People Before Profit North Clondalkin Newsletter February 2023

Clondalkin

North Clondalkin 2023

THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS CONTINUES

being hit with huge increases in electricity and gas costs. Everything is going up except incomes, pensions and wages.

The government's budget has fallen short. One-off measures may take the sting out but do not provide a permanent solution. Many in our community are being faced with tough choices between heating or eating.

People Before Profit has laid out an alternative budget and put forward bills which would reduce rents and cap energy prices however these measures have been voted down by the government parties.

Among the key measures we propose are:

● Cap energy prices and nationalise the energy sector

● Protect Incomes by introducing a living wage, restoring the pension age to 65 and bring all social welfare benefits above the poverty line

income

● Abolish all fees, charges and contributions for all levels of education

● Free childcare

All these measures are achievable by taxing wealth. We propose increasing corporation tax and employers PRSI, introducing a wealth tax and a tax on land banks and on vacant homes among other targeted tax measures.

CLONDALKIN FOR ALL

On Saturday 21st of January, over a hundred Clondalkin locals came out in solidarity with asylum seekers in our community for a rally of inclusion and diversity.

Gino Kenny TD spoke at the rally and highlighted the need to fight for housing and services for ALL and to place the blame for the housing crises at the feet of consecutive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments, where it belongs.

The far-right wants to scapegoat migrants and asylum seekers for the crisis in our housing and healthcare but these issues have existed long before the war in Ukraine. Blaming asylum seekers lets the Government off the hook.

The rally was organised by Clondalkin For All, which People Before Profit are members of, among others.

HOUSING FOR ALL

There are over 11,500 homeless people in Ireland at present. There are a further 60,000 on housing waiting lists. There are 166,000 vacant homes—enough to house everyone in need twice over.

Successive governments have facilitated vulture funds, cuckoo funds and speculators who have hoarded property in order to charge exorbitant rents and reap massive profits.

People Before Profit wants housing for ALL. To achieve this, we propose:

● A state-led building company to build social and affordable houses.

● 50% of private developments should be handed over to the state at reduced prices

● To take vacant homes into public ownership to house all people

● Rent reductions and a ban on evictions.

Don’t Let Others Try and Divide Us. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael Have Created This Crisis!

CANNABIS REGULATION BILL 2022

In November, Gino Kenny TD put forward a Bill to decriminalise cannabis for personal possession for adults. The Bill seeks to stop the criminal sanctioning of those found with small amounts of cannabis for personal use.

At present thousands of people are brought before the courts for possession of small amounts of cannabis.

This serves no purpose for either the person or the state. Later this year the Citizens Assembly will examine the issue of drug decriminalisation. People Before Profit hope that this will start a meaningful debate which can lead to the end of cannabis prohibition in Ireland.

Gerrard Roe, Natalie O ‘Regan and Dr. Garret Mc Govern.

LIFFEY VALLEY WORKERS FIGHT BACK

BREAST CANCER SCREENING MOTION

In 2020 Ireland had the 5th highest mortality rate for female breast cancer in the EU and the 8th highest incident rate. This is unacceptable and something we can change. Last September the European Commission recommended that breast cancer screening be offered to women between the ages of 45 to 74. At present, Breastcheck only screens women aged between 50 and 69. Recently I submitted a motion calling on the government to:

● Introduce screening for breast cancer from the age of 40 through publicly funded & run programmes

Since October, Liffey Valley staff have been charged to park when they go to work. Those who drive are facing a minimum of €600 a year in parking fees.

These charges are being brought in by Hines Ireland which is one of the biggest vulture funds in the world with $90.3 billion of investment assets under management

Retail workers are already a low-paid group of workers who are now facing an effective pay cut during a worsening cost-of-living crisis.

People Before Profit will continue to support the Liffey Valley Workers’ protest against staff car parking charges. Gino Kenny TD has raised this issue in the Dáil with the Taoiseach. Cllr Madeleine Johansson brought forward a motion to South Dublin County Council to support the staff which was passed unanimously. The motion calls on Liffey Valley management to reverse the decision to charge staff for parking.

● Guarantee immediate access to diagnostics services for young women at risk of breast cancer & ensure access to a triple assessment for young women who present with possible breast cancer

● Immediately revise the criteria for access to genetic testing so that all women at high risk of BRCA related breast cancer have access to genetic testing and counselling in the public health system

● Initiate a publicly funded education programme in schools around breast examination

These changes are vital and if implemented they will save lives. Cancer screening services have been severely impacted over the course of the Covid pandemic, it is important that we make sure the government prioritise women’s health.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THE ISSUE OF ASSISTED DYING

In July of 2021 the Dáil’s Justice Committee recommended that a special Oireachtas committee should examine the topic of assisted dying following the scrutiny of the Dying with Dignity Bill put forward by Gino Kenny TD in 2020. After much delay, the special committee will now be established in February and run for a period of nine months. The committee will then make its recommendations to the government by the end of this year. Consistent opinion polls have indicated that a clear majority would support a change in legislation. As a member of the committee, I look forward to this very important national discussion in the year ahead.

CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (CAMHS)

Gino Kenny TD has called for an independent report into CAMHS and a five-fold increase in funding for the service after a report by the Mental Health Commission was released which has highlighted significant deficits in the service.

The report has found that the service is seriously understaffed and underfunded. It has also found that there is a lack of mental health services at a primary care level and that waiting lists for CAMHS have almost doubled since July 2020, with the number of children waiting for over a year increasing from 216 in June 2020 to 579 in November 2022.

The overall mental health budget is only 5% of the health budget compared to the 12% recommended by the World Health Organisation. CAMHS receives just 10% of the overall mental health budget, which is already far too low.

A five-fold increase in funding is vital to ensure safe staffing levels and expand the service to meet the needs of children in the state.

Launching the Dying with Dignity Bill with the late Vicky Phelan, Tom Curran and Gail O’Rorke outside Leinster House.

QUARRYVALE PARK UPGRADE

South Dublin County Council is investing €300,000 in 2023 into the redevelopment and upgrade of Quarryvale Park. They are starting by finding out what people want to see in the park.

There's a survey available at the following link and I would encourage all residents to participate:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ QvalePark

NEW ASD BUILDING IN COLLINSTOWN

Work has begun on a new ASD unit at Collinstown Community College. The works are due to be completed by Spring of 2024. The additional classes are for all pupils who meet those criteria irrespective of cognitive ability, and the special classrooms for ASD will have a maximum of six pupils and will be staffed with 1.5 teaching posts and two special needs assistants per class.

There is a shortage of post primary places for young students on the autistic spectrum not only in Clondalkin but well beyond. This new facility, when built, will be very welcome.

CONSTITUENCY OFFICES TIMES

are now

11AM TO 1PM

on MONDAY & FRIDAY.

All Other Times by Appointment.