Update 18th September

Murphy claims Minister of State’s visit is “coincidentally organised” to clash with Fianna Fail party think in

Fianna Fail Deputy for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has expressed this extreme disappointment that the Minister of State for the OPW and Flood Relief Sean Canney has announced a visit to turloughs in the constituency next Monday, September 19^th  a date which coincides with the Fianna Fail party think in.

Minister Canney announced late on Friday evening that he was due to visit a range of turloughs in County Roscommon including Lough Funshinagh/Ardmullen, Athleague/ Correal Turlough as well as Castleplunkett/Bushfield/ Brackloon turloughs and Boyle turloughs.

Deputy Murphy claims the visit by the Minister of State was “coincidentally” organised for next Monday when the Fianna Fail think in is taking place in Carlow in a bid to exclude Deputy Murphy from being able to attend. “It is very unfortunate that Minister Canney’s visit coincides with the Fianna Fail party think in which is taking place in Carlow next Monday and Tuesday. As Fianna Fail spokesperson on the OPW and Flood Relief I have been working hard on flooding issues and in fact launched a bill in this regard last week. In fact I discussed the issue of flooding and turloughs at length with Minister Canney at a meeting in Ballinasloe last Wednesday night and he gave no indication of a visit to the constituency at that stage.

The crisis issue of flooding and turloughs is very much to the fore of people’s minds as we head into the winter months and we are only seven days rainfall away from another devastating flood- it is a shame to think that a political football is now being made of such issues when we all as politicians should be focusing on joined up thinking and solutions to the issue

.“I am now in the process of making arrangements with my party to ensure that I will be in a position to be present in the constituency for Minister’s Canney’s visit next Monday as I feel it is a major priority and I have been pressing for this visit for some time now,” concluded Deputy Murphy.

Major Flooding Conference - September 26th

A major flooding conference for the Roscommon / Galway area is set to take place on Monday, September 26th in the Percy French Hotel in Strokestown. The event has been organised by Fianna Fail TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy who is also the party’s spokesperson on the OPW and Flood Relief.

A comprehensive list of speakers will address a range of issues including topics such as potential flood defence options and understanding the unique network of turloughs which are specific to the region. The conference has been organised in response to the potential flooding challenges that homeowners, members of the farming community and general public face heading into the winter months. 

The main expert speaker will be Professor Paul Johnson an esteemed hydrologist from Trinity College Dublin who has studied the karst limestone area of counties Roscommon and Galway with specific expertise on the turlough systems. Mr Johnson is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and he has been investigating and studying turloughs and the issues of flooding and hydro-ecology for many years dating back to before the flooding of 1995 in South Galway. He has also been involved with recent flooding issues in Dysart and Four Roads. Professor Johnston has been a consultant to several bodies, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and also has given evidence to the Joint Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

The Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief Sean Canney and Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources Denis Naughten have also been invited to attend the conference.

Other speakers will include Eugene Dwyer, Senior Engineer with Roscommon County Council who will give a unique insight into flood relief works underway in the county as well as highlighting the range of works and levels of funding which are required to adequately address flooding issues. The Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council Cllr Michael Connolly is also expected to be in attendance.

Deputy Murphy said: “Areas like Lough Funshinagh, Dysart and Castleplunkett were severely hit in the winter floods, with many farmers only getting back on their feet in the last number of weeks.  They cannot afford another winter like 2015 – they simply won’t survive- The aim of the conference is to get answers to some of the outstanding questions in relation to flooding and also to gain an understanding of suggested solutions.” The conference follows on last week from the launch of a new bill, the ESB Supply (Management of River Shannon) Bill 2016 by Deputy Murphy which aims to tackle River Shannon flooding.

The conference will run from 9.30am. to 2pm. in the Percy French Hotel, Strokestown on Monday, September 26^th. Light refreshments will be served. This conference is free of charge and open to all members of the public to attend but interested persons are asked to please register their interest in advance by contacting Deputy Murphy’s constituency office on 071 9633000 or emailing Eugene.murphy@oireachtas.ie in order to accommodate expected numbers.

Major Flooding Conference - September 26th

A major flooding conference for the Roscommon / Galway area is set to take place on Monday, September 26th in the Percy French Hotel in Strokestown. The event has been organised by Fianna Fail TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy who is also the party’s spokesperson on the OPW and Flood Relief.

A comprehensive list of speakers will address a range of issues including topics such as potential flood defence options and understanding the unique network of turloughs which are specific to the region. The conference has been organised in response to the potential flooding challenges that homeowners, members of the farming community and general public face heading into the winter months. 

The main expert speaker will be Professor Paul Johnson an esteemed hydrologist from Trinity College Dublin who has studied the karst limestone area of counties Roscommon and Galway with specific expertise on the turlough systems. Mr Johnson is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and he has been investigating and studying turloughs and the issues of flooding and hydro-ecology for many years dating back to before the flooding of 1995 in South Galway. He has also been involved with recent flooding issues in Dysart and Four Roads. Professor Johnston has been a consultant to several bodies, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and also has given evidence to the Joint Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

The Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief Sean Canney and Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources Denis Naughten have also been invited to attend the conference.

Other speakers will include Eugene Dwyer, Senior Engineer with Roscommon County Council who will give a unique insight into flood relief works underway in the county as well as highlighting the range of works and levels of funding which are required to adequately address flooding issues. The Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council Cllr Michael Connolly is also expected to be in attendance.

Deputy Murphy said: “Areas like Lough Funshinagh, Dysart and Castleplunkett were severely hit in the winter floods, with many farmers only getting back on their feet in the last number of weeks.  They cannot afford another winter like 2015 – they simply won’t survive- The aim of the conference is to get answers to some of the outstanding questions in relation to flooding and also to gain an understanding of suggested solutions.” The conference follows on last week from the launch of a new bill, the ESB Supply (Management of River Shannon) Bill 2016 by Deputy Murphy which aims to tackle River Shannon flooding.

The conference will run from 9.30am. to 2pm. in the Percy French Hotel, Strokestown on Monday, September 26^th. Light refreshments will be served. This conference is free of charge and open to all members of the public to attend but interested persons are asked to please register their interest in advance by contacting Deputy Murphy’s constituency office on 071 9633000 or emailing Eugene.murphy@oireachtas.ie in order to accommodate expected numbers.

IDA - FG neglect of spreading regional jobs

- 18 counties comprise less than 2% each of total IDA supported jobs -

- Nearly half of all IDA jobs in 2012-2015 period centred in GDA -

Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy says the 2015 county breakdown on IDA Ireland job figures debunks the Government’s claim that it is spreading FDI jobs fairly across the whole country.

“In a recent Parliamentary Question reply that my party colleague Niall Collins TD received from Minister Mitchell O’Connor, the county by county data shows that of the 187,056 persons employed in IDA supported companies in 2015, shockingly 18 counties, nearly 70% of the state, accounted for less than 2% of total jobs. The figures show that there were only 936 IDA jobs in County Roscommon in 2015 which accounts for a shocking 0.5% of the overall figure which clearly indicates that the area has been severely neglected.

“Foreign Direct Investment acts as a significant engine in the Irish economy by providing highly skilled jobs and indirect employment to local domestic businesses nationwide."

“In turn FDI companies, support secondary, indigenous companies located in, and around, FDI businesses. The work of the IDA is to be applauded for continuing to attract FDI to Ireland."

“Despite this, the annual regional figures over 2012-2015 clearly reveal a consistent pattern. Under a Fine Gael led government, almost 50% of all IDA supported jobs over this period were concentrated in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).”

“The previous Government denied the existence of a two-tier recovery, but these figures paint a damming picture. The Minister needs to accept the reality that her government has failed the Ireland that exists outside the M50, and needs to prioritise FDI-investment in counties outside the Greater Dublin Area.”

“Fianna Fáil will be keeping a close eye on whether the regional action jobs plans deliver for all communities nationwide and if regional job targets in the programme for government are fully realised,” concluded Deputy Murphy.

Murphy launches new Bill to help tackle River Shannon flooding

photo: Mick McCormack

- Bill part of a broad suite of measures to address increased flooding risk -

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on OPW and Flood Relief Eugene Murphy TD has launched a Bill to help address flooding issues along the River Shannon. Deputy Murphy, along with his colleagues Deputies Barry Cowen, Robert Troy and Anne Rabbitte have set out new legislation to remove outdated water level restrictions on ESB regulated lakes along the Shannon. The launch took place in Leinster House on Thursday morning.

Deputy Murphy stated, “The River Shannon is an immense natural resource for our country. But as the frequency and intensity of flooding has risen over the past number of years, it’s clear that we need new measures to help protect vulnerable communities living along its banks. 

“This Bill addresses the concerns raised by various community groups and aims to update old legislation in order to ensure the ESB has full flexibility in setting water levels on Lough Allen, Lough Derg and Lough Ree.  This will lead to a more co-ordinated decision making process, free from legal constraints, and will help maintain an adequate, safe water level.   Essentially the Bill removes specific water levels from legislation and allows the ESB to continue to use its own expertise to set these levels in conjunction with other relevant bodies such as Waterways Ireland, Inland Fisheries and the local authorities.This bill offers real and practical solutions to major ongoing flooding problems and includes proposals such as dredging new channels and deepening existing channels, the reconstruction of weirs and the altering/removal or reconstruction of quays, harbours, boat houses and bridges for example.

“This Bill is not a silver bullet. There is no single solution to ease flooding along the Shannon, but our Bill can form part of an overall package of measures designed to address the difficulties communities on the Shannon are facing”. 

Over the coming months Fianna Fáil will bring forward a suite of proposals to address the flooding issue, including:

- A single River Shannon Agency Bill

This will cut through the bureaucratic problems experienced over the years in tackling problems on the Shannon and there will also be specific reference to the unique problem of the flooding of turloughs in this bill.

- Legislation on introducing a UK style flood insurance fund

Many homes are struggling to get insurance after experiencing flooding. We are working to develop a new insurance model based on the UK example to provide a fund that will cover these homes.

- Additional funding for flood defences

The Fianna Fáil manifesto committed an extra €50m to flood defence capital investment. This will be vital in addressing structural problems in flood defences.  This funding will also be used to target investment in areas identified by the CFRAMS project on the Shannon River Basin area.

“There are countless areas throughout the country still affected by flooding and many homeowners, farmers and business owners are becoming increasingly frustrated as they are fast becoming a forgotten story. These are the stories behind the headlines where farmers are facing a bleak winter period as their land was too water lodged to make hay or silage this summer, where business owners have water damaged stock or where families and publicans have been stranded by the rising waters of nearby turloughs.  Communities along the Shannon need real action to help deal with escalating flood problems. This suite of measures will help limit the impact of increasing flood waters.” Deputy Murphy concluded. 

Fianna Fáil to launch Bill to tackle River Shannon flooding

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on the OPW & Flood Relief Eugene Murphy TD will launch a new Bill to help address major flooding issues along the River Shannon tomorrow.

He will be joined by the party’s Spokesperson on Housing, Planning & Local Government Barry Cowen TD, Transport, Tourism & Sport Spokesperson Robert Troy TD and Galway East TD Anne Rabbitte.

The launch will take place on the Plinth, Leinster House at 11am.

CFRAM studies out of touch with views of the people

CFRAM studies out of touch with views of the peopleFianna Fail TD for Roscommon/ Galway Eugene Murphy has hit out at the CFRAM studies which were underway in Roscommon Town and Athleague this week as being completely out of touch with the views and knowledge of local people. 

“In my opinion the CFRAM studies in Athleague and Roscommon are completely out of touch with the layman’s language and views and they have not tapped into the considerable knowledge which exists in the affected area. The millions of euro laid out for works in Roscommon Town and Athleague village in my view won’t solve the problem of flooding and this money could be better spent by taking the views of the local people on board. 

The study does not appear to address the issues around the bridge in Athleague and locals will tell you that if bigger culverts and remedial works are addressed it would practically alleviate the danger of flooding which caused so much worry and disruption in Athleague in recent years. The by-pass at Tubbervaddy also needed to be opened to provide flood relief,” said Deputy Murphy. 

The Fianna Fail Deputy said that issues surrounding the River Jiggy at the Railway bridge in Roscommon Town needed to be addressed and he also highlighted the fact that the sewer pipes which cross the river Jiggy are encased in concrete and are causing an obstruction and would need to reconfigured while the river would also need to be widened. When water rises to a certain level it has to rise another 375mm before there is an increase in the flow causing a back flow. It is also vital that the culvert under the railway line is restored to its original dimensions,” said Deputy Murphy. 

commitment on Rehabilitation Unit is long overdue

"Minister for Health’s commitment on Rehabilitation Unit is long overdue" - Murphy

Fianna Fail Deputy for Roscommon/ Galway, Eugene Murphy has welcomed the clarification and commitment by Minister for Health Simon Harris to allocate funding of  over 7 million euro for the development of a new rehabilitation unit at Roscommon University Hospital.

Deputy Murphy said that the Minister’s comments which were made at the opening of the new endoscopy unit at the county hospital today, Wednesday were over long due but most welcome.

“I have been vindicated in my stance on the issue of the rehabilitation unit and I constantly kept the pressure on the Minister’s department to clarify his position on the funding. Over 7million euro was approved for the rehabilitation unit at Roscommon Hospital in May of 2015 and the funds were to be included in the 2016/2021 capital programme. Doubt had been cast on the future of the rehab unit as the Minister took some time to clarify his position but thankfully Minister Harris has today given a commitment to move ahead to the planning stage. This ten bedded unit will service the midlands and west of Ireland and the development of the unit was one of the main projects proposed for the campus following on from the closure of the A&E services,” said Deputy Murphy.

The Fianna Fail TD said unfortunately he was unable to be present at the official opening of the new endoscopy unit due to the Dail being recalled in relation to the Apple taxation ruling but a representative was in attendance.

Deputy Murphy also welcomed Minister Harris’ comments in relation to offering a full time contract to newly qualified nurses to allow them to work within the HSE and remain in Ireland. “We have lost so many highly qualified and skilled nurses over the years as they opt for employment options overseas but perhaps some of that brain drain can now be stemmed if newly qualified nurses are offered a contract of full time work with the HSE which will also them to remain in Ireland and ultimately contribute to the economy and help improve the healthcare service,” said Deputy Murphy.

Communities living in fear of returning flood waters this Winter

The Fianna Fail Junior Spokesperson for the OPW and Flood Relief, Deputy Eugene Murphy has warned that many communities, towns and villages throughout Counties Roscommon and Galway are under siege and living in fear of returning flood waters this Winter.

Deputy Murphy said the Government had shown a “lack of imagination” and was “devoid of any real understanding of the reality of the ongoing situation on the ground” and he reiterated his call for Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Sean Canney TD to visit the areas in County Roscommon which have been adversely affected by flooding.

“If the Minister’s office has 500 million over the next five years to deal with this issue then why can Roscommon County Council not get the funding they need to repair roads in the area- there are still roads in the Tulsk and Castleplunkett area which need to be repaired after enduring months of being submerged in flood waters. People in these areas are living in real fear especially now that we are heading into the winter months – every time there is heavy rainfall people lie awake in their beds in fear of what faces them the following morning and communities are under siege and extremely worried that will suffer more widespread flooding this Winter.

“Roscommon County Council need in the region of 11 million euro to repair the damage caused by flooding to ensure that such devastation does not reoccur throughout the county yet only 4.5 million has been allocated which is wholly inadequate.

There are a total of 133 different areas throughout County Roscommon which are still affected by flooding and many homeowners and business owners are becoming increasingly frustrated as they are fast becoming a forgotten story,” said Deputy Murphy.

Deputy Murphy said that he is in the process of organising a major flood conference which will be held in Strokestown towards the end of the month where the views and knowledge of local people would be aired. He also highlighted that fact that he hopes to have turloughs designated as special areas of attention in a new Bill which will be brought before the Dail in the coming weeks. Deputy Murphy is a co-sponsor of a new Bill in relation to the ELECTRICITY (SUPPLY) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) ACT, 1934. The aim of the bill is to enable the ESB to alter the levels of the Shannon lakes in conjunction with other bodies without legislative restraints. This will be followed by a separate bill on creating a Single River Shannon agency

Cutting out agencies would lead to multi-million euro saving move for Home Care packages

Fianna Fail TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy says the curtailment of agencies in the provision of home care packages would be a multi-million euro saving move which would ultimately lead to sick and older people being able to be cared in their own homes for as long as possible.

Deputy Murphy has called on the Minister for Health Simon Harris to address this issue of national importance prior to the forthcoming budget as he believes the situation is fast developing into a crisis. Deputy Murphy highlighted the case of a terminally ill woman in Roscommon who is going to have her home care package cut from six hours to just four hours per week and he noted that the current agency led care approach was leading to spiralling costs and zero contract hours for Carers.

Deputy Murphy also highlighted the tragic case of ‘Mary’ an 83 year-old woman from County Roscommon who is still awaiting a home care package following the death of her daughter in recent weeks.

“Mary tragically lost her eldest daughter in recent weeks. Mary is elderly and has very significant mobility issues, as well as dementia, she cannot be left unattended. Mary’s elder daughter was her carer at the weekends while the younger daughter cares for her during the week, and has done so for the last year since the loss of Mary’s husband. The younger daughter leaves her family in a neighbouring county and travels to Roscommon to stay with her mother from Monday to Friday and then works at the weekend. She is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance and is allowed to work 15 hours and needs to do so in order to keep her job-  the family need some home care package to help cover weekends now that the elder daughter has passed away. They are willing to pay for private care at night time and are just looking for some help at the weekends but they are not optimistic about getting a home care package- this is simply outrageous- there is no compassion. If the family do not get some help towards care at weekends they will be left with no other option than to consider long term care which will ultimately end up costing the State more in the long run so it just doesn’t make sense,” said Deputy Murphy.

“In County Roscommon alone there are a number of different agencies who deal with allocation of the carers hours. Therefore that is a considerable amount of middle men, managers and admin staff which are all paid for out of the same budget.  The HSE pay the agencies €19.50 an hour for a home carer to visit and tend to a patient in their home but the Carer only gets €12 per hour so that means that 7.50 euro or more than 50% of what the Carer gets goes directly to the agencies in some cases.

In the past the HSE departments used to deal with the distribution and the hire of staff. There is a huge portion of the budget going to the middle men and if the HSE took back control and cut out the agencies there would be a multi -million euro saving. This is not a factory floor- I don’t want to see the care of our sick and elderly becoming more about a commercial business- our end goal should be focused on the quality and quantity of that home care.

What I am suggesting does not mean that people employed by the agency presently would lose out- we still need Carers to provide the work but it may be more cost effective to do so through the HSE model,” said Deputy Murphy.

The Fianna Fail TD said that if Minister Harris was serious about trying to reduce HSE costs and reducing trolley waiting times in Emergency Departments throughout the country he needs to examine a better Home Care package for sick people being discharged from acute hospital beds and for our increasing elderly population.

“If the HSE took back control of the Home Care packages there would be more money to spend on actual care hours and this would help ensure that sick and older people could stay in their own homes as long as possible. Research has shown this is where older people and those with dementia do better. It is time to put in place a better system for Carers of those been cared for at home,ie be perhaps allowing them to work up to 24 hours a week and provide a Carers allowance that can be scaled according to the Carers income. There is simply not enough home care to allow faster discharge from hospitals and hours desperately need to be increased for those who need it.

I am currently working on a representation in County Roscommon where the family is struggling to keep their 86 year old mother at home. Although assessments have shown her to be at high risk she is still on a waiting list. This is absolutely outrageous and unjust- this 86 year old woman has been on a waiting list for three months now. If she had an increase in her home help it would be of great benefit- her family are struggling to fill the gaps and provide care around the clock- and the tragic thing is that this family is not alone- there are hundreds more forgotten families like them throughout the country,” concluded Deputy Murphy.

Minister for Health’s refusal to meet with HAC on Rehabilitation Unit casts doubts on future project

Fianna Fail Deputy for Roscommon/ Galway, Eugene Murphy has re-issued an invitation to the Minister for Health Simon Harris to meet with members of the Hospital Action Committee in relation to the development of a Rehabilitation Unit at Roscommon University Hospital.

Deputy Murphy said he was “extremely disappointed” that Minister Harris had turned down the request to meet with the HAC.

“Members of the HAC received an email from Minister Harris’ office on Friday indicating that he would not be in a position to meet with them and I have re-issued the invitation to the Minister’s office. Minister Harris will be in Roscommon to open the new endoscopy unit on Thursday, September 8^th which would be an ideal time to meet the HAC.

“Over 7million euro was approved for the rehabilitation unit at Roscommon Hospital in May of 2015 and the funds were to be included in the 2016/2021 capital programme however that funding now seems to be postponed and urgent clarification is needed in relation to the matter. This ten bedded unit would service the midlands and west of Ireland and the development of the unit was one of the main projects proposed for the campus following on from the closure of the A&E services. I have spoken to Minister Harris in relation to the rehabilitation unit in the past and he has informed me that the Unit is not off the agenda so I don’t understand why there is such a reluctance to meet the HAC- the Minister’s refusal to meet the HAC only casts further doubt on the future of the Rehab Unit and urgent clarification is needed in relation to the matter” said Deputy Murphy.

Boil water notice on North East supply expected to be lifted by end of September

*Outrageous situation with hundreds of publicans and hoteliers still paying full price for drinking water*

The boil water notice on the North East Roscommon regional water supply scheme is expected to be lifted by the end of September and Fianna Fail TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has urged Irish Water to  strictly adhere to this timeframe as she says thousands of householders have been consistently inconvenienced.

The scheme extends from Roosky in the east to Tulsk in the west and from Drumsna in the north to Ballyleague in the south. Deputy Murphy noted that domestic customers receive a 100% discount to the water supply portion of their bill for the duration of the boil water notice but they are still liable for the charge of wastewater services. However the Fianna Fail TD pointed out the “outrageous” and ridiculous” situation whereby hundreds of publicans, hoteliers, restaurants, cafes etc were still paying full price for both drinking water and wastewater charges despite the fact that there is a boil water notice in place.

“We have seen an absolutely outrageous situation in the North East Roscommon supply area whereby hotels, pubs, restaurants, cafes etc are still being charged full price with no reductions or allowances for drinking water despite the fact that a boil water notice is in place. Commercial outlets get no reduction whatsoever and they are subject to a charge of 1.22 euro per cubic metre if they have their own septic tank but that rises to 2.72 euro per cubic metre if they are on the town supply. Many hotels and restaurants have already paid thousands of euros to install sophisticated water filter systems on their premises in order to ensure the survival of their businesses and on top of that they are still being charged for drinking water that they cannot even use- it is totally unjust situation,” said Deputy Murphy.

Deputy Murphy said that work on the design, supply, installation and commissioning of pressure filters, UV reactor and control panels at Lisheen Lake Pump house was completed in March 2016.  Following this, a 3-month process proving and commissioning period commenced and was completed in July 2016.

“I understand checks are currently being made on the chlorine levels at the end of the watermain network. Irish Water has indicated that the end of September is a likely date for lifting of the boil water notice but I understand that the hold-up was due to the fact that test was not able to register a result due to some technicality and that the HSE will ultimately decide on the date that the boil water notice can be lifted.

“I am calling on Irish Water to strictly adhere to the projected date of the end of September to lift the boil water notice as some 5,400 customers have been seriously inconvenienced long enough at this stage

“A new water treatment plant for the North East Roscommon Regional Water Supply scheme is currently under construction at a new site located near Strokestown. This new plant is due for completion in May 2017- let’s hope that Irish Water will stick to that schedule in a bid to ensure a sustainable and safe supply of drinking water to the communities of North East Roscommon,” concluded Deputy Murphy.

Time to get real about death traps in Frenchpark area

Fianna Fail TD for Roscommon/ Galway Eugene Murphy has called for urgent action in relation to a number of dangerous visibility issues throughout the county including ongoing issues on the Frenchpark to Ballinagare road, the Frenchpark junction and Scramogue Cross.

Following 29 accidents on a dangerous bend between Frenchpark and Ballinagare since April 2015 there has been widespread concern and calls for action. Deputy Murphy has called for immediate action on this stretch of road saying: “Flashing amber lights and a barrier need to be erected on this stretch of road immediately and there also needs to be extra illumination on that particular stretch of road. There are also ongoing concerns about Frenchpark junction and Scramogue Cross which are death traps while there are also real safety concerns in the Rathcroghan area and the number of accidents along this entire stretch of road is evidence that this route has been completely neglected”.

The Fianna Fail Deputy also highlighted the fact that a number of cars had been involved in collisions in the Farnbeg area of Strokestown. Deputy Murphy urged motorists to report accidents however minor to their local Garda Station as such accident reports could go some way towards strengthening the case to the Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

“The TII can claim there are no Garda records if all of these minor traffic accidents are not reported so it’s very important that no matter how small a collision or accident occurs people should report the matter to local Gardai as all of those accident reports will strengthen the argument for urgent action,” said Deputy Murphy.

“Numerous motorists and constituents in the Frenchpark area have contacted me in relation to the ongoing issues at Frenchpark junction and the Frenchpark to Ballinagare road- this is a national primary route and many people are scared to death driving through these areas as they are death traps and urgent action is needed to address the situation,” said Deputy Murphy.

Deputy Murphy said that these stretches of road had been completely ignored and neglected by the Government and the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) formerly known as the National Roads Authority- “ The whisperings about a by-pass are a long way off reality and it’s time for the idle talk to stop –it’s time to get real about road safety,” concluded Deputy Murphy.

Roscommon well above national average for water leakage figures

Roscommon is well above the national average when it comes to water leakage with rates as high as 65% across the county and the First Fix Leak Repair scheme still has a long way to go to remedy the situation - that’s according to Fianna Fail Deputy for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy.

Figures just released to the end of March this year have shown that 266 householders in Roscommon benefited from Irish Water’s First Fix Free scheme and Deputy Murphy has urge more householders to avail of the free service.

 

Irish Water’s First Fix Free scheme launched in early 2015 across all metering regions in Roscommon and throughout the country. To the end of March, 75,974 properties were identified with customer side leaks, 1,942 of which have been found in Roscommon.

 

“ Water leakage levels are extremely high in County Roscommon at 65%. I understand that 266 homes in Roscommon and 270 in Galway benefited from the Irish Water First Fix Leak Repair scheme which is a welcome start however, the water loss due to old or leaking pipes was estimated at 47% nationally but that figure is much higher in County Roscommon at 65% and at 48% in Galway and this is causing huge problems. Over 1,942 leaks were detected in Roscommon and 2,826 were detected in Galway so there is still a considerable amount of work to do and a long way to go to fix the problems with leaking pipes,” said Deputy Murphy.

“I understand that 1,942 of households in Roscommon have already received a letter indicating a potential leak on their property and I would urge these householders to contact Irish Water , to request a free leak investigation. The First Fix Repair Scheme offers an opportunity to potentially avail of a free fix. Some 603 people in Roscommon have already contacted the repair scheme,” said Deputy Murphy.

More information about the First Fix Leak Repair Scheme for Domestic Water Customers is available at water.ie/water-supply/first-fix/

Government must focus on reforming CAO system

Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has called for more progress on reforming the CAO system and broadening entry routes into 3^rd level education.

Deputy Murphy congratulated all of the students who collected their Leaving Cert results this week throughout Roscommon and Galway but he noted that there was tremendous pressure on young people and they should not despair if they did not get the results they had hoped for as there were a range of options which could be explored.

The Fianna Fail Deputy said however that there had been a huge increase in the number of courses being offered at 3^rd level under the CAO system in recent years which has resulted in the CAO system becoming staggeringly complex. “This is placing further pressure on Leaving Certificate students who are already facing the stress of having to sit the state exams.

“The universities have admitted that such specialised courses were introduced with the intention of inflating entry points under the CAO system, with the aim of enhancing the perception that their institutions offered prestigious ‘high points’ courses.

“This has perpetuated the fallacy that high points courses are automatically more prestigious. Minister Bruton and the Higher Education Authority need to take a tougher line with 3^rd level institutions that have shown themselves unwilling to broaden their entry routes.

“The loss of guidance counselling services has perpetuated the myth surrounding high point’s courses. This is particularly problematic in less advantaged schools where parental contributions and school fees are not available to replace lost funding.

“Without specialist guidance advice, young people find it difficult to cope with the huge range of options that are open to them. This is especially true to students who do not have parents or older siblings who have gone through 3^rd level and lack personal knowledge about the higher education system.

“This is a further reason why Fianna Fáil considered it essential to secure a restoration of guidance counselling to schools in return for supporting the government on a Confidence and Supply basis. We expect to see significant restoration of guidance services in Budget 2017,” said Deputy Murphy.

20 minute ambulance turnaround target continues to be missed

New figures released to Fianna Fáil show that virtually all hospitals continue to miss the 20 minute turnaround time for the majority of ambulance calls with Galway only recording an 8% success rate while Portiuncula only had a 15 % success rate. The figures were for May 2016.

Fianna Fail TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy said, “Only four hospitals managed to meet the 20 minute target for more than half of ambulance attending their Emergency Departments. None of the other 26 hospitals had a success rate of more than 49% for the twenty minute turnaround.

The figures show that the best performing hospital was Tallaght Paediatric at 58%. Navan Hospital, Connolly Hospital and St James’s were the only others to break the 50% mark. At the other end of the scale two hospitals failed to break 10% with Galway recording an 8% success rate and Mayo coming in at 9.7%.

Deputy Murphy also highlighted the fact that Portiuncula Hospital only recorded a 15.2% success rate for the 20 minute target while some 92.2% of ambulance calls to Portiuncula of 389 calls too up to one hour to be cleared.

Sligo Hospital only had an 18.2% success rate for the 20 minute ambulance target with 91.8% of calls (619) taking up to one hour to clear.

Six hospitals were in the 10-20% range – Letterkenny, Sligo, University Hospital Limerick, Portiuncula, South Tipperary, Midland Regional Tullamore, Kerry and Cork University Hospital.

“Of 20,032 ambulance hospital attendances in May, just 5,820 or 29.1% had a turnaround within the 20 minute timeframe. 1,126 ambulance calls took more than an hour with Mayo worst at 17.7% followed by Galway at 15.4%. It is quite alarming that an ambulance going to either of these two hospitals is almost twice as likely to have to wait an hour or more than to reach the turnaround target. In University Hospital Galway there was only a 7.9% success rate for the 20 minute timeframe while 84.5% (755 calls) took up to one hour to clear,” said Deputy Murphy.

“Of course missing turnaround targets has a knock on effect for the ambulance service as it makes it harder to respond to new call outs in the target time if paramedics are delayed at hospitals.

“Unsurprisingly, many of the hospitals with low turnaround rates also experience overcrowding in their Emergency Departments. The delays in transferring patients are clearly not the fault of the ambulance service. Rather there are symptomatic of the ongoing difficulties in our acute hospitals,” concluded Deputy Murphy.

Town and Village Renewal Scheme needs to be an annual allocation

Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon-Galway Eugene Murphy has hit out at critics of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme as he believes the 10million euro allocation will go some way towards injecting a well needed boost to local towns and villages throughout the country.

“The fund will see over 200 villages and towns benefit and the grant of 380,000 for County Roscommon will give a boost to many small towns and villages which have struggled with economic decline in recent times. It would be very easy for Opposition TDs to criticise the scheme and be negative about the amount of money allocated but I think it will bring a welcome boost for rural areas. I will however be calling for clarification as to whether this scheme will be renewed each year as an annual allocation could help communities continue to build and enhance on works,” said Deputy Murphy.

“Many rural towns and villages have been by-passed over the past number of years and many small businesses which are vital to the economic lifeblood of an area are struggling to survive. Along with this Town and Village Renewal Scheme funding we need to ensure that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’ Connor keeps true to her promise that she will focus on job creation in rural counties. It is vital that small businesses and enterprise are the top of the list when it comes to funding and support to ensure that our towns and villages not only survive but thrive,” said Deputy Murphy.

Flooding funding of 200,000 is only a drop in the ocean

The Fianna Fail Junior Spokesperson for the OPW and Flood Relief, Deputy Eugene Murphy has welcomed the allocation of 200,000 for flood relief works throughout County Roscommon but warns that it is “only a drop in the ocean” of what is actually required.

“Roscommon County Council has been allocated 200,000 to help alleviate flooding problems in six locations throughout the county and such funding is welcome and much needed in the areas of Killeglan Stream; Beagh Brabazon, Ballinasloe; Fairhill, Dysart; Moneymore, Knockcroghery; Curnalee, Curraghboy; and the Ogulla River, near Roscommon town but really the sum of money is mere pittance when you look at what is actually required to make a real difference,” said Deputy Murphy.

Deputy Murphy said the Government had shown a “lack of imagination” and was “devoid of any real understanding of the reality of the ongoing situation on the ground.”

“Roscommon County Council requires in the region of 11 million euro to repair the damage caused by flooding to ensure that such devastation does not reoccur throughout the county yet only 4.5 million has been allocated to date which is wholly inadequate. This latest funding of 200,000 will go some way to helping alleviate problems in the six locations around the county but when you look at the overall picture of what is needed it is really only a drop in the ocean,” said Deputy Murphy.

 “There are a total of 133 different areas throughout County Roscommon which are still affected by flooding and many homeowners and business owners are becoming increasingly frustrated as they are fast becoming a forgotten story. These are the stories behind the headlines where farmers are facing a bleak winter period as their land is too water lodged to make hay or silage this summer, where business owners have water damaged stock, where families and publicans have been stranded by the rising waters of nearby turloughs,” said Deputy Murphy.

‘Unacceptable’ waiting lists for Speech and Language Therapy in Galway, Mayo & Roscommon

Over 1,000 people stuck on waiting lists with over 200 waiting for assessment and treatment for up to two years
 
New figures obtained by Fianna Fail show that there are over 1,000 people on waiting lists for Speech and Language Therapy in the Galway, Mayo and Roscommon area which has been harshly criticised this week by local Deputy Eugene Murphy.
The latest figures made available by the HSE show that nationally 14,047 people were waiting for a first assessment in March, up from 13,545 in June of last year. The numbers waiting for treatment have also increased from 8,326 to 8,974 over the same timeframe.

“The latest figures show that there are a total of 1,075 people waiting for an initial speech and language assessment in CHO 2 (Galway, Mayo and Roscommon) with some 54 people stuck on a waiting for over a year and in some cases up to two years. A wait of over a year is simply unacceptable when you consider the vast majority of those waiting are children, and early intervention is critical for them to support their development. If you consider that the early years are from birth to the age of six, then to have to wait over a year or two for treatment is very damaging,” said Deputy Murphy.

The Fianna Fail Deputy has also hit out at the fact that a total of 864 people are awaiting Speech and Language treatment in the Galway, Mayo and Roscommon region with 152 of those waiting for treatment for over a year which Deputy Murphy described as “utterly deplorable.”

“Also the figures for CHO 1, (Cavan-Monaghan, Donegal, Sligo-Leitrim) seem out of kilter with the rest of the country. Nationally the numbers awaiting treatment was equivalent to about 60% of the numbers awaiting assessment. However, in CHO 1 it was just over 9% with 103 awaiting treatment while 1,127 await assessment. This is a significant disparity which should be examined,” said Deputy Murphy.


“The Confidence and Supply Agreement between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael commits to improve services and increase supports for people with disabilities, particularly for early assessment and intervention for children with special needs. These waiting list figures underline the urgency of meeting this commitment,” concluded Deputy Murphy.