The Looney Left

Press Release - Looney: Housing Adaptation Grants Cuts “a Let Down by Labour in Govt”

2013-04-05T00:53:00.001+01:00

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Cllr on South Dublin County Council (SDCC), has stated that swingeing cuts to grants for older and disabled people to adapt their homes are “inexcusable” and “another let down by Labour in Government.” Looney’s comments come as South Dublin County Council’s grant funding for adaptation schemes is cut by more than half for 2013.

Three separate grants are administered by SDCC for housing adaptation. The Housing Adaptation Scheme for People With a Disability is a grant for making homes more suitable for people who are disabled, up to a maximum of €30,000. The Mobility Aids Grants Scheme is usually for people requiring home adaptation due to mobility issues brought on by ageing, such as a downstairs bathroom or stairlift, up to a maximum of €6,000. The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme is for necessary works such as re-wiring and re-roofing up to a maximum of €10,500.

All three schemes are dependent on means testing and estimates from three contractors, while two of the schemes also require occupational therapist reports. Almost 250 homes in the Tallaght area alone have benefited from these schemes in the past two years.

Grant funding from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to SDCC for the schemes was reduced from €3.08 million in 2011, to €2.73 million in 2012, and to just €1.21 million for this year. To date, almost €435,000 of the €1.21 million has already been paid out this year, with many in-progress works yet to be funded.

In response to Looney’s motion on the matter at a recent Area Committee meeting, Council officials confirmed that almost €2 million was allocated from the funds for last year and that the current funding is unlikely to meet the demand. Looney is also due to raise the matter at next Monday’s full Council meeting and has written to Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan to ask her to revisit the cuts.

“I have been delighted to assist many older and disabled people in informing them about and assisting them with applications to these important schemes,” noted Looney. “South Dublin County Council has had a strong record of ensuring grant aid for all applicants who meet the strict criteria during my time on the Council. This inexcusable cut, which cuts the scheme by almost 2/3 since 2011, is likely to mean that older residents and those who are disabled will be unable to avail of necessary housing adaptations to allow them live with independence and dignity. It is also bad news for local tradespeople who rely on schemes such as these to make a living in these precarious times.”

“I would urge all those who are interested in applying for the scheme to do so immediately as grant funding may run out on the basis of these cuts.”

“The Labour Party entered government stating that they would protect vulnerable people. This has been another let down from Labour in Government. There are options beyond the austerity agenda which can protect our vulnerable citizens and protect employment. With this in mind, I have written to Minister O’Sullivan to ask her to revisit these cuts.”

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County Council Meeting Headed Item based on my motion below (updated figures have since been provided)

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 08, 2013

HEADED ITEM NO. 2c)

REPORT OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE MEETING (1) & (2) - Monday, 25^th March, 2013

Motion No: M (10) CUTS BY THE DECLG TO THE HOUSING ADAPTION GRANTS FOR OLDER PEOPLE
The following motion was considered at the Tallaght Area Committee held on 25th March 2013:-
It was proposed by Councillor D. Looney, seconded by Councillor C. King:
“That this Committee notes with serious concern the announcement by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government of substantial cuts to housing adaptation grants for older people and those who are disabled; that a report be provided on the uptake of these grants by those in this area in 2011 and 2012; that a preliminary report be issued on how these cuts will affect grants in the area under the remit of this committee for 2013; and that a full report on the impact of these proposed cuts be made to the April Council meeting.”

The following report by the Manager which had been circulated was READ:

“The Council operates three Housing Grant Schemes for older people and those who are disabled as follows:
·        The Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People with a Disability
·        The Mobility Aids Grant Scheme
·        The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme.
These grants are available in respect of owner occupied dwellings and certain rented dwellings (subject to written permission being provided by the Landlord).
Grants may be awarded under these schemes by South Dublin County Council to qualified applicants subject to the criteria set out in the regulations and associated guidance documents issued by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DoECLG).
Budgets for these grants are not allocated on an electoral area basis.   However detail as requested in respect of the electoral areas of Tallaght Central and South for the combined schemes for years 2011 and 2012 is set out in the following table, as well as an outline of the expenditure on these schemes a county-wide basis:

Year	No of Applications received from Tallaght Central and South EA	€ paid	€ County Wide
2011	117	591,597	1,626,985
2012	129	825,906	1,952,819

South Dublin County Council recently received notification of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government 2013 approved allocation for these grants in the sum of €1,213,986.05. This reflects a 40% reduction (nationally) over the 2012 spend.
In correspondence received from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government it was advised that due to the finite resources which are currently available, local authorities should ensure that funds are targeted at essential works only and that an effective and easy to understand scheme of prioritisation be put in place to ensure that applications are prioritised on the basis of the medical needs of the applicant. The three levels of medical priority advised to this Council are as follows:
1.     Priority 1: Terminally ill or mainly dependent on family or a carer, or where alterations/adaptations would facilitate the discharge from hospital or alleviate hospitalisation in the future.
2.     Priority 2: Mobile, but needs assistance in accessing facilities, or where, without the adaptation the disabled persons’ ability to function independently would be hindered.
3.     Priorty 3: The applicant is independent, but requires special facilities to improve their quality of life, e.g. separate bedroom or living space.
To date grants to a total value of €356,343 over the 3 schemes have been paid out countywide.
As already outlined budgets for the various grant schemes are not allocated on an electoral basis. Accordingly at this point it is premature to state how this reduced allocation will affect grants in the area under the remit of this committee for 2013.”
The motion was PASSED

Press Release - Looney Publishes Latest Expenses

2013-04-03T23:32:00.000+01:00

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Councillor on South Dublin County Council (SDCC), has welcomed the publication of Councillor expenses for the County for 2012. Looney last year won a long campaign to secure the publication of all Cllr expenses and has welcomed the most recent figures for 2012. Looney's own expenses are amongst the lowest in the County for the fourth year in succession.

“I am again delighted that this important information has been made accessible to the public,” noted Looney. “Following my election in 2009, I campaigned to have this information made readily available online. The Council published the 2012 figures two weeks ago. They again show me to be one of the most prolific attendees at Council meetings and lowest expense claimants on the Council. Alon with my Labour colleagues and some other Cllrs I refuse, for example, to claim any expenses for Conferences at home or abroad."

"In the interests of accountability and transparency, I am again releasing a full list of my own remuneration and expenses, including all non-Council related expenses, since 2009. This list shows that I am, consistently, one of the lowest-claiming Cllrs on SDCC. As a member of County Dublin VEC and four of its subcommittees, I am entitled to claim a small expense for meetings lasting more than three hours. I have also included those details below.”

Cllr Dermot Looney – Remuneration and Expenses 2012
2012: Representational Payment €16,723.92;
Expenses €6,486.87; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €650.62; VEC Expenses €567.28; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €7,704.77

Cllr Dermot Looney – Remuneration and Expenses 2009-2011
2009 (June-Dec): Representational Payment €9,731.10;
Annual Allowance €3,587.47; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €300; VEC Expenses €283.64; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €4171.11

2010: Representational Payment €16,797.26;
Annual Allowance €6,306.65; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €829.35; VEC Expenses €810.40; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €7,946.40

2011: Representational Payment €16,723.92;
Expenses €6,486.87; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €985.72; VEC Expenses €769.88; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €8,242,47

Notes:

The “Representational Payment” is, in essence, a Councillor’s ‘salary;’ it is fixed at one-quarter of a Senator’s salary and is dependent on attendance at meetings. As it is subject to PAYE, PRSI, USC and other deductions, I receive approximately €8,000 per annum nett.

“Annual Allowance” refers to travel, subsistence and other expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of a Cllr. “Phone and Broadband” refers to the payments made for mobile phone and broadband usage. “VEC expenses” are €40.52 for every meeting of the VEC or its Subcommittees that incurs more than 3 hours work. Expenses do not apply to Community School boards or meetings which take less than 3 hours.

Full details of attendance and expenses for all SDCC Cllrs are available at http://www.sdcc.ie/the-council/council-meetings/s142-register

Press Release: Area Chair Looney Calls for Submissions to Boundary Review Committee

2013-01-13T21:22:00.002Z

Tallaght Area Chair Councillor Dermot Looney (Labour) has called for residents living in the Dublin 6w, 12 and 24 areas to consider making submissions to the Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee. The Committee was established by the Minister for the Environment last year, and is due to recommend a series of new electoral areas for the next Council elections in 2014.

In calling for local citizens to consider making submissions, Looney has noted that, to date, no submissions have been made regarding the South Dublin County area. There are currently five LEA's on the Council; Tallaght Central (6 members), Tallaght South (5 members), Clondalkin (6 members), Lucan (5 members) and Rathfarnham (4 members). Substantial changes to all are expected, with their possible expansion in terms of seats, or the creation of new electoral areas.

“The Action Plan announced by the Minister last year detailed very significant changes to how we elect local councillors,” stated Looney. “One expected change is the increase in Cllrs on South Dublin County Council from 26 to 40. Another is the abolition of current four- and five-seat areas. New electoral areas will have between six and ten seats, with the Minister recommending seven as a typical number.”

“There will be very substantial changes to how we elect Councillors in our area, and I am calling on residents to have their say. Residents can make a submission by post or email. Details are online at www.boundarycommittee.ie. Submissions must be made by Friday, January 25^th.”

“I am currently drafting my own submission in to reflect my own feedback from voters, for example in ensuring that areas within Dublin 12 remain contiguous, that communities in Tallaght are not split unnecessarily, and that more thought is given to electoral area names.”

Press Release - Looney Welcomes Passage of Council Budget

2012-12-18T01:10:00.001Z

Labour Party Councillor Dermot Looney (Tallaght Central) has welcomed the passage of the 2013 South Dublin County Council Budget, stating that the Budget “seeks to protect frontline services and develop South Dublin as a good place to live and work.” The Council’s Budget was passed at a meeting on Monday, December 17^th with the support of Labour, Sinn Féin and Fine Gael Councillors, along with two Independents. Looney has also criticised Fianna Fáil, who voted and spoke against the Budget without offering any alternative proposals.

“Today’s Budget seeks to protect frontline Council services such as Housing, Roads, Parks and Environmental Services, despite a substantial drop in income from central government and other sources. We have also managed to increase funding to the Council’s award-winning Library Services,” stated Looney.

“Members of the Labour/Sinn Féin/Independent Alliance on the Council have again foregone tens of thousands of euro in Conference Expenses, following through on a 2009 pledge not to claim any money for Conferences at home or abroad. This money has been diverted into a Window Replacement Fund, increased to approximately €1 million, and targeted at local authority tenants. Councillors also froze rates for businesses in the County, after three separate rates cuts of accumulating to 5.3% since 2009. Important supports for vulnerable people were also protected, such as housing grants for the elderly and those who are disabled."

“Fianna Fáil opposed the Council Budget without offering a single alternative. At the meeting, I called on them to present alternative ideas, but, as has happened before, they could not be bothered. They subsequently complained about burial ground charge increases; despite knowing about these increases for more than a year they offered no alternatives on the day or in advance. It is hard to take them seriously on the issue. Last year, members of the Labour/Sinn Féin/Independent Alliance managed to offset some of the increases by diverting money set aside for Councillor Conferences to the burial grounds. Fianna Fáil Cllrs used those same funds to travel to hotels around the country attending Conferences.”

Press Release: Looney and IT Tallaght Labour Welcome Bus Shelter After 3-Year Long Campaign

2012-10-31T17:42:00.002Z

Tallaght Central Labour Cllr Dermot Looney and the IT Tallaght Labour Youth Branch have welcomed the construction of a bus shelter outside the college following a campaign which has lasted almost three years. Looney launched a campaign with the college branch at the beginning of 2010 to highlight the concerns of the hundreds of students and staff of IT Tallaght who use the bus stop on the Old Blessington Road on a daily basis.

The campaign included a petition with 1,100 signatures from IT Tallaght students, motions to South Dublin County Council, social media platforms and other methods to convince Dublin Bus of the need to install the shelter at the stop. Following pressure from the campaign, Dublin Bus confirmed they would inspect the site in March 2011 and agreed in November 2011 to seek planning permission. This planning permission was agreed in the summer of 2012 and the construction of the shelter occurred during the last week. The shelter has already been well used by students and staff of the college, as well as others who live and work in the area, given the inclement weather.

“I am delighted to welcome the installation of this much-needed bus shelter,” noted Cllr Dermot Looney, “the delivery of which was achieved after almost three years of campaigning. I want to congratulate my colleagues in the IT Tallaght Labour Youth branch for their work in helping to win this campaign. I also want to thank Dublin Bus for recognising the demands of students and other bus users in installing this shelter, and South Dublin County Council for assisting the application process.”

“I also want to pay tribute to IT Tallaght Students’ Union, who supported the campaign, to the hundreds of staff and students who signed the petition, the dozens to signed up to our Facebook page, and to the other public representatives in the area who supported my motions.”

Adam Fulham, Chair of IT Tallaght Labour Youth, said; “Our campaign started in early 2010 when we began to collect signatures for a petition we sent to Dublin Bus. By the end of 2010, 1,100 people had signed the petition for the shelter. More than 300 people signed up to our Facebook group and we won support from Cllrs and TD’s through the work of Cllr Dermot Looney. This is a great example where people power has won out for the students of our college.”

Below: Picture of Cllr Dermot Looney and Adam Fulham at the Bus Shelter outside IT Tallaght, with some of the petitions signed by IT Tallaght students and staff.

Looney Calls on Local Football Fans to “Support the Saints” this Sunday

2012-10-30T16:33:00.002Z

Local Councillor Dermot Looney has called on local football fans to get behind St Patrick’s Athletic in the FAI Cup Final this Sunday, November 4^th. Looney, a lifelong Saints fan, is encouraging lapsed Pat’s fans, neutrals and those with only a passing interest to avail of the cheap admission to the Aviva and support St Pat’s, who will take on Derry City in the final.

“At only €10 for adults and €5 for kids, this is a wonderful opportunity for all football fans to attend the Aviva at a fraction of the cost of a standard international ticket. A bumper atmosphere is guaranteed and with St Pat’s looking to secure their first Cup win in 51 years, it could be a truly historic match.”

“There are plenty of ‘lapsed Saints’ in our local area – those who might have attended Pat’s games over the years – who can bring great support to the Aviva on Sunday. Likewise, it will be a great family day out for neutrals, and for fans of other clubs. Even Shamrock Rovers fans will be cheering for St Pat’s on the day – no doubt behind gritted teeth – given that a Saints win is their only path into European football!”

“A recent report issued by the UK’s tourism agency stated that almost 200,000 Irish people travelled to Britain last year to watch English Premier League matches, spending almost €100 million. If one-tenth of those people spent a fraction of that money supporting their local football club, it would transform League of Ireland clubs. This is the ideal opportunity to catch an Irish football match before the winter break.”

Tickets are available via the St Patrick’s Athletic offices at 125 Emmet Rd, Inchicore and on the day at the Aviva Stadium.

O’Sullivan and Looney Call for Upgrade to Walkinstown Post Office

2012-10-30T14:01:00.004Z

Two Dublin 12 Labour Councillors in neighbouring local authorities have joined together to call for an upgrade to a local Post Office service on the border of the City and County Council. South Dublin County Councillor Dermot Looney has joined with his Dublin City Council colleague Michael O’Sullivan to campaign for an upgrade to postal services in Walkinstown.

The Walkinstown Post Office is located in a small, old building on Bunting Road which the two Councillors have said is “not fit for purpose.” O’Sullivan and Looney have called on An Post to upgrade the services in the interests of safety, security and service for residents living nearby in the Walkinstown and Greenhills areas.

“The Post Office was located in this building decades ago with the assumption that this would be a temporary measure,” said Cllr Michael O’Sullivan. “But despite the huge changes in the postal service over all those years, little has changed for local residents.”

“The current premises is unsuitable for a modern post office service. There are serious safety and security concerns for staff and customers which came to light in recent robberies. Furthermore, the premises is too small to accommodate the large numbers who use the Post Office,” concluded O’Sullivan.

His South Dublin colleague Cllr Dermot Looney stated; “Since the closure of the Greenhills Post Office with the fire at the old McHugh’s site in 2003, thousands of residents in the Greenhills area have had to use the Bunting Rd office for their postal service. This has led to yet further pressure on the staff and the premises itself. It is particularly depressing to see large queues out the door at busy times, in all weathers – particularly when so many elderly and vulnerable people need to use the Post Office.”

“I have called on An Post to reinstate the postal service in Greenhills but, in the meantime, an upgrade to the Bunting Rd facility, or a move to an appropriate and nearby facility is required,” noted Looney. “If there is to be a move, it must be accessible by bus from Greenhills and other nearby estates. The rumoured move to the Superquinn on Walkinstown Road would be inaccessible for many elderly residents in Greenhills. I have communicated this to the CEO of An Post and Minister Pat Rabbitte and hope this is taken on board if a new site is being sourced.”

Both Cllrs have been told by An Post that they are aware of the problems being experienced at the Bunting Rd facility and that the company is actively seeking an upgrade. Both Cllrs have submitted motions to their local area committees at Council level and will be continuing the campaign in the time ahead.

Reply to the "Seanad Reform" Group

2012-09-26T18:23:00.004+01:00

Earlier today I received an email from a Communications firm acting on behalf of seanadreform.com, as below.

Dear Councillor

Attached is a consultation paper entitled ‘Radical Seanad Reform Through Legislative Change - Proposals for Measures to Transform Seanad Éireann Without The Need For Constitutional Amendment’ prepared by Senator Feargal Quinn, Michael McDowell, Joe O’Toole, Noel Whelan and Senator Katherine Zappone.

They look forward to receiving your views on info@seanadreform.com.

Kind regards, etc

The document is meant to be available online. My response is below.

Hi .....,

many thanks for your email. I read through much of the consultation paper earlier today. Much of it is interesting; some of it is downright offensive, e.g. the proposal to maintain votes for graduates, and the vestige of the quasi-fascist Quadragesimo Anno in support of vocational panels.

My views are straightforward. Seanad Éireann is an anachronistic, elitist institution which is beyond reform. If we, as a country, are genuine about actual democracy, and giving power to citizens and communities, we will move on from the Seanad sideshow and seek real reform of the Dáil, local authorities and other structures.

I, of course, accept that some individual Senators have been excellent advocates in the past; but the institution itself is the problem.

Is mise, le meas,

Dermot Looney

Cllr Dermot Looney

Labour Party | Pairtí an Lucht Oibre

Tallaght Central

Press Release - Looney Welcomes Imminent Publication of Cllr Expenses

2012-09-24T23:35:00.000+01:00

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Party Councillor on South Dublin County Council (SDCC), has welcomed confirmation that all Councillor expenses are to be published online in the coming days. Cllr Looney has campaigned for the publication of the information since his election to SDCC in 2009.

Following a question on notice from Cllr Looney at June’s Council meeting, and a motion in his name passed at September’s meeting, Council officials have confirmed the imminent publication of all Councillor expenses and remuneration on the SDCC website. Councillors have been written to in the last week with a draft of the published list, and full publication is expected within the coming days. The details will be posted along with details of Councillors’ attendance at County Council meetings since 2009.

“I am delighted that this important information will be made accessible to the public,” noted Cllr Looney. “Several other County Councils already publish such data under Section 142(4)(g) of the 2001 Local Government Act. Some national newspapers also publish the raw data on an intermittent basis. However, the Council’s plan to publish fully-annotated expenses and remuneration online will give a fairer and more complete account of these expenses.”

“These statistics will show that, in general, Councillors receive a modest income and a level of expenses far below what is highlighted in some of the media. Myself and my Labour colleagues on SDCC refuse, for example, to claim any expenses for Conferences at home or abroad. In the interests of accountability and transparency, I am releasing a full list of my own remuneration and expenses, including all non-Council related expenses, since 2009. This list shows that I am, consistently, one of the lowest-claiming Cllrs on SDCC.”

“Some politicians milked the system for too long – and got away with it. Now it is important that we never let this happen again. Opening up the Council’s books and publishing this information will go some way in ensuring transparency and accountability at local level.”

ENDS

Cllr Dermot Looney – Remuneration and Expenses 2009-2011

2009 (June-Dec): Representational Payment €9,731.10;
Annual Allowance €3,587.47; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €300; VEC Expenses €283.64; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €4171.11

2010: Representational Payment €16,797.26;
Annual Allowance €6,306.65; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €829.35; VEC Expenses €810.40; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €7,946.40

2011: Representational Payment €16,723.92;
Expenses €6,486.87; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €985.72; VEC Expenses €769.88; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €8,242,47

Notes:
The “Representational Payment” is, in essence, a Councillor’s ‘salary;’ it is fixed at one-quarter of a Senator’s salary and is dependent on attendance at meetings. As it is subject to PAYE, PRSI, USC and other deductions, I receive approximately €7,900 per annum nett.

“Annual Allowance” refers to travel, subsistence and other expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of a Cllr. “Phone and Broadband” refers to the payments made for mobile phone and broadband usage. “VEC expenses” are €40.52 for every meeting of the VEC or its Subcommittees that incurs more than 3 hours work. Expenses do not apply to Community School boards or meetings which take less than 3 hours.

Press Release - Looney Elected Youngest-Ever Tallaght Area Chair

2012-07-03T17:37:00.004+01:00

Labour Councillor Dermot Looney has been elected Chair of the Tallaght Area Committee at the Annual Meeting of South Dublin County Council held on June 29th. The 29 year-old is the youngest ever Chair for the Tallaght Area and is also the first Tallaght Area Chair from the Dublin 12 area, which became a part of the Tallaght Central ward prior to the last local elections.

The Tallaght Area Committee comprises 11 Cllrs from Tallaght South and Tallaght Central, who in turn represent over 100,000 residents in the area. It is the largest Area Committee on South Dublin County Council and one of the largest in the country. The Chair of the Committee is an unpaid position which includes the chairing of monthly area committee meetings and, on occasion, representing the Mayor of the County at events. Cllr Looney was unanimously elected at the Council meeting, having been nominated by outgoing Chair Cllr Mick Duff, and seconded by Cllr Marie Corr.

“I am honoured to have been elected as Chair of the Tallaght Area Committee,” said Cllr Looney, “and look forward to working with the new Mayor Cathal King, and the other Cllrs for the Tallaght area, in continuing to promote our communities at Council level and beyond.”

Press Release: Looney Slams Greyhound “Mischief-Making”, Calls on Govt to Implement Waiver Scheme

2012-02-29T17:10:00.000Z

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Party Councillor on South Dublin County Council (SDCC), has said that today’s call on the Government by Greyhound to pay them millions for a waiver scheme in SDCC is “daft and mischievous.” Looney has re-iterated his call for the Government to proceed immediately with a national bin waiver scheme, and to provide interim support for 18,000 households in South Dublin who are due to lose their waivers in a month’s time.

“This is a daft and mischievous call by a company who have behaved disgracefully since the bin service in our area was privatised. I and my Councillor colleagues fought tooth and nail against this privatisation but the service was sold by the management, without regard to the opposition of elected representatives, in a deal whose finer details we are continuing to look for.”

“The latest mess in the privatisation saga is the impending loss of bin waivers for some 18,000 households. There are almost 2,000 households on a waiver in my own immediate area of Dublin 12, almost all of whom are elderly residents of limited means who will be forced to pay for their collections if nothing is done by the end of March.”

“I have consistently called on Labour in Government to implement their Programme for Government pledge to introduce a national bin waiver system for all households. This appears to have been put on the back burner by Fine Gael’s Minister Hogan, but it is now time for Labour Ministers and TD’s to put on the pressure to ensure those on low incomes are given waivers.”

“As this will take time to implement, I am calling on the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD, and the new County Manager of South Dublin County Council to meet to thrash out how those on a waiver can be accommodated in the interim. However, not one red cent should go to Greyhound given their treatment of residents in South Dublin and Dublin City and their appalling customer service record. Instead, the Government should investigate options outside this company.”

Press Release: Looney Welcomes Reversal of Local DEIS Cuts

2012-02-22T00:13:00.001Z

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Party Councillor on South Dublin County Council, has welcomed today’s announcement by Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn that 235 posts in disadvantaged schools in the DEIS scheme will be retained. Looney, who works as a primary teacher in Tallaght, was involved in attempts to overturn the cuts since the announcement in Budget 2012, in particular with the Band 2 schools in the area.

“I am giving a cautious welcome to news that posts in DEIS Band 1 and 2 schools are being reinstated across our area. This was a scandalous mistake by the Minister, and one which was rightly opposed by school communities across Dublin South-West. Today’s u-turn is a tribute to the schools, parents and activists who worked to save these crucial posts in our disadvantaged schools. I also want to thank our local Labour TD’s, Eamonn Maloney and Minister Pat Rabbitte, who were involved from the get-go in trying to save these posts. Schools and parents across Tallaght will breathe a sigh of relief tonight as the news breaks.”

“However, many issues remain. St Mary’s NS in Tallaght Village, which received some support as a disadvantaged school but did not fall into the DEIS Scheme, is set to lose a number of teachers. Four local post-primary schools which are in DEIS are also set to lose out. This is in addition to a decrease in the capitation grant and a swathe of other cutbacks which schools are already forced to deal with.”

“With billions of further cuts promised, I would call on Labour Ministers and TD’s to protect education and develop an economv strategy which promotes growth and investment, and not the failed policies of austerity, to meet our international obligations and grow our economy. Otherwise, the axe will continue to fall on crucial services and our communities will continue to suffer.”

Press Release: Looney Welcomes Support for Earned Regularisation Scheme for Migrants at SDCC

2012-01-16T17:35:00.002Z

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Party Councillor on South Dublin County Council, has called for the government to act with haste in implementing an Earned Regularisation Scheme for undocumented migrants in Ireland. Cllr Looney was commenting after the unanimous passing of his motion at South Dublin County Council (SDCC) in support of such a scheme. The motion was similar to one passed on Dublin City Council, proposed by Cllr Rebecca Moynihan, in December.

“I am delighted that Councillors from all parties supported my motion in support of undocumented migrants on both sides of the Atlantic; both the undocumented Irish living in the USA, and those migrants who have come to Ireland,” stated Cllr Looney. “We are rightly concerned with our friends and family members who are living and working, undocumented, in the USA. But now the government must also turn its attention to the thousands of people living in a comparable situation in Ireland.”

“The Migrants Rights Centre Ireland, with whom I have worked on this campaign, estimate that some 30,000 undocumented migrants are living here. Many have lived and worked here for several years, paying taxes and contributing in many positive ways to our communities. They are often engaged in employment in catering and cleaning, and given their irregular status they are frequently subject to exploitation by ruthless employers.”

“An Earned Regularisation Scheme would provide a humanitarian response to the issue of undocumented migrants, regularising their status, generating more in tax revenue and protecting against exploitative employers who are undermining the working conditions of all workers. Now that two of the largest local authorities in the country have unanimously supported this scheme, I am calling on the Minister for Justice and Equality to act immediately to prepare and implement such a scheme.”

Edel McGinley, Irregular Migration Project Leader at the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland said, “we very much welcome this development and the leadership shown on this issue by South Dublin County Council. A motion such as this recognises the contribution that undocumented migrants make to Irish society and highlights the urgent need for a solution to be put in place”.

For more on this please see http://www.mrci.ie

TEXT OF MOTION

SDCC MEETING JANUARY 16th 2012 - MOTION NO. 5

MOTION: Councillor D. Looney

That this Council supports the Undocumented Irish campaign in the USA to introduce an earned regularisation scheme. This Council also notes with concern the high numbers of undocumented families and children living in Ireland without rights and under tremendous stress and fear. This Council supports the introduction of an earned regularisation scheme in Ireland, based on criteria set down by the Department of Justice and Equality, so that undocumented migrants living in Ireland can participate fully in the social, political and economic affairs of the country. This Council will forward a copy of this motion to the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Press Release: Looney: Threatened Education Cuts a Betrayal of Labour Values

2011-11-27T21:49:00.001Z

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Party Councillor on South Dublin County Council, has said that mooted cuts in the education budget are ‘anathema’ to Labour values and will hit disadvantaged children and communities hardest. Cllr Looney, who works as a primary school teacher in Tallaght, has called on Labour TD’s to stand firm against cuts targeted at special needs children and areas of disadvantage.

“Threatened cuts of up to 2,000 Special Needs Assistants (SNA’s) would amount to a scandalous betrayal of Labour values in Government,” said Looney. “The previous administration capped the total number of SNA’s at 10,575 in last year’s budget. Now, the threatened plans to cut almost 1 in 5 SNA’s would lay waste to great advances made in special needs education and bring us back to the bad old days of ignorance and neglect.”

“Approximately 6,000 SNA’s are currently employed in a mainstream primary education system catering for about half a million pupils, in addition to approximately 2,000 each in post-primary schools and special schools. The conservative spin being put out that SNA’s are some sort of luxury belies the modern, progressive education system we need for economic and social recovery. Withdrawing SNA’s will impact not only on the children to whom they are assigned; it will negatively affect the time and attention teachers can give to all pupils.”

“Putting up to 2,000 SNA’s on the dole is exactly the kind of ‘butchery’ that Labour rightly warned against in the general election campaign. Similarly, a return to class sizes of the past as threatened is anathema to the Labour values our party is supposedly in Government to protect. Ireland's average primary class size of 24 is already the 7th highest in 29 OECD countries. The proposed increase in the pupil-teacher ratio of 2 will, according to the INTO, result in the loss of 800 primary teachers.”

“The mooted pupil-teacher ratio increase at post-primary level to 20:1 will mean the loss of a similar number of teachers and will, according to the TUI, mean one less teacher or 33 less class periods per week in a small-medium size secondary school. Subjects which already attract smaller numbers – including key ones for economic recovery such as Honours Maths, languages or science subjects – may be culled, resulting in further-diminished prospects for our young people.”

“There are also major cutbacks threatened to Youthreach training programmes, which provide second-chance education and training to early school leavers, primarily in areas of socio-economic disadvantage. The economic and social costs of these headline cutbacks – along with the suggested cuts and fee increases at preschool, third and fourth levels – will hit young people in working-class areas the hardest.”

“As one of a handful of Labour public representatives to oppose entry into Government I still held out hope that Labour Ministers might protect the red-line policies for which the party received support. But instead of starting the difficult decisions at the top – by, for example, targeting tax exiles and the wealthy, and slashing funds to private fee-paying schools - it seems that the austerity agenda will begin at the bottom. Labour TD’s, many of whom are rooted in the educational needs of their communities, must ask what Labour in Government is for – and take a firm stance to protect the most vulnerable in the run-up to Budget 2012.”

Press Release: Looney Congratulates Rovers on Reaching Europa Group Stages

2011-08-25T22:18:00.000+01:00

Cllr Dermot Looney, Tallaght Central Labour representative, has congratulated all involved at Shamrock Rovers FC on their qualification for the group stages of this year’s UEFA Europa League group stages. Looney was commenting in the wake of Rovers’ historic victory over Serbia’s Partisan Belgrade on Thursday night which sets up at least six further games in Europe for the Tallaght-based side.

“As a St Patrick’s Athletic fan representing a Rovers-mad area I have often had divided loyalties. However, tonight the Irish football fraternity is united in congratulating Rovers on a fantastic victory in Belgrade and in being the first Irish club ever to qualify for the group stages of a major European competition.”

“As well as congratulating Michael O’Neill and his team, many of whom are local players, plaudits have to go to the members of Shamrock Rovers who rescued their club from near-extinction just a short few years ago, many of whom are now involved in the day-to-day running of the club.”

“This is a victory not just for Rovers, but for Irish football as a whole. That an Irish team has achieved qualification to the group stages when both Celtic and Rangers were knocked out tonight shows the improvements which have been made in the League of Ireland in the past decade. Whether or not we will see Rovers playing any of their games in Tallaght Stadium remains to be seen but as a local representative I am on hand to assist, as I have been before to Shamrock Rovers and their fans.”

Press Release: Looney Calls for Priority for Educate Together School in Citywest

2011-06-28T17:53:00.001+01:00

Cllr Dermot Looney, the Tallaght Central Labour representative, has welcomed news that two primary schools are to be constructed in the Citywest area between 2012 and 2015. Cllr Looney, who works as a primary teacher elsewhere in Tallaght, has now called on the Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn TD to speed up construction of an Educate Together school in the area by way of a motion to the next meeting of the County Council.

“I welcome that the Department has now officially recognised the need for these schools in Citywest. It is a growing community which is further boosted by the impending opening of the Luas extension. With no schools currently in Citywest, hundreds of local schoolchildren are required to travel significant distances, attending various schools across Tallaght and further afield. If we are serious about building a sustainable long-term community in Citywest, an integrated education system serving the area is a no-brainer.”

“I am a supporter of the campaign by Tallaght/Citywest Educate Together to provide a multidenominational school in Citywest. There is a clear desire for an Educate Together school from parents living in the area, something I know Minister Quinn is interested in through his establishment of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism.”

“With the Department confirming that the two schools are due to be constructed at some stage between 2012 and 2015, I have submitted a motion to the next meeting of the Council calling on Minister Quinn to expedite this process so that the much-needed Educate Together school is built for the 2012-2013 academic year. Citywest is split between the Tallaght Central LEA, which I represent, and Tallaght South, as well as bordering the Clondalkin LEA – so I hope all local Councillors will add their weight to my call.”

ENDS

Motion for July Meeting of South Dublin County Council in the name of Cllr Dermot Looney: “That this Council, in welcoming news that two primary schools are planned for construction in the Citywest area between 2012 and 2015, supports the efforts of the Tallaght/Citywest Educate Together campaign to have a primary school built in the Citywest area, and calls on the Minister for Education and Skills to expedite the construction of this school in time for the 2012-2013 academic year.”

Press Release: Looney Expresses Solidarity to MV Saoirse Passengers

2011-06-27T22:27:00.002+01:00

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Party representative on South Dublin County Council, has expressed his solidarity with the crew of the MV Saoirse, the Irish ship bound for Gaza as part of the “Freedom Flotilla.” Cllr Looney was commenting in advance of the MV Saoirse’s departure for Gaza from Greece, which is due later this week.

“The MV Saoirse is part of a co-ordinated humanitarian flotilla which wishes to bring aid to Gaza, where 80% of the population are dependent on international aid for mere survival. The Israeli-imposed blockade continues to wreak misery for its one and a half million residents. The Freedom Flotilla II, of which the MV Saoirse is a part, aims to deliver important aid and supplies to the people of Gaza in spite of the despicable aggression of the Israeli Defence Force last year in killing nine crew of the Mavi Marmara.”

“The MV Saoirse counts among its passengers a variety of figures from across the political spectrum as well as a tradesman, a trade union activist, an historian, an artist, a photographer and former Irish international rugby star Trevor Hogan. To claim, as some have bizarrely done, that it is some form of ‘ultra-left’ campaign is both disingenuous and dangerous.”

“As a Labour Councillor who has been active in supporting rights for the Palestinian people and a just peace in the region for many years, I want to offer my solidarity to those aboard the MV Saoirse and wish them a safe journey and return home.”

ENDS

Link - http://www.irishshiptogaza.org

Speech to Greenhills College Graduation

2011-05-24T22:20:00.006+01:00

Apologies for being so quiet on the blog over the last few weeks and months. It's not been high on the priorities but as soon as a new dermotlooney.com site is up and running, a blog feature will be an integral part.

I was honoured to have been asked to speak to the 6th year students of my former school, Greenhills College, at their graduation in "The Comp" tonight. I have served as Chairperson of the Greenhills College Board of Management for two years now and am constantly inspired by the efforts of the staff and the decency of the students. Tonight's group were no different - by all accounts a great bunch of lads, generated a fantastic feel-good atmosphere in the room. Congrats to all involved and good luck to the lads in their exams.

Find below a copy of my written speech as requested on Twitter - although the final, delivered version differed somewhat. I have put italics around a couple of lines which weren't delivered but were written anyway.

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Speech to Greenhills College Graduation, Tuesday May 24th 2011

A chairde,

Is mór an ónóir dom a bheith anseo mar iar-dhalta agus mar Cathaoirleach an Bhord Bhainistíochta Choláiste na Cnoc nGlas. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as ucht an cuireadh chuig an Searmanas seo. Bíonn sé i gcónaí deas tagann ar ais ar an halla seo, ina bhfuil a lán cuimhní dearfach agamsa, go háirithe ar oíche speisialta ar nós anocht.

It’s a huge honour to have been asked to speak to the graduating students of Greenhills College tonight. I’m proud to do so not just as Chairperson of the Board of Management here at the Comp, but as a past pupil too in the Class of ’01.

Since then I’ve had something of an interesting decade. I studied Social Policy, Politics and Sociology as part of a Social Science Degree in UCD. I covered the League of Ireland as a football journalist for a while before realising that I could never be impartial about my beloved St Patrick’s Athletic. I busked at night in Temple Bar for a while before realising that there’s only so many times you can belt out Wonderwall before wrecking the heads of the residents who live there. I dressed up as an elf for a children’s Christmas show but the kids were frightened by the fact that Santa was half the size of one of his helpers.

I tried my hands at a few jobs but only later on did I decide on a career – and so, six years out of Greenhills College, I studied for a postgrad in primary teaching and am now finishing my third year as a teacher. It’s a job I love but it seemed to take me a long time to realise it. For those of you unsure about your career path, don’t worry.

To paraphrase a song that was popular “back in my day” - don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you wanna do with your life; the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 18 what they wanted to do with their lives; some of the most interesting 30 and 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Somewhere along the line, I got involved in politics. Greenhills College and this community always inspired a message of social justice and equality. That led me to want to speak up for my community, and in particular for those whose voices are rarely heard, and to stand for election. I’m proud to represent our community on the County Council and to sit on the VEC – and through that, be involved again in this college, being able to give something back to a place and to people from whom I gained so much.

Greenhills College is 40 years old. It is a credit to the staff of this college that thousands of young men have been educated in an institution that is at the very heart of the community of Greenhills. If ever anyone challenges public servants about flexibility and transformation, I point them to the teaching staff of Greenhills College who have coped with roles between traditional Junior and Senior Cycle, LCA, LCVP, Special Needs Teaching, PLC and further education. I'm honoured to serve on a Board of Management of such a school and would like you all to give a bualadh bos in recognition of the staff, led by Principal JJ Walsh.

Ten years ago, I sat out there, watching some other past-pupil of the time – watching, but not really listening. No doubt whoever it was was more noteworthy than me, but regardless, at the time, I, like most of you now, just wanted to get the grad over with and the session begun.

We couldn’t wait to go out on the town, couldn’t wait to make our mark on the world – couldn’t wait to grow up. But now, ten years on, and us grown mostly up - and sometimes out – marriages left, right and centre, kids at many of our feet, jobs and no jobs to deal with – it’s the Class of 2011 that most of the Class of 01 feel most jealous of.

Not that it’s easy for you. You’ve come through what I hope have been five enjoyable years at Greenhills College. But I know for many of you not all of your time has been easy. Be it problems at home, issues with teachers, difficulties with classmates – I know it hasn’t been plain sailing.

Graduation night isn’t a night for regrets. It’s the night where you celebrate overcoming those difficulties – the nights when you kept going on a project when it would have been easier to give up, the mornings when putting your head under the duvet would have been an easier option than facing what was ahead in school.

But Grad night can be a night when you can put some of your regrets to bed. Where you can take a moment to shake hands with that chap who used to get on your nerves, but who you now realise is alright, actually. Where you can take a moment to say a genuine word of thanks to a teacher who you might not have always seen eye to eye with, but who you now know is alright, actually. Grad night is the night for you to thank your mates for being mates, your school community for bringing you through, and your family for being there.

Many of you will be feeling the pressure ahead of the Leaving Cert. Realise that the next few weeks will be tough, but the worst is over. Do all you can to ensure you’ve no regrets at the end of your exams. In the words of the motto that once upon a time adorned our homework journals here at the Comp, be the best that you can be, do the best that you can do.

What you have learned here is so much more than the subjects you are taking in exam form next month. Greenhills College aims for something different than what Pádraig Pearse knew as an academic 'murder machine.' The young men who graduate from the Comp come from a system much more along the lines of Martin Luther King’s famous line about the goal of true education – intelligence plus character.

You graduate into an unsure future. Many of you will find work or attend third-level and PLC courses – but it’s despicable that those who have gone before you have now burdened your generation with scandalous levels of unemployment and forced emigration. I really wish you could all stay and help rebuild this society in the coming decade, so that one or more of you can stand in front of the Class of ’21 and tell them how you did it. Some of you may leave us for warmer shores but we know how much easier staying in touch is, and we know that you will be back.

Your schooling ends here, but your education is only beginning. WB Yeats, a poet who many of you will have studied, put it right when he said;

"Education is not the filling of a pail; but the lighting of a fire."

May all of your flames burn on.

Looney criticises “unfair and undemocratic” privatisation of bin collection in South Dublin

2011-03-21T19:27:00.001Z

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Party representative on South Dublin County Council, has said that the Council’s decision to outsource bin collection to a private company is a “grossly unfair and undemocratic act” taken without the consent of elected representatives. Looney was commenting in the wake of SDCC management agreeing over the weekend to privatise the brown and bin collection service to Greyhound R&R Ltd, in spite of a recent Council motion opposing any attempts to privatise the service. Looney seconded an emergency motion proposed by Cllr Cathal King at Monday’s Tallaght Area Committee meeting opposing the privatisation.

“This decision has clearly been in the pipeline for some time,” noted Cllr Looney, “but the manner in which it was announced was bizarre indeed. I first found out about it on a visit to the Council’s website early Saturday morning. It turns out that the elected Councillors had only been informed about this through a late Friday afternoon email in which we were told the deal was done – but we were told to remain quiet about it. Meanwhile, the Council have posted the information to its website, and Greyhound sent out a self-congratulatory press release which the Council have been happy to publicise!”

“The elected representatives of this Council have had no hand, act nor part in this ‘executive decision.’ I have done everything in my very limited power as a Councillor to stand up for the public bin service, and in particular the thousands of less well-off and elderly residents who rely on the waiver, via motions, questions and political pressure at Council level. However, the decision of successive governments to take any powers away from elected representatives regarding waste means we could not halt this move.”

“We are now told that the waiver will only last another 12 months, and that no new applications are being accepted. This is a grossly unfair decision which will cause huge worry for the thousands of people currently availing of the waiver – not to mention those who will be forced to rely on social welfare in the coming weeks and months.”

“Furthermore, it is clear that this decision has already had a huge negative impact on residents. Those on the Friday collection route, including hundreds of people in my own neighbourhood of Greenhills, did not have their bins collected last week and have also missed out on non-collections on Saturday and Monday.”

“Greyhound are promising lower prices – and they may indeed be true to their word in the short term – but this privatisation may very well lead to market oligopoly in time, with a small number of large private companies operating an effective cartel and being able to push up prices. An accompanying decline in service is very possible in such a market environment. I will be calling on the Council management to at the very least retain the existing waiver system in the long term at our next meeting.”

Press Release - Grassroots should reject ‘unbalanced, short-sighted” coalition deal, urges Labour Cllr

2011-03-03T00:18:00.001Z

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Party representative on South Dublin County Council, has said that he will oppose the Labour Party’s entry into government with Fine Gael at Labour’s Special Delegate Conference this Sunday. Looney said that, far from being ‘balanced,’ as has been claimed, Fine Gael would outnumber Labour in any such arrangement by 2 to 1, with a resultant policy bias towards Fine Gael’s plans for cuts, conservatism and privatisation.

“Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the party as a whole, Labour has emerged from this general election out on its own in second place;” noted Looney, “an historic achievement for a party which has always played third fiddle in Irish politics. Fine Gael, meanwhile, has been given the lead position but does not have a mandate to govern on its own.”

“Fine Gael have a number of options at this point, including seeking the support of independents or coalescing with their centre-right colleagues in Fianna Fáil with whom there are few major differences. Labour members have just one choice – whether to lead the opposition to a government of cuts and austerity, or to join with it as a minor partner.”

“Having spoken to many Labour members and voters from all sorts of backgrounds during this campaign and in its aftermath, I believe there is substantial opposition to a Fine Gael-dominated government from the grassroots of the Labour Party and from ordinary communities across Ireland. Such a government would be unbalanced and short-sighted.”

“It is clear that a deal is not in the interests of the Labour Party, its voters or the values we have carried since the party was founded by James Connolly 99 years ago. But, more importantly, this coalition would not be in the national interest.”

“The interests of the Irish people are not served by the Labour Party fighting for scraps from a Fine Gael menu of cuts and social conservatism. The national interest will be best served by the strongest ever Labour Parliamentary Party acting as a powerful and constructive opposition in the upcoming Dáil, and seeking to lead the next government not only in terms of numbers, but of policy.”

“Labour has the best potential Ministers in Dáil Éireann but I want to see them in Government implementing Labour policies, not Fine Gael ones.”

“Coalition between an emboldened Fine Gael and a numerically far inferior Labour Party will be bad for Ireland and bad for Labour. I will be asking Labour members to vote against the deal on Sunday and, regardless of the outcome, will seek to play a constructive but principled role in the party in the time ahead.”

Press Release - Looney slams welfare claim backlogs of up to 4 months

2011-01-18T21:55:00.000Z

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Party representative on South Dublin County Council, has said that information supplied to the Labour Party indicates a delay for as long as four months for certain welfares. Applications for Disability Allowance are taking an average of 18 weeks, according to the latest information from the Department of Social Protection. The Department outlined other average waiting times such as:

Applications for Disability Allowance are taking an average of 18 weeks, according to the latest information from the Department of Social Protection. The Department outlined other average waiting times such as:

* Invalidity Pension - 16 weeks

* One Parent Family Payment - 15 weeks

* Widows Pension (Non-Contributory) - 12 weeks

* Carer's Allowance - 11 weeks

* Carer's Benefit - 11 weeks

* Family Income Supplement - 10 weeks

* State Pension (Non-Contributory) - 10 weeks

Cllr Looney noted that figures obtained by Labour TD Róisín Shortall show that waiting times for these categories are clearly getting worse. “The average waiting time for Invalidity Pension was 12 weeks in August - now it's 16. Disability Allowance was 13 weeks in August - now it's 18. Carer's Allowance was eight weeks in August - now it's 11.”

“It is obvious that waiting times are worst where the decision involves the assessment of medical evidence. There is a real question if the Department has enough medical officers to deal with the amount of such claims.”

“In many cases, the people applying for assistance are living on the breadline. The long waiting period puts tremendous strain on such people and their families. Residents in Tallaght, Greenhills and other local areas are now forced to rely on the generosity of the already hard-pressed St Vincent de Paul and other charities, or the assistance of the local community welfare officer to get by. We know that in many cases they are forced to borrow from family, friends and, in the worst cases, moneylenders.”

"These waiting times are simply unacceptable, and the Government needs to act immediately to speed up the process by employing more staff in assessing and processing, if necessary transferring them from areas of lower priority. In the medium term, it is clear that better technology can be employed in servicing the needs of welfare recipients,” said Looney.

Senators - Please, No More Gifts!

2010-12-07T20:31:00.005Z

I have been blown away by the wasteful spending of certain Senators in parties other than my own who court votes from Councillors by sending frequent letters and, at Christmastime, cards and gifts.

Last year, my 'haul' included a number of diaries, a book on local elections, a box of chocolates and a tie. What a total waste of taxpayer's money and abuse of parliamentary resources!

I've already received one diary this year from a FG Senator - see left. I don't know who paid for it - but it came in a Seanad envelope.

In anticipation of receiving more, I wrote to all 60 Senators this evening as below. It will be interesting if I receive any replies from the "usual suspects."

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A Sheanadóirí,

As a County Councillor elected in June 2009, I was very surprised last year to receive all sorts of "gifts" in the posts from Senators from parties other than my own, presumably in the hope of securing my support in a future Seanad election.

I received another such "gift" today. In anticipation of receiving any more, I want to state that I do not wish to receive any further "gifts" from any Senator. In my view, they are a waste of taxpayer's money as well as a needless expense. The only impact that the receipt of such a "gift" would have on my voting intention is negative.

I would encourage any Senator intending to spend their own money on sending Christmas cards or "gifts" to every Councillor in the land to instead give the money to one of the many worthy causes which need it most, such as their local St Vincent de Paul or other local or international charity.

Is mise, le meas,

Cllr Dermot Looney
The Labour Party / Pairtí an Lucht Oibre
South Dublin County Council / Comhairle Contae Áth Cliath Theas
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Article re Pat's-Rovers Crowd Trouble

2010-10-28T16:53:00.005+01:00

Article re Pat's-Rovers match

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Our Local Clubs Belong to the Fans, Not the Fools
- Cllr Dermot Looney

As a Councillor representing the Shamrock Rovers heartland of Tallaght – not to mention a teacher in a Rovers-mad sixth class in St Dominic’s NS, just down the Bypass from Tallaght Stadium - it’s hardly in my interest to be a St Pat’s fan. But that’s exactly what I am, long-suffering and all though my support has been.

So although my political sensibilities may have been split during the FAI Cup semi-final replay last week, my footballing loyalty held true to the bitter end. Constituents and schoolkids alike have since kept me well-reminded of Rovers’ 1-0 victory in the replay!

But outside of the fanbase of both clubs, all attention focussed on the crowd trouble after the final whistle. Within an hour of the final whistle, radio phone shows were buzzing with conflicting reports of what was likened to a full-scale riot.

Like everyone else with a passion for League of Ireland football, I’ve seen it all before – both the crowd trouble and the damaging reports. What rankles with me is that the extraordinary work done behind the scenes at both clubs – simply to keep them going – is jeopardised by a small group of teenage wannabes, a smaller group of grown men who should know better, and sections of the media who only realise that we have a football league in Ireland when there’s a hint of trouble.

The pitch invasion by no more than 200 of 2000 Rovers fans in the ground may have represented a natural overspill of emotion after winning the match, but the danger in which it placed players and others was unacceptable. Similarly out-of-order was the movement of this throng to confront the St Pat’s supporters in the West Stand, the half dozen or so St Pat’s fans who jumped onto the pitch to confront the Rovers’ fans, and the ensuing minor skirmishes and plastic bottles being thrown back and forth.

Those who seek to portray this as ‘part-and-parcel’ of the ‘rough-and-tumble’ of the game – as some did in the media last week - are doing a great disservice to League of Ireland football. There was real fear in Richmond Park on the night. The throwing of flares or bottles or scuffles with stewards are not welcome in Richmond Park, Tallaght Stadium or anywhere else in football.

But this wasn’t the first pitch invasion in football - and it won’t be the last. And it is wrong for any newspaper or radio station to sensationalise the extent of last Tuesday’s incidents. Some outlets – the Echo included – reported sensibly on the crowd trouble. Others hyped it up – a great boon for the few wannabe-hoolies who revel in such coverage.

For my part, I was struck by the discipline of Pat’s and Rovers fans on Tuesday who remained off the pitch and stayed uninvolved despite provocation by some of those on it. Football fans aren’t angels – stand beside me on the Camac Terrace on any given Friday night and you’ll testify to that – and nor should they be. The League of Ireland, for all its faults, has not been pasteurised and retains the working-class character and edge that has been lost in the Murdoch era of overpriced top-flight football across the water. But our ordinary, decent fans rarely get a mention and yet are tarred with the hooligan brush whenever incidents such as these are reported. We need to learn the lessons from nights like last Tuesday for these ordinary fans and their clubs.

Firstly, the punishment for those involved in any form of violence must now be strict and immediate. Fans have been banned by clubs in the past, but to save any confusion and to ensure the integrity of our game, perhaps it is time for an “FAI ban,” meaning that such ‘fans’ would be banned from the Aviva Stadium and FAI-sanctioned away trips as well as all domestic games. It is also clear that security must now be tightened both at and around games of this nature.

Secondly, fans should redouble our efforts to promote our clubs rather than have incidents like this sensationalised in the media. Community-based papers such as The Echo give excellent coverage to both Pat’s and Rovers, but other outlets treat so-called ‘domestic football’ with disdain. Real fans should challenge the sensationalism at all opportunities. I see on a daily basis the amazing work done by Shamrock Rovers in promoting a positive identity for kids in Tallaght, as well as their excellent youth set-up which keeps kids on the pitch and off the street corners. St Pat’s do likewise. Fans should seek to promote these plus-points in the traditional media and online through social network sites.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, longstanding supporters at both clubs have a role in encouraging younger fans to steer clear of trouble by both words and action. For me, the only thing more depressing than the scoreline last week was seeing a grown man throwing a bottle and another storming onto a pitch swinging an umbrella. After all, Pat’s and Rovers belong to the fans, not the fools.

Irish Daily Mail article

2010-10-28T00:47:00.003+01:00

Aiden Corkery, a journalist from the Irish Daily Mail picked up a tweet I posted regarding a hate site targeting Senator David Norris two days ago and published an article in today's paper. It's not available online so I've typed out the piece below.

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Norris targeted by hate-filled anti-gay site

A WEBSITE containing homophobic remarks has been created to attack the presidential bid of gay rights campaigner David Norris.

Despite appearing under the apparently pro-Norris name of davidnorris4president.com, the website repeatedly refers to Mr Norris' homosexuality.

It claims that homosexuality is a 'lifestyle which is often associated with sexual promiscuity' and that there is 'no genetic evidence' to support being gay.

'David has embraced a lifestyle which is blatantly out of line with traditional biblical morality,' it states. The slickly-designed site encourages fans to visit campaignforconscience.org, which contains even stronger attacks on the gay community.

And it describes homosexuality as a 'self-destructive lifestyle' as well as criticising the recent Civil Partnership legislation that allows homosexual couples to have their relationships legally recognised for the first time.

Both websites appear to have been created by conservative Christians Seán and Martina Burke who have a family of ten children in Castlebar, Co Mayo. They held a series of protests outside the Dáil in the run-up to the Civil Partnership legislation.

Last night, family spokesman Enoch Burke declined to comment when contacted by the Irish Daily Mail. The existence of the website was highlighted by Labour councillor Dermot Looney.

Mr Looney - who is supporting Labour's Michael D Higgins for the presidency - said he was sickened by the site. 'It reminds me a lot of the attack-style campaigning by the Republican party in the US,' he said.

Press Release - Ghost estates still a problem in South Dublin, notes Looney

2010-10-25T22:04:00.001+01:00

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Party representative on South Dublin County Council, has said that the publication of the National Housing Development Survey this week highlights over 5,000 ghost houses and apartments in the county. The report shows that, like most counties, South Dublin has a significant problem with ghost estates that are in limbo and only partially completed.

“The report on ghost estates,” noted Looney, “is an indictment of the developer-led planning that blighted the Celtic Tiger era. The greed of developers and their friends in Fianna Fáil was allowed to flourish at the expense of good planning, affordable housing and sustainable communities.”

“Ghost estates have been characterised as a particular problem in small rural towns and in the so-called ‘commuter belt.’ However, there are issues particular to our situation in South Dublin. Here, unlike in other counties, it is clear that many of these uncompleted developments involve apartments, which make up approximately half of the units in the study.”

“This report found that there were 49 ghost estates in South Dublin encompassing some 9,425 units. Within these estates there are 2,953 units where construction has not even started yet. An additional 760 are still under construction while there are 1286 units completed but vacant.”

“Of the 119 areas set aside for open space in these estates, 45 were uncompleted. These add up to severe difficulties for residents of nearly 4,500 homes which are occupied in the partially-completed estates.”

“As well as the myriad issues regarding issues of good standards of living, estate completion and the creation of sustainable communities, the South Dublin area has a particular problem with management companies in apartment and other multi-unit developments. In particular, developers retain a controlling interest in many management companies but may not be contributing their management fee. This can create great difficulty for residents in getting vital work done in their estates. The issue of management companies is another failure of ‘light touch’ regulation in Ireland and regrettably the new legislation on management companies is not retrospective.”

Summary of the report including SDCC statistics is available at http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,24375,en.doc