28^th April, 2009.

 Finneran disputes claims about lack of funding for Ballagh bypass

Richard Canny & Ciara McCaughley
Roscommon Champion

Local Minister Michael Finneran has disputed angry claims by a local Ballaghaderreen councillor that no funding is available to build the Ballaghaderreen bypass.  The controversy arose once more this week following claims by lobby group IBEC West that it had been told officially there was no funding for the long-awaited bypass scheme.

Following a recent meeting between IBEC West delegation and the National Roads Authority in Dublin, IBEC claimed in a media statement that while planning had been approved for both the Ballaghaderreen and Longford by-passes, NRA officials informed the business lobby group there was no funding available to commence construction.

This week, Independent Councillor John Kelly said the IBEC statement proved yet again there was never a serious commitment to the Ballaghaderreen bypass.  “Deputy Finneran’s public announcement of more than €60m funding for the scheme before the last election was used as an election ploy to get a sizeable Fianna Fail vote out of the Ballaghaderreen area.  Now it’s clear that voters have been sold a dummy,” said the councillor.

In 2007, Deputy Finneran said publicly that the by-pass could not go to the CPO stage without the €62 million funding already in place.  The scheme has now reached this stage and Minister Finneran, speaking yesterday (Tuesday) believed the project was still on track.  “As far as I am aware, the bypass is not yet ready to go out to tender.  The minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey only a few weeks ago at a public meeting in Ballaghaderreen, told a large crowd that when finance for the bypass was required, then it would be made available.  But to the best of my knowledge, the project is not at that stage yet.  I do not believe there is an issue with funding or will be in the future,” said Minister Finneran.

The Minister for Housing went on to say that the signing of the Compulsory Purchase Order was one of the major obstacles that any such project would face, yet this stage has already been completed.  “The project is on track to be delivered and to my knowledge there has been no impediment to the local authority on any front.  There are other stages to be completed before the bypass goes to tender so finance is not yet an issue, but when it is needed we have the assurance from the Minister of Transport that it will be provided,” he said.

However, Cllr John Kelly was adamant that given that the Ballagh bypass was not included in the Government’s Transport 21 document, which prioritises infrastructural projects up to 2010, casts further doubt over the validity of Minister Finneran’s assertions.  “When I told officials in the Department of the Environment and the NRA at the time about the big funding announcement from Deputy Finneran, they were flabbergasted.  They said they didn’t know anything about it.  This scheme will be long-fingered and that’s a certainty,” he said.

 Thu 10/05/2007

Kelly advises electorate to shout No

John Kelly continued his call for people to support his campaign to re-open rural Ireland at his campaign launch in home territory in Kenny's Bar in Rockfield.

Citing the example given to him by a constituent, Kelly called for the electorate to shout "no more" to the existing Government policy.

"Not too long ago in Donamon there were two large shops and a train station a post office and a dance hall-- now there is nothing, symptomatic of the effect that existing Government policy has had on rural Ireland," said Kelly.

"Post offices, shops, train stations, patient transport, what’s next?" Kelly enquired.

"The question is - are we going to continue to vote for the people that created this problem," said Kelly

Kelly committed to campaigning tirelessly for the introduction of rural transport so the marginalised and isolated could reconnect with the community thus geometrically improving the quality of their life he claimed.

And as the Hospital Action Supported candidate Kelly committed to harnessing people power to stop any potential downgrading of services at Roscommon.

Kelly cited the case of a person who attended the launch, whose eye sight was saved because his condition was stabilised by Accident and Emergency initially before been moved on for more specialised treatment elsewhere.

"It is so important that all surgical services are retained and upgraded in our Hospital. The minute we move some of our population out of the Golden Hour area, the more lives we put in danger," concluded Kelly

Mon 16/04/2007

John Kelly has called on South Leitrim voters to Vote Independent again.

Quoting the poll undertaken by the Sligo Weekender of over 500 people, which showed that 37% of people would give Marian Harkin their number one again if she sought re-election, John called on the independent voters to come out and make him their number one.

“Right across the constituency there is a significant independent vote. These voters have had enough of party politics, they want workers, issue driven people, not people bringing empty promises to their doorstep,” Kelly enthused at his latest constituency launch in Ballinmeen.

Kelly who already has accumulated a record of achievement since topping the Council poll in his constituency the first time around is delighted to have the endorsement of Marian HarkinTD and MEP, a lady who he describes as a perfect example of an independent who truly makes a difference.

“John Kelly is a problem solver and knows how to get things done. He can be the new torch carrier for the Roscommon/ South Leitrim constituency. I strongly recommend people give him a number one or two,” said Harkin.

Addressing a loyal and ever growing audience, Kelly believed that the late Tom Fox and Marian Harkin Independent votes would see him get the seat.

“Unofficial opinion polls show me in the race and the team has not really starting running yet. People want to re-open rural Ireland, they want access to basic health services that we took for granted in the past eg CWO service, out patient transport to clinics, of course County Hospital and much more – I will fight 24/7 for their “rights,” said Kelly.

In conclusion Cllr Kelly called on his supporters to do what they can through text, phonecall, email or personal visits to influence their friends to Vote John Kelly one or two.

Thu 12/04/2007

People and Politics will deliver Castlerea from its forgotten status claims John Kelly

From his canvass around his local town, John highlighted the disillusionment on the ground about the treatment of Castlerea by the authorities relative to Roscommon for example.

“I totally endorse the sentiment amongst businesses that the rates and development levies paid by businesses should stay in the town, and the funds used to tackle the infrastructure deficit,” he said.

To kickstart the process, Kelly has called on the Council to finance the building of a relief road for the town and as a matter of immediate attention sort out the danger spot at Hells Kitchen.

“Space exists for the development of two lanes outside Hells Kitchen on the Ballaghadereen road. This in addition to a small roundabout, would help to relive both the traffic congestion and danger at this corner,” he argued.

In the context of industry, Kelly highlighted the need for broadband right throughout the town.

“Broadband is a minimum prerequisite if you want to attract or develop small and big businesses that are sustainable in the long term,” he said.

Furthermore, Kelly called on Castlerea existing and potential entrepreneurs to lead the way and show their confidence by investing in the town.

“Many people on the doorsteps believed in the future of the town, but argued that leadership from those who could invest in the town, could bring it to the next level. Without doubt plans to develop an Industrial park in Castlerea is a step in the right direction,” he believed.

Finally, as a member of the Roscommon County Enterprise Board, Kelly called on people with ideas/potential entrepreneurs to make that phonecall, take that first step to starting a business in Castlerea by contacting the different development authorities ie CEB, Enterprise Ireland, Leader etc.

“Without doubt there has never been a better time to get support at all levels for a business idea. Furthermore the different boards provide enough training to help develop your idea or indeed stimulate your innate creativity that will help with idea generation,” he concluded.

More steps being taken to close rural Ireland?

General Election Candidate John Kelly claims that there is something very sinister happening behind the scenes with regard to our rural post offices.

"Repeated representations to the Minister to retain this service so as

to cater for the elderly and rurally isolated has met with blank silence,"

he claims.

"It appears that the Minister would prefer to do business with the big

banks - a strategy that may backfire," he added.

On this point, Cllr Kelly was delighted to see last week that the

Comptroller and Auditor General has expressed the same view as himself

that the use of post offices is a greater method of fraud control, than

paying social welfare into ones bank account.

"Now that this Government watchdog has made it clear to Minister Seamus

Brennan that his course of action is not the correct one, it will be

interesting to see if he acts on it, or continues to pursue his own

negative policy towards rural Ireland and the vulnerable people therein," Cllr Kelly concluded.

New HSE -  "cost cutters, not service providers."

General Election Candidate Councillor John Kelly has claimed this week that the new HSE structure has become a cost cutting operation, not a critical service provider.

“In their attempts to save €500 million annually, the vulnerable and marginalised are suffering. In the last week alone, I am hearing more and more examples as their policies kick in,” claimed Kelly.

Kelly continued by citing some recent examples:

(1)   “This week a woman from Loughglynn who had gone into labour had to wait  two and a half hours for an ambulance to arrive from Castlebar. This drama included the ambulance getting lost, and someone driving a twelve mile round trip to direct it to the woman’s house. Remember, the promised Ambulance base was given away to Mayo, instead of West Roscommon. Another bad decision, very simply we need an ambulance base here”, he said.

(2)   “An elderly man from Castlerea had to call Mid West radio requesting a lift to Galway to meet his cardiac appointment. Withdrawal of transport to outpatient clinics is another bad decision that is causing untold suffering amongst the vulnerable and marginalised,” he added.

But the worse has still to come, claims Kelly. “There is enough evidence to suggest that the next three costcutters are 1.Taking away surgical services from Roscommon Hospital. 2.Getting rid of your local Community Welfare Officers 3. Depriving people of access to their own Doctor by forcing people to use the services of West Doc, Now Doc and so on.

“Certainly all these measures have the potential to save money for the Government but as usual the vulnerable person in rural Ireland as always loses out,” he concluded.

John Kelly has called for fresh thinking, new perspectives to extricate towns like Boyle, Mohill, Castlerea, Strokestown from their “forgotten status.”

Kelly believes that a two prong strategy is the way forward.

The first part is creating an interagency “swot team” that would visit the town. There would be two objectives to their visit:

1. Highlight the various support services available to community groups, potential and existing businesses
2. Highlight the training needs in the area, and commit to addressing the training deficit as a matter of urgency.

“As a member of the Roscommon County Enterprise Board and Arigna Leader Board, I am aware of all the different supports that are available if people are willing to take that first step and talk to these agencies. The other value of the team would be to educate people of the differences between the supports offered by the agencies. Many, many people are completely confused on where they should look for help in the first instance,” claims Kelly.

The second part of the strategy is for the community to ensure full participation in the event and/or highlight potential leaders that can help maximise its effect.

“This is a critical part of the strategy. Too often courses are offered but take-up is low. To get these towns back on their feet, people power is the way forward. Possibility must replace apathy in the daily language. Strong participation will ensure that people are up-skilled in such key areas as sales/marketing/idea generation/motivation and more in addition to opening the door to getting funding for their idea,” said Kelly.

“The facts are according to the Global Entrepreneurial Monitor, Ireland ranks in the top two in Europe for entrepreneurial activity. In every community in this constituency, there is raw talent that needs to be harnessed and nurtured,” concluded Kelly

On the canvass in Boyle, Kelly  welcomed the news that the an Industrial Park was on the immediate agenda on the Roscommon Road out of Boyle in addition to the employment of an Enterprise Development Officer