NEW COUNCIL FACES IMPORTANT TEST TODAY ON PROPOSALS TO DEAL WITH IMPACT OF RECESSION
In a statement, Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett and Cllr Hugh Lewis of the People Before Profit Alliance (PBPA), said today’s meeting (Monday 6th July) of the newly elected Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Co. Council, now controlled by Labour and Fine Gael, faced an important test as to whether it was serious about taking action to deal with the impact of recession in the County.
PBPA has put forward a number of motions aimed at tackling different aspects of the economic crisis, as they are affecting citizens of the county, particularly in the areas of jobs, housing and those on low incomes.
The PBPA proposals include schemes to create jobs employing currently unemployed workers directly to repair boarded-up council houses and establish a council-run farm/market-gardening enterprise, as well as major expansion in the provision of allotments and community garden, so that local citizens could grow their own food.
PBPA also have two motions dealing with bin taxes, calling on the Council to cease threats and legal action against those unable to pay bin taxes and to restore the full waiver scheme for those on low incomes.
The PBPA proposals come, as it is anticipated that County Manager, Owen Keegan, will today give a financial report, suggesting significant cut-backs in Council spending. PBPA believe the focus should be on generating public enterprise and job creation rather than deflationary cut-backs.
Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett said:
“Instead of cutting jobs and services, which will simply lead to a downward spiral causing even more hardship and further job losses, the Council needs to take a lead in showing that there are alternatives that can create jobs, industry, provide decent services to all and make efficient use of our resources. Our proposals are simple and sensible and could create desperately needed jobs and at the same time provide for the needs of the county.
Labour and Fine Gael have rightly made a lot of noise criticising the government for its record in allowing unemployment to rocket and our services to be slashed. Now that they control the Council, they have a chance to prove that they will support proposals that can alleviate the impact of the recession and help us get out of it. I hope they will do that.”
Cllr Hugh Lewis said:
“It is not only obscene that council houses lie empty and boarded-up while thousands languish on housing lists, it also makes no financial or economic sense. Various bodies of the state are paying out huge money in rent allowance, in dole payments, in rental for the shutters boarding up the empty houses and the Council’s are also losing rent they would be receiving. It makes no sense at all. Jobs would be created, houses provided and the state would actually save money if people were employed to repair and re-rent these council homes.”
Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett added:
“If the Council employed those now on the dole to work establishing a market gardening and farming enterprise, and expanded the provision of allotments, it would create jobs and local industry, generate revenue for the Council and be good for the local environment. There is now plenty of vacant land that is thankfully not going to be developed with apartment and office blocks and the public through the bank guarantee and NAMA effectively owns much of it. Let’s use this resource to create useful public enterprise and create the jobs we so badly need. It’s a “no brainer!” There are also many other public enterprises that could be instigated in the same way, if the Council had the vision and courage to do it.”
On bin charges, Cllr Boyd Barrett said:
“This vindictive bullying and threats of legal action against low-income families unable to pay unfair bin taxes must stop. For one thing, the Council is on shaky legal ground chasing the arrears because there is a test case pending before the Supreme Court. Secondly it is just disgraceful that the Council abolished the full waiver for pensioners, social welfare recipients and those on very low incomes. The Council must act immediately to end this injustice, especially now when so many people are losing their jobs and having their incomes slashed.”
Cllr Hugh Lewis concluded:
"It is quite alarming that Fine Gael have chosen the Lisbon treaty as their first motion to put down at the Council when there are much more important issues, like job losses, service cuts and real hardship being faced by the people of this county. I hope they will see sense and focus on issues that will actually help people in this increasingly dire situation.”