WexfordLocal.com

FF seeks Council control for village water

By Dan Walsh

Parish pump politics raised its head in a practical and positive way when village matters were highlighted at the September meeting held under Covid-19 government guidelines at Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, last Monday, in circumstances that adopted a novel approach with a unified request to vent the feelings of Fianna Fáil members countywide on the relevant local issues.

**The old parish pump is preserved as a reminder of village life long ago in the centre of Kilmyshall.**

Speaking on behalf of all eleven members (Cllrs Aidan Browne, Barbara-Anne Murphy, Michael Sheehan, John Fleming, Michael Whelan, Andrew Bolger, Donal Kenny, Joe Sullivan, Garry Laffan, Pip Breen and Willie Kavanagh) of the Fianna Fáil Party, Cllr Lisa McDonald, by notice of motion, asked that Wexford County Council call on the Government to amend the remit of Irish Water to fund County Councils to allow them to deal with increased capacity and manage waste water systems in rural villages of under 3,000 population to protect the survival and growth of rural Ireland.

“There is a broad consensus that Irish Water is neglecting rural Ireland, in particular, in respect of Ballyhack, Duncannon and Kilmore Quay are reminders of their lack of interest, “ said Cllr McDonald who added; “The 2013 Act that established Irish Water did not remove Wexford County Council as a water utility so the legal structure is already there and we need to put back to the Councils the authority to run the smaller villages.”

Two new schools for Wexford town

By Dan Walsh

Significant progress has been made in the delivery of a new primary and secondary school in the Clonard area of Wexford town, but the exact location is still to be disclosed.

The Department of Education and Skills has agreed a service level agreement with the Waterford and Wexford Education Training Board to deliver an additional primary school and secondary school in the town.

The agreement reached by both bodies marks a significant step of progress in the devolved delivery of a new primary school and secondary school in Wexford town. WWETB will deliver the construction of Selskar College and Wexford Educate Together National School.

Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne has welcomed today’s announcement, and he told WexfordLocal.com; “As the Chair of the Board of Management of Wexford Educate Together National School (WETNS), I’m delighted with the progress in the delivery of a new primary school and secondary school in Wexford town.

“I’ve been seeking a permanent school building for WETNS for several years.

“The shortage of Secondary School places in Wexford town has been a long running issue and a cause of frustration and stress for parents and children alike. I’ve attended several public meetings and talked to numerous parents over the years about this,” concluded Minister Browne.

It is expected that the schools will be ready to be occupied within three years and, hopefully, sooner. The location of the schools will be in Clonard, with the exact location still to be disclosed.

Growth in camper van tourism

By Dan Walsh

Due to the Covid-19 restrictions that included a summer ban on overseas holiday travel there was a notable upsurge in camper van and motor-home related tourism, especially around the coastal areas of County Wexford, and consequently, the need for parking facilities was discussed at the September meeting of Wexford County Council held under Covid-19 government guidelines at Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy.

Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin made reference to the huge growth witnessed this year in camper van and motor-home related tourism and he outlined the benefits this form of tourism could bring to an area and he pointed out that it was a central part of the tourism infrastructure in many counties as well as being a generator of revenue for local authorities.

Under a Notice of Motion, Cllr Ó Súilleabháin called on the Council to identify sites in County Wexford to develop motor-home/camper van parks. He felt it could attract many visitors from the UK and the continental market and it would tie in very nicely with Ireland’s Ancient East and he felt it could complement tourism trends in Wexford.

Cllr Jim Codd said Cllr Ó Súillleabháin’s idea was very good but it would make it very difficult for caravan parks that were already established if the Council comes along and establishes other ones.

**TOM ENRIGHT, CEO, Wexford County Council**

CEO Tom Enright felt it was not a market that the Council should be stepping into. “What we can do is if communities or local people want to develop these facilities we (the Council) should encourage them through the planning process and financially as well to provide the basic infrastructure that is needed to provide and identify sites.”

“A lot of mobile home parks and caravan parks in the county have facilities for people to come along to erect tents and park motor-homes overnight,” added Mr Enright who questioned the need for the local authority to compete with that market.

With a slight amendment, agreed by the proposer, the motion was seconded by Cllr Codd and was passed by the members. The same motion from Cllr Ó Súilleabháin was on the following day’s agenda for the Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council meeting, but because it had already been discussed at the County Council meeting, and a decision was agreed there, it was withdrawn.

Powerless speedboat towed to Cahore

Cahore Inshore Rescue Service were launched by Dublin Coastguard on Monday to assist a speedboat that had lost power off Glascarrig.

When located the stricken vessel was drifting towards the button rocks. However, everybody was safe, and the vessel was brought under tow to Cahore Pier.

The lifeboat members were helmsman Dave Kavanagh and crew Conor Burke and Sarah Horgan.

Remember, if you see something in the water please call 112 or 999.

Colour code conundrum at bottle bank!

By Dan Walsh at Gorey-Kilmuckridge District Council meeting

“There’s a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they’re all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same”

A line from the song Little Boxes written and performed by Malvina Reynolds in 1962 and recorded by many well-known performers including Pete Seegar.

**This line of bins at Courtown Car Park looked reasonably tidy and clean on Tuesday evening.**

Any segment of light discourse during the battle with Covid-19 is welcome and the ticky-tacky words of Little Boxes sprang to mind during Tuesday’s three-hour meeting of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council held in Gorey Courthouse to comply with Covid 19 regulations during a discussion on litter and waste disposal.

Cllr Diarmuid Devereux told the meeting that he visited Courtown the weekend and he described “a place disgraced with rubbish.” He wondered if it had been cleaned on Saturday and Sunday?

Cllr Andrew Bolger also noted that the Courtown bins were “overflowing” and he made a ‘phantom’ query about ‘special bins that were wider at the top and easier to empty!”

Wexford County Council Environmental Officer Cliona Connolly was ‘present’ from County Hall, and she was performing admirably via video link up to this point and then she lost her understanding and worse was yet to come!

Cllr Donal Kenny referred to full bottle banks and their subsequent collection. He noted that when people come to the bottle bank and they have a bag of ‘clear’ bottles and the ‘clear’ bottle bank is full, they frequently leave their bottles on the ground, rather than putting them into the facility besides labelled ‘green’, ‘brown’ etc. This is frowned upon by the authorities and is regarded as littering – take your waste home with you is the slogan!

Then Cllr Kenny asked if all the colour codes at the bottle banks are collected in the same lorry?…and if that is the case…what is the problem with placing ‘clear’ bottles in the ‘green or brown’ banks if the ‘clear’ is full up and overflowing? Rather than leaving them on the ground?

Cllr Anthony Donohoe was of the opinion that the bottles were all transported in the same lorry and the different colours were separated at the recycling plant. Cllr Willie Kavanagh felt that the system in Oylegate meant that each colour was transported separately from the bottle bank location.

Meanwhile, heads are coming together at Wexford County Council and watch this space as colour coding for bottles could be returned to the Council agenda anytime soon!

€100,000 worth of cannabis in Gorey

Gardaí have arrested a man and a woman and seized €100,000 worth of suspected cannabis after stopping a car at a checkpoint in Gorey last night.

At approximately 9pm, Gardaí in Gorey stopped a vehicle and detected a smell of cannabis. The car was searched as a result and Gardaí discovered €100,000 worth of cannabis (pending analysis).
A male in his 30s and female in her 20s were arrested and taken to Enniscorthy Garda Station. They are currently detained under section 2 of Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. They can be detained for up to seven days. Investigations are ongoing.

In Gorey…the bus stops here!

By Dan Walsh

On a previous occasion when it was suggested that the bus stop on the Main Street be moved to the Gorey railway station car park the town’s business community were having none of it…but could it become a reality this time around?

Concerns were raised on the matter at today’s monthly meeting of the Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council held under Covid-19 government guidelines in Gorey Courthouse. Cathaoirleach Cllr Joe Sullivan was in the chair.

No great traffic issues at Gorey bus stop (south) this evening at 6.30pm .

Cllr Diarmuid Devereux recalled a situation recently where ‘three sets of blue lights’ – a reference to the emergency services – attended an ugly scene at the Main Street bus stop where an obstreperous passenger alighted from a bus and created a major public social disturbance.

Cllr Devereux floated the concept of moving the bus stop (which is on either side of the Main Street – north and south bound) to stem this kind of behaviour and he also referred to traffic congestion when buses were in picking up and setting down passengers. “A million-euro car park at the railway station is never used,” he concluded.

Cllr Anthony Donohoe suggested that the bus stop be removed to the railway station car park and all the transport needs could operate from there.

Cllr Andrew Bolger echoed the sentiments of local newsagents and coffee shops who were opposed to the bus stop being moved.

Cllr Donal Kenny was opposed to such a move. “Maybe the bus stops could be staggered to improve the flow of traffic on the Main Street, but I wouldn’t be in favour of moving the buses.” he added.

Cllr Fionntán Ó Suilleabháin strongly emphasised the need for proper policing of anti-social behaviour at the bus stop rather than merely moving the buses.

Cllr Mary Farrell also opposed the move and asked that consideration be given to the elderly and wheelchair users who need easy access to the Main Street.

Cllr Pip Breen said he would be ‘very slow’ to support an attempt to move the buses because of anti-social behaviour. “The elderly needs our support and the anti-social elements should be dealt with,” he concluded.

Director of Services Amanda Byrne said the notion of moving the bus stop was tried before and the businesses on the Main Street were not in favour. She wondered if such a move was necessary due to anti-social behaviour and “people falling off the bus” at the existing stop?

District Manager Michael Drea said that due to Covid-19 bus stops should be conducive to social distancing and he also noted pedestrians were passing up and down and he suggested that maybe a case study might yield some answers.

Drugs valued at €25,000 seized in Enniscorthy

A 43-year-old South African man has appeared before a sitting of Wexford District Court after he was arrested yesterday and charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1997/1984 at Enniscorthy Garda Station where he was detained for questioning.

As part of an intelligence led operation, Revenue officers seized approximately 500g of clephedrone with an estimated value of €25,000, following a search, under warrant, of a premises in the Enniscorthy area.

The joint operation was conducted by Revenue’s Custom Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Enniscorthy Detective and Divisional Drugs Units.

Investigations are ongoing.

This operation was part of ongoing joint investigations targeting organised crime groups. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding drug smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.

€377,000 for 27 empty housing units

By Dan Walsh

Wexford County Council is to receive funding of €377,000 for the refurbishment and repair of 27 empty housing units following an announcement by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD of €40 million for the refurbishment of local authority void housing units.

Speaking from New Ross this morning, Wexford Independent TD, Verona Murphy told WexfordLocal.com; “The refurbishment and re-letting of 27 void properties in County Wexford is vitally important and it has been made clear by the Department of Housing that these works are to be carried out immediately with the units allocated by the end of this year”

The Deputy added; “Applications are categorised into three funding streams; standard voids at an average cost of approximately €11,500, homeless voids at an average cost of €17,300 and long-term voids at an average cost of €47,000, Wexford has received funding for 22 standard voids and five long term voids.”

Nationally 2,398 applications from Local Authorities across Ireland have been approved at a cost of €39.8 million, with further applications anticipated.

Poor Broadband areas need priority; Cllr McDonald

By Dan Walsh

Working from home and the poor performance of Broadband in rural areas of Co. Wexford was a topical discussion at the September meeting of Wexford County Council that took place yesterday (Monday) under Covid-19 government guidelines at the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy. Cllr Ger Carthy, Cathaoirleach, was in the chair for the two-hour session.

**CLLR LISA McDONALD told the monthly meeting of Wexford County Council about the need to prioritise Broadband roll out in rural areas.**

Cllr Lisa McDonald made a call for a variation in the National Broadband in rural Ireland and place areas that have poor Broadband first before the larger towns due to the challenges in working from home for those with poor connectivity to break down the digital divide. “There is perfectly good Broadband in the towns, I know myself, but I have to come in from Murrintown to (Wexford) town if I want to send a big document. The reality work from home…doesn’t work five miles outside Wexford town,” she told members.

Cllr Pat Barden said at a previous meeting that it could take three years for Broadband to be rolled out in Adamstown. “We can’t wait that long. We need to prioritise rural Ireland to roll out Broadband. The present Broadband is not going to bring any industry,” insisted Cllr McDonald, and Cllr Cathal Byrne seconded the motion which received cross-party support.

Cllr Byrne noted the situation in his parish where Broadband “comes down a hill and it comes up a hill and it doesn’t meet in the middle and we are told we won’t have it until 2026!”

Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy lamented the lack of commercial quality Broadband on the Templeshannon side of the town and businesses trying to set up there are being told that it cost them ‘ten grand’ per year for the privilege.

Cllr George Lawlor referred to Covid-19 and work patterns and he called for a taskforce to examine the best way for County Wexford to exploit the possibilities for remote working from home for the benefit of remote workers across the county.