Covid-19 fines low compared to nearby counties
DESPITE having a higher population than its neighbouring counties, Wexford recorded a lower level of Covid-19 fines in February.
Up to Thursday 276 fines were issued, with several more processed over the following four days. This compares to 420 in County Wicklow and 280 in County Waterford, which also recorded additional cases over the weekend.
By and large the fines ranged from €100 to €500. An Garda Síochána has had the power to issue fines for breaches of Covid restrictions since early January.
Gardaí continue to find groups gathering at house parties, social gatherings and for exercise etc. in breach of regulations. Seven people found attending a house party in New Ross on February 19 were fined €150 each, while the homeowner was fined €500.
‘These are not just breaches of regulations but are a risk to the individuals involved, their families and loved ones, and continue to put everybody’s health and the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic at risk,’ a garda spokesperson said. ‘Recent surveys have shown that the majority of people believe that they are doing the right thing, but the reality is that the level of casual contacts remains high.’
More than 280 Covid fines have been issued in County Wexford.
Up to Thursday 276 fines were issued, with several more processed over the following four days.
By and large the fines ranged from €100 to €500.
Despite being the most populous county, Wexford recorded a low level of fines compared to Wicklow (420) and Waterford (280).
An Garda Síochána has had the power to issue fines for breaches of Covid restrictions since early January. Gardaí continue to find groups gathering at house parties, social gatherings and for exercise etc. in breach of regulations. Seven people found attending a house party in New Ross on February 19 were fined €150 each, while the homeowner was fined €500.
The Covid fines are: €100 fines for non-essential travel, €500 fines for non-essential journeys to airports orports, €500 fines for organising a house party €150 fines for attending a house party, and €80 each for not wearing a face covering.
‘ These are not just breaches of regulations but are a risk to the individuals involved, their families and loved ones, and continue to put everybody’s health and the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic at risk,’ a garda spokesperson said. ‘Recent surveys have shown that the majority of people believe that they are doing the right thing, but the reality is that the level of casual contacts remains high.’
An Garda Síochána will be continuing nationwide checkpoints and high visibility patrols at public amenities, parks and beauty spots across the county this weekend in support of public health regulations.
‘We are again advising the public of the need to plan their activities over the weekend to take account that people are only allowed to exercise within 5km of their home. People are reminded that the 5km limit includes the distance travelled from their home to a location for exercise. In other words, you can’t travel more than 5km to a location to exercise. The public should also be aware that if a driver is found to be in breach of the non-essential travel regulations that not only can the driver be fined, but their adult passengers as well. This is also the case for adults in groups undertaking activities such as cycling or walking – every adult in such a group can be fined.’
This has occurred several times in County Wexford during February, including five fines being issued to people travelling together in one car from Clonmel, when they were stopped in the New Ross district in early February.
In enforcing these regulations, Gardaí have been using the 4Es approach – engaging, explaining, and encouraging with enforcement a last resort. An Garda Síochána continues to remind persons subject to domestic violence - travel restrictions do not apply in the case of domestic violence or to escape a risk of harm, whether to the person or to another person. ‘An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to any person who may have been the victim of an incident of sexual or domestic crime irrespective of whether you may have been in breach of any public health regulations, for instance by attending a house party, An Garda Síochána is here to assist and support you, please report all such incidents.’
The total number of fines issued at the time of going to press numbered around 10,000. People issued with a COVID-19 related fine have 28 days to pay the fine. Anyone who fails to pay their fine within 28 days will receive a Court date shortly after. It is a matter for the Court, but failure to pay the FPN can result in conviction for a first offence in the District Court in a fine of €1,000 and/or imprisonment. Courts are also open to reporting by media.
BANK of Ireland has been accused of ‘ turning its back’ on the people of rural Wexford following the decision to close its branches in Taghmon and Rosslare Harbour.
The closures will come into effect in September of this year with a total of 88 branches set to shut nationwide.
Explaining its decision, a spokesperson for Bank of Ireland (BOI) said, ‘We’ve now reached a tipping point in customer preference between online and offline banking. Our mobile app is our most popular way to bank, with almost half a million customer logins every day and traffic up by a third in the past two years.
‘In contrast, in the two years before the pandemic, the number of people visiting branches had reduced by almost a quarter. This decline has accelerated over the past 12 months, with the number of visits to branches just over half of what they were in 2017. Footfall in the branches due to close has reduced by 60 per cent.’
In an effort to replace the services provided by the banks in Taghmon and Rosslare Harbour, BOI is launching a new partnership with An Post which will offer all BOI customers banking services throughout the county.
‘Our partnership with An Post will see BOI customers able to access 38 Post Office locations across County Wexford for their banking, cash and lodgement needs with longer weekday opening hours than traditional bank branches and Saturday opening,’ read the statement. ‘ There is also a Post Office in each town where there are changes to our branch network.
‘We are committed to Wexford and these changes will allow us to invest in our other five branches in the county as well as digital services. We will also continue to work with community groups through initiatives such as Begin Together, our three-year €4 million investment programme providing funding for community-focused initiatives across the island of Ireland.’
Yet local councillors, TDs and community groups said the announcement was a further sign of the neglect of the county’s rural towns and villages.
‘ The bank has turned its back on the rural people again,’ said Aontú councillor Jim Codd. ‘ This is in line with what’s been happening in villages in Wexford for some time.
‘For example, in Duncannon there isn’t pub, a shop, or a post office anymore, that used to be a thriving village once upon a time. We have a huge struggle on our hands to regenerate our villages and to keep life in them.’
While BOI has pointed to the increase in mobile banking as reason for the closures, Cllr Codd said this simply isn’t an option for many of those in Taghmon.
‘In terms of broadband, I don’t know how many times I’ve been contacted by parents about their children not being able to go online because the connection is so poor,’ said Cllr Codd who also revealed plans to start a petition to save the banks.
‘And many older people in our communities have little experience in online anything, never mind online banking. Not only that, there’s a third element to this, the benefit of going into a bank and speaking to your neighbour far outweighs staring into the emptiness of a screen.’
Meanwhile, Independent councillor Ger Carthy described group CEO of Bank of Ireland Francesca McDonagh as a ‘ hatchet woman’. The former Cathaoirleach of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) said these closures were ‘ yet another attack on rural Ireland’ and said ‘it was very disappointing’ to hear this announcement after all the loyal support the people of Rosslare Harbour and Taghmon had given to BOI.
‘ These banks were bailed out by Fianna Fáil and the Greens, and now they, along with Fine Gael, are overseeing the closure of BOI branches in rural areas. BOI doesn’t care about rural development, its happy to see the services diluted. Francesca McDonagh is a hatchet woman, what she’s doing is reprehensible,’ said Cllr Carthy.
Current chair of the RMD, Cllr Frank Staples, recalled how the closure of the Post Office in Ballycogley had impacted everyone in the community, in particular its elder members, and feared the loss of these banks could have the same effect.
‘Banks have changed in fairness, everyone knows that, but a lot of people rely on them, they see the bank as being like an old friend,’ the Fine Gael councillor said. ‘It’s sad to see another institution disappearing from these areas. Whatever the locals want to do in Taghmon and Rosslare Harbour, I will stand behind them.’
The members of the Taghmon Action Group (TAG) believe the closure of the local branch will have far-reaching implications across the village.
‘We are disappointed the bank is closing down in Taghmon, we have always had a very good working relationship with the staff,’ said a statement released by TAG.
‘It will be a disappointment to our businesses and private customers too, especially the elderly folk who may not be up to speed with online banking at all. It will also be an inconvenience to all the businesses working in the area.
‘ There is mention of offering banking services through An Post. That is a positive, but a full range of these services should be up and running before the bank is closed.
‘Banking services are moving cashless and online and these may be seen as modern progress, but being able to talk to a friendly face in a bank about our banking needs will be missed.’
Wexford’s TD also expressed their disappointment at the news with Minister of State, James Browne described it as a ‘disappointing day’ saying it was ‘very concerning for those who work in the branches and their families.’
Looking to the future, Deputy Browne said he had already been engaging with BOI to ensure prioritisation is given to Rosslare and Taghmon as the bank prepare to rollout their services via the Post Office.’
Sinn Féin TD, Johnny Mythen, said BOI had effectively used the pandemic as an excuse to close the branches.
‘BOI has attempted to justify this announcement based on a fall in branch visits over the past twelve months,’ he said. ‘ This is hardly surprising given the entire population has had its movements significantly restricted in response to a public health emergency.
‘In reality, the bank is using Covid-19 for cover, punishing customers for following public health regulations.’
And Independent TD, Verona Murphy, said this announcement would curtail much of the progress made by these two communities in recent times.
‘Prior to Covid-19, both these rural villages were beginning to reinvent themselves, particularly with the opportunity of government funding through tourism, rural regeneration and town and village schemes.
‘ This decision by BOI is a significant setback to rural redevelopment plans. In light of this announcement, along with Ulster Bank’s decision to exit the Irish market, the Government needs to move to provide the sector with real customer choice.’
BOI DOESN’T CARE ABOUT RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FRANCESCA MCDONAGH IS A HATCHET WOMAN, WHAT SHE’S DOING IS REPREHENSIBLE.
FCA officers from south Wexford gathered in Maher’s Yard, New Ross, for the retirement occasion of Dick O’Grady in 1964.
John Bennett was there with the FCA Pipe Band that day and he recalls the crowd at the training centre for the FCA, which had been founded 18 years previously in 1946 in Dublin.
John was new to the band at the time and still performs with them to this day.
He recalled the emergency medals the officer’s wore and some of the men, including Andy Minihan, Dick O’Grady and Sean Doyle.
‘ The hut was the headquarters for the B. Coy 10th Infantry Battalion of the FCA. It was burned down in 1974. I remember there were officers from Wexford there for the occasion also,’ John said.