7 February 2013 CASTLEKNOCK Gazette 3
music St Patrick’s NS choir at Helix
health: funding move welcomed ahead of ‘challenging year’
Connolly Hospital budget raised by 6% laura webb lwebb@gazettegroup.com
IT HAS been announced that Connolly Hospital has received an increase of 6% in its annual budget for the year from the HSE. Mulhuddart Councillor Mary McCamley (Lab) welcomed the news, but said staff at the hospital will still be working on a tight budget. “Connolly Hospital is such an important part of this community and we, as residents, are so lucky to have such an organisation on our doorstep. “Because of the moratorium, staff who leave the HSE [and] Con-
nolly Hospital are not replaced, and this puts further pressure on the staff when there is little or no funds to recruit extra agency staff at times of crisis. “Each year, the allocation of monies was dropping to such a degree that there was constant talk of ward closures and cutbacks for patients.
Increase “Hopefully, with this small increase in its budget, some of these worries can be eliminated. It must be noted that the throughput to the hospital had increased, but patient care was always at the forefront. “Still, staff will find it
difficult to [work] within this budget,” said Cllr McCamley. Cllr Kieran Dennison (FG) said the hospital is facing a very “challenging year ahead”, having run over budget last year. “In Connolly, the 2013 budget will support 2012 activity levels, while allowing for projected cost increases due to demographics, technology and clinical advancements. “All hospitals had their accumulated €271 million deficits of recent years ‘written off’. However, all hospitals will now be challenged to keep within their allocations for 2013,” said Cllr Dennison.
THE choir from St P a t r i c k ’s N a t i o n a l School will perform at the Helix this weekend. On Saturday, February 9, the choir will join other musical acts for The Sound Of Musicals at the popular venue. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased online at www.thehelix.ie or by calling 01 700 7000.
Support: The National Youth Council welcomes ‘youth guarantee’ scheme the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) welcomed political
support for a “youth guarantee” following a meeting on the scheme recently with Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton. The NYCI has been a long time advocate of a youth guarantee – which would ensure that young people on the Live Register for four months or more will automatically be directed into employment, education or training. Pictured are James Doorley, deputy director, NYCI, Minister Joan Burton and Lloyd Russell-Moyle, European Youth Forum.