:: Letters to the Editor

Parents can direct their child's education 04.02.13

Dear Editor,

As the first phase of the national parental survey on school patronage draws to a close what will the results mean for Irish education?
Much opinion has been given in the media about the volume of response rate, good or bad - but this is missing the point.
The real power of the survey is that parents for the first time, have a chance to direct the future shape of the Irish educational system.
This bottom up approach, which has been the defining characteristic of the Educate Together movement, is giving parents a role in infrastructure planning that will serve that State and all patron bodies well.
As for survey numbers and their ultimate meaning, there is a simple conclusion to be drawn. In all five areas that have published results one patron body was a clear first choice, Educate Together.
Also in each of those areas the numbers of parents that selected Educate Together were amply sufficient to support a viable school.
There, surely, is the answer to the fundamental question on this whole process. Is there sufficient demand in distinct areas across the country to support the establishment of schools under alternate patronage?
Yes there is. The results of the remaining 38 survey areas that will emerge in the coming weeks will also show viable support for many more schools under alternate patronage models.

Sincerely,

Jarlath Munnelly
Educate Together
11-12 Hogan Place,
Dublin 2

An open letter to An Taoiseach from Donegal Action Against Austerity 07.10.12

Further to our request for a deputation with you at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology, which was declined, we would like you to read this letter on behalf of those people in Donegal who support Donegal Action against Austerity. Apart from the issues raised recently regarding the household charges, septic tank and water charges, it is now apparent that your government is hell bent on incurring further hardship and austerity on the people of Donegal by implementing major cuts to the people most in need in our society i.e. HSE cuts to home help hours and medical departments, cuts to child benefit, the closing down of rural schools and libraries, increase in fuel costs and reduction in the number of Garda stations throughout the county which affects the people most in need in our society and the centralization of the Coast Guard service in Donegal which could jeopardize the lives of our already demoralized fishermen.
You, when in Opposition stated, "You cannot cut and tax your way out of a recession". We ask you to reconsider and review what you are intending to do, as you are contradicting your former statement. You, currently, are trying to cut and tax your way out of this recession. You have went against your own word which is on the record. Is the leader of this government a man of his word? By implementing these cuts and taxes you are going to take us deeper into a recession none of us can afford. It is jobs and outside investment that is needed to save this country from economic depression. By increasing taxes our economy will experience a financial meltdown of enormous and unprecedented proportions. The poor and working classes do not have enough income to pay for austerity. Your austerity measures will just lead to more and more job losses. Can't you see the disaster ahead of us if you continue your policies. Are you not listening to the people? Donegal has a 24% unemployment rate when the national average is 14%. What are your plans for helping deprived areas? Are you ever going to listen to the voices of the people? Not only are we being squeezed financially by the banks, but our Government whom we look to uphold the Constitution and protect the people from 'banksters' is actually taking part in the pillage of this country and its natural resources.
We urge you to stop playing politics and start protecting people. The ball is in your court, it's not too late to stand up. Show some leadership. We trust that An Taosieach and his Government will see the error of your ways and pull us back from the brink of disaster. Implementation of these policies will leave Donegal like a rural wasteland.

Seamus Kee (chairman)
Joe Murphy (pro)
Donegal Action Against Austerity

Seeking Doherty-Linneen information 12.07.12

Dear Editor,

I am wondering if any of your readers may be able to assist me in some family research.
I am researching the Linneen family name.
Mary Doherty, daughter of John Doherty, born about 1849, was a resident of Inishowen, County Donegal, before emigrating to Australia where she married Mark Linneen in Sydney in 1900.
Mark is the son of my great grandfather, Cornelius Linneen, a resident of County Clare, before emigrating to Australia about 1860.
Any information about Mary or Mark would be greatly appreciated.
If you are able to publish this request I would be most grateful and hopefully your readers may be able to assist.

Sincerely,

Brian Mears
89 The Fairway
Kingsbury, Victoria,
Australia 3083
Email: brian.mears@bigpond.com

I object to constituency shake-up 25.06.12

Dear Editor,

I would like to voice my objection to the redrawing of the constituencies in regard to Sligo/north Leitrim/ west Cavan/ south Donegal. This seems to be completely in contradiction to the avoidance of county boundaries being breached.
I believe the south Donegal constituency would be better served by remaining as part of a single Donegal constituency with five seats.
Donegal is traditionally a rural constituency and south Donegal particularly so, with Sligo town being a urban area. I would question whether the focus of any elected representative would focus on the demands of such to the detriment of outlying areas.
In previous elections, two Sligo candidates and one Leitrim candidate have been elected. I cannot foresee any Donegal representative going forward from our small area to stand for elections and do not believe that our area will be effectively represented.
To date we have excellent representatives in the south Donegal area and believe the area would be better served by Donegal representatives and within the Donegal constituency.

Sincerely,

Sonya Oldham,
Ballyshannon,
Co Donegal.

'Join our 'No Home Taxes' Dáil protest' 19.02.12

Dear Editor,

The homes in our Republic are under attack and it is time to shout stop. The Government wants to make the people pay for the recklessness of domestic and foreign banks and financial speculators. Taxes on our homes, whether it is the household charge or the septic tank tax, have to be opposed. These are the only taxes that we can refuse to pay and we should not pay them.
We are organising a "No Home Taxes" protest against both the septic tank charges and the household charge outside Dáil Éireann on Wednesday, 29 February. We would like to invite as many of your readers as possible to join us. Meetings and protests against the septic tank charge have happened all over rural Ireland and this is an excellent opportunity to come together to demonstrate our widespread rejection of this and the other charges. The septic tank tax is particularly aimed against rural Ireland. Our protests have so far had an impact on Minister of the Environment Phil Hogan with his decision to reduce the registration free from €50 to €5.
But this is not the main issue. Our main demand is that the State should pay for the upgrading and maintenance of our septic tanks. The State, with the help of taxes on rural Ireland, funds all the urban water and sewerage treatment plants. Indeed, in its most recent report the Environment Protection Agency says the Government must fund improvements in 50% of the State’s waste treatment plants in urban areas. We in Rural Ireland Against The Charges demand equality with our brothers and sisters living in urban Ireland. The money is there - the Government has earmarked €1.5 billion for water and wastewater treatment in the next five years. 10% of that money would suffice to cover the cost of bringing septic tank systems throughout the Republic up to standard. It would also provide much-needed jobs for construction workers.

The main points of our campaign are:
1. We are totally in favour of clean water;
2. We accept that septic tanks should be fully functional;
3. We demand that the cost of remedial work should come out of general taxation.

At the end of the day the issue is all about equity and fairness. Funds must be spent upgrading rural waste systems in the same way as upgrading urban waste water systems are being upgraded. We all pay our taxes and deserve an equivalent level of services.
Anyone prepared to support our protest at the Dail on 29 February should contact me (see below).

Sincerely,

Pádraic an Táilliúra Ó Conghaola
MyNativeLand.info
Tel: 087 7682933

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