Independent TD Michael Lowry, has requested that all Tipperary’s newly elected TD’s unite to ensure that necessary future funding for rural roads be made an immediate priority for the 32nd Dáil.
Deputy Lowry has stated, “The Rural Road Network throughout county Tipperary is crumbling. The principle factor is the lack of investment and continuous decrease in monies made available to local County Councils. The National Roads Fund decreased from €608 million in 2008 to a current figure of €294 million. In 2011 both North and South Tipperary got a total of €45 million for roads. In 2015 this had fallen to €28 million, with a further €3 million of reductions this year.
This decrease in funding has had a huge negative impact on rural communities, with many of our roads becoming extremely hazardous. Daily struggles are arising for rural school buses, and other essential service providers. In many cases these erosive conditions are creating obstacle courses which are bordering on the impassable. Drivers find themselves in dangerous situations where they are forced to drive erratically to avoid deepening potholes. Each day my office receives countless complaints from vehicle owners, where their vehicles are being damaged, tyres have been ripped off and issues are arising with steering and suspension, brought about by potholes which rapidly merge to form giant craters.
The people of Tipperary are extremely frustrated with this outgoing government and justifiably point out that as citizen’s they pay heavy car taxes, numerous charges and levies, yet the horrendous state of rural roads tolerated on a day-to-day basis in Tipperary would never be permitted to exist in our capital city. It is evident that this current administration continues to cultivate a two track society; one which offers fast urban centres, while rural Ireland is permitted to remain abandoned.
I have spoken to the CEO of Tipperary County Council, requesting that an inventory of all roads, which need repair and replacement works right across the county, be immediately established and should include reasonable estimates for all repairs and refurbishments.
I will work alongside my elected colleagues, in seeking the appropriate funding for this crisis, while exerting my influence on the introduction of a proper roads network program into the future. I have also requested that the management of the council ensure that they get satisfactory value and return for all money spent, while all future work practices remain up to a recognised standard, using quality material and ensuring proper road drainage is put in place.
The total neglect of our rural roads now requires urgent attention and the present scenario of drastically reduced infrastructural funding must be immediately reversed,” concluded Deputy Lowry.
It is with deepest regret we report the tragic death of Councillor Willie Kennedy, Glastrigan, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary. Mr Kennedy died as a result of a road traffic accident when, as a pedestrian, he was struck by a car on the N80 Carlow/Portlaoise road at Dysart, Portlaoise, Co Laois at around 8.30pm last night.
We understand Councillor Kennedy had been attending a funeral, prior to the accident occurring.
Independent TD Mr M. Lowry, Mr L. Kennedy and the now late Councillor Mr W. Kennedy, (R.I.P.)
The 64-year-old Councillor, who is survived by his wife and three children, was part of the ‘Lowry Team’ and represented the Thurles-Templemore Municipal District.
Councillor Kennedy was treated at the scene by emergency services personnel and rushed by paramedics to Portlaoise General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the car, a man understood to be in his 50’s, was uninjured. The stretch of roadway is currently closed to traffic and local diversions are in place. Garda Forensic Collision Investigators were due to examine the scene this morning.
First elected to the Council in 1985, the Independent Representative was the current Leas Cathaoirleach of Templemore – Thurles Municipal District, a member of the Council’s Roads Strategic Policy Committee and had served as chairman of the Vocational Education Committee/Education Training Board between 2009 and 2014.
Many Tributes
The many friends and colleagues of the Tipperary Councillor have stated they are shocked and devastated by his sudden death, whom they describe as “overwhelmingly popular” and at all times a “true gentleman”.
Describing Councillor Kennedy as an “exceptional family man who adored his wife Betty, and his children Gerard, Mairead and Elizabeth’, Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry has stated that he is “completely devastated by the loss of his best friend, whose past representations for the betterment of his community, will have a long and lasting impact. His presence amongst us will be greatly missed and will always be remembered with greatest respect.
Fellow shocked Councillor and close friend, Mr Micheál Lowry stated sadly that, “Willie was the very cornerstone of our Team’s organisation and it is impossible to imagine that he is no longer in our midst.”
Cathoirleach of Tipperary County Council and Fianna Fail Councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin stated “there is a massive sense of disbelief amongst the community at this devastating news’.
CEO of Tipperary County Council, Mr Joseph McGrath stated that he was deeply shocked and greatly saddened by news of Councillor Kennedy’s sudden death. He stated; “His death will be a huge loss to his many friends and colleagues in the Co Council and his community. Our hearts go out to Willie’s family and friends at this very sad time. Councillor Kennedy was known for his passionate beliefs and genuine love of his county, which he has served since first elected.”
Long-time friend and former Newport Councillor Mr John ‘Rocky’ McGrath stated “he worked tirelessly for people in all areas of the county”.
Funeral arrangements will be posted here on Thurles.Info in the coming days.
Anyone with information regarding this tragic accident is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station; Tel: 057-8674100 or the Garda Confidential Line at Tel: 1800 666 111.
The electorate of the new constituency of Co. Tipperary have now chosen their five TD’s to represent them in the 32nd Dáil.
Two outgoing Fine Gael TD’s, namely Deputy Mr Noel Coonan and Mr Tom Hayes, latter Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, have both lost their seats.
Minister and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Mr Alan Kelly just about managed to hold his seat in this constituency; elected on the sixth count, without ever reaching a full quota.
Topping all the election results and as expected, was hard working Mr Michael Lowry TD, who for the last 5 General Elections has consistently been returned by his electorate on the first count.
A warm welcome must also go to Co. Tipperary and Thurles town representative Councillor Mr Jackie Cahill. Mr Cahill, a former President of the ICMSA (Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association) from 2005 to 2011; Chairman of Irish Dairy Council from 2011 to date; a Member of Bord Bia and Director of Thurles Greyhound Stadium, will now take up his post as a newly elected TD for Fianna Fáil in Dáil Éireann in March 2016. Congratulations to Jackie.
Meanwhile, to our Dublin Media; but especially to all of those hundreds of weary canvassers based in Co. Tipperary, (regardless of their political or other affiliations), operating in the name of ‘Democracy’; well done and in the words of singer / songwriter Bruce Springsteen:- [Take your own interpretation from this song!]
“I been knocking on the door that holds the throne. I been looking for the map that leads me home I been stumbling on good hearts turned to stone. The road of good intentions has gone dry as a bone. We take care of our own, We take care of our own.”
We are reminded of Winston Churchill’s reflection when he wrote in June 2007: “We are made to ask what it is that political democracy gives us. The system is utilitarian, (Meaning: the best moral action for rational choice), but is it a fit object of faith and hope?”
The new 32nd Dáil government representatives chosen, may possibly give us an answer to this much debated question.
Figures shown in picture left are as taken at 14.55pm (2.55pm) his afternoon.
With 100% of the 276 boxes counted, same show a 68.1% turnout of voters for the county of Tipperary.
The projected quota based on this tally so far is 13,015.
The first count is now under-way with (based on the figures shown left), the outgoing Independent TD Michael Lowry expected to be duly deemed elected on the first count between 8:00pm and 9:00pm tonight, having as expected, reached the quota on the first count.
Possibly the big surprise however was outgoing Independent TD Mattie McGrath who is now expected to take the second seat, contrary to pre-election political predictions which had forecast his annihilation.
The other big surprise coming from this tally was the poor performance from Minister of State Tom Hayes (FG), of whom it was widely predicted would take the second seat in this new constituency.
Independent and outgoing TD Seamus Healy is widely expected to take the third seat, with outgoing TD’s Labour Minister Alan Kelly, Jackie Cahill (FF), Michael Smith (FF) and Minister of State Tom Hayes (FG) all fighting for the remaining two seats of this new five seater constituency.
The Tipperary count is taking place at the Presentation Primary School Count Centre here in Thurles.
A novel Irish political landscape is now emerging from all Count Centres across the country, so how likely it is that the old enemies Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will become coalition partners in the 32nd Dáil?
An RTE Prime Time Investigates programme on the overcrowding crisis in Irish hospitals; which will air at 9.30pm tonight(Monday Feb. 22nd, 2016), will make for interesting viewing for those of us living in west Co. Tipperary.
The programme is expected to expose, what many observe as a “Top Heavy” management structures within the Health Service Executive (HSE), together with the need to immediately return to demands to upgrade Nenagh Hospital as a Model Three facility, incorporating on-site surgical units, which will operate once again on a 24/7 basis.
Those contributing to tonight’s programme will highlight the high patient fatality rates and the major overcrowding problems, being experienced presently in Limerick Regional Hospital. They will suggest, rightly or wrongly, that the present health-care chaos, being experienced, is simply down to poor management of our health services by a HSE that places greater value on maintaining a top-heavy management structure, rather than seeking the welfare of patients under their care.
The recent Study of the Impact of Reconfiguration on Emergency and urgent care Networks (SIREN) shows that patients survival rates for emergency cases in the Mid West Region are among the lowest in the country.
The ‘Siren Study‘ project involves University College Cork (UCC), Trinity College Dublin (TCD), the HSE, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Health Research Board; is funded by the Department of Health.
Compared to Dublin. which has six emergency departments per a population of 1.2 million people; if this same model were currently in place here in the Mid West, there would only be three such emergency Departments in the capital; clearly highlighting the uneven distribution of resources with regards to the Mid West region.
The findings of this Siren Study, which compares patient admission and outcome figures for 2000 to 2012, suggests that if every county had the same death rate for emergency conditions as in Dublin, up to one thousand lives could be saved each year. This obvious disparity between regions continues to remain significant, demonstrating for those at risk here in Co. Tipperary as tantamount to “Death by Our Geographic Location.”
The foolish downgrading of Nenagh General Hospital as part of a nonsensical effort to establish a ‘Centre of Excellence’ in Limerick was allowed to proceeded, despite the major public concerns then raised by the people of Tipperary. This new evidence strongly suggests that this unwanted so called ‘model of service’ has, as was then highlighted, simply not materialised. Same fact unfortunately is further supported by evidence of people dying on trolleys; the non-operation of MRI scans; X-Rays and CT scans at weekends, now forcing senior frontline staff to become ‘Whistle-Blowers’, on the now unacceptable practices and other issues pertaining to their very own places of work.
Tonight’s RTE Prime Time programme is expected to be an eye opener for all/any would-be patients, many badly partially isolated through geographic location here within our Premier County.
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Those contributing to tonight’s programme will highlight the high patient fatality rates and the major overcrowding problems, being experienced presently in Limerick Regional Hospital. They will suggest, rightly or wrongly, that the present health-care chaos, being experienced, is simply down to poor management of our health services by a HSE that places greater value on maintaining a top-heavy management structure, rather than seeking the welfare of patients under their care.
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