O’Mahony congratulates Mayo marathon runners

“Running a marathon is a huge effort as it takes months and months of preparation. I think the people from Mayo that took part deserve our praise for their efforts and for many of them the main reason they took part was to raise money for charity. The great thing about the marathon is that anyone can do it and the elite athletes are only a small percentage of the entire field. Hopefully, the experience will encourage many people who ran for the first time on Monday to continue running while others might be encouraged to take it up,” he said.

New driving laws could lead to rural isolation – O’Mahony

The changes to the driver licensing laws effect drivers who have not yet obtained their full licence. From next week, provisional licences are to be replaced by learner permits, to emphasise the fact that the holder is only learning to drive. Existing provisional licences will continue in force until their expiry date.

“I believe it would have made far greater sense for the new laws to be implemented on a phased basis, which would allow people to get their house in order. Already, we have seen today (Friday) where the website for applying for driving tests on line has crashed because it can’t cope with the demand. We also have to ask how will this be practically implemented. Our Gardai are stretched to the limit already and this is a further draw on their resources that they are expected to implement with just a few days notice.
What this announcement has created is a sense of panic in many households where people use their car to get to work but who are still using a provisional licence. My office has taken many calls already from such people who are wondering what they are going to do now. People trying to get to work on Tuesday next will face major problems as will parents who have to bring their children to school. It’s not as if there is a public transport system in the county to cater for all the people who drive to work. It’s going to create huge problems.
“This new law is going to have a major impact on our rural communities here in Mayo and for many people it could well be the final straw. They have seen a gradual erosion of life as they knew it in rural Ireland over the past few years and this new law will, in many cases, further isolate them,” he said.
He added that the two most effective life-saving measures in the new Road Safety Strategy have been put on the long finger with speed cameras and a tougher alcohol limit not due for at least another year.
“Two of the most crucial measures have been put on the long finger – speed cameras and a tougher alcohol limit. We were promised that speed cameras would be in place by the end of the year. They have now been pushed back by another 12 months. And the proposal to lower the legal alcohol limit contained in the original draft Safety Strategy has been watered down. This is now the subject of a review and will not be implemented for at least another two years. Given that the local elections will be held in 2009 I have grave doubts they will be implemented at all.

“I am calling for the new alcohol levels to be implemented as soon as possible, and not in two years’ time. The review group will be reporting in a few weeks and I want its recommendations to be brought in before Christmas, and not in 2009. This essential measure will save lives, but only if brought in through new legislation,” said Deputy

O’Mahony appointed Fine Gael Sports Spokesperson

Deputy O’Mahony said he was delighted and ‘very proud’ to be selected and he promised that he would use his new role to promote participation in sport at all levels at every possible opportunity.
“I was a teacher for many years and I know the real value that sport can play in the development of young people. But I also see my role as promoting the values of sport across all the age groups and not just at young people. Sport is wonderful to be involved in and it’s hard to beat the sense of satisfaction that one feels from taking part,” he said.

O’Mahony Calls for Much Needed Funding for Facilities in Ballyhaunis

Deputy O’Mahony said the meeting was a productive one for the local people in so far as it gave them an opportunity to highlight certain issues that need to be addressed within the town. “At the moment Ballyhaunis has 336 asylum seekers and it also has the National Orientation Centre for Refugees. While the people of Ballyhaunis have always welcomed non-Irish people into its community, they have growing concerns that the social cohesion of the town is breaking down as the population approaches 50 percent non-Irish.

“The problem that local people have is that while they have openly welcomed so many people into their town there has been very little in the way of Government investment into essential facilities. They made the point that there has been little or no investment in the library, swimming pool or community centre while an application for a Child Care Centre was refused some years ago,” he said.

Deputy O’Mahony told Minister Lenihan that the local community was frustrated because there seemed to be no limit set to the number of asylum seekers in the town. “They were told originally that there would be a maximum of 100 at the old convent complex. That number had risen to 311 in August and has now reached 336. They also have not been givien any explanation as to what criteria were used for the selection of Ballyhaunis as the National Orientation Centre for refugees.

“This large increase in the numbers of asylum seekers has caused massive problems in the local primary school. For instance, 54 new pupils arrived unannounced at the end of August last with nothing more than the clothes on their backs,” he said.
Deputy O’Mahony said it was important to stress that the people of Ballyhaunis were in no way opposed to non-Irish people living in their town but for everyone, both Irish and non-Irish and to prosper together, there was a need for the Government to address the issues raised by the local people. “It’s not just about providing more facilities, it’s about utilising what’s already there and a perfect example of that would be the need to have the local Garda Station opened for much longer periods of time than it currently is,” he said.

Speech by John O’Mahony TD on School Psychological Services during Fine Gael Private Members’ Motion

Can I first of all compliment Deputy Brian Hayes on his presentation of this motion and the Fine Gael Party for giving priority to Ireland’s school children and their special needs that are not being catered for in our educational system.

I speak on this motion tonight having been in the front line of the teaching profession for many years and experiencing at first hand the frustrations of school principals, teachers and parents with the inability to access the help that is so badly required by students to give them a chance to keep pace with the system.

I have also seen the progress that can be made with pupils when early intervention occurs and their specific needs can be catered for. The other side of that coin unfortunately is a lot more prevalent in classrooms through the country because of the under resourcing and shortage of psychologists to make assessments that are so vital if help is to be provided.

As a teacher I have witnessed at first hand what happens. All of the pupils in the class are affected – the students with special needs fall further and further behind, the brighter students are affected because their progress is also restricted. Class discipline becomes a problem and the teacher is helpless to deal with the situation. Teachers do not receive in-service training to provide them with the ability to support children with special educational needs and second level schools in particular are under provided with resource teachers.

At the moment many schools do not fall within the NEPS system at all. Schools are restricted in the number of psychologist’s assessments they may receive each year depending on their status as disadvantaged or otherwise and also on their numbers of pupils

These criteria are simply not acceptable and action is needed by the Minister to make appointments she promised at the beginning of the year. The psychologists that are in place at the moment are in an impossible position. Many of them have to deal with 15 or more schools at any one time. They can not be expected to spread themselves in all directions.

A number of other important points need to be made here. In the last few days I have sat down with parents who, first of all, had to go for private assessments because it wasn’t available through the system but then to add insult to injury were not given the help that was recommended in that assessment.

In one case the Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) gave only one and a half hours time when three hours was recommended. Can somebody explain or be accountable for this?

In another case a laptop was recommended but refused. Another example was when a 1 to 1 help was specified and yet 3 and 4 pupils were landed together with totally different needs – one had dyslexic difficulties, another ADHD and the third numeracy problems. What is going to be the rate of progress in that group? I think the answer is obvious.

I want to ask a simple question here from the Minister. This NEPS scheme was established seven years ago to deal with special needs in the primary and secondary sector. If it was implemented and resourced and fully staffed surely the need for it should be declining at second level because the special needs would be picked up at primary school level.

Yet I spoke to a school principal yesterday who still cannot get an assessment for a 2nd year student as we come to the end of 2nd term. This system is in disarray and the sooner that is acknowledged the better because it is only when a problem is acknowledged we can begin to find a solution

Finally I want to ask the Minister how is a school principal expected to adhere to the EPSEN act and the Disability acts if the back up isn’t there under the NEPS programme.

I strongly commend this motion.

O’Mahony calls on Calleary to make cancer care statement

I’m calling on him to let the people of Mayo know exactly where he stands on the issue. The Breast Care Centre in Mayo General Hospital operates at the highest level and if the people of Mayo are going to be deprived of this service, then they deserve to know the views of the Government representative in the county,” he said.

“It’s ironic”, he said, “that at a time when the people of Mayo learned of the impending withdrawal of such a vital service, the Breast Care Outreach Clinic, staffed by the medical personnel from Mayo General Hospital, was based in Ballina, Deputy Calleary’s home town. That clinic serves the people of Ballina and surrounding areas and I’m sure that the people who use the service will want the local TD to explain to them why it’s going to taken from them,” he said.

Deputy O’Mahony said that the withdrawal of the Breast Cancer Centre from Mayo would have very significant knock on effects. “It’s Breast Cancer Care now but what will be next to go from the county? My concern is about the entire range of cancer services in Mayo and how they will be affected by the decisions to locate the Centre of Excellence in Galway. What about the highly trained surgeons that are attached to the Unit at Mayo General?

“When their skills are no longer required they are going to look for transfers elsewhere. I know of one consultant who is currently being trained to take up an appointment in the Cancer Department in Mayo General but the likelihood is that he will not now take up the position and he will go elsewhere.

“The point needs to be made here that there is no conflict whatsoever between the people who work in cancer care in Mayo and their colleagues in Galway. The nature of their work is such that they work alongside each other every day of the week and that has been the case for years. What the consultants in Mayo General want is the retention of services that can be audited to the highest standards available anywhere in the world.

“But it’s not just medical staff who are going to be affected. Imagine how a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer in Mayo within the next number of months will feel. How confident will she be that the care she needs at this most vulnerable of times will be available here in Mayo? This is a huge issue and it’s one where politicians have to be seen to be leading and because of that, I believe it’s important that all of the five elected TDs in Mayo stand together on this major issue” said Deputy O’Mahony.

Govt U-turn on drink tests at accidents welcome but overdue – O’Mahony

Fine Gael Mayo TD John O’Mahony has welcomed the Government’s U-turn on mandatory alcohol testing at accidents, highlighted in a Fine Gael Private Members’ Motion in the Dáil this week. However, Deputy O’Mahony urged the Government to implement the measure within three months.

“Fine Gael has been calling for this measure for many years and I welcome the Government’s U-turn, although it is long overdue. Most other European countries, along with Northern Ireland, already have such measures in place. The Government had been peddling a false argument that these tests might prevent medical attention from being administered to injured parties. Compulsory breath testing should not interfere in any way with medical assistance and this can be easily accommodated in new legislation.

“The analysis of other countries by the European Transport Safety Council makes interesting reading. It states:

‘The dramatic reduction in Luxembourg (-47.8 per cent) has been put down to the priority their government has given road safety since 2004. The country has tough new laws allowing on-the-spot withdrawal of driving licences by police in serious cases of drink driving or speeding. Portugal’s reduction of 42 per cent is put down to the building of motorways, taking high-speed traffic off dangerous rural roads. France, which cut road deaths by 42.3 per cent, has seen fully automated speed control including 1,100 fixed speed cameras that saw a doubling of speed detection between 2005 and 2006′.

“Speeding remains another major cause of death on our roads and we urgently need a review of all speed limits, which in many cases make no sense at all but serve merely to trap motorists into paying fines. On dual-carriageways the limit can be as low as 60 km/h or 80 km/h, while a 100 km/h limit may apply on narrow roads. Yet there are few speed checks on narrow, winding secondary roads that can be death traps.

“Education also plays a major part in reducing the carnage on our roads but this should be resourced to a far better degree. A pilot transition year road safety module is effective, but needs to be backed up by practice sessions. The module should be rolled out to every secondary school in the country.

“I congratulate the county councils which have appointed dedicated road safety officers. People in Mayo are very aware of the dangers on our roads thanks to the work of an innovative road safety officer who has brought safety to the top of the agenda. The day-lighted campaign, whereby dipped headlights are left on during daylight hours, can reduce collisions by up to 20%. Crashed cars are put on display in garage forecourts to remind drivers of the dangers involved. The school driving safety road shows currently touring Donegal started out in Mayo. Earlier this year, the leaving certificate results contained a road safety message for students.

“Road design and signage are also important when it comes to promoting safety. I have seen numerous side roads and secondary roads that have been resurfaced but while the roads may be improved, the hard shoulders are death traps. Road signage must be clearly visible and motorists must heed such signs.

“Finally while compulsory alcohol testing at the road accidents is a big step forward, we also need to see drug testing introduced as soon as possible so that further progress can be made on road safety.”

O’Mahony is calling for the appointment of a physiotherapist in Claremorris

The service was withdrawn earlier this year when the physiotherapist providing the service at the D’Alton Home in Claremorris transferred back to the Sacred Heart Home in Castlebar. As a result, all GP referrals were directed to the GP funded service at Mayo General Hospital.
Earlier this year the HSE outlined the background to Deputy O’Mahony of the set of circumstances, which led to the withdrawal of the D’Alton Home services. As part of an out-reach service from the Sacred Heart Home to the Dalton C.N.U, outpatient physiotherapy was provided to people in the Claremorris catchment area. This service was withdrawn earlier this year when the physiotherapist
providing the service transferred back to the Sacred Heart hospital. As a
result, all GP referrals are being directed to the GP- funded service in Mayo General Hospital.
A Senior Physiotherapy post was allocated via Claremorris Primary Care in
2006. Interviews were held but the Physiotherapist to whom the post was offered declined to accept.
”The service was greatly valued when it was available in Claremorris and its withdrawal affected quite a number of people. I asked Minister Harney last week when an appointment would be made but she told me that such matters were for the HSE to reply to. That seems to be the routine reply anymore from Minister Harney when she’s questioned on health matters and it does raise the question as to who’s ultimately in control of our health services, is it the Minister for Health, or the people that are employed by her department,” said Deputy O’Mahony.

O’Mahony Wants Action on Ballinrobe

“There was a public consultation meeting in the town and it became clear then that the project was being further delayed. It now appears that there are four or five road options to choose from and the selection process will mean that Ballinrobe has to wait even longer for a piece of infrastructure that is vital to the development of the town.
“What I’m calling for now is a real sense of urgency to be given to this route selection. Ballinrobe badly needs a by-pass if it is to develop its potential. One only needs to look at how similar sized towns in Mayo like Claremorris and Swinford have progressed since they had by-passes completed around their towns and it’s apparent the benefits that it brings to a town. It’s not fair to the people of Ballinrobe who are ready to invest in the town.
“The delay will affect planning for the town as well as hold up much needed development. What I believe should happen is that development be allowed proceed in areas that will not be affected by any of the routes proposed for the by-pass,” said Deputy O’Mahony, who is also calling on Bord Gas to ensure that the town is connected to the Gas network.

O’Mahony welcomes broadband boost for Balla

”The people of Balla have campaigned long and hard for broadband and it’s wonderful news for them. Broadband is an important piece of infrastructure and its presence in our rural communities is pivotal in those communities efforts to thrive and to prosper in the face of the growing trend of people moving to larger towns. The provision of broadband plays a huge role in attracting industry and it’s vitally important that it’s available in all parts of our county,” he said.

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