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    Wednesday 25 February 2009

    Letter to the editor

    Dear Editor,

     

    Jade Goody is dying, aged just 27, from Cervical Cancer.

     

    Late last year the Government, which has now pledged billions to banks, decided not to spend €10 million on a vaccine which would save the lives of girls like Jade Goody.

     

    Do we really live in a republic where banks come before our children?

     

    Yours sincerely

     

    Cllr Keith Martin

    33 Pairc na Coille

    Westport

    Co. Mayo

     

    086 0691182 m

    098 25747 w

    098 24852 h

    Rural Broadband

    Cllr Keith Martin has expressed his considerable concerns about the impact on broadband attainment in the west and in rural Ireland under the Government's new plans to provide rural broadband via wireless connection from a mobile phone company.
     
    Cllr Keith Martin is a member of the Multi Agency Enterprise Group and is lobbying for a Metropolitan Area Network for Westport via a fibre optic cable which would give Westport super high speed broadband for industrial and business use.  Cllr Martin has also been very vocal on the need for copper-wire broadband to rolled out throught rural Mayo and has called for the Government to invest in enabling existing Eircom exchanges for broadband rather than rolling out a "hit and miss" wireless service.
     
    Specifically, the Labour councillor refers to concerns raised in an evaluation report from Irish Rural Link (IRL) which highlights the inadequacy of focusing predominantly on mobile broadband.
     
    Cllr Martin says "According to the regulator ComReg, mobile broadband is only suitable in limited circumstances; for people and businesses that do not require a high-end broadband service and for those who are not heavy Internet users.

    "These two points raise alarm bells about the scope of the scheme. Are rural communities not entitled to a 'high-end service'? Similarly, who decided that rural users are not heavy Internet users? In Mayo I know of householders and businesses that bought mobile broadband packages only to find that their connections were essentially useless.

    "I'm calling for an urgent review of the National Broadband scheme and would ask Green Party Minister Eamon Ryan to guarantee that rural communities would not be forced to accept a second class broadband system. It as an absolute national disgrace that only 13 per cent of households in rural communities have access to high-speed broadband."
     
     
     
    086 0691182

    Tuesday 24 February 2009

    Westport United could have lands zoned for new home

    In the light of the refusal by An Bord Pleanala of the planning application for Westport United's new home, Labour's Cllr Keith Martin has pledged to zone land under the current review of the Westport Town and Environs Plan for Community Facilities which could pave the way for a new home for soccer in Westport.

    According to the Labour councillor there is a large area of land in and just outside the town which could be zoned for Community use which includes sports grounds and a possible skateboard park.

    "In the recent past, lands were zoned primarily for housing and commercial development, but we now have more land than we need zoned for those purposes and its high time we looked at zoning a large area for sports and other community uses. Fortunately we are currently in the process of drawing up a new Town Plan and a new Environs Plan for the area and this gives us the opportunity, under this process, to zone any lands we feel would be suitable for Community use."

    "I will be making a formal submission on this and I am confident that it will have the full support of all the councillors involved in this process. I would like to see Westport United have a permanent home in Westport. I would also like other sporting groups and organisations in need of grounds to come forward so we can assess how much land is needed and then work on where it can be sourced with a view to zoning it as appropriate.

    "There was bad news for Westport United this week, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and I will do all within my power to see them in a new home."

    086 0691182

    Newport will have ONE voice

    Cllr Keith Martin says Newport will have a strong voice in Mayo County Council when he is elected to Mayo County Council in June. Cllr Martin made his comments when wishing outgoing Newport County Councillor Frank Chambers a "happy and restful retirement" following Cllr Chamber's decision to bow out of politics after 30 years of service.

    Cllr Keith Martin pledged that he will hold clinics on "both sides of the Black Oak River" to ensure that Newport's issues are addressed and raised in Mayo County Council following Cllr Chamber's departure.

    According to Cllr Martin "I will represent the people of Newport town from the river to Furnace whether or not they can vote for me in June. It defies logic and common sense to include Newport in the Belmullet Electoral Area. Newport and Westport are only miles apart and for Newport's administration to be based out of Belmullet 60 miles away makes no sense. It was a lazy way for the Electoral Boundaries Commission to solve a problem for the Belmullet Electoral Area at the expense of the people of Newport.

    "Newport is the social and community centre for a large area on both sides of the river and I will ensure that Newport is serviced effectively by Mayo County Council and that the voice of Newport from Meddicott Street to Knocknageeha is heard as one voice in the chamber of Mayo County Council, and not two.

    "I will be holding clinics in the coming weeks in Newport and I expect these to be well attended by people from both sides of the river and they will be most welcome. There will be no discrimination based on a silly decision from Dublin!"
    086 0691182

    Friday 20 February 2009

    Welcome for Bord Gais


    I welcome the announcement by An Bord Gais that they are to enter the household electricity market.

    I believe that this will make a difference to consumers in terms of lowering electricity bills, but it also shows up the fiasco with regard to electricity and gas prices, for which the Govt is responsible.

    It is now weeks since the Taoiseach instructed the Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan to get his act together in relation to reducing energy prices. The Minister has promised a double-digit reduction, yet we are still waiting for a decision from the energy regulator.

    At a time when businesses and householders are being crippled by some of the highest energy prices in Europe, we a have a Govt that seems incapable of getting a decision made that would protect jobs and ease the pressure on people living on low incomes.

    Thursday 19 February 2009

    Poll toppers the quiz team is back


    Poll toppers aka the Crimson Avengers are back in action tonight as the Westport Labour party field a team in tonight's charity quiz night at the Country Lodge Hotel for the Gina Hearty Haiti Fund. I will update you as to our progress!

    -- Post From My iPhone

    Tuesday 17 February 2009

    Bord Pleanala refuses Kiladoon mast

    Labour's Cllr Keith Martin has welcomed the refusal by An Bord Pleanala of Eircom's plan to erect a 15 metre tall mast in Killadoon, Louisburgh.  Eircom had sought to erect a mast and three aerials in the village, in February 2008, on the site of an existing telephone exchange but in July of last year the planning application was refused by Mayo County Council.  Eircom then appealed this decision to An Bord Pleanala who ruled against the plan on February 13th 2009.
     
    Outlining its decision to refuse the appeal the Bord stated that the "proposed development is in close proximity to significant archaeological features, in particular a standing stone.  It is considered that the proposed development would seriously injure the archaeological amenity and detract from the historical and archaeological character of the area."  The Bord concluded that the mast would be contrary to proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
     
    Cllr Martin was one of the original objectors to the 15m mast and in his objection to An Bord Pleanala Cllr Martin reiterated that the Killadoon area was environmentally sensitive and of great historical and heritage value.
     
    Cllr Martin also re-stated to the Bord that the application by the telephone company for a 15m pole carrying three radio aerials should be refused as it would impinge on the integrity of the nearby ring fort and standing stones of Killadoon.
     
    "I am delighted that An Bord Pleanala has turned this application down.  The site was completely unsuitable and the mast would have been intrusive and unsightly.  I hope that Eircom will now locate a more suitable location" concluded Cllr Martin.
     
    086 0691182

    Sunday 15 February 2009

    Ballyhaunis support for Early Bird Train Service Campaign

    Cllr Keith Martin has welcomed the support of Ballyhaunis Chamber of Commerce in the campaign for an Early Bird Train Service for Mayo.

    The campaign was begun by Westport Town Council in light of Irish Rail's failure to provide a date for the promised extra rail services on the Dublin-Mayo line. These additional services were to include an Early Bird Service which would have passengers from Mayo arriving in Dublin before 9am.

    In response to a unanimous resolution proposed by Labour's Cllr Martin, Westport's Town Clerk has written to all of Mayo's Local Authorities and Chambers of Commerce soliciting their support for the campaign. The campaign already enjoys the full support of Westport Chamber of Commerce, Castlebar Town Council and Castlebar Chamber of Commerce.

    "At the June meeting of Westport Town Council I pointed out that an early bird service from Mayo to Dublin would facilitate the 125,000 people in Mayo and proposed that Mayo's local authorities and chambers of commerce should lend their voice to Westport Town Council's call for action on the issue. That voice is getting stronger with the addition of Ballyhaunis Chamber of Commerce to our ranks. An Early-Bird Service is vital to Mayo if we are to compete for business, investment and strengthen our tourist appeal", concluded Cllr Martin.


    Saturday 14 February 2009

    Rugby

    It was disappointing to see The Bulls aka Westport RFC go down to Tullamore today. They could have won but the game just got away from them and by the second half it wasn't going to be. Never mind, we live to fight another day.

    -- Post From My iPhone

    Pub quiz with the "poll toppers"

    On Thursday night Labour in Westport put a quiz team together to support Holy Trinity National School's fundraiser quiz night. Despite a good start we came a disappointing fourth but we had some good luck on the raffle as we won a beauty pack!

    Still we had good news on the night as we were revealed as Ireland's second most popular political party AHEAD of Fianna Fail.

    What a night!





    -- Post From My iPhone

    Thursday 12 February 2009

    Fwd: Letter to Editor


    To: "independent.letters" <independent.letters@independent.ie>

    Dear Editor,
    I choked on my porridge this morning when I read on the front page of your paper that Brian Cowen doesn't expect the people of Ireland to "thank" him for Fianna Fail's efforts to save this country.
    Brian Cowen has been a Government Minister since 1997 and was Minister for Finance from 2004 untill last year and in all that time he did nothing to save us from the collapse of our economy's boom. For him to want praise for correcting his own mistake takes some neck.
    As a public servant and taxpayer I have had to swallow his 1% levy, his 6% pension levy and his government's attacks on those with medical cards and the vulnerable in society while he protects the banks.
    However like my porridge I can't swallow his idea that he should be thanked for Fianna Fail's "Herculean efforts to save this country."
    I have to ask 'Who will save the country from Brian Cowen?'
    Yours sincerely
    Cllr Keith Martin
    33 Pairc na Coille
    Westport
    Co. Mayo
    086 0691182
    098 25747
    098 24852

    Westport Branch February Notes

    The Westport Branch of the Labour Party met in Henehan's Bakehouse Room this month for its February meeting.

     

    The well attended meeting of the Branch discussed a varied range of items ranging from the current economic climate to its effect of the local economy in Mayo.

     

    The 300% increase in Westport's unemployed was decried by the meeting and Cllr Keith Martin re-issued an appeal to re-open the closed Centre for the Unemployed in the town citing the current situation and the likely hood of even more job losses to come.  The Westport Branch agreed to write to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and ask for their assistance in re-opening the centre.

     

    Also discussed was the Right to Read campaign and the distribution of leaflets about the campaign which aims to promote reading and combat illiteracy is currently ongoing in the Westport area.

     

    Cllr Keith Martin's programme for a county-wide system of allotments was warmly welcomed by Branch Chairman Sean Sammon who said it would be invaluable to those who had no access to agricultural land to grow their own vegetables.

     

    Branch Secretary David Fallon informed members that February had been designated recruitment month by Party Leader Eamon Gilmore and that the Branch would actively seek new members and it was agreed to distribute application forms throughout the Westport area inviting people to join the party.

     

    For more information on the Labour Party and party membership, visit www.labour.ie or call Keith Martin on 086 0691182.

    Tuesday 10 February 2009

    Spending limits welcomed

    Labour's Cllr Keith Martin has welcomed the introduction of spending limits for the upcoming local elections which will range between €7,500 and €15,000 per candidate. This is the first time that limits have been applied to local elections and the period covered will be 60 days leading up to polling day, twice the period that applies in a general election.
     
    The new rules have been introduced following the relevation that some candidates were spending up to €80,000 to win a council seat. 

    The spending limit for candidates for the 34 county and city councils will depend on the population of the electoral area in which they stand. Those in the most populated areas will be entitled to spend up to €15,000 with smaller limits of €13,000, €11,500, and €9,500 respectively applying to proportionately smaller electoral areas. 

    There will be a standard limit of €7,500 for all candidates contesting elections for the 80 borough and town councils.

    According to Cllr Martin, who is Labour's candidate for Westport Town Council and Mayo County Council "this is a much needed levelling of the playing field, until now established councillors with big incomes were able to spend a fortune, leaglly, defending their seats and carpet baggers were allowed to virutally buy themselves a seat on the council.  Now that is at an end and smaller parties can compete with bigger parties on a level playing field at long last."

     

    086 0691182

    Monday 9 February 2009

    Call to re-open Centre for the Unemployed

    Just over two year's after it was controversially closed, Cllr Keith Martin has issued a fresh call for Westport's Centre for the Unemployed to be re-opened. 

     

    Outlining the huge increase in the live register and the certainty of more job losses to come the Labour councillor and candidate for Mayo County Council has written to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) seeking their support to re-open the centre.

     

    The centre was originally opened in Westport in the 1980s as part of pilot scheme for the very popular resource centres by the ICTU.  The centres were funded by ICTU and FAS and later on were supported by local development companies such as Meitheal Mhaigheo. 

     

    The decision to close the Westport Centre for the Unemployed was taken in January 2007 and the centre was closed down virtually over-night by the Castlebar-based Board of Management.  At the time Cllr Keith Martin staged a protest at the closure of the office and established a committee to try and negotiate a reopening of the centre, but was unsuccessful at the time.

     

    Cllr Keith Martin is adamant that now is the time to reopen the centre saying "The economic situation is very, very different to that of 2007 and there is a great need for the re-opening of this centre.  This centre served the 20,000 people in the greater Westport area and now that we have such a huge leap in our unemployed we need it open again.  I have written to the ICTU looking for their support and I would welcome help from any quarter in getting the centre open again.

     

    "I will continue to push for the centre to reopened because we are going to need its help to get the unemployed back on their feet.  A re-opened centre would provide CV writing, career advice, a jobs club, job placement, work experience, phone and fax services, emigration/ immigration advice and vital secretarial services to start up entrepreneurs.  In addition to this the centre would provide representation to the unemployed in their relations with the Social Welfare services, Labour Exchanges and other state agencies, access to development and educational facilities, and assistance and training with computers. 

     

    Cllr Martin also dismisses completely the argument that Westport's new Citizen Information Centre replaces the need for a Westport Centre for the Unemployed saying "a re-opened Westport Centre for the Unemployed would provide a unique service which is completely separate to the role of the Citizens Information Centre, as its completely job orientated, it provides real support to jobseekers and is solely an advocate of the unemployed.  While the Citizens Information Centre is a valuable addition to our town it in no way replaces the need for a Centre for the Unemployed.  We see this in Castlebar and Ballina which both have Centres for the Unemployed, alongside FAS Offices, Citizen Information Offices and Trade Union Offices all performing different services."

     

    "I would welcome any group or individual who would like to assist me with this campaign, I hope that I will receive the support of local employers and trade unions in addition to the those jobseekers and people who want to see Westport's Centre for the Unemployed re-open its doors and get back to work helping people get back to work."
     
    086 0691182

    Dig for Victory

    People will be encouraged to dig their way out of the recession under proposals from Labour's Cllr Keith Martin for a county-wide allotments programme. 

     

    Cllr Keith Martin says that when he is elected to Mayo County Council in June he will introduce an allotments programme in Mayo County Council whereby unused council landbanks will be made available to those who wish to grown their own vegetables.   Community gardens and children's gardens would also be facilitated under the scheme which would facilitate traditional gardeners as well as organic gardeners.

     

    Cllr Martin has already made a similar proposal to Westport Town Council in his submissions on the new Town Plan for the next five years.  In his submission last year Cllr Martin called for the council to acquire agricultural land for the purpose of providing allotments to people without access to agricultural land to allow them to grow their own vegetables, fruits and even flowers.

     

    According to Cllr Martin "This would allow people to develop sustainable and local foods for their own consumption and allow for food security and the combating of climate change through greater self-sufficiency.  Allotments are also a logical response to recent food price inflation and will help us dig our way out of the recession."

     

    Cllr Martin says the necessary lands can be acquired through the council's existing landbanks, from landowners but if necessary the council has the power to compulsorily purchase land for allotments under the Acquisition of Land (Allotments) Act, 1926.

     

    Cllr Martin has already identified a source of funding for the scheme available in the Local Agenda 21 Partnership Fund, which, together with matching funding from local authorities throughout the country, provides €700,000 each year for local projects. The Partnership Fund is co-funded on a 50/50 basis by the Department of the Environment and the Local Authorities to assist small-scale, community based non-profit environmental awareness projects at local level. A wide variety of innovative and exciting projects and schemes have been supported under the Fund.  These range from promoting youth involvement in Tidy Towns efforts, and composting schemes to community gardens, and allotments. Many of the applications received by this Department in 2008 were in respect of local allotment associations seeking support to convert sites provided by Local Authorities into allotments.


    Fingal County Council currently offers allotments measuring one tenth of an acre, for domestic use only for €19.00 p.a.  Other councils offering allotments include South Dublin County Council, Galway City Council and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

     

    According to Cllr Martin "allotments would be ideal because of the large number of houses, flats and apartments without any gardens and the number of townhouses with tiny gardens would mean that there are a large number of people who would welcome the opportunity to grow their own vegetables.

     

    "We should also provide, as part to the allotments project, an area for a community garden along the lines of the very successful one on the Golf Course Road.  Community gardens allow groups and communities to work as a team on a large garden and share the proceeds of that work as well as to enjoy the camaraderie and social aspect of building a community garden.  Community gardening is a well established movement worldwide and it is gaining popularity in Ireland with other community gardens in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

     

    Cllr Martin concludes "But allotments are about so much more than growing your own food or flowers, allotments are also about exercise, teaching children about growth and nature, social interaction with neighbours and getting out of the apartment and having your own small bit of outdoor space on the ground."

    Tubberhill

    As you can see from this pic the Tubberhill development is complete and to a high standard. There will be a mix of social and affordable housing which will go a long way towards meeting our town's housing needs. The allocations should take place very soon. More updates later.



    Sunday 8 February 2009

    Street lights

    Being out and about I have noticed a number of street lights which are out of order. Some of them have been out for some time apparently. I have reported them and will be keeping an eye out to see how long it takes for them to be repaired.

    -- Post From My iPhone

    Wednesday 4 February 2009

    Welcome for increased Parking signs at Westport Railway Station.

    Cllr Keith Martin has welcomed increased warning signage at Westport Train Station outlining Irish Rail's new car parking charges.  The charges have proved controversial and have lead to at least one car being clamped at the station.

    The new signage was announced by Nationwide Controlled Parking Systems (NCPS) in their reply to a letter from Westport Town Council which outlined councillors' concerns in relation to the clamping of cars at the station.  In their letter NCPS have outlined that the new signage is now in place. 

    Irish Rail charge €2 per day or €8 per week for cars parked at the station or in the station car park.  Cars which do not display their parking ticket are clamped and owners have to pay €120 to have the clamp removed.

    Despite welcoming the new signage Cllr Martin is still calling for the parking charges to be revoked.  According to the Labour councillor "Westport is not a commuter town, nor is it well served by bus routes or rural transport schemes and for Irish Rail to impose parking charges is just another stealth tax which is part of the new "Great Train Robbery" which has seen us lose our hot food dining cars in the name of progress.  Irish Rail should reverse this new parking charge, bring back dining cars and ensure 'fair' fares on the Westport line for families and students."







    Welcome for Citizens Information Office for Westport

    Cllr Keith Martin, Labour's county council candidate for Westport, has warmly welcomed the new Citizen's Information Service (CIS) Office in Westport, which opened today (Wens 4th Jan).

    According to the Labour councillor "The new office will allow the CIS to provide information, advice and advocacy services in Westport on a part-time basis, from a permanent office on James Street. 

    Westport Town Council granted planning permission in August 2008 to Mayo Citizen's Information Service Ltd for the conversion of the building from a medical surgery to an office.

    Cllr Martin says "This is good news for Westport as the CIS provides free, impartial and confidential information on an one-to-one basis on subjects such as Employment Rights, Consumer Affairs, Social Welfare, Health, Disability Information, Taxation, Family Issues and Housing.  Importantly all the information provided is confidential.
     
    "For years Westport has lagged behind other Mayo towns in relation to these kind of services and I am delighted to see a permanent office for the Citizens Information Service here in Westport and I am sure there will be a huge demand for its services in the current economic climate." concluded Cllr Martin.

    086 0691182

    Tuesday 3 February 2009

    Right to read

    Increased library opening hours, a literacy programme aimed at young parents and their children and council-backed homework clubs are just some of the measures being proposed by Labour's Cllr Keith Martin to tackle illiteracy and to promote reading in Mayo.  

    Cllr Keith Martin, who is a Branch Librarian at Westport Library, is backing "The Right to Read campaign" which is directed towards education in the community and uses the resources of Local Authorities to back up vital literacy programmes like Homework Clubs, Home-Reading initiatives and Public Libraries.  The campaign is backed by the children's charity Barnardos, unions SIPTU, INTO, TUI, ASTI and the National Adult Literacy Agency.

    Cllr Martin says "Children who go to primary school, must 'Learn to Read so that they Read to Learn' when they move up to secondary school.  According to the latest Census figures 19% of secondary students in Mayo drop out of school when they reach 15 or after their junior certificate. Many, but not all, do so because they have difficulty with reading and writing. 

    "Nationally there are at least half a million adults that are functionally illiterate.  Many of these people are doomed to low incomes or long term unemployment, especially in the current economy.  We must work to eliminate illiteracy and to create an literate and confident society and workforce.  

    "Also there are huge personal benefits to reading, for example reading stimulates the mind (unlike television), reading improves our vocabulary, concentration, focus and memory and allows us to develop our creativity.  In addition to this its great fun, whether its escapism in good novel or a DIY or cookery book to help us around the home.

    Cllr Martin concludes "I am committed to implementing the Right to Read programme when I am elected to Mayo County Council.  We must make sure that no child or adult is left behind, we must also ensure that everyone learns to read, for education and for fun.  Libraries offer great value for money, with free membership for children up to 18 and a maximum annual membership cost of just €3.  For that you get to borrow five books, CDs, DVDs for free, free internet access and access to a huge amount of reference and support materials. The Right to Read campaign aims to highlight these opportunities and to promote literacy and the enjoyment of reading in Mayo."





    CORE Initiatives

    Increase library opening hours, especially in the evenings after school.
    Ensure that all libraries publish community outreach plans and work with schools and community groups to maximise participation in library activities amongst all age groups.
    Increase the number of activities in libraries to promote reading.
    Expand the mobile library service.
    Encourage literacy amongst young parents with the promotion of 'Baby Books Bundle' by the library service.
    Encourage all Local Authorities to establish Right to Read Committees involving elected members and appropriate officers from council management.
    'Family Learning through Football' courses (Sunderland F.C. model) encouraging positive parenting and family literacy through sport in association with sporting organisations run in council community centres.
    A greater volume of multi-lingual textbooks in our library service.
    A greater roll out of schemes like the 'Beano Comic Initiative' as sponsored by Dublin City Council across the country.