The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Indemnity insurance scheme sought for access to Reeks
THE issue of an insurance indemnity scheme for landowners who provide access to the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks in Kerry and Mount Gable in Galway was raised in the Dáil by Fianna Fáil Deputy John Brassil.
Four years ago, he said working groups were established in both areas, comprising of the local authority, landowners, local development organisations and the Department. “The key to driving forward this issue is an indemnity scheme by the Department for landowners so that anybody using the land would not be in a position to claim against the landowners,” he said. “The one thing that has been holding up everything for the past 18 months is, we have been told, that primary legislation is needed to provide this indemnity insurance policy. No progress has been made and draft legislation has not been printed. Will the Taoiseach follow up with the relevant Minister to get this issue over the line for the 2019 season? It has far-reaching implications if landowners refuse to co-operate and provide access in both of these areas and in many other areas throughout the country.”
In reply, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he would make the Minister, Deputy Michael Ring, aware of the fact the Deputy had raised it and he would ask him to provide a written answer on the progress being made. “I certainly share the Deputy’s sentiments,” he said. “The development of greenways and walkways throughout the country has opened it up to recreational walkers and tourism. If done properly and fairly it can be of benefit to landowners also. I will pursue it with the Minister, Deputy Ring.”
Criticism of lack of bus services for people of Kerry
THE lack of sufficient LocalLink bus services in Kerry was raised in the Dáil by Independent Deputy Danny Healy-Rae.
Last summer, he said the Minister, Shane Ross; the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin; and Deputy Martin Heydon announced some small amount of LocalLink services aid for Kerry. “That is not enough for all of Kerry,” he said. “The people of the Black Valley and such places need more, as do the people from around Cahersiveen, Waterville, Glencar and Beaufort. These places are remote and far away from anywhere. We need more transport services there and likewise in east Kerry, including in Gneeveguilla, Scartaglen and Currow.”
Deputy Healy-Rae said the social fabric of rural Ireland has been blown to smithereens. “People who need a car to get from A to B cannot even have one pint,” he said. “Who is ordering all of the checkpoints? Is it the Taoiseach; the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan; or the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross? People are being checked in going to and coming from Mass. I am not blaming An Garda Síochána or individual superintendents because it is occurring across divisions and county boundaries. Does the Minister, Deputy Ross, now also want to close churches, as well as post offices?”
Bars are empty and closing on a regular basis, he said. Shops and restaurants located beside them are also closing. “Having two pints was the only social outlet for many. They met in pubs to talk about farming, work or football, enquire about the health of neighbours or relatives who perhaps lived far away, or have an ordinary or usual conversation.”
In reply, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the extra bus services were pressed for by Deputy Hayden and other Deputies, in co-operation with the Minister, Deputy Ross. “A call for funding was made,” he said. “Counties made bids for funding, with some bidding for more and some for less. The new services are now in place throughout the country. It will never be possible to provide a service from house to door, village or pub, or to replace all of the journeys people could take if they could use their car. However, it is possible to provide better bus services. There was a competitive call and different amounts went to different counties. I have no doubt that there will be further calls for funding in the future.”
It used to be the case that 600 or 700 people died on the roads every year, he added. The figure is now between 100 and 200, which he said is still 100 or 200 too many.
Huge delays in cancer screen testing
A lady constituent came to Independent Michael HealyRae recently having gone for a cancer-screening smear test in July. It took from then until November before she got a letter telling her that the test could not be read and would have to be done again, he said.
“There are not enough staff looking at these tests when it takes from July to November before that lady could be told her test could not even be read,” he said. “Surely this is another recipe for disaster and it should be looked at. If a test is not able to be read, the people should be notified immediately for the betterment of their health. It is an awful situation.”
In response, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there have been delays, unfortunately, in assessing some smear tests. “It will be recalled that back in May or June, the Government decided to allow any woman who was concerned about the accuracy of her smear test to have a repeat smear test free of charge,” he said.
“About 50,000 women took up that opportunity. That has, however, led to delays in examining those smears because of capacity constraints in the laboratories. It is not an issue of money because we have agreed to pay in all cases. It is due to a shortage of technicians and cytologists, but we think we can get through that backlog quite soon as the numbers coming in have started to fall off.”