By Dan Walsh
A new Community Car for the parish of Taghmon Camross was officially launched by Cllr. Jim Moore, at the Taghmon Action Group building, and the Cathaoirleach of Rosslare Municipal District welcomed the initiative.
Cllr Moore said; “This is a fantastic pioneering local development driven by the community with the support of commercial sponsorship and several agencies. The wonderful volunteers are reaching out across the area and providing a unique service by their commitment to their local community. Well done agus comhgairdeas go léir”.
Ann Marie Laffan said; “People can use this car to get to medical appointments but also it is hoped that it will help to alleviate social isolation and loneliness by allowing people to get to social events such as sporting events like GAA matches, religious events, bingo or just to visit friends or relations. Also, younger members of the community could use it to get to training courses, work, or job iterviews”.
Mary B O’Leary from Wexford Local Link noted that the Community Car will not compete with public transport but rather will compliment it and link passengers with ongoing bus services such as into Wexford Town or to Waterford for hospital appointments, which had been an issue identified particularly by older people.
The attendance at the launch included Cllrs Jim Codd and Leonard Kelly, a number of council officials including Annette O’Neill, Director of Rosslare Municipal District, Nóirín Cummins, Rosslare District Manager, Claude Clancy, Community Development, Annette Dupuy, Healthy Wexford and Ann Marie Laffan, Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme, and Enda Newport from main sponsors, Bolands of Wexford Town.
Despite the poor weather many members of the local community turned out in force to hear about the pilot project and find out more about how it will operate. The organisers of the initiative, Ann Marie Laffan, Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme, Mary B O’Leary, Wexford Local Link, Emily O’Rourke, Wexford Local Development) and John Waters, Taghmon Action Group, spoke at the event and answered questions from those present including many from Taghmon Day Care Centre.
The project which is open to people living in the parish of Taghmon Camross will get underway shortly and it is aimed primarily at people who are no longer eligible to drive or those who have no access to transport in their homes.
John Waters from Taghmon Action Group thanked all those involved in making this project happen and in particular to Bolands of Wexford Town for supplying the 161 Ford Focus car which was on display for the launch. The car is branded and very visible and will be regularly spotted around the parish.
The project received 100% funding from the Department of Health’s Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme which is managed locally by Wexford County Council.
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