Trevor Sargent visited constituents over the weekend and reported as follows:
‘Glad to get a chance to call door to door in Swords in the last couple of days. Met people and discussed many issues in Bunbury, Bride’s Glen, Ard Cian, Cianlea, The Gallops and in Valley View.
I’m following up the taking in charge of Lios Cian although in fairness to the residents and all concerned, there is a pride in the estate which is evident from the way it is maintained at present.
I recall The Gallops last winter had the best snow man sculpture for miles. This is a small estate and seems to have a good community spirit.
Each estate however had several residents reeling from the effects of recent job losses. Whether high profile cases such as the exit of FLS, the renowned aircraft maintenance company, or smaller companies cutting back or public servants fearing the budget, all were difficult as there are no instant answers. The choice is stark, reduce expenditure so we are still as a country allowed to borrow short term to pay for wages and services OR fail to cut costs and thereby have our loan facility withdrawn. This would mean state cheques bouncing or even the issuing of IOU’s as California was forced to choose. If the International Monetary Fund has to come in, they cetainly will not be calling door to door.
There are some ways I can help however. An 8 month wait for the Social Insurance Fund and the waiting list in FAS require resources to be re-allocated. Losing a job is tough enough without being left on such a lenghty waiting list. These are now priorities for me to address in the week to come with Government colleagues.
Donabate on Saturday was very interesting. In the Town Centre, I caught up with the Senior Citizens and they relieved me of a few euro to support their Christmas Party raffle. Then had a chat with the volunteers from the Community Council and the Tidy Town Committee who were on duty at the Fingal County Council Biodiversity Plan exhibition for the Donabate / Portrane peninsula. Given the interest locally in setting up a community garden, I extended an invitation to come along to the Grow it Yourself public meeting on Thursday 19th November at 8pm in the Bracken Court Hotel Balbriggan, where Mick Kelly, the founder from Co. Waterford will be speaking and no doubt inspiring us to grow for Ireland. Less ‘Dig for Victory’ and more ‘Dig for a Healthy Recovery’!
Meanwhile, I bumped in to a daughter of a school friend of my Dad’s elder sister. Must pass on the phone number. After a few decades I’d say they have quite a bit of catching up to do.’
