Connaught Telegraph

Tim Ryan, Reporter

Concern for staff at GMIT in Castlebar

Reports that certain members of GMIT staff in Castlebar who were on certain courses that have been axed or cut have been told they must "voluntarily" move to Galway were raised in the Dáil by Deputy Lisa Chambers. If they do not do so, she said they were told will be redeployed elsewhere in the Civil Service.

“The Minister recently appointed a working group to look at the future of the GMIT campus in Mayo to ensure its future and sustainability,” she said. “It now appears that the GMIT management have pre-empted the outcome of the working group. I wrote to the Minister and asked him for the terms of reference for that group, the time it should report by and who will be in it He failed in his reply to me to answer any of those questions.”

In reply, Education Minister said the Higher Education Authority recognises that there are particular problems for multi-campus institutes such as GMIT.

“HEA has recognised that and will in its funding review, which is now being undertaken, ensure that resources can be made available to support multi-campus activity,” he said. “I can assure the Deputy that our Department is fully committed to the Castlebar institution.”

North-West left behind in development - Chambers

There needs to be a focus on investment and development in the North-West, Fianna Fáil Deputy Lisa Chambers told the Select Committee on Budgetary Oversight. Speaking as someone from the Mayo constituency, she said the area has consistently been left behind in terms of infrastructural development.

“I do not begrudge any county development works but there is extra infrastructure development in Dublin, Cork and Galway in the form of the Luas and various public transport systems, even though the basics have not even been provided in the North-West,” she said. “There is no motorway or dual carriageway out of Mayo or proper links to Sligo, Galway or Dublin. Without basic infrastructure in place, it will be difficult to compete for investment and generate the jobs that will allow people to remain in the area.”

Speaking during a debate with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Chambers said there is growing depression, anxiety and fatigue among people in the 30s and 40s age bracket.

“They are unable to buy a first home or get permanent jobs, must deal with pension issues and spend hours in their cars or on public transport on long commutes,” she said. “We have done little in recent years to address that age group's ongoing concerns. I point to the Help- To-Buy scheme specifically,” she said. “I understand the incentive behind it, but the Minister, Michael Noonan, is probably aware it has been termed the "help the developer" scheme, given that it has driven up prices for younger people and first-time buyers. I am eager to see future budgets doing something to assist people in their 20s, 30s and 40s who are trying to get a foot up in life, start families and jobs and get homes, which is becoming an impossibility for many.”

Ownership of new maternity hospital needs consideration -

There will be complete clinical independence for the maternity hospital at St Vincent’s and that the Sisters of Charity will not have a majority on the board, Taoiseach told the Board. Ownership, he said, is a matter that requires some consideration.

Replying to the Fianna Fáil leader, he said that as a former Minister for Health, he would appreciate that we cannot equivocate about having the very best facilities available to expectant mothers, including co-location with an appropriate hospital that can provide expert attention, if needed.

During the term of office of the last Government, he said the decision was taken to move the National Maternity Hospital from Holles Street to the St. Vincent's University Hospital complex. “I have listened to too many stories about the inadequate facilities available at Holles Street hospital in which 9,000 babies are born every year,” he said. “While a planning application has not yet been lodged for the proposed new maternity hospital on the St. Vincent's University Hospital complex, the proposed structure guarantees that the very best facilities will be available for expectant mothers that one would expect to see in the early part of this century.”

The Taoiseach said he had listened very carefully to the words of the master of Holles Street hospital on many occasions about the difficulties there and the poor facilities available. “Co- location with St. Vincent's University Hospital is obviously best practice, clinically, and will ensure that in the rare circumstances in which women need urgent care and attention, they will receive it immediately in St. Vincent's University Hospital, which is a very fine hospital,” he said. “As the Master of Holles Street hospital and the Minister for Health have stated, the new national maternity hospital will be completely independent, clinically and operationally. The move to St. Vincent's University Hospital was endorsed by the boards of the two hospitals last week.”

Ring outlines details of funding for new safety initiatives

A range of safety initiatives such as warning signs, road markings and footpaths in the environs of schools and community facilities will be provided for under a new CLÁR programme, Minister of State Michael Ring told the Dáil. Applications for the programme closed last Friday, May 5.

The programme will also support the enhancement and development of play areas in schools and communities and support to voluntary organisations that provide first response services in rural areas for the replacement or upgrading of equipment or vehicles used for emergency response.

“Despite a small amount of money being involved, areas that are in need of support and help can be targeted,” he said. “The funding this year totals €5 million. I hope to be able to announce the successful applicants at the end of the month. I hope if further funding is provided at the end of the year there could perhaps be a second round to address other applications.”