Author Archives: Administrator
HSE refuses to provide extra ambulance for Mayo – Calleary
Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary has expressed his shock and disappointment at the HSE’s failure to recognise the severe ambulance shortage in Co Mayo. Deputy Calleary questioned HSE management at length at the Oireachtas Health Committee this week about the major gaps in resources for emergency services in Co Mayo. He outlined a number of cases where patients in need of emergency medical care were waiting far too long for an ambulance to reach them. Speaking afterwards, Deputy Calleary said it’s clear that the HSE has no understanding of the impact in Co Mayo of a new policy to reduce direct ambulance cover in the county. “The new policy to send […]
Read MoreThreat to post offices another attack on rural Ireland – Calleary
Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary has raised alarm about the threat to the future of more than 550 community post offices. It comes amid warnings that more than half of the country’s post office could face closure over the next three years if the Department of Social Protection moves to electronic issuing of social welfare payments. Deputy Calleary said widespread post of closures in Co Mayo would be devastating for the communities affected. “We are talking about the threat to the very existence of our post office network. This is extremely serious. The local post office is a focal point for many Mayo communities and its loss would have an enormous […]
Taoiseach must immediately clarify future of maternity services in North West
Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary has called on the Taoiseach to immediately clarify reports that maternity services could be removed from Mayo General Hospital, Sligo General Hospital and Roscommon County Hospital. A review of maternity services in the West/North West Hospital Group is reported to call for a rationalisation of maternity services in the region, resulting in the closure of three maternity units. All maternity services in the region would be provided by just two hospitals – University Hospital Galway and Letterkenny General Hospital. “This news is causing great shock and distress right across the region. The notion that expectant mothers would have to travel from Mayo to Galway for maternity […]
Read MoreCalleary dismisses Pylon review as ‘political stunt’
Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary has dismissed the new ‘review’ of EirGrid’s pylon plans in Mayo and Roscommon as “nothing more than a political stunt”. Deputy Calleary said the study, announced by the Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte yesterday, is not fully independent, does not include a health expert and does not go far enough. “All this does is push the issue down the road a few months for political gain. This is more about getting the Government parties through the local elections than listening to the serious concerns of people across Mayo and Roscommon,” said Deputy Calleary. “Over the past number of months, anger has been mounting about plans to […]
Read MoreFF to hold public meeting on CAP in Mayo
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Agriculture Éamon Ó Cuív will be in Midfield near Swinford this week to hold a public meeting on changes to the Common Agriculture Policy. The meeting will take place in Julian’s of Midfield at 8.30pm this Friday, 31 January. Deputy Ó Cuív will be joined by local TD Dara Calleary, Sligo Senator Marc Mac Sharry and local election candidate Michael Smith who will chair the meeting. At the meeting, Deputy Ó Cuív will outline the Fianna Fáil proposals on CAP reform. The Agriculture Spokesperson explained, “We want to listen to the questions and concerns of farmers in Mayo, Sligo and across the North West about the […]
Read MoreMayo schools left high & dry as Govt refuses to open up school book scheme
Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary has slammed the Government for refusing to open up the school book rental initiative to all schools in Co Mayo. The Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn confirmed to Fianna Fáil in the Dáil this week that he will continue to exclude 76% of schools from the new school book rental initiative. It means the none of the new funding whatsoever will be available to schools in Co Mayo that have any type of book rental scheme, regardless of how under resourced it is. “The Minister is punishing schools in Co Mayo that took the initiative to establish a book rental scheme at great expense to parents, […]
Read MoreLess than three weeks for Mayo clubs to register for Sports Capital Grants
Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary is reminding the clubs and organisations across Co Mayo that there are less than three weeks left to register to be in for the Sports Capital Programme this year. Applications can still be made until February 28th but the deadline for registration is Friday, February 7th at 5pm. Deputy Calleary said, “Any clubs that are applying for grants from the €40m Sports Capital Programme this year must be registered online to make their applications. Applications can be lodged until 5pm on February 28th but there is cut-off for registration. All clubs must register at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie by 5pm on Friday February 7th. “I am urging as many […]
Read MoreCalleary urges Govt to seek EU Solidarity Funding for flood damage in Mayo
Fianna Fáil Mayo TD Dara Calleary has called on the Government to apply for regional funding to help communities pay for some of the devastation caused as a result of the recent freak weather conditions. Deputy Calleary said communities throughout Mayo that were affected by the high winds and floods face considerable repair costs. “I attended a community meeting organised by the IFA this week, where the extent of the damage caused was outlined. There are a number of measures that can be taken to ease some of the burden on those affected. “I am calling for the suspension of all Department of Agriculture inspections within the areas that were […]
Read MoreDáil to debate FF motion demanding transparency on Irish Water
Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary is calling on Government TDs in Mayo to back a Fianna Fáil motion demanding transparency in the operations of Irish Water. The Dáil will debate a Fianna Fáil motion this week calling on the Government to lift its Freedom of Information ban on Irish Water. Deputy Calleary said it will give Mayo’s Fine Gael TDs the opportunity to ensure that Phil Hogan’s Super Quango is finally held accountable for the tens of millions of tax-payers money it receives and the billions in assets it has been given ownership of. “The news that Irish Water has wasted €50 million of taxpayers’ money on consultant fees is, we […]
FF calls for Rabbitte Statement on Health Effects of Pylons
Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has reiterated the Party’s Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Michael Moynihan TD’s call on Minister Pat Rabbitte to immediately publish any evidence he may have about the possible health effects of high voltage cables in overhead pylons. Deputy Moynihan was speaking after weekend reports revealed that the Minister for Health, James Reilly, wrote a letter to cabinet colleagues raising concern about the possible adverse health effects of these pylons. Deputy Moynihan said “If the Minister for Health saw it fit to write a letter to cabinet colleagues outlining his concern about the safety of high voltage cables, then it raises some very […]
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