Fine Gael Councillors from Cork City are holding a public meeting on Thursday the 5th of August at7.00pm in the SMA Hall in Wilton to bring together members of the general public who have expressed an interest in the upkeep and maintenance of St Finbarr’s Cemetery.

The purpose of the meeting called by Councillors Des Cahill, Emmet O’Halloran, Laura McGonigle and John Buttimer is to bring together and co-ordinate individuals who have expressed an interest in getting involved in having this important historical cemetery cleaned up.

Over the past number of weeks a lot of attention has been focussed on the lack of maintenance being carried out at the landmark city graveyard because of a reduction in the number of groundsmen arising from the recruitment embargo imposed on local authorities by central government.

Families of deceased have been in contact with public representatives from across the city expressing their disappointment and hurt at the present condition of the graveyard. The local Fine Gael Councillors decided that the time for discussion had moved to a time for action.

Speaking in advance of the public meeting the Fine Gael Councillors stated that their aims for the meeting were to;

• listen to the concerns of the general public regarding the condition of the graveyard,
• facilitate communication between members of the general public, elected public representatives and City Council on this issue,
• facilitate the establishment of a ‘Friends of St Finbarr’s Cemetery’ association,
• to co-ordinate an immediate volunteer lead clean up of the cemetery,
• to call for an increase in the number of staff allocated to the graveyard at the earliest possible opportunity.

The public meeting is open to all interested individuals and will start promptly at 7.00pm.

Contact Details:

Cllr John Buttimer 087-6384381

Cllr Des Cahill 087-2801490

Cllr Laura McGonigle 086-0829371

Cllr Emmet O’Halloran 087-7855241

Fine Gael Cork City Councillor Emmet O’Halloran has called on the IDA to begin discussions with IKEA about the possibility of the Swedish retail giant opening a store in the Cork area. Last month IKEA’s Dublin manager Gary Deakin revealed that the company were actively looking for another site in Ireland.

Cllr O’Halloran who is a member of the Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP) committee said “if IKEA were to open in Cork it could result in over 500 direct jobs and a large amount of spin-off employment also being generated in the area.”

“Last month unemployment in the Cork Metropolitan area reached almost 27,000 and when a company the size of IKEA says it’s looking to do business with a region I believe that we need to sit up and move quickly.”

Speaking in relation to possible sites Cllr O’Halloran suggested the old Amgen site in Carrigtwohill as a possible location for a new store. “When Amgen revealed that they would not be coming to Cork it was a disappointment for so many in both the City and County. However luckily we have a site that is ready to go now and I believe this could be attractive for IKEA. It is time that we work together to identify how we can attract 100’s of jobs to the Cork area.”

In concluding remarks O’Halloran said “Cork has the local market, qualified people and road infrastructure to make Cork a no brainer for the IKEA.”

A member of Cork City Council who represents an area that was devastated by last November’s floods has welcomed the publication of an Oireachtas Report that identifies that use of mobile phones as an effective tool for warning the public during emergency situations.

Councillor Emmet O’Halloran (Fine Gael) said the report “offered many common sense solutions to problems that flood victims encountered last winter. In today’s society most people have mobile phones and the existence of a text alert system on the instance of future events such as floods or freezing to the people of Cork would be of great benefit”.

The report which was launched by outgoing Fine Gael Communications Spokesman Simon Coveney TD was commissioned by the Joint Oireactas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and will now be sent to Minister Eamon Ryan and the Office of Emergency Planning who provide a key support role to the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning.

In concluding remarks Councillor O’Halloran said “text messages are an effective means of providing advance notice to the public and emergency services about unanticipated events and emergencies and I will be writing to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources urging him to implement this system without delay.”

Cork is preparing its world-renowned “Céad Míle Fáilte” for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race with festivals in Kinsale and Cork. This free family festival will celebrate the Cork Clipper’s homecoming with the Kinsale Festival 02-07 July and in the Port of Cork from 07-09 July.

For more information check out the festival website http://www.corkclipperfestival.com/

There will also be over 50 Free Events featuring 200 performers throughout the week.
Click here to download the programme of events.

Cork City Council has received approval to participate in the FAS Work Placement Programme and is arranging recruitment of a range of Graduates. It should be noted that eligibility criteria applies and no salary is offered. Further details of the FAS Work Placement Programme are available on the FAS website @ www.fas.ie .

The Council would welcome applications for the following Graduate Work Placements:
• Graduate Accountant JB552049
• Graduate Architect JB552047
• Graduate Business Administrator JB552040
• Graduate Civil Engineer JB552046
• Graduate Civil Engineering Technician JB552056
• Graduate Environmental Technician (Archaeology and Ecology/Botany) JB552051
• Graduate IT Operator JB552054
• Graduate Mechanical/Electrical Engineer JB552072
• Graduate Mechanical Technician JB552060

All applications must be made through the official FAS procedures as outlined on the website.
Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 5pm on the 16th July 2010.

Fine Gael Cllr Emmet O’Halloran has welcomed the announcement that Cork City Council is to offer residents and business owners in the South Parish grants to paint their premises as part of the overall regeneration of the area.

Commenting on the news Cllr O’Halloran said “Cork City Council is funding a scheme of painting for the South Parish Area as part of the adopted South Parish Area Action Plan. The area in which properties are considered for eligibility includes Barrack Street, Douglas Street, Georges Quay and Sullivan’s Quay. A similar scheme was rolled out in Blackpool Village last year and had extremely positive results”

Funding for the South Parish Scheme is available primarily to both residential and commercial premises in the areas. However elements such as boundary walls and large entrance gates to commercial properties may also be eligible for consideration based on the level of improvement to the streetscape which would be gained from the painting.

The closing date for receipt of application is 30th July 2010 and qualifying applicants will have until 29th October 2010 to submit a claim to the Council under the scheme.

“Residential properties will be eligible for 75% of the total cost for the external painting works to a maximum of €300 and commercial properties will be eligible for 50% of the total cost of the external painting works up to a maximum of €500.” Cllr O’Halloran said.

However in concluding remarks he said “that successful applicants will be allocated on a first come first serve basis by contacting the Planning and Development Department of Cork City Council on 4924757” he said.

For the third year, Summer Fun Nights, alternative family-friendly events organised by local community groups in conjunction with Cork City Council, will take place again in parks city-wide on this Bonfire Night, Wednesday June 23rd. There will be something for everyone in five city parks including music, circus performance, sports, arts and crafts and much, much, more.

The parks where events are taking place include Kilmore Road Park, Knocknaheeny (6 pm to 9 pm), Pophams Park, Farranree (4 pm to 7 pm), Glenamoy Park, Mayfield (5 pm to 8 pm), Lough Mahon Park, Mahon (6.30 pm to 9.30 pm) and Clashduv Park, Togher (5.30 pm to 9.30 pm). In addition, a further four local community events are funded though Cork City Council in Kerry Hall Road, Bishopstown, Douglas and in Blackpool.

With up to 7,800 people attending activities in 2009, the aim of Summer Fun Nights has been to support local community groups to provide alternative safe events on Bonfire night and is supported by An Garda Síochána.

These events are very much led by local community organisations which have come together and taken the initiative to organise events in their own area with the support of Cork City Council.

Events are free, all are welcome and all events are alcohol-free. NB Children need to be accompanied by an adult.

Calls have been made by Fine Gael Cllr Emmet O’Halloran for the implementation of a new one way system on the slip road by the AIB Bank and Mace at the bottom of Tory Top Road. Fears have been expressed by many residents that a serious accident will occur as traffic travelling from the Kinsale Road use the narrow slip road as a means of avoiding the traffic lights adjacent to Green Lawn.

According to Cllr O’Halloran “whilst the installation of the pedestrian crossing by Green Lawn some years ago has greatly enhanced safety for pedestrians at the junction, there is now a real fear that motorists approaching the lights from the old CMP direction who use the slip road to bypass the lights will cause of a major accident”.

“The close proximity of shops and the AIB Bank makes the junction a popular area for pedestrians. However if the slip road was to be a one way system coming from the Tory Top Road end I have no doubt the chances of an accident would be greatly reduced”.

Cllr O’Halloran also revealed that the concerns were first brought to his attention following the AGM of the Green Lawn Residents Association and that he would be asking City Council officials to give serious consideration to the proposal. “I have tabled a motion calling on this option to be explored without delay and it should be discussed before the next meeting of the Roads Committee” he concluded.

Calls have been made by Fine Gael Cllr Emmet O’Halloran for Cork City Council to explore the possibility of running a series of events aimed at encouraging the public to trace their family tree.

Speaking on the idea Cllr O’Halloran said “the popularity of shows like Who Do You Think You Are? and the recent publication of the 1901 and 1911 Census have encouraged people to explore their family tree. We are very lucky in Cork City to have a world class library service. However many forget that we are also particularly fortunate to have one of the best local history sections in Ireland in the City Library on the Grand Parade.”

“I believe that by running a series of events that would encourage the public to retrace their family tree, we could attract a large number of people to our libraries that ordinarily might have no interest in using the service”.

The online version of the 1911 Census has received almost seven million hits since its publication in 2001 and the recent 1901 Cencus received an incredible 24 million hits in the first three days of its publication alone.
In concluding remarks Cllr O’Halloran said that if the pilot programme were successful at home there is no reason why it could not be packaged to a more global audience.

“These figures would indicate that the appetite for the study of genealogy is significant not just at home but also overseas. If 24 million people logged onto the 1901 Census website in its first three days of operation from around the world, then we should eventually be able to market our service to descendents of immigrant Corkonians who are scattered all over the globe in a manner that could built on the recent accolades of the recent Lonely Planet awards” he said.

Local Fine Gael City Councillor Emmet O’Halloran has called on community and residents groups to apply to the Community Maintenance Grants Scheme which provides funding to organisations who wish to participate in clean-up activities in their local areas.

According to Councillor O’Halloran, “Grants are intended to fund or part-fund community initiatives with a litter prevention focus. In previous years various groups in the South Central Ward have benefited from this initiative and I hope that 2010 is no different”

O’Halloran also said that because of budgetary and manpower restrictions that Cork City Council are currently working under, local groups will have to play an increased role in keeping communities clean and tidy in the future. “Unfortunately due to severe cuts from Central Government it is likely that we will see community and voluntary groups playing an enhanced role in keeping areas clean and tidy.”

Application forms for the grants, which are designed to coincide with National Spring Clean Week can be obtained by contacting the Environment Department, Room 232, Cork City Hall or telephone 021 4924308.