Nothing Left to Cut - Marie Casserly

We cannot cut our cloth anymore, there’s nothing left to cut.

Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly has given €1.5 million in grants

to towns in his new constituency such as Thurles and Clonmel against

expert advice even though projects from other towns got significantly

higher scores from an independent assessment group. The scoring

system was released under the Freedom of Information Act. This is the

type of politics that that the government parties claimed they were going

to change when elected to power 5 years ago.

So while local authorities and worthwhile community and tourism

projects throughout the North West region are asked to cut their cloth

and accept more austerity measures Minister Kelly can deviate from this

for the benefit of his own electorate. Where is the fairness in that? We

have to go with our begging bowls to look for a few thousand euro for

feasibility studies for projects that will create jobs, and wait for years for

the penny to drop, whereas the Government should be investing in these

immediately. We cannot accept any more austerity and get into the

scenario where basic services are being cut anymore than they are

already, where there is a recruitment embargo on library staff and

outdoor staff in local authorities are not being replaced when they retire.

It’s a bit rich coming from the Labour Minister and the Government telling

the people of Sligo cut our cloth as he imposes restrictions on Sligo.

There is nothing left to cut, it’s all gone a long time ago. I am calling on

all elected representatives to put pressure on Minister Kelly to stop

imposing these cuts and demands and let local authorities and elected

members deliver the necessary services that will enable the North West

to grow and thrive.