in such towns. “The Small Business Advisory Group is currently trying to make it more attractive for those within the SMEs to employ more people, through easier regulation, etc,” he added. “We want to make Youghal attractive to investors. Higher education attainment and proper facilities and infrastructure can do that. If a town can develop an academic it helps that town a lot, such as Youghal and maybe CIT, for example.”

Supporting that theme, Cllr Linehan Foley recalled that WIT students had made an immense impression a year previous when charged with a project to create investment and development opportunities for Nealon’s Quay. (One wonders where those inventive and inspired ideas now rest.). Deputy Sherlock said he would endeavour to establish some academic links forthwith, bearing in mind also that the town has the extra advantage of strong interaction with west Waterford.

Trains and boats:

Cllr Burke advocated re-opening the Youghal-Midleton-Cork rail link, arguing that various reports had insisted that only then could Youghal reach its full potential. He said Cobh and Midleton operate rail services to Cork and Youghal could do likewise. “CIE has indicated support, providing the State funded it,” he observed. Duly noted.

Mr Ryan wondered if the deputy could investigate whither stands the funding strategy for marinas, while emphasising that Youghal was strategically placed for such a development and was considered thus within the South Cork Maritime Strategy. Deputy Sherlock sought information on applications for foreshore licences that had already been mooted. Mr. Ryan said there seemed to be a lack of funding schemes now available and a developer had not proceeded with applications for previous schemes. He proceeded that it remains a town council priority to provide a marina and that a number of sites had been identified. He needed an update on funding possibilities, he said before outlining the immense economic potential for the local and national economies by the installation of such a facility.

The deputy didn’t see the railway line being re-opened in the near future due to economic circumstances. Regarding the marina he knew there “were certain issues” surrounding the issue of foreshore licences but would now “raise the issue” with the relevant minister.

Cllr Burke also asked whether funding could be accessed to ensure remedial work on the sea wall on Youghal promenade. “It has been pinpointed as a top priority within Cork County Council,” added the town clerk, adding that a funding application had been forwarded to the Dept of Environment. “About a third of it has been completed and the tender stage has been reached or the second third,” he added. Duly noted by Deputy Sherlock, the meeting then concluded.

Submissions are invited from interested parties to take ownership of Eochaill, the salmon yawl built in 15th century Tynte’s Castle during summer 2010 in a tourism and heritage project. The boat’s construction was overseen by master boat builder Jimmy Horgan from Youghal and was officially launched by MEP Sean Kelly last month. The project was supported by Youghal Socio Economic Development Group (YSEDG) and SECAD.

YSEDG representative Cllr Barbara Murray says ideally the boat would be taken over by a group or society, such as a rowing or fishing club, though individuals are not being discounted. “The most important criterion is that it is put to use in a non-profit making, sport or leisure capacity,” she says, adding “we have one interested source at present.”  Interested parties are asked to contact the YSDEG or Barbara on 087-2854971

YOUGHAL’S MUNICIPAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE has received €60,000 from the Heritage Council of Ireland towards further restoration work on the Town Walls. The figure represents 90% of the total budget allocated nationally for 2011. The information was contained in a Municipal Heritage Policy report by Cllr Liam Burke to Youghal Town Council’s September meeting.  He said the money will be used on projects to remove vegetation from the walls as well as cleaning, repointing, strengthening and other repair work on the section of walls between the Jail Steps and Sarsfield’s Terrace. A contractor has been selected and the work “should commence immediately and be completed by the end of the year,” he added.

Other items contained in the report included:

Youghal Town Council’s Public Realm Plan: The latest phase has been completed, at Emmet Place. Together with finished works at Church Street the project is deemed to “represent a considerable enhancement to the most important heritage area of the town.”

Graveyard Wall: A collapsed area between St. Mary’s Collegiate Church and St. Mary’s College Gardens has been repaired and new railings have been installed, “resulting in considerable visual improvement.”

Clock Gate:

Following the KPMG Feasibility Study and Conservation Report, this year has seen the completion of a subsequent Business Plan. The building has been leased to the Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group which is now in a position to seek SECAD funding for necessary works. “The restoration of the Clock Gate and its re-opening to the public is considered an immensely important policy objective of Youghal Town Council,” says the report, “and a successful funding application would bring it closer to reality in the not too distant future.”

Medieval Day:

The 2011 Medieval Day, in reasonably good weather, was deemed exceptionally successful and attracted an estimated 6,000 visitors throughout the day. This would “probably represent the highest attendance” for any such event by participating towns in Ireland. Local traders sponsored raffle prizes, for which their generosity and support are very much appreciated.  The committee members are thanked, including Mayor Eoin Coyne and Cllrs Mary Linehan-Foley and Barbara Murray. Gratitude is also extended to all others who assisted in organising the event, participant stall holders, others who helped on the day (including the Youghal Concerned Citizens group) and the media for their interest and promotion.

YOUGHAL TOWN COUNCIL has adopted a draft plan to half its development contributions from €5,000 to €2,500 (per car parking space). A further amendment to the legislation to make special provision for developments in certain areas of the town was also discussed and will form the core of a motion to be tabled by Cllr Barbara Murray at October’s town council meeting.

The decision to adopt the draft plan was taken at a special sitting of the council on Tuesday September 20th to review the current development scheme plan. Town Clerk Liam Ryan told the meeting that that plan had undergone the public consultation process with no submissions. Meantime it allowed for any development that commences in 2011, having been granted planning permission and where it was visibly obvious that no development had yet taken place, would be able to avail of reduced charges.

The town clerk added that a number of small developments that have such planning permission are now in position to avail of the reduced charges. “This should to generate economic activity in the town,” he observed.

Specific Areas

Cllr Barbara Murray welcomed the adoption, saying Youghal had been “off the Richter scale”  with €5,000 charges at a time when Midleton was charging €1,800 and Cobh €2,900. The councillor then argued for a more discriminatory scheme to boost economic development. She proposed that the town council should endeavour to reduce further, or even eliminate, car space charges in certain areas, most probably within the ‘tourist trail’ (town centre) region. “The town clerk and town architect could look at areas to create incentives and select such areas where we want to see development happening,” she suggested

The councillor based much of her argument on the premise that even at €2,500, a premises changing use to increase its car parking facilities by four spaces, would incur a €10,000 fee “before a shovel was lifted.” She proceeded, “Our hands are tied regarding rates but can development contributions are reserved functions and if we do it now, people waiting to commence developments can benefit immediately.”

However Mr. Ryan said it would presently not be legally possible to incorporate this facet into the plan. He told the meeting, “If you do that without adopting the current draft scheme first, then the old development contribution scheme will still apply and you’d have to go through another public consultation process to change it. Nobody could then start a new development under the lower rate scheme.” He further explained that if the council merely adopted the reduced rate section, developers could benefit immediately. The members could then look at specifying certain areas for further amendments later on.

Cllr Murray accepted this and said she would table a motion of October’s full council seeking consideration of special rates for specific areas. Cllr Sammy Revins, in advance, asked that the Strand be included due to depreciating economic fortunes.