Casual trading case.
Finally after almost 40 years campaigning casual trading in Kenmare is to be regulated. An appeal to the Circuit Court on February 8th and 9th has been withdrawn allowing for Kerry County Council to implement the 2017 District Court order. It is imperative that the regulations are put in place before the summer season, there are a number of procedural issues at Council level to be addressed, and I have asked that we can do this as soon as possible. I want to thank my Councillor Colleagues, the executive of Kerry County Council, Council Engineers, and their legal team. Also the sub -committee of KMEG put in a huge amount of work, fundraised and collected a significant amount of money to resolving this issue in the Court. These bye-laws once in place will be hugely positive for Kenmare on many fronts
Additional 8 beds at Kenmare Community Nursing unit.
The following is a statement from Cork Kerry Community Healthcare:
“Cork Kerry Community Healthcare is delighted to confirm that recruitment has started to allow for the opening of an additional 8 beds in the Community Nursing Unit in Kenmare. This recruitment campaign follows acceptance by the INMO of management proposals on staffing at the unit. We are now proceeding immediately to recruit staff to open these beds as soon as possible. Recruitment can prove challenging, and for that reason we will be carrying out an extensive campaign. The beds will open on a phased basis, and this will be dependent on a successful recruitment campaign.
Cork Kerry Community Healthcare has been engaging with the INMO for some time, and we are pleased that the INMO has now accepted management proposals on staffing levels. The agreed staffing levels will provide a very high standard of care at the unit. SIPTU have already accepted the proposed rosters for Health Care Assistants. We are eager to open these beds as soon as possible. The unoccupied rooms are fully furnished and ready to be occupied, and all beds at the unit have been inspected by and registered with HIQA. However, we must emphasize that the phased opening of the additional beds is dependent on recruitment”. Although this is an internal Health authorities issue I along with Minister of State Brendan Griffin TD and others highlighted the need to open extra beds at the hospital on many occasions and we will keep campaigning until all beds are utilized.
Cahir National School.
Unfortunately there was a traffic collision at the school recently. I along with Cllr Dan McCarthy have allocated €5000 each so that two driver feedback signs indicating vehicular speed can be installed to improve safety along the R569 road. The existing flashing lights that were installed last year have been fixed and some of the bushes cut to improve sight distance. There is also a speed limit review coming up for the county and I would urge people to make submissions, advertisement for submissions should be out in March.
Welcome removal of Lauragh Water Supply from EPA’s Remedial Action List
On February 6th, Irish water confirm that an additional 60 customers in Lauragh have been removed from the EPA’s ( Environmental Protection Agency) Remedial Action List following the completion of upgrade work on the water treatment plant in Lauragh. This work involved commissioning a new borehole to replace the old source, thereby improving water quality. In addition to this, the utility is investing €4.5m to upgrade the water treatment plant in Kenmare while also progressing with upgrades to the water supplies of Kilgarvan. A contractor has also been approved for the upgrade of filtration at Caherdaniel and Castlecove. Works are due to be completed this year which should facilitate the removal of these schemes from the RAL.
January motions before full council meeting.
1. What is Kerry County Council doing to address the severe lack of parking?
2. That KCC requests the TII to start construction of the Ballyvourney/Macroom Bye pass and ascertain from them details of the scheme and the date when it will it be completed?
Political Team.
I work with Political representatives of all sides for the good of the area and I am part of a team of 9 on Kerry County Council, my other Fine Gael Colleagues whom I work closely with can be contacted as follows:
Minister Brendan Griffin TD 066 9795666
MEP Sean Kelly 061 468788
Senator Paul Coughlan 087 2217400
Clinics.
Available at all times on 087 2904325 or at 5 Main Street, Kenmare. Also I can meet people after work in Kenmare, Kilgarvan, Tuosist, Lauragh, Sneem, Tahilla, Blackwater, Templenoe, Bonane. I also am also in South and Mid-Kerry a couple of times a month.
Cllr Patrick O’Connor-Scarteen
Deputy Mayor of Kerry
087 2904325
pconnorscarteen@gmail.com