The Government must rectify historical inequality in the funding provided to Galway County Council with a bailout this year, to ensure the local authority can provide the basic essential services we need in our communities, according to Independent Senator, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.

Speaking after a meeting between Oireachtas members from Galway with officials from the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government, where it was acknowledged that Galway has not been getting its fair share of funding from successive governments, the Galway West – South Mayo Senator says:

“Galway County Council has been sold short on funding for decades, due to an unfair base calculation made almost twenty years ago. This is to blame for the huge lack of human and financial resources in our local authority, which translates into lack of funding for roads, house repairs, maintenance works and the like.

“Figures given to us by local authority management show the stark contrast in funding between Galway County Council and other comparable local authorities. They show that even though we have a bigger population we get between eighteen and thirty million euros less funding than Mayo, Kerry, Donegal and Tipperary.

“We have substantially fewer staff as well, more than three hundred less than Kerry County Council, even though we have a larger population base than all these other similar local authorities.

“On a per capita basis we are left in the halfpenny place as well. The budget per capita for Galway County Council is a meagre €588 per head of population. This compares to €834 for Donegal, €851 for Tipperary, €858 for Kerry and €939 for Mayo. This really highlights the huge crisis in resources we have and it has been happening for a long time.

“The Department officials acknowledged that there is an unfair distribution of funding that needs to be rectified, but they are not planning to do that until a review of the Local Property Tax is finished and this would not kick in until 2020.
“Galway County Council is completely starved of resources and the government must step in with extra interim funding now, to ensure that they can maintain the basic essential services. The people of Galway can no longer be treated as second class citizens.

“It is an indictment of successive governments that Galway has been starved of monies that we should have received for years and that situation must stop. Our government TD’s need to secure a commitment from Ministers Eoghan Murphy and Paschal Donohue to provide extra funding for this year and to ensure this happens without delay”.

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Caithfidh an Rialtas an éagóir stairiúil ó thaobh maoinithe de atá déanta ar Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe a cheartú, le ciste tarrthála i mbliana, chun cinntiú gur féidir leis an Údarás Áitiúil leanúint le seirbhísí bunúsacha a sholáthar do phobail an cheantair, dar leis an Seanadóir Neamhspleách, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.

Ag labhairt do i ndiaidh do bhaill Oireachtais as Gaillimh bualadh le h-oifigigh ón Roinn Tithíochta, Pleanáil & Rialtas Áitiúil, áit ar admhaíodh nach bhfuil sciar chothrom dhá fháil ag Gaillimh as cistí maoinithe ó Rialtas i ndiaidh Rialtais, deir Seanadóir Ghaillimh Thiar – Maigh Eo theas:

“Tá Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe fágtha ar an ngannchuid ó thaobh airgeadais de le scór bliain ar a laghad de bharr bun chóras mí-fabhtach a úsáideadh an t-am sin agus ó shin le maoiniú a dháileadh. Seo an chúis an bhfuil easpa ollmhór acmhainní daonna agus maoinithe inár údarás áitiúil, rud a chiallaíonn go bhfuil ganntanas airgid ann do bhóithre, feabhsúcháin tithíochta, oibreacha cothabhála agus go leor eile.

“Taispeánann figiúir a chuir an bhainistíocht ar fáil dúinn an chodarsnacht lom idir an maoiniú a fhaigheann Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe agus údaráis áitiúla, comparáideacha eile. Léiríonn siad, cé go bhfuil daonra i bhfad níos mó againn, go bhfaigheann muid idir ocht déag agus tríocha cúig milliún euro níos lú ná Maigh Eo, Ciarraí, Dún na nGall agus Tiobraid Árainn.
“Tá i bhfad níos lú baill foirne againn chomh maith, tuairim is trí chéad duine níos lú ná Comhairle Chontae Chiarraí, in ainneoin níos mó daoine a bheith ian  gcónaí i gcontae s’againne ná na contaetha eile seo.

“Tá muid fágtha ar an ngannchuid ó thaobh mhaoiniú in aghaidh an chloigeann de freisin. Níl ach buiséad per capita de €588 in aghaidh an duine againn. Cur seo i gcomparáid le €834 i nDún na nGall, €851 do Thiobraid Árainn, €858 do Chiarraí agus €939 do Mhaigh Eo. Léiríonn seo an ghéarchéim acmhainní atá againn agus tá sé seo ag tarlú le fada.  

“Admhaíonn oifigigh na Roinne nach bhfuil roinnt na maoinithe cothrom agus go gcaithfear sin a cheartú, ach ní tharlóidh sin nó go mbeidh athbhreithniú déanta ar chóras roinnte an Cháin Mhaoine Áitiúil, rud nach mbeidh toradh air go dtí 2020.

“Idir an dá linn, tá Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe fágtha ar an trá fholamh ceal acmhainní agus tá géarghá le ciste tarrthála láithreach, le gur féidir leo na bun seirbhísí a choinneáil ag imeacht. Ní féidir muintir na Gaillimhe a fhágáil in ait na leathphingine feasta.

“Damnú ar Rialtas i ndiaidh Rialtas is ea é go bhfuil an éagóir seo déanta ar Ghaillimh, is muid fágtha ar an ngannchuid acu le blianta fada agus caithfear stop a chuir leis sin. Caithfidh Teachtaí Dála an Rialtais gealltanas a fháil ón na hAirí Eoghan Murphy agus Paschal Donohue go gcuirfear maoiniú breise ar fáil i mbliana agus a chinntiú go dtarlaíonn seo gan a thuilleadh moille”.

Struggling Irish artists are getting less support from the State than they should be and Independent Senator, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, has called on the Arts Council and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to do more to help them.

The Galway West – South Mayo Senator recently questioned officials from both organisations on the state supports available to artists, saying:

“Artists are struggling, due to lack of resources, opportunities and a more equitable distribution of funding. There is a great deal of positive work taking place in the arts sector, but there are many schemes being under-utilised and under-promoted.

“The Percentage for Art Scheme is not being properly utilised.  Capital projects can have a certain amount of funding set aside to commission artwork for new premises but for some reason not all capital projects are availing of this opportunity.  Not only does this mean that new public spaces are losing out on bespoke pieces of art, but this scheme could also be an important source of income for struggling artists. 

“It is also unclear as to whether the new ‘artists dole’ scheme is working? The pilot scheme enables artists to apply for jobseekers’ allowance with more flexibility.  Until now, the scheme has only applied to visual artists and writers, but little information is available on the uptake of the scheme, on its success, or otherwise. It should be extended to other artistic disciplines.

“The Department and the Arts Council should also provide clearer direction for incorporating the Irish language into local and national art projects as well.  As it currently stands, Irish language projects are tagged on to other projects as something additional or extra, rather than being viewed as invaluable and central to the Irish arts scene. Why aren’t our national organisations directed to do more through the medium of the Irish language?   

“Initiatives such as Creative Ireland, or Galway 2020, also provide important opportunities to mainstream the language into the arts sector.  While it is welcome that Creative Ireland will be working with Local Councils to incorporate the language into their annual programmes, more ambitious and imaginative thinking is needed to recognise the role of the Irish language in the arts, particularly as we are in ‘Bliain na Gaeilge 2018’.”

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Tá níos lú tacaíocht stáit ná ba chóir á chur i dtreo ealaíontóirí Éireannacha atá ag streachailt agus tá Seanadóir Neamhspléach, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, tar éis brú a chur ar an gComhairle Ealaín agus ar an Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta chun níos mó a dhéanamh le cabhrú leo.

Agus é ag ceistiú oifigigh ón dhá eagraíocht ar na mallaibh ar an tacaíocht stáit atá ar fáil d’ealaíontóirí, deir Seanadóir Ghaillimh Thiar – Maigh Eo Theas, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh:

“Tá ealaíontóirí ag streachailt mar gheall ar easpa acmhainní, easpa deiseanna agus easpa dáileadh maoinithe cothrom. Tá go leor obair dhearfach ag tarlú san earnáil ealaín faoi láthair, ach tá go leor scéimeanna nach bhfuil leas ceart a bhaint astu nó poiblíocht chuí a dhéanamh orthu.

“Níl leas iomlán a bhaint as Scéim Céatadán don Ealaíon.  Tá sciar áirithe maoinithe curtha ar leath-thaobh ag tograí caipitiúla chun píosaí nua ealaín a choimisiúnú, ach ar chúis éigin níl gach togra caipitil ag baint úsáid as a deis seo.  Ní amháin go gciallaíonn sé seo go gcailleann spásanna poiblí amach ar phíosa ealaín sain-dheartha, ach d’fheadfadh an scéim seo bheith ina fhoinse ioncaim tábhachtach d’ealaíontóirí.

“Tá sé doiléir fós an bhfuil ag éirí leis an scéim nua ‘Dól na nEalaíontóirí’?  Tugann an scéim piólóta níos mó solúbthacht d’ealaíontóirí le cur isteach ar Liúntas Cuardaitheoira Poist.  Go dtí seo, níl an scéim oscailte ach d’ealaíontóirí físiúla agus do scríbhneoirí, ach is beag eolais atá ar fáil ar líon na ndaoine atá ag cur isteach ann, agus an bhfuil ag éirí leis an scéim nó eile.  Ba chóir go síneofar an scéim amach do disciplíní ealaíonta eile. 

“Freisin, ba chóir don Roinn agus don Chomhairle Ealaín treoir níos soiléire a chur ar fáil chun teanga na Gaeilge a phríomhshruthú i dtionscadal ealaín náisiúnta.  I láthair na huaire,  caitear le tionscadail trí Ghaeilge mar aguisín ar thionscadail eile ar nós gur rud breise nó éagsúil a bheadh iontu, in áit caitheamh leis an teanga mar rud atá lárnach agus luachmhar in earnáil ealaín na hÉireann.  Cén fáth nach dtugtar treoir do na heagraíochtaí náisiúnta níos mó a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge?

“Cruthaíonn tionscnaimh ar nós Éire Ildánach, nó Gaillimh 2020, deiseanna tábhachtach leis an nGaeilge a phríomhshruthú in earnáil na healaín.  Cé go bhfuil fáilte roimh an obair a dhéanfaidh Éire Ildánach le Comhairle Áitiúla leis an teanga a chur isteach ina gcláir bliantúla, tá smaointe níos uaillmhianaí agus níos samhlaíocha ag teastáil le ról teanga na Gaeilge san earnáil ealaín a aithint, go háirithe agus muid ag i ‘mBliain na Gaeilge 2018.” 

A Connemara family with three small children have been left for over three years without a regular water supply by Irish Water, and Galway County Council before them, and Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh is calling on the company to sort out the problem once and for all.

Speaking today the Galway West – South Mayo Independent Senator says:

‘This is an absolutely inexcusable situation. I first contacted Irish Water on behalf of the family, who live in the Ros Muc – Cill Chiaráin area of Connemara area, in November 2016. Despite scores of emails, phone calls and representations from my office and from the family, nothing has been done to ensure they have an adequate, reliable water supply.

‘They have been left with no water at all for three days this week and are at their wits end.  They are regularly left in a situation when they have to fill tanks, pots and jars to address their domestic water needs. They have lived in their house since 2009 and have never had a satisfactory water supply.

‘They cannot have washing machines running and leave the house for fear that the pressure will drop and damage the machines. When there is increased usage in the locality, for example due to the influx of Irish language students at certain times, they are left with a mere trickle to service their needs or no water at all.

‘They have three very small children and therefore their need for a reliable water supply is very high. It would appear that a pump is needed to increase the pressure of the Irish Water supply to their home, but to date Irish Water have put no plan in place and have done nothing to resolve the constant  issues.

‘When we make representations, we seem to get sent from Billy to Jack, with no one in Irish Water taking responsibility for the case. This is totally unacceptable and extremely unprofessional.

‘We are calling on Irish Water publicly now to take the necessary steps to rectify this supply issue once and for all, without further delay’.

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Tá teaghlach i gConamara le triúr leanbh óg fágtha le h-ós cionn trí bliana gan soláthar uisce leanúnach ag Uisce Éireann agus Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe rompu, agus tá an Seanadóir Trevor Ó Clochartaigh ag impí ar an gcomhlacht an scéal a leigheas láithreach, gan níos mó cainte a bheith faoi.

Ag labhairt dó inniu deir Seanadóir Neamhspleách Ghaillimh – Maigh Eo:

‘Tá an scéala seo scannalach amach is amach. Rinne mise teagmháil go h-oifigiúil faoin gcás seo ar son an teaghlach a bhfuil cónaí orthu i gCill Chiaráín – Ros Muc,  i dtosach báire i mí na Samhna 2016. In ainneoin na scórtha ríomhphost a bheith seolta, glaonna déanta agus achainíocha curtha ag m’oifig sa agus ag an gclann chuig Uisce Éireann, níl faic na ngrást déanta acu ó shoin chun soláthar sách maith, rialta a chuir ar fáil dóibh.

‘Tá siad fágtha arís trí lá an tseachtain seo gan deoir uisce agus iad i ndeireadh na feide. Bíonn siad fágtha ar an gcaoi go minic go gcaithfidh siad dabhcha, potaí agus crúscaí a líonadh díreach lena gcuid bunriachtanais tí a dhéanamh. Tá cónaí orthu sa teach ó 2009 agus ní raibh soláthar sásúil uisce acu riamh.     

‘Ní féidir leo imeacht ón teach agus innealra níochán a fhágáil ag rith, ar eagla go stopfadh an t-uisce agus damáiste a dhéanamh do na meaisíní. Nuair atá brú breise ar an mbaile, nuair a bhíonn scoláirí Gaeilge sa gceantar mar shampla, is minic iad fágtha le silín uisce, nó gan deoir ar bith.

‘Tá trí leanbh óg acu agus géarghá dá bhrí sin acu le soláthar uisce gur féidir brath air. Tá an chosúlacht ar an scéal go dteastaíonn caidéal faoi leith uathu chun soláthar a chinntiú don teach, ach go dtí seo níl plean, ná fearas curtha in áit ag Uisce Éireann chun na deacrachtaí leanúnacha a shárú.

‘Nuair a dhéanann muid achainíocha ar a son, bíonn muid curtha ó phosta go piléar, gan aon duine in Uisce Éireann sásta freagracht a ghlacadh as an gcás. Tá sé seo thar a bheith mí-phroifisiúnta agus ní féidir glacadh leis.

‘Tá muid ag impí anois go poiblí ar Uisce Éireann, na céimeanna cuí ar fad a ghlacadh chun an soláthar cui uisce a chuir ar fáil don teaghlach seo gan aon anonn, nó anall eile leis’.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh is calling on the Minister for Health and the National Ambulance Service to conduct an investigation into the circumstances which caused a delay in an ambulance being deployed, which put a Connemara toddler’s life at risk in the last week.

Speaking today the Galway West - South Mayo Senator says:

‘Last Friday an ambulance was called for a two year old child in the Carraroe area who was having difficulty breathing. The family were told it was on its way, but when it was delayed they decided to bring the child in a car to Galway to meet the ambulance on its way out. They were joined by a Garda escort in Spiddal and eventually met the ambulance coming on its way to meet them in Rahoon, just minutes from the hospital.

‘I understand that the child had to be resuscitated at least twice on the way in to hospital and is very lucky to be alive. He has since made a recovery, but had complications in hospital.

‘This case raises very serious issues about the deployment of ambulances in the region. Why did it take so long in the case of this emergency for the ambulance to reach this child? It was in the region of an hour before they reached the child and would have been closer to two hours if the family had not acted themselves.

‘Why was the ambulance only in Rahoon by the time the family got to Galway? Where had it been deployed from and why was there no ambulance available from the station at Carraroe, minutes from the child’s home. I understand there was at least one ambulance vehicle at that station at the time and there may have been two.

‘We also need to question the protocols being used when people make emergency calls. Surely people should be told where an ambulance is coming from and how long it is expected to take. If there are other emergency responders available locally, surely they should be deployed as well? It is my understanding that the Fire Brigade in Carraroe were available at the time and could have responded much more quickly. They have two Emergency Medical Technicians and 7 Emergency First Responders and the appropriate equipment on their team and the Coast Guard station, with its expertise, is only minutes away as well.

‘Two other cases have been brought to my attention in the recent past in Connemara where the outcomes have not been as positive and where delays in ambulance deployment are thought to have been factors in negative outcomes. This is simply unacceptable.

‘I am calling on the Minister of Health Simon Harris to investigate this case and to review the nature and protocols of the emergency services available in the Connemara and other areas in general, to ensure that this type of inefficiency does not lead to further near misses, or tragedies.

‘The staff in our emergency services and first responders do incredible work in very difficult situations, but we must ensure that we are using all of the emergency resources to their optimum advantage to ensure the best outcomes for patients in emergencies in all cases. I do not believe that is the case at present.’

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Tá an Seanadóir Trevor Ó Clochartaigh ag iarraidh ar an Aire Sláinte agus an tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Otharchairr fiosrúchán a thosú maidir le cás an tseachtain seo inar cuireadh saol leanbh as Conamara i mbaol de bharr moill ar otharchairr i gcás práinne.

Ag labhairt dó inniu, deir Seanadóir Ghaillimh Thiar – Maigh Eo Theas:

‘Glaodh ar otharcharr ar an Aoine seo caite do leanbh dhá bhliain d’aois, a raibh deacrachtaí análú aige, ar an gCeathrú Rua. Dúradh leis an teaghlach go raibh otharcharr ar an mbealach, ach nuair nach raibh aon dé ar sin shocraigh siad an pháiste a chuir sa gcarr chun bualadh leis an otharcharr ar an mbealach.  Fuair siad carr Gárdaí chun cabhrú leo ar An Spidéal agus chas siad leis an otharcharr ar deire i Rathún, i bhfoisceacht cúpla nóiméad don ospidéal.  

‘Tuigtear dom gur bh’éigean an leanbh a athbheochan ar a laghad faoi dhó ar an mbealach agus go bhfuil an t-ádh leo gur mhair sé. Tá sé ag teacht chuige féin anois, ach bhí aimhréidheanna eile lena chás san ospidéal.

‘Ardaíonn an chás seo ceisteanna iontach tromchúiseacha maidir leis an gcaoi a bhfuiltear ag soláthar seirbhísí otharchairr sa réigiún. Cén fáth ar thóg sé chomh fada sa chás seo ar an otharcharr teacht suas leis an bpáiste? Bhí sé uair a chloig sular dtáinig an t-otharcharr chomh fada leis an leanbh agus bheadh tú ag caint ar beagnach dhá uair a chloig dá bhfanfadh an clann ina gcónaí.  

‘Cén fáth nach raibh an t-otharcharr ach i Rathún nuair a tháinig an clann suas leo? Cé as a dtáinig sé agus cén fáth nach raibh seirbhís otharcharr ar fáil ón stáisiún ar an gCeathrú Rua féin, nach bhfuil ach cúpla nóiméad ó theach an linbh? Tuigtear dom go raibh ar a laghad feithicil otharchairr amháin, muna raibh péire féin, ag an stáisiún sin ag an am ar tharla an eachtra.  

‘Caithfear ceisteanna a chuir freisin, faoi na prótacail atá in úsáid, nuair a dhéanann daoine glaonna éigeandála. Shílfeá go dtabharfaí le fios do dhaoine cé as a bhfuil otharcharr ag teacht agus cén fhad measta a bheidh sé ar bhóthar. Má tá lucht seirbhíse éigeandála eile ar fáil sa gceantar, nár chóir iad sin a chuir amach chomh maith? Tuigtear dom go raibh an Briogáid Dóiteáin ar an gCeathrú Rua ar fáil ag an am agus go bhféadfaidís sin a bheith ar an láthair i bhfad níos tapúla, dá mbeadh glaoch faighte acu. Tá beirt Teicneoirí Leigheas Éigeandála agus seachtar Freagróir Céad Chabhrach Éigeandála leis an bhfearas cuí ar an bhfoireann acu sin agus níl an Garda Cósta, le saineolas iadsan, ach cúpla nóiméad ó láthair an eachtra freisin.

‘Tá dhá chás eile cur ar mo shúile dhom le tamall anuas i gConamara theas, áit nach raibh críoch chomh dearfach leo, agus go gceaptar go raibh baint ag an moill le seachadadh otharchairr leis an droch-chríoch a bhí orthu. Ní féidir glacadh leis sin.

‘Tá mé ag impí ar an Aire Slainte Simon Harris an chás seo a fhiosrú agus chun athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar cur chuige agus prótacail na seirbhísí éigeandála i gConamara agus i gceantair eile go ginearálta, féachaint le cinntiú nach mbeidh mí-éifeacht den chineál seo mar tsiocair tragóide, nó a mhacasamhail, amach anseo.

‘Tá foirne iontacha againn inár seirbhísí éigeandála, atá ag oibriú faoi choinníollacha an-deacair, ach caithfidh muid cinntiú go bhfuil na h-acmhainní éigeandála seo dhá n-úsáid ar an mbealach is éifeachtaí gur féidir leis an toradh is fearr a bhaint amach i gcónaí d’othair i gcásanna práinne. Ní chreidim gur amhlaidh atá i láthair na h-uaire’.