WexfordLocal.com

Deputy Murphy calls for daily ferry service from Rosslare to France

By Dan Walsh

Wexford Independent TD Verona Murphy made a strong speech in the Dáil on Wednesday warning the Government about the future of the supply chain when there will be queues of 7,000 trucks post-Brexit lasting for days and she is urging the Government to set up a daily ferry service from Ireland to France immediately.

Deputy Murphy said; “The Tánaiste stated they should think about their supply chain and if they are using the land bridge of Britain to get to continental Europe, they need to think about how that is going to work and talk to their suppliers and haulage and transport companies. I will offer my advice for the umpteenth time. The Government must take its head out of the sand. The land bridge will NOT work, and the Government needs to put in place a fast, efficient daily ferry service from Ireland to France now.

“What is wrong with the Government? It is telling people to think about something for which there is already a solution. It appears it is not thinking about it so I will say again that “fast and efficient” means the shortest, most viable option to mainland Europe and that comes from Rosslare to Le Havre or Cherbourg. It also needs to operate daily.

Deputy Murphy continued; “The flour and the sugar that is needed to bake bread in Ireland daily is imported. When the baking line is stalled because the product is sitting in a queue and people cannot bake bread, will the Minister and the rest of the Twitter gang be making videos apologising to the business owners and staff of Irish Pride in Taghmon. Will they make videos apologising for the fact that the price of a loaf of bread has risen to €3? That will be the result of the Government’s passive attitude.

“Irish consumers will pay the price. What will the Minister tell the fresh fish exporters of Duncannon, Kilmore and Killybegs when the fish is in a queue in the UK rotting in a trailer? What will he tell the owners and staff of Kelly’s Hotel in Rosslare, the Talbot Hotel, Clayton Whites Hotel and Whitford House Hotel in Wexford town, the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy and all the other Wexford hotels when there is no more traffic coming from the UK tourists and the Government has failed to make an effort to replace those UK tourists by putting a daily direct ferry in place to mainland Europe for EU visitors to Ireland? All of this can be avoided if this Government puts a daily service to mainland Europe in place in time and that time is now,” concluded Deputy Murphy.

Call on Council to save Courtown Centre

By Dan Walsh

There is strong local support for the Courtown Adventure and Leisure Centre be incorporated into the ownership and operation of Wexford County Council following the appointment of a liquidator to the business. A social media petition has been launched – #savecourtownpool

On July 28^th an application was made to the High Court where Mr Neil Hughes and Mr Conor Noone of Baker Tily were appointed joint provisional liquidators. All queries should be directed to Baker Tily on 01 6699999 or by email info@bakertily.ie

The Centre was experiencing intermittent cash flow difficulties, Covid-19 had a significant impact on income, and having consulted the financial, legal and governance aspects of the Centre, the Board of Management were advised that it was not feasible to open the Centre in its current form.

In a statement accompanying the petition signed by Leah Johnston, Killian Ormond and Joy Redmond, they said; “We are calling on Wexford County Council to take over the ownership and operation of Courtown Adventure and Leisure Centre for the people and communities of the surrounding areas. The population of Gorey and its surrounding areas is more than 14,000 – more than New Ross and Ennsicorthy – where there are County Council operated swimming pools!

Cathaoirleach of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council, Cllr Joe Sullivan told WexfordLocal.com that the local Council will use all its powers to influence Wexford County Council come to the aid of Courtown Adventure and Leisure Centre.

Cllr Andrew Bolger said he has spoken to the Chief Executive Officer, Tom Enright, who reported that the liquidators will do their work and there are discussions with several interested parties. “The Council recognises the importance of the pool to the local people and groups. It will need capital investment; money will have to be spent on the facility,” Mr Enright added.

Cllr Donal Kenny said; “I fully support the campaign to save and reopen Courtown Adventure and Leisure Centre. All efforts need to be made and all options need to be explored to overcome the current financial difficulties it is encountering. It is a vital amenity for North Wexford and the many clubs and organisations that use it such as Wexford Water Safety and Special Olympics Club Gorey.”

Anti-social ‘grave robbers’

By Dan Walsh

Anti-social behavour raises its ugly head in many forms, but few acts of destruction are as despicable as damage to family graves in lonely graveyards.

Matters of this nature were raised at Monday’s meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held under Covid-19 government guideline restrictions in the Riverside Park Hotel.

Cllr John O’Rourke raised concerns about the disappearance of family artefacts from loved one’s graves at St. Mary’s Cemetery. “This kind of anti-social behaviour is on the rise again,” he said.

District Manager Ger Mackey said the interference with family graves was “despicable anti-social behaviour” but believed there is “only a tiny majority involved.” He promised to have a chat with the caretaker but he doesn’t really want to put CCTV cameras in a graveyard as he felt it is not right!

Cathaoirleach Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy recalled similar anti-social behaviour at Bunclody Cemetery on Ryland Road. “People are very distressed by what’s happening there and items are being stolen,” she concluded.

**CALVARY at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Enniscorthy**

Local journalist chairs EV summit

By Dan Walsh

Local journalist Caroline Kidd has been announced as the chair of this year’s Electric Vehicle Summit, an event, organised by iQuest & Business Post Live, and a high-level business forum to discuss the future of electric vehicles (EVs) in Ireland based on the dual themes of business engagement and thought leadership from the most senior, influential and informed people in the sector.

CAROLINE KIDD Editor/Founder *Changing Lanes*

Caroline who comes from Bunclody, is a motoring journalist, juror for Irish Car of the Year, and the editor of Changing Lanes. Caroline founded Changing Lanes in 2014 as a simple automotive blog where she could share her passion for cars. Changing Lanes has grown to become a leading online automotive magazine and trusted authority on new cars and the motor industry. Caroline has road tested hundreds of new cars and travelled around Europe to report from new car launches.

Speaking ahead of the event, Caroline said: “Electric vehicles will play a major role in reducing Ireland’s carbon emissions from transport. Sales are growing year on year, with huge investment from car manufacturers to bring new models to market. Yet EVs still account for less than 4% of the new car market in Ireland indicating that major change is required to accelerate our move to electric.

“As battery technology improves, range anxiety becomes less of an issue. But consumers will need to see a well-maintained, ubiquitous public charging network in place before a widescale adoption of EVs can take place. Despite grants and incentives, price and availability remain an obstacle for many consumers.

“Real leadership and a coordinated effort from Government and stakeholders is needed before Irish consumers will swap diesel and petrol cars for zero emission electric models in great numbers. But when the tipping point happens once issues of price, availability and infrastructure are resolved, I believe it will happen very quickly, and driving a combustion engine car will become very unfashionable very quickly. We have seen how Irish consumers have adapted quickly to trends such as SUVs and hybrids. I expect the same will happen with electric vehicles.”

This year’s Electric Vehicle Summit will address the impact of Coronavirus on the industry, deliver an update on new government policy, as well as cover a wide range of subjects pertinent to electric vehicles going forward.

Caroline will be joined by speakers including Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport, Christina Bu, Norwegian EV Association, Colin McKerracher, Head of Advanced Transport, Bloomberg, Joachim Brandt, Head of Electric and Autonomous Vehicles, Gemserv, and Anne Graham, Chief Executive, National Transport Authority. Caroline Kidd will also chair several panel discussions between motor industry executives and other stakeholders.

The Electric Vehicle Summit 2020 will take place on October 15^th.

Carrigfoyle Activity Centre is progressing

By Dan Walsh

Works on Phase One of the Carrigfoyle Activity Centre includes access road, car park, trails and services, and will be completed shortly, meanwhile draft design drawings for Phase Two of the €3 million development of an Activity Building on the site have been prepared by Wexford County Council’s Architect Department.

**The old quarry site at Carrigfoyle is being converted into an Activity Centre that will boost local tourism**

Chief Executive Officer Tom Enright gave details about the current position in regards the Carrigfoyle development in response to a query from Cllr Garry Laffan at the September meeting of Wexford County Council held under Covid-19 government restrictions in the Riverside Park Hotel, Ennsicorthy.

“The drawings are currently being reviewed by the Special Projects Office with a view to making a Part VIII application and the project is now entering Phase Two,” Mr Enright told the members. He added that the safety work has been carried out on the site.

Phase Two will include the construction of the actual building that will include climbing walls, indoor training facilities, and a coffee shop or restaurant.

Mr Enright said there is over 10kms of trails between the Three Rocks and Carrigfoyle on the side of Forth Mountain, just above the village of Barntown, and it can be used by visitors and the community.

Quad vandalism returns to Vinegar Hill

By Dan Walsh

Cllr John O’Rourke raised concerns about quad bike damage on Vinegar Hill where a special place of historical tourism is being ‘degraded by louts’ at the September meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held in the Riverside Park Hotel under Covid-19 government restrictions.

**VINEGAR HILL… a special place of historical tourism**

District Manager Ger Mackey told the members that the Council was aware of anti-social behaviour on Vinegar Hill and recent events are under investigation. Repairs to the damage is being done and there is a follow up with the parents of those responsible.

Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan had received complaints about the upkeep of the Peace Park and Mr Mackey admitted to maintenance issues during the summer.

Cllr Jackser Owens also mentioned the Peace Park and he heard reports of broken windows to houses on Irish Street. He also heard that people are seen climbing over the fence.

Mr Mackey responded to anti-social behaviour issues around the Peace Park and the Gardai have been given a key to carry out patrols during the hours when the park is locked up.

€577,892 for four Wexford housing estates

by Dan Walsh

Four Wexford housing estates are to share funding to the tune of €577,892 following allocations under the new multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme.

Kyle Close in Oulart has been allocated €80,365; Gleann na gCaor in Monageer has been allocated €227,159; Mountain View in Ballindaggin has been allocated €156,012 and Cois Cuan in Arthurstown is to get €114,356.

Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform at the Department of Justice and Equality, James Browne told WexfordLocal.com; “This first allocation under the multi-annual programme focuses on estates in towns and villages where the resolution is to connect their water services to the public networks. Co. Wexford has received one of the largest allocations, 17% of the total amount allocated nationally.

“This allocation is starting the process of helping the many families who are living in residential estates that are dependent on sub-standard developer provided wastewater or drinking water treatment plants for their water services. Many residents in these estates made a major financial commitment in buying their homes and have been at a disadvantage for too long.

“The fact that the programme needed to be introduced demonstrates the importance of ensuring that public elements of housing developments such as the roads, open spaces, car parks, and service connections in their estate are completed to the satisfactory standard and maintained thereafter by the appropriate authority” concluded Minister Browne.

The programme is focused on housing estates which are not taken-in-charge by local authorities and do not have their water services connected to the public water services network but rely instead on infrastructure, often temporary in nature, which was provided by developers. Much of this infrastructure, generally consisting of small standalone wastewater treatment “package” plants were put in place in the 1990’s and early 2000’s.

Location of new Wexford schools announced

By Dan Walsh

The new 1,000 pupil replacement school in Wexford town for Selskar College and a new eight-classroom school for Educate Together National School will be located on a 16-acre site at a location between Whitford House Hotel and the Clonard Road.

Chief Executive of Waterford and Wexford Education Training Board (WWETB), Kevin Lewis said that he was delighted that a new primary school will be adjacent to the post-primary school and that this will create a quality education campus for Wexford town. Further good news is that a four-classroom Special Education Needs unit will be provided for the post-primary school and a two-classroom Special Education Needs unit will be provided for the primary school.

**Ken Whyte, Director of FET; Eimear Ryan, Director of Schools; Karina Daly, Director of OSD and Kevin Lewis, Chief Executive, WWETB.**

Cllr Leonard Kelly, Mayor of Wexford, who is also a current member of the Board of Management of Selskar College, and former member of the Board of Management of Wexford Educate Together said; As a parent of school going children, resident of the town and someone who works with schools in various capacities I know that this announcement is an absolute game changer for Primary and Post Primary Education in Wexford town. Education is the key to reducing inequality in our society, and by creating this education campus in town we will help to strengthen our community by ensuring that our children are given the best opportunity to be educated in state of the art facilities in their own town.”

Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Chairperson of WWETB Board said: “I am delighted that the site for our new second level school for Wexford town has been announced by the Minister for Education and Skills, Norma Foley T.D. I hope that the plans for our new school will get planning approval in a timely manner, and that we can proceed with this building project and provide this much needed education facility for the people of Wexford as soon as possible.”

Dr Emer Nowlan, CEO of Educate Together haswelcomed the announcement and said that “Wexford Educate Together National School has gone from strength to strength since its establishment in 2008. This new school building will provide the school with a permanent home and enable it to thrive and grow to meet the increasing demand for equality-based education in Wexford town.”

WWETB Director of Schools Eimear Ryan added that she was“delighted with the location of the proposed site and the plans for a campus arrangement with the Educate Together Primary School. WWETB will continue to progress the project as quickly as possible and I remain optimistic that some of the students currently enrolled in Selskar College will finish their post-primary education in this brand-new partnership school. After many years of discussion and work by so many people, it is great to see our vision become a reality.”

Principal of Selskar College, Denise Lennon Hennessy said this will offer the community of Wexford greater choice in an easily accessible location and provide a school community with the opportunity to create a centre of excellence in both academia and sport.

Enniscorthy Greyhound Track remains open

By Dan Walsh

The Irish Greyhound Board and Enniscorthy Greyhound Track have agreed a memorandum of understanding to keep the track open until the end of 2022, subject to a review in the final quarter of 2021. The news was welcomed today by Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne.

In a statement to WexfordLocal.com, Minister Browne said; “I’m delighted the Irish Greyhound Board has reversed its decision on Enniscorthy Greyhound Track. Enniscorthy’s track has a long tradition as a sporting hub of County Wexford. When I met the Irish Greyhound Board CEO Gerard Dollard, I left them in no uncertain terms about the importance of the track and how Enniscorthy Greyhound Track is engrained in the community’s heritage and culture. The campaign to keep the track open confirmed the strength of support behind Enniscorthy Greyhound Track.

“This is a terrific success story and I commend the Enniscorthy Greyhound Track company that preserved and stressed the need to keep Enniscorthy Greyhound Track open for racing”, Minister Browne concluded.

Speaking at today’s monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held under Covid-19 government guidelines, Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan said Enniscorthy Greyhound Track is to remain open till 2022 which she declared “is great news for the town”. She complimented the committee and everybody who kept the campaign going to keep the track open.

Cllr Jackser Owens concurred with Cllr Codd-Nolan’s sentiments. “The fight was well fought, it was a hard slog, but it is great to keep the track open,” he stated.

Following an Indecon report, the Irish Greyhound Board announced its intention to withdraw funding for Enniscorthy greyhound track, a decision which would force the track’s closure. In January 2020, Minister Browne met Irish Greyhound Board CEO Gerard Dollard to fight for the retention of the Enniscorthy Greyhound Track. Significant engagement resulted in the Irish Greyhound Board conducting a review.

Cigarettes worth €69,000 seized at Rosslare Europort

By Dan Walsh

Revenue officers have seized over 102,000 cigarettes at Rosslare Europort. The smuggled cigarettes branded ‘Marlboro Red’ and ‘Compliment Violet’ have an estimated retail value of €69,000, representing a potential loss to the exchequer of €54,327.

The seizure occurred when a Hungarian registered vehicle was selected for examination having disembarked a ferry from France.

The subsequent search, with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner, led to the discovery of the cigarettes, concealed within the floor of the vehicle. The vehicle was also seized. Two Romanian males in their 20s and 30s were questioned.

Investigations are ongoing.

These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and the supply and sale of illegal tobacco products. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding the smuggling they can contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295.