The #march4tipp group wrote to Fine Gael elections candidates Garret Ahearn and Mary Newman Julian regarding the claim by Regina Doherty, Minister for Employment Opportunity and Social Protection, that "Tipperary is thriving". She made this claim in the Dáil in response to a question from Mattie McGrath TD about the serious unemployment and disadvange existing in Tipperary Town.
Each candidate was asked if the views of Regina Doherty were the official position of the Fine Gael party. They were also asked what they would do for Tipperary Town if they were elected in the next General Election. Their responses are set out below in their entirety, in the order in which they were received. Click below to read more.
Garret Ahearn
Firstly, thank you Padraig for the email.
I disagree entirely with Minister Regina Doherty's comments. As the Fine Gael spokesperson in Tipperary i can confirm that the sentiments expressed by the Minister do not represent the official stance of the Fine Gael party and i have asked her to clarify her comments. In my opinion she was poorly informed of the reality of Tipperary and in particular Tipperary Town.
As you are aware since been selected as the FG candidate for the next General Elecion I have taken a very keen interest in Tipperary Town. I have been on record as stating in numerous radio interviews that one of the main issues here for me is obtaining Deis status for all five schools. I have visited St Joseph's girls primary school multiply times and i'm determined to find a solution for all the teachers, parents and their children.
I brought Minister Helen McEntee and Minister Patrick O Donovan to Tipperary Town to see first-hand the difficulties and disappointments this town has endured. I have been in regular contact with Pat Jonas and all at the Circle of Friends and i was delighted to see recently that Minister Harris agreed funding for a full time staff member in the new building.
I have met and spoke with Martin Quinn on a number of occasions to get an understanding of what exactly the Government could do to keep the Canon Hayes Centre alive.
I got funding of €50,000 for the Irish Red Cross in Tipperary Town to purchase a new ambulance. This was done because of work i had been involved in with Tony Lawlor.
Today i just received great news from Minister Michael Ring about funding of almost €100,000 for the IWA in Tipp Town to purchase three new buses. This was achieved after months of work alongside the Manager of IWA in Tipp Town Josephine Carroll.
I know in the larger scale of things these are small achievements but i hope it gives an indication of my commitment to representing the people of Tipperary town.
This week I have insisted that the Minister for Business, Enterprise & Innovation Heather Humphreys comes to Tipperary Town to see first-hand the genuine disadvantage that the people are going through. It is extremely important for the Minister for jobs to see that this town is not "thriving". I expect to hear a positive response to my request shortly and i will notify you of the date.
Tipperary Town and the hinter land has always been close to my heart because of my late mother Theresa Ahearn. I will continue to work tirelessly along with Councillors Michael Fitzgerald, Mary Hanna Hourigan and John Crosse to make sure that it is represented properly.
I can understand why the people Tipperary Town feel that national public representatives have forgotten about them. I can promise you and the people of this wonderful community that if i have the privilege to sever as your TD, Tipperary Town will not be left behind again.
Yours Faithfully
Garret Ahearn
Garret Ahearn
Fine Gael Candidate Tipperary
28 Old Church Street
Cahir
Co Tipperary
Mobile Garret :086-8229204
Constituency Office (052) 7443685
Mary Newman Julian
Dear Padraig,
Apologies for delay in getting back to you on this matter.
I appreciate and understand your very real concerns with regard to Tipperary Town.
To some extent the comments of Minister Doherty are correct, as many areas of Tipperary are thriving and flourishing but I would not agree that Tipperary Town is thriving.
One must only look around the town to see that the town is in need of investment and support. I refer to the Pobal deprivation indices which indicate both Tipperary East urban and Tipperary West urban electoral districts are both classified as disadvantaged based on 2016 CSO data whereas only Tipperary East urban was classified as disadvantaged in 2011 with Tipperary West urban classified as marginally below average at that time.
The figures:
Tipperary East Urban had an unemployment rate of 47.48% (male) and 26.69% (female) in 2011 versus 38.8% (male) and 26.42 (female) in 2016 census.
Tipperary West Urban had an unemployment rate of 33.4% (male) and 19.34% (female) in 2011 versus 22.79% (male) and 20.42 (female) in 2016 census.
What this tells us is that despite unemployment falling in these electoral districts in the past few years, the improvement is not keeping pace with national progress, as the Pobal deprivation indices are relative.
What am I currently doing to help the situation?
'The true measure of any society is how we treat our most vulnerable'
Education
I firmly believe that building better societies always starts with education and support for children and those that take care of them. I have met with the principles of the 5 primary schools in Tipperary town with regard to receiving DEIS school supports. I have made extensive representations on their behalf to the Department of Education. IF DEIS supports are actually provided based on deprivation indices criteria (as outlined on Dept. of Education website) it is a quite clear that many, if not all the primary schools in Tipperary Town should have DEIS status. Budgetary constraints aside, when you look at the Pobal maps overall there are only a handful of electoral districts classified as disadvantaged. It is not my intention to seek to remove DEIS supports from any school with current DEIS status, and transfer services to Tipperary town, but I will continue to work on DEIS support for Tipperary Town as a matter of priority with officials within the Department.
Mobility Supports.
The Irish Wheelchair Association in Tipperary Town this week received approval for over €98,000 in CLÁR funding towards 3 new wheelchair accessible vehicles. This is a project I have worked tirelessly on in the past 2 months, bringing the opportunity to the attention of the Irish Wheelchair association, providing letters of support, providing templates to gather further letters of supports, organizing CLÁR maps, ensuring the applications were comprehensively completed, insisting the Minister Ring and the Department of Rural and Community Development were fully aware of the absolute need for this financial support. I realise that people get tired of politicians taking credit for any bit of good news but the reality is that it is unlikely that this funding would have been delivered without my considerable input. Indeed, the IWA North Tipp told me they would not have applied for this funding without my insistence and support to do so. ( they received €65k in CLÁR funding this week)
Future focus
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a valuable source of funding for towns such as Tipperary.
Tipperary Town received €97,500 for the centre plaza in 2016 and will hopefully receive an allocation under this scheme later this week.
The 2019 call is likely is to open in Spring 2019 and I would be more than happy to work with you in advance to prioritise projects and prepare the required paperwork to ensure Tipperary town receives further funding in 2019.
The objective of this Fund is to support coordinated and integrated projects between Government Departments, State agencies, Local Authorities, other public bodies, communities and, where appropriate, philanthropic funders and/or the private sector, which will have an impact on sustainable economic and social development in rural areas.
It is imperative that community members work with the local authority to prioritise projects as all of these funds are administered on a competitive process. It is only by working together that we can collectively improve the fortunes of Tipperary Town.
In addition I have been in contact with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to seek funding for the renovation of The Court House and possibly the Irish House on Main Street ( though this would require a CPO as currently in private ownership)
I am more than happy to meet with you and assist in whatever way I can. I have requested a meeting with Tipperary council officials specifically with regard to Tipperary town.
I hold a constituency clinic in Tipperary Town every 2 weeks and will be in the Exel tomorrow, Thursday 4th October, from 10am. Would it be possible to meet with you at some stage tomorrow morning? Also, I would appreciate if you could send me your mobile number so I can contact you directly.
I am committed to working for all of the people of Tipperary, and I look forward to working with you in whatever way possible to improve Tipperary Town for all the community.
I would appreciate that if you are to publish this response that you do so in its entirety.
Kind regards,
Mary
Mary Newman Julian
Mobile: 0863844196
Fine Gael Tipperary Candidate
