Palisade fencing compound in Bray Harbour to facilitate work on Bray Boxing Club

Sinn Fein Councillor John Brady has stated that the new compound that
has been constructed in Bray Harbour is a temporary structure which is
necessary for the redevelopment of Bray Boxing Club.

Speaking after being contacted by members of the public Councillor
Brady said "Over the last few days i have been contacted by several
members of the public about the compound that has been erected in Bray
harbour. The palisade fencing compound is a temporary structure that
is crucial for the long awaited redevelopment of the Bray Boxing Club
that's located in the area. Work on the new facility has started and
the storage compound was deemed necessary to facilitate the works on
the Boxing club."

Brady continued "I understand that members of the public had initial
concerns when they seen the palisade fence and the fact that it takes
up some of the limited car parking spaces. People also expressed
concern that it blocks signs erected relating to the swans in the
harbour. However when it was explained the temporary need for the
compound people are very understanding. The long term benefits of
having a state of the art boxing club in the area greatly out way any
short term losses."

Brady concluded "I think it would be a good idea for the council to
erect a sign on the compound stating its temporary purpose along with
an artists impression of the new boxing club building. I believe it
will allay any concerns people may have and will completely win the
support of all the public." Ends

Sinn Fein select Bray candidates for Local Elections

Sinn Féin members from the Bray area held their selection convention
on Friday last to choose candidates for the Local Elections which are
due to be held in May next year. Sinn Féin members selected Cllr John
Brady and Oliver O'Brien to contest the elections after Cllr Rossa
Murray decided not to stand for re-election to the new reconfigured
local authorities.

Bray Sinn Féin councillor Rossa Murray stated "On Friday last a large
number of party members from the Bray area attended the selection
convention to choose candidates to contest the local elections in the
Bray area. I had previously informed the party of my intentions not to
put my name forward for reelection, come the elections i will have
spent five years representing the people of Bray at council level. I
believe getting elected to represent the people is the highest honor
that anyone can be given and i am both honored and privileged to have
done so. However it is very time consuming and it has a tendency to
take over your life,its also very difficult with my job as a bus
driver because of the shifts i work. I will have served the people for
five years and i believe the time is right for me to take time out to
spent with my family."

Cllr Murray continued "On Friday at the convention i had the honor of
proposing my party colleague Oliver O'Brien as a candidate to contest
the elections, this was unanimously supported by all the membership.
Oliver is a very popular teacher in St. Fergals senior school were he
has taught for over 30 years. He is also the chairperson of the Fergal
Ógs GAA club in Bray. I believe he will make a excellent candidate and
will make a fantastic Councillor when elected. He has served the
community in the Ballywaltrim area well over many years and he will
bring a new dynamic and energy to the council."

Cllr Murray went onto say "My friend and colleague John Brady was also
selected to contest the elections again after receiving the continued
support of the membership of the party to continue the work he has
been doing over the last 10 years."

The newly selected Bray Sinn Féin candidate Oliver O'Brien said "I am
delighted to have been selected  to contest the upcoming local
elections for Sinn Féin. I am truly humbled to have been proposed by
Rossa and i hope i can be at least half as good of a Councillor as he
is. I believe the time is now right for me to take on this new
challenge. I have been a school teacher in St. Fergals now for over 30
years, i think the issue that has driven me to take the decision to
put my name forward for election are the cuts in education. I am on
the front-line and i know only too well how the cuts to education will
impact on the children of today. I have seen Bray develop over many
years, whilst there have been many positives, unfortunately there have
been negatives too. I have seen communities break down and people
getting left behind. I have been involved in community work all my
life and i am currently chairperson of the Fergal Ógs GAA club, i
believe i can use my skills to help put communities and people first
and help build a better Bray for everyone."

Oliver O'Brien concluded "I look forward to the challenge that lies
ahead, Sinn Féin in Bray and right across Wicklow continues to go from
strength to strength. I am looking forward to working alongside my
colleague John Brady, i believe we make a very strong team that will
put people and communities first."Ends

Commencement of water charges in October 2014 is a cynical move that will deepen recession

Wicklow Sinn Féin councillor has described the government’s decision to hold off issuing water tax bills until after next year’s local elections as a cynical move that will drive us deeper into recession.

Cllr Brady said “Minister Hogan has admitted that the water charges will commence in October 2014 and that Families will receive the bills in early 2015. This is a cynical move, the government is holding off until after next year’s local elections before anyone receives a bill for water. Fine Gael and the Labour Party know that to issue the bills before May would certainly mean a loss of council seats. The current proposal to charge households for water was dreamt up by Fianna Fáil but brought to life by Fine Gael and Labour.”

“Water charges are wrong. To charge people for the water they drink is unacceptable. The reality is struggling families will be hit with yet another bill. In Denmark, with a population similar to our own, water metering is in place and in 2007 the average cost was €715 per household.

The Sinn Féin councillor continued “The government spins a myth that we do not pay for our water.  We pay for our water service in our taxes. Water charges will mean the public pay three times for their water. Firstly in their general taxes, secondly through this new charge and, finally, they will pay through the National Pension Reserve Fund, which is being used to fund the installation of water meters. Local Authority Professional Officers have given estimates of €1.2 billion to cover the cost of the installation. It is ordinary householders who will be footing the bill.”

Brady went onto say “Revised data from the Central Statistics Office shows the economy contracted in the second-half of last year and shrank another 0.6pc in the first three months of 2013. This means that we have again officially entered recession for the first time since 2009. Many experts believe this is down to the introduction of the property tax, even the Fine Gael transport minister Leo Varadkar has said that the property tax has played a part in Ireland’s return to recession.”

Brady concluded “The bottom line is austerity isn’t working and it is simply pushing us deeper into recession. Sucking millions more from the pockets of people who don’t have it to pay for a tax on water that they have already paid for is wrong and must be halted. Even the former head of the IMF mission to Ireland Ashoka Mody, has admitted that the austerity-only policy chosen for the handling of Ireland’s EU-IMF bailout was a mistake. What we need is to get people back to work and to stimulate the economy, as opposed to forcing those who haven’t got anything left to give pay for the mistakes of the previous government. Water taxes are wrong and Sinn Féin will continue to oppose their introduction.” Ends

Bray Town Council Agree to meet Families in Springfield Cemetery Fiasco

Over 75 people attended Bray Town councils July meeting to oppose the
councils threat to remove items from their loved ones graves in
Springfield cemetery in Ballywaltrim. A petition containing over 2000
signatures were handed over to the chairperson of council opposing the
councils attempt to enforce an old council policy of having
Springfield as a lawn cemetery. Bray Town Council have erected signs
in the cemetery stating that from 1st September the council will start
removing flowers, plaques and other mementos from graves in
Springfield to turn it into a lawn cemetery. The council has agreed to
meet a representative group from the families and have committed not
to touch any graves before that meeting is held.

Sinn Féin councillor John Brady who opposes the councils attempt to
retrospectively enforce their lawn cemetery policy stated “Over 75
people showed up to the July meeting of Bray Town Council to oppose
the council’s decision to try enforce their lawn cemetery policy in
Springfield, this is after allowing families maintain the graves
themselves for over 12 years. This decision of the council has been
the cause of great hurt to family members who have loved ones buried
in Springfield. A petition opposing the council’s policy which
contained over 2000 signatures was handed to the chairperson of the
council before the meeting commenced.”

Cllr Brady went onto say “Unfortunately despite having asked, the
issue of Spingfield was not on the agenda for the council meeting, so
at the beginning of the meeting I requested a suspension of standing
orders to allow the sensitive issue be discussed. This was supported
by my party colleague Rossa Murray.”

Brady continued “I stated that it was insensitive and wrong for the
council to try penalise families now for the councils complete failure
to enforce their own policy and that the council must now come to some
compromise due to the fact that families have for over 12 years been
allowed maintain and keep small mementos on their loved ones graves
and that its totally wrong to penalise families for the councils
ineptitude.”

Cllr Brady concluded “After some lengthy debate on the issue it was
finally decided that the council officials and councillors would meet
with a representative group of family members to discuss the situation
in Springfield and the council committed not to touch any graves until
that meeting takes place. I am delighted that the council officials
and other councillors have now agreed to sit down around the table and
try resolve this very sensitive issue. This breathing space provides
the council an opportunity to look at a number of options and possible
compromises to get themselves out of this mess of their own creation
and to allow family members tend to their loved ones graves in the
loving way there have been doing now for many years.”  Ends

Dublin Bus shelve plans to curtail the 145 route to Kilmac

Sinn Fein councillor John Brady has welcomed the decision by Dublin
Bus to shelve their plans to scrap the 145 bus route to Kilmacanogue.
The Sinn Féin councillor was informed this week by the operations
manager of Dublin Bus that plans they had to terminate the 145 at
Springfield cemetery as opposed to Kilmac will now not proceed.

Speaking after receiving the positive news Councillor John Brady said
"I am delighted that common sense has prevailed and that Dublin Bus
has scrapped their plan of cutting the 145 bus route to Kilmacanogue.
When I first discovered the plans of Dublin Bus to cut the route back
in February it caused huge levels of concern in the village which
resulted in a big community campaign of opposition. The community
fought long and hard to get a bus service to Kilmac and they certainly
weren't prepared to give it up without a fight."

Brady continued "The 145 bus provides a critical link for the people
in the village and the evidence of that showed when i called a public
meeting on the issue in Kilmac in March, when over 150 people turned
up to listen to how the service could be saved. At that meeting many
people voiced their opposition to the plans, but more importantly
there were many constructive proposals on how to save the route,
improve and enhance it. We compiled a petition with over 1500 people
signing it, i also had the issue dealt with at a meeting of Wicklow
County Council and a motion was passed opposing any plans to cut the
route and this was relayed to Dublin Bus also."

Brady went onto say "Unfortunately it was disappointing however that a
number of requests to officials from Dublin Bus to sit down with a
representative group of residents and users of the route from Kilmac
was turned down. The reason given was that they don't do public
consultation, which is quite bizarre as Dublin Bus is there to provide
a public transport service and they receive substantial subsidies to
do so. One would imagine consulting with the public user with be a
critical part of the process in determining routes."

Brady concluded "Since February I have remained in constant contact
with officials in Dublin Bus and continued to voice opposition to
their plans, so i was delighted when I was finally informed that
curtailing the route at Springfield cemetery is now off the cards.
This is fantastic news for everyone in Kilmac and shows that when a
community comes together they can achieve a lot. I have committed to
work with Dublin Bus to try improve the service now and try address
any small issues that maybe of concern to the officials within Dublin
Bus. I will also continue now to push for a bus shelter and other
improvements for the public in the Kilmac area." Ends

Action needed to address the old A O'Smith site in Bray which has become a magnet for Criminal Activity

Wicklow Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady has called for immediate
action to be taken to address the dangers posed by the derelict A O'
Smith building on the Boghall Road in Bray.
A O'Smith once housed over 140 employees before its closure in 2005,
the building has now fallen into a state of dereliction and is used as
a drug den and a haven for anti-social behaviour and criminal
behaviour.

The Sinn Féin Councillor said “The A O'Smith building which at its
peak employed up to 200 people, was one of the best maintained
businesses in Bray. Unfortunately since it closed in 2005 it has been
allowed to fall into a state of dereliction which is not only an eye
sore but it is also the scene of constant criminal activities. I have
spoken to firefighters who were recently called to the site to deal
with a fire and they have stated the inside of the building is strewn
with syringes. I have also spoken to other members of the community
who regularly witness large groups of people entering the premises for
drug parties. I also believe a number of people are living and
sleeping in the dangerous building. Action is needed immediately to
secure the site and clean it up but most importantly to get positive
plans in place for the future of the site".

"The site is owned by 2 Galway business men, however the IDA have a 99
year lien on the site. A number of years ago at the height of the
property boom the IDA did formulate a price for the lien they hold,
however it was deemed too high at the time by the businessmen and
unfortunately the site has lain derelict since. I have constantly been
raising this issue with the council and in November 2007 it was
entered on the Derelict Sites Register. However after some minor works
to secure the building it was removed from the register in 2008. Once
entered on the register the owners must pay an annual levy to the
local authority. This levy amounts to 3% of the market value of the
land concerned".

Cllr Brady continued “There is a responsibility on the owners of the A
O'Smith site to take action to address this eyesore which is a big
public safety concern; the owners can’t abdicate their
responsibilities. There is also a big responsibility however on Bray
Town Council and the IDA. I am calling on the council to take the lead
on this serious issue to try get action on the ground, the council
must immediately enter the site on the Derelict Sites Register again
as a starting point. They must also organise a trilateral meeting
between all interested parties to try put in place plans for the
immediate future of the site. The council must use all its powers to
address the issue and all options need to be explored, there are
specific regulations about dangerous structures. The local authority
can direct that work, including the demolition of the structure and
the clearing of the site be carried out immediately if it considers it
necessary".

Cllr Brady concluded "I believe at this point in time all options must
be on the table so as the safety of the community of Ballywaltrim and
Bray is protected and the eyesore that is the
A O'Smith site is dealt with. We have already lost one member of the
community who unfortunately died on site in 2010 and we don't want any
more". Ends

Brady welcomes the installation of Dog Litter Bins in the Ballywaltrim Recreation Park

Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady has welcomed the installation of a
number of dog litter bins in the 23 acre Ballywaltrim Recreation Park
in Bray. Users of the park have been campaigning for Bray Town Council
to tackle the serious problem of dog litter in the area. The issue has
in the past resulted in a child being hospitilsed and football matches
being abandoned, it has become a public safety issue.

Cllr Brady said "I welcome the installation of the dog litter bins in
the Ballywaltrim Recreation Park, signs are due to be erected in the
coming days. The bins were installed recently and have received a
broad welcome from users of the park. The park is widely used by
Gaelic teams, soccer teams, walkers and joggers. However the issue of
irresponsible dog owners not picking up dog waste has become a very
serious problem which poses a serious threat to all users".

Brady continued "The council has come under a lot of pressure from the
Ballywaltrim Users Group and many of the sporting clubs that use the
park, who had been calling on them to address the problem. Dog feces
poses a serious health risk which may contain parvovirus, whipworms,
hookworms, roundworms, threadworms, campylobacteriosis, giardia, and
coccidia. If left unattended, these parasites will contaminate the
water, soil, and can even cause infection in both pets and humans,
especially children. The microscopic Hookworm larvae can be passed to
another pet or person directly through the skin or by accidental
ingestion as can other bacteria. There is also the threat of being
infected by toxoplasmosis which can result in blindness".

Cllr Brady concluded "Whilst I welcome the action Bray Town Council is
taking to tackle the problem in the Ballywaltrim area of the town. The
problem is a much bigger one which affects many other areas.
Installing bins for dog owners to dispose waste in is part of the
solution; however education is another key thing that needs to happen.
Unfortunately there are many irresponsible dog owners who must be
educated so that they are made aware of the risks they are putting
other members of the community under". Ends