Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer has said the Local Area Plan for the Douglas area must be mindful of the needs of all its residents.

Speaking today Senator Buttimer said “Douglas has become a very attractive place to live, to work, to shop and to socalise in. The Village, the housing estates and surrounding areas have evolved into a community. This hasn’t happened by accident. It has taken a plan, a vision, supported by local authorities, developers, entrepreneurs and people

“Douglas is a bright village now; it has a vibrancy that needs to be retained. That vibrancy and life can be lost through over development as traffic parking issues threaten There is a tremendous community spirit in the parishes, communities that all make up Douglas. Every day as I walk about or drive through the village I’m struck by the developments and concerned at the gridlock. A village of shopping centre’s just wont work as we know from parts of Dublin. It is essential that the new plan for Douglas must avoid the mistakes of overdevelopment in many of the suburbs of Dublin. “

Senator Buttimer continued” This week there is much talk about the future plans for the site of the existing Douglas Cinema. This is an amenity that in my view needs to be retained. Leisure facilities are necessary in a village, and a suburb like Douglas. The cinema in its present location is an ideal location for the development of youth facilities. I would urge that consideration be made to developing this site as a specialist dedicated youth area which would include the location of a youth café, a cinema, and a youth club. These new amenities would augment the immense work of Community, voluntary and sporting organisations in the area.”

“Young people need to be looked after. We must encourage local authorities to develop facilities for young people. Cork County Council in formulating it’s a Local Area Plan for the Douglas area must be mindful of the needs of all its residents.  “

“Every effort must be made to increase employment opportunities in the Douglas area. Ireland of the past was too concentrated on short term employment, now we need sustainable and long term job opportunities in the locality for the people of Douglas.  “

Posted under Douglas, Infastructure, Social, Uncategorized

Speaking on the Social Welfare Bill, Fine Gael Seanad Spokesperson on Equality, Senator Jerry Buttimer, said Budget 2011 discriminates against the weakest members of society who have been targeted by the Government in a bid to making savings.

“Since this Budget the cost of petrol, diesel and the carbon tax have risen. Utility bills have gone up and the cost of food has remained the same. This, on top of a 4% cut in social welfare payments and cuts to payments for carers, the disabled, widows and the blind, making it increasingly impossible for the most marginalised in society to keep their heads above water.

“There has been a severe and a savage attack on the carer, the blind person, the widow and on those who are disabled. In the past two years carers have taken a 10% cut as a result of the abolition of the Christmas bonus and this and last year’s budget cuts, despite the fact that 42,000 carers give almost 3.7 million hours of their time per week to help those in most need, saving the state millions.

“The Government’s focus has been on fixing our botched banking system at the expense of the ordinary citizens. We are now faced with a situation whereby one in three of those under 25 is unemployed, half of those unemployed are long-term unemployed; that is five times more than in 2007. Some 88% of job losses have been among those under 35 with 55% having been lost among those under 25. Above all else, that is this failed Government’s legacy.

“The most vulnerable have been denied protection from the State. Those on disability are down €847.60 a year since 2008 which is a direct attack on the living standards of the people who need the most, filling them with dread and fear. Fine Gael had a better way, a fairer way which would have protected the most vulnerable and safeguarded the interests of carers, the disabled, widows and the blind.”

Posted under Economic, Social

Developers responsible should never again be given planning permission

Fine Gael Seanad Community Spokesperson, Senator Jerry Buttimer, welcomed the National Housing Development Survey Report in the Seanad this week saying it marks the first step on the long road of dealing with ghost estates and associated planning decisions which have blighted the Irish landscape.

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Posted under Cork, Economic, Environment, Infastructure, Issues, National Work, Social