I will be raising this issue directly with the Taoiseach in the Dáil, today when I will be taking Leaders Questions on behalf of the Technical Group at 4.30 pm.
The closure of the C&C plant in Borrisoleigh with the loss of over 140 jobs is a huge blow to the town, the surrounding area and the county as a whole. Since the company took over Gleesons in Borrisoleigh and Bulmers in Clonmel, it has been cutting jobs and worsening terms and conditions of employment.
We can be sure that this shameful decision to close the Borrisoleigh plant is the prelude to further attacks on the conditions of employees. Now it says it will provide 80 extra jobs in Clonmel. We will believe it when and if we see it because of the track record of the company.
The workers and their trade union representatives must receive the fullest support from the government and its agencies in the face of this disgraceful development.
This blow is all the more devastating because of the dreadful unemployment rate in County Tipperary and the continuing neglect of the county by the government.
It follows the loss of jobs at Grants and Supervalue stores in Clonmel and Tipperary Town with attendant redundancies.
The rate of unemployment in County Tipperary is well above the national average. TIPPERARY is being forgotten despite the county being represented by a Labour Senior Minister and a Fine Gael Minister of State in government.
∗ There was a nett loss of 321 IDA jobs in the County over the 3 years to 21/12/2014-the first 3 years of this government’s term of office
∗ Not a single Tipperary town was included in government’s decision to provide 150 million for advance factories and offices despite my protests to Minister Bruton in the Dáil.
∗ Disposable income in Co Tipp is 5% below the national average and 16% below that in Dublin.
∗ Tipperary is not getting its fair share of new jobs- the vast majority of jobs are being created on the East Coast, Cork and Limerick.
I have repeatedly raised these matters in the Dáil and I have sought more spending on roads, house building and other infrastructure in the county.
There is an emergency employment crisis in Co Tipperary. Promises by government are not enough. Action by Government Now, before The Election, is Necessary.
Firstly, the Government must intervene to save the jobs in Borrisoleigh and instruct Enterprise Ireland accordingly
Secondly, the decision to exclude Tipperary including locations such as Borrisoleigh from the building of IDA Advance Factories and Offices must be reversed and the government strategy must be formally amended in this regard.
Seamus Healy TD 087-2802199
13/1/2016
In the wake of the recent flooding, Deputy Seamus Healy has called on the government to re-allocate to County Councils, the €430M from the road tax monies given to Irish Water.
This money is urgently needed to re-build and repair county roads across County Tipperary and the Country which have been destroyed by floods.
These roads were already in a very bad condition due to cutbacks in road monies buy the Government.
Deputy Healy also called for the upgrading of the National Primary N24 to be added to the Roads Capital Programme announced last year. This road is a vital economic and social lifeline across Tipperary and links the Midwest to the South East. This road was impassable in a number of areas during the recent flooding. Despite demands for upgrading including the provision of the Tipperary Town By-pass and Carrick on Suir By-pass this work has been excluded from the Government’s Road Programme 2015-2016. It must be included immediately.
There must also be a countywide assessment of the flooding and the responses to it including availability of back up pumps and road and gully maintenance.
Deputy Healy praised the work of the Council workers, Civil Defence, Gardaí, Red Cross, Army, Carrick River Rescue and volunteers who did Trojan work during the flooding.
Council staffing has been seriously depleted by the government moratorium and additional staffing is urgently needed to maintain roads, gullies, inlets and dykes.
Seamus Healy T.D.
Tel 087 2802199
11/1/2016
Minister Alan Kelly T.D. must allow the Ombudsman to examine complaints about Irish Water.
The Ombudsman, Mr Peter Tyndall, has confirmed that he has been prevented from investigating complaints about Irish Water.
This is totally unacceptable and there must be an immediate scrutiny of Irish Water.
Irish Water is still on the State’s Books and as in the case with Ombudsmen in other countries, Mr Tyndall must be allowed to investigate Irish Water and Sewerage Services.
It is vitally important that independent scrutiny by the Ombudsman be allowed give the significant number of complaints about Irish water’s handling of water services and sewerage blockages.
Seamus Healy T.D.
Tel 087 2802199
11/1/2016
Workers & Unemployed Action 