FORMER Sinn Féin TD, Martin Ferris, says the people daubing republican political slogans on properties in the Tralee area should stop immediately.
Graffiti expressing support for Paul McIntyre, who is charged with the murder of Lyra McKee in Derry, was painted onto walls near the bathing slip in Fenit.
Martin Ferris, on his facebook page today, stated; “Those responsible for vandalising public property with political slogans in Fenit, Blennerville and Tralee should stop immediately.
They have no support from the public and their actions are completely counter productive. We now have a peaceful and democratic route to Irish Unity and are closer to that goal than at anytime since partition,” concludes the post.
Meanwhile, slogans like ‘Brits Out’ and ‘IRA’ have been painted in a number of locations along the canal walkway, while the wall of old shop at Banna Beach has also been vandalised.
KERRY Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has said the health of older patients is being put at further risk as figures released by the HSE showed 385 Kerry patients had to wait over 24 hours for care in University Hospital Kerry’s Emergency Department in the first six months of the year.
Deputy Ferris said: “Figures released to Sinn Féin health spokesperson have shown that in the first six months of the year 7,700 patients over the age of 75 had to wait over 24 hours for treatment in Emergency Departments around the State.
“In University Hospital Kerry the number of older people affected were extremely high with 385 patients forced to wait over 24 hours for care.
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“Older patients are often among the most vulnerable people in our hospitals due to their age and the additional medical needs that can sometimes accompany aging. Their being treated urgently prevents escalation of injury and ensures safety and swift treatment.
“The staff in our hospitals do an amazing job and they are doing more with less resources; they are treating more patients than ever even though there is a recruitment and retention crisis across all areas of the health service.
“The solution is more capacity, more staff, and the implementation of Slaintecare; however, the government are damaging capital projects across the State due to the children’s hospital overspend, they have implemented a recruitment ban in the health service, and they appear to have no interest in implementing Slaintecare.”
KERRY Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris met with Tralee Gardaí this morning to highlight a number of issues which have been related to his office in the past number of weeks.
Deputy Ferris said complaints about intimidation and threats by illegal moneylending had been brought to his attention.
Speaking after the meeting Deputy Ferris said: “I along with my Parliamentary Assistant, Cathal Foley, met with Garda management in Tralee this morning to discuss several matters related to crime in the county. I requested this meeting on foot of a number of complaints of illegal moneylending which have been brought to my attention.”
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“In most of these instances borrowers have had to pay several multiples of what was originally borrowed, intimidation and threats of violence have been used against what are very vulnerable people,” said Deputy Ferris.
“I am imploring people not to get trapped by these individuals and to use the services that are legal and above board. In Kerry, you should use the services of the Credit Union, MABS, St Vincent DePaul, and your local Community Welfare Officer. I am also available to meet people who are under threat from these criminals. Illegal moneylending can and should also be reported to local Gardaí.”
“I also discussed a number of other issues relating to crime in the county, not least current feuds and drug dealing,” he added.
KERRY Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has hit out at local Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin who is set to vote against a bill today, which aims to give hospitality workers in Kerry a legal right to the tips they earn.
Deputy Ferris said: “This is a simple but important piece of legislation and an important step forward in strengthening workers’ rights.
“Fine Gael are the only party who have said that they will be voting against this bill, and they have even gone as far as to say they will request for a ‘Money Message’ to be applied to it.”
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Deputy Ferris says; “The only message this gives out is that Fine Gael do not have any respect for people in low paid work, and it is a typical Fine Gael delay tactic. Hospitality workers are often on low pay and suffer disproportionate levels of exploitation in the workplace.”
“Most people are surprised to learn that workers don’t have a legal right to the tips they earn. This is a huge problem that can be fixed easily and quickly. Sinn Féin’s Bill ensures that workers’ tips are given legal protection by making it illegal for an employer to withhold or deduct them.
“It also requires businesses to display their tipping policy so that customers know how tips are distributed. The many hospitality workers in Kerry deserve their dues, they deserve fair treatment, they deserve their wages and they deserve their tips. I am calling on Fine Gael’s TD Brendan Griffin to reconsider his position and support this Bill,” said Deputy Ferris.
The Government opposes the bill — which passed in the Seanad last week — on the basis that a report earlier this year by the Low Pay Commission advised against primary legislation in this area. The LPC said that such a change could have unintended consequences, and end up in workers receiving even lower take home pay.
Earlier this month, it was revealed the Government is preparing legislation that would ban employers in the service industry from using tips to help pay workers’ wages and require businesses to display their policies on tipping.
KERRY Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris will raise the issue of waiting times at A&E at University Hospital Kerry in a scheduled meeting with HSE management at the hospital this morning.
Speaking on Thursday, Deputy Ferris stated: “Today and yesterday I have been contacted by staff and patients of A&E who have told me the current average waiting time to be seen is 9 hours.”
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“Patient safety is once again being put in jeopardy because of these totally unacceptable delays. One person who had been referred by their GP, told me they left last night after waiting eight hours to return home as they felt safer there. I have already contacted management today about this case.”
“I also intend to raise this totally intolerable situation along with other issues with HSE management at the hospital tomorrow morning. Patients, already in many instances travelling long distances should not have to wait for hours to be seen. It is also very unfair on staff who are on the front line in having to deal with an ever increasing workload.”
KERRY Sinn Féin TD, Martin Ferris has called for a concerted effort to tackle those involved in illegal hunting of hares in the county.
It comes after Deputy Ferris became aware of an incident where he was told a landowner in Kerry was threatened by hunters.
“I was contacted again over the weekend regarding an incident of a landowner being threatened by illegal hunters,” said Deputy Ferris.
“These hunters are trespassing on private lands and using lurchers to hunt and kill an already scarce hare population, landowners who then confront these criminals are being threatened and intimidated.”
“It is understandable why people are afraid to report these incidents but the only option for landowners is to report all incidents to the Gardaí and not to take on these individuals themselves. Only then can this criminality be tackled once and for all.”
SINN Féin TD for Kerry, Martin Ferris has welcomed the nomination of Liadh Ní Riada as the Sinn Fein Presidential candidate.
Deputy Ferris said: “Liadh Ní Riada received the backing of the Sinn Féin Ard Comhairle yesterday as our candidate in the Presidential election on the 26th of October.
“Liadh will bring energy and passion to the office of President of Ireland. She is the best placed candidate to represent a modern, progressive, fair and caring Ireland. Liadh will be a President of whom we can all be proud.”
“We need a new president for a new Ireland. This country has changed radically in the last number of years and we are now a global inspiration for others when it comes to progressive social change.”
“We need to continue to build on this as we shape a new United Ireland for all and we need an energetic president that will encourage and support us on this journey.”
“In my Fisheries and the Marine brief, I have worked closely with Liadh on a range of issues such as coastal fishing, Brexit, and rural issues and I have found her always to be passionate and committed to the cause of standing up for Ireland on the European and international stage. I believe she would bring the same passion and enthusiasm to the office of president.”
KERRY Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has written to University Hospital Kerry Management and the HSE about current waiting times at A&E at the Hospital.
Speaking today, Deputy Ferris said; “Having been contacted by a number of patients and their families who had the misfortune to have had to present to A&E last night and today, they tell me that the waiting times are intolerable for people needing treatment.”
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“I have contacted hospital management and the HSE looking for an explanation, I will also be contacting Minister Simon Harris to highlight once again the lack of resources in our health services in Kerry. It is blatantly obvious that there are not enough staff, especially doctors servicing out of hours in A&E. It is a situation that is totally unacceptable and is extremely worrying for patients and their families.”
INMO nurses staged a lunchtime protest last week over the issue of overcrowding at UHK.
KERRY Sinn TD Martin Ferris, has said the government and the HSE are presiding over serious financial waste due to over €6 million being spent on agency staff at University Hospital Kerry last year.
The figures were released after a question by Sinn Fein’s Louise O’Reilly asked how much has been spent by the HSE on agency and locum staff from 2010 to date in hospitals. It showed that €6,021,000 was spent in UHK in 2017.
Deputy Ferris said: “The over reliance on the use of costly and more expensive agency staff is a direct result of the recruitment and retention crisis and has escalated under this Fine Gael government with the total amount spent on agency staff rising from €158 million in 2011 to €293 million last year.”
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“Last year the State spent €105 million on agency doctors – this situation was replicated in University Hospital Kerry where over €6 million was spent on agency staff last year. This is a huge amount of money to be spent on agency staff who are more expensive than directly employed staff and it is no doubt severely depleting the health budget.”
“Similarly, nursing is also suffering from a recruitment and retention crisis and many hospitals are dependent on costly agency nursing staff with the State spending over €64 million on agency nurses last year.”
“A breakdown of the figures reveals just how significant the dependency on agency nurses was in UHK last year. Over the course of 2017 UHK spent a total of €884,000 on agency nurses.”
“Spending such a colossal amount of money on agency and locum staff constitutes a financial waste to the State because they are much more expensive than directly employed staff.”
“However, the reason hospitals have to rely on this staffing mechanism to fill vacant posts is because the HSE and the government have failed to address the recruitment and retention crisis,” he said.
A FENIT company has put up a 20 minute video on Facebook telling the story of the Marita Ann in the words of those who were there on the night back in September 1984.
The short film by Digimack Video Productions features interviews with Martin Ferris, Mike Browne, Gavin Mortimer and Johnny McCarthy talking about what happened on the night they were captured by the Irish Navy with the arms and ammunition they collected from the Valhalla. Watch it below…
A KERRY TD has called on the HSE to investigate work practices and workloads at University Hospital Kerry.
Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris was speaking in the Dáil yesterday where he said he met management at the hospital on January 29 to voice concerns about workplace practices and low morale amongst staff.
“I requested this meeting on the back of numerous complaints made to me by staff across all departments,” said Deputy Ferris.
“These staff are dedicated professionals who want to give the best service they can possibly give, but are unable to due to chronic understaffing and lack of resources; they are finding their work environment extremely stressful, so much so that some agency staff are refusing shifts at A&E due to the severe and over burdening workload there. I am also told that several nurses are out of work due to stress related illnesses with more likely to follow.”
“At the meeting I was given assurances that work place conditions were being addressed.”
“In the meantime Dr Louis Keary, who is a renowned cardiologist, has signalled his intention to resign his position at University Hospital Kerry. I believe this is due to a lack of support. This means the hospital will be operating with just one part time cardiologist tending to hundreds of heart patients. This is totally unacceptable to my constituents and would not nor should not be tolerated anywhere else.”
“I am also told that several nurses are out of work due to stress related illnesses and more likely to follow.”
Deputy Ferris said an investigation into work place practices and an examination of the workload of consultants and staff at the hospital is needed.
“Morale of staff is in my opinion at an all-time low and the problems cannot be left fester any longer,” he added.
KERRY Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has voiced his concern that 400 patients over the age of 75 were left waiting over 24 hours to be seen in University Hospital Kerry Emergency Department in 2017.
The figures were supplied by the HSE after a request from Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson Deputy Louise O’Reilly.
Deputy Ferris said: “An often less spoken about strand of the Emergency Department crisis and the trolley crisis, is the impact it has on the elderly people who use our acute hospitals.
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“These patients are often among the most vulnerable people due to their age and the additional medical needs that can sometimes accompany aging. Their being treated urgently prevents escalation of injury and ensures safety and swift treatment.”
The figures showed that 11,261 patients over 75 year old patients were not seen within 24 hours at hospitals around the country during 2017.
“The situation was equally bleak in University Hospital Kerry where 400 elderly sick patients waited over 24 hours to be seen,” said Deputy Ferris.”It is unacceptable that anyone is left waiting on a trolley for over 24 hours.”
“The HSE has a 24 hour target for seeing those over the age of 75, this target in and of itself is far too low and completely lacks ambition. That such a low target has been missed on 11,261 separate occasions is serious case for concern.”
“Mixed into this crisis is the pressure that frontline staff are under to meet these targets and provide a world class level of care while they are understaffed and overworked. Over the course of the past few days we have seen the unbelievable selfless work which the staff do in our health service. They would make sure nobody waited in an ED or on a trolley if they could, but they do not have the resources or the help from this Government – the staff in our health service are also victims of the inability of this Government to address the causes of the trolley crisis.”
“We need more ambition in meeting targets for treating elderly patients from the HSE and the Minister for Health. If this situation is not rectified then lives will be put at risk resulting in fatalities.”
KERRY’S Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has asked the Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee to grant Castleisland its own Municipal District in the upcoming revision of boundaries.
His submission proposes Tralee Municipal District be reduced from a nine seat district to seven, with lands in the north, south, east and west of Castleisland town, currently included in Tralee MD, going to a newly formed district of five councillors.
Deputy Ferris proposes that a new seven-seat Tralee MD would compose of Tralee Urban, Tralee Rural, Baurtegaum, Blennerville, Ballyseedy, Rathass, Doon, Clogherbrien, Ballynahaglish, Ardfert, Tubrid and Banna which, he says, all have strong historical, economic and social ties to the town.
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Deputy Ferris stated; “Castleisland town has been neglected for many years, and has not, unlike other similar sized towns, benefited from tourism or industry. My proposal would see Castleisland at the heart of a new 5 seat Municipal District and it would encompass the surrounding areas which traditionally would have had an affinity with the town.”
“It could potentially kickstart an area of the county which has long been overlooked for development and bring life back to many of the surrounding villages which have also suffered economically. Castleisland should no longer have to remain in the shadow of Tralee and Killarney and should have stand alone Municipal District status.”
“My submission would see Tralee, Listowel, Killarney and South & West Municipal Districts each be represented by 7 councillors and a new Castleisland area with 5 seats to reflect its size,” he said.
Under his submission, Killarney MD would lose its Castleisland area, but gain an area south on the Beara peninsula and some districts to the west, which it would take from the South & West Municipal District.
SINN Féin TD for Kerry, Martin Ferris TD, has described as “indefensible” the revelations that over two years the HSE cut Home Help hours in the Kerry area by over 16,000 hours.
The revelation came in response to a parliamentary question by Sinn Fein Health spokesperson, Louise O’Reilly TD, which revealed that in 2014 Kerry received 567,300 home help hours and in 2017 it received 550,888 hours.
Deputy Ferris said: “These statistics are indefensible. Over the last two years my constituency offices have been inundated with queries regarding Home Help.
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“This Government wants to privatise it and is consistently promoting private home care to individuals and families requiring Home Help for their loved ones.
“Instead of cutting them, the Government needs to increase Home Help hours to enable elderly people remain in their homes and give them every opportunity to remain independent for as long as possible.
“Home Help is essential for people in rural Ireland especially people living alone who depend on their carer and don’t have anyone else calling to see them.
“Without this service more of our elderly are forced into long-term care in nursing homes which is causing more strain on the health service.
“It is long recognised that by remaining in their homes and community people have a better standard of living, therefore the Government needs to put the services in place to allow this,” said Deputy Ferris.
GERRY ADAMS tonight announced during his leader’s speech at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, that neither he nor Martin Ferris would be running for the Dáil in the next election.
In his address to the Ard Fheis, he said: “I’m very proud to have served as Uachtarán. Last year, myself and Martin said there was a plan for change. I thought I needed to tell you….I have been privileged to be part of an amazing leadership.
“One of our greatest achievements has been to build a peace process. I will not be standing for the Dáil neither will Martin Ferris…I want to thank Martin, Marie and their clann for years of service to the Republic. This is also my last Ard Fheis. I’ll be asking the new Ard Comhairle to agree a date in 2018 to elect our next Uachtarán.”
Martin Ferris was first elected to Dail back in 2002 in the Kerry North constituency and has retained his seat in Kerry for Sinn Fein in every general election since.
MARTIN Ferris TD has confirmed that he is not one of the TDs that has left an unpaid bar tab, after a number of queries about the issue from constituents.
The Houses of the Oireachtas report has revealed this week there are unpaid tabs at the Dáil bar and restaurant of up to €5,000, with some bills outstanding since 2000.
“Many constituents have been asking me, tongue in cheek mostly, was I one of the TDs with an outstanding Dáil bar tab,” said Deputy Ferris.
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“For the record, I do not now, nor have I ever, availed of a bar tab in the Dáil. It is inexcusable that the amount owed is being written off, small businesses that are owed monies have to take remedies to recover outstanding debts and I don’t see why TDs or senators cannot be treated similarly. TDs and senators are handsomely rewarded and there should be zero tolerance applied to those who expect the taxpayer to pick up their bar tabs”.
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said that politicians who have not paid their bill should have it deducted from their salary or pension.
KERRY Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has strongly criticised the cut back in-home respite hours for children with disabilities in Kerry.
Figures obtained under a Parliamentary Question posed by Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Louise O’Reilly TD show that in the first quarter of this year there was a decrease of 220 hours of overnight respite care compared to quarter 1 in 2016.
Speaking today, Deputy Ferris said; “These figures for Kerry are disturbing but not surprising given how many parents in the county have provided anecdotal evidence. If this trend were to continue for the remainder of the year there would be nearly 900 hours lost, and this is from an already low base because of previous cutbacks.
I am acutely aware from cases in Kerry how important even an hour of respite means to parents who are already struggling to run as normal a family life as possible. I have spoken in the Dáil and with the minister responsible on the the dire need for respite in Kerry,unfortunately healthcare doesn’t seem to top the list of priorities for those in power and those propping up this government,” he said.
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“Many of these parents are the primary carers and they cannot be good carers if they don’t get some form of respite. Kerry already suffers from a lack of local and acute medical facilities and carers are filling the gaps left by the HSE and government.
The minimum they deserve is a proper respite care service to allow them rest and provide relief for their families,” he added.
KERRY Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has critiscised the Minister for Health and the HSE over the delay a young Kerry boy is experiencing in waiting for an urgent operation at Crumlin Childrens Hospital.
He said the family of a 10 year old Listowel boy who had his surgery postponed last November contacted him over ongoing delays their son is experiencing in getting the operation.
“Despite a previous postponement and being put on the urgent list in Crumlin in May, the family are still no wiser as to when the operation will take place,” said Deputy Ferris.
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“I have contacted the office of the Minister for Health on a number of occasions to highlight the plight of this young boy and his family. It is not acceptable that this unfortunate child has to suffer due to the lack of resources facing the HSE and the Minister for Health needs to be held accountable.”
“This boy has just been released from University Hospital Kerry after spending nearly a week there again due to complications arising from a previous surgery. Our hospitals are being clogged up because of cases like this which unfortunately are not a priority for this government,” he added.
KERRY Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has paid tribute to Martin McGuinness who sadly passed away in the early hours of this morning.
Speaking at Leinster House today Deputy Ferris said; “I know I speak on behalf of all Kerry Republicans when I say we have not only lost a great Irish leader and patriot, we have also lost a dear friend and comrade.
It has been my absolute honour and privilege to work alongside him over many years and I will never forget him, he was a dedicated and inspirational Irish Republican and he will be mourned far and wide.
He was a soldier,statesman and a tireless worker and advocate for not alone Irish Unity but also for peace and reconciliation. His loss is hard to put into words and will be felt by Republicans everywhere, yet we know the immense legacy he has left us all to build on in the coming years.
Our thoughts and condolences are with Martin’s family, his wife Bernie, his children Fiachra, Emmet, Fionnuala and Grainne, his grandchildren and extended family and the entire city of Derry. I measc laochra na nGael go raibh a anam dílis.”
SINN Féin TD for Kerry, Martin Ferris, has sent his best wishes to Martin McGuinness who has retired from electoral politics.
Speaking today Deputy Ferris said; “it has been an honour and a privilege to work alongside Martin McGuinness for many years, Martin was instrumental in negotiations leading up to the Good Friday Agreement and it has been incredible journey that many of us have taken together. He has been a pivotal figure in the Republican movement since the early seventies. He is someone I consider a friend and comrade who has worked tirelessly for his beliefs. Despite his past, he held out the hand of friendship to his Unionist brothers and sisters and has advanced both the cause of Irish unity and national reconciliation on the island of Ireland.
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“Martin often visited Kerry over the years and he is held in high regard by Kerry republicans. On behalf of myself and all in Sinn Féin Kerry, I would like to extend our best wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery to Martin and his wife Bernie and extended family.”
“While Martin McGuinness is retiring from active electoral politics, I know that he will be there to advise and support the next generation of leadership of Sinn Féin, and I look forward to him being able to spend some time in the future, fishing on the rivers and lakes of Kerry, which I know he enjoys immensely.”
.Martin Ferris welcomed the €3.5m development in Ardfert.
THE contract to carry out a significant upgrade work on the Ardfert Wastewater Treatment Plant was signed this week.
Sinn Féin TD for Kerry, Martin Ferris welcomed the €3.5 million development which will start in January and is expected to last 18 months.
Deputy Ferris stated; “this is a long overdue announcement and I very much welcome it, I have, along with others, looked for this investment for many years and it is the least the people of Ardfert deserve. I would also like to thank the community there for their long campaign to get bring this announcement to fruition. Development has been hindered in the village because of the poor inrastructure and this is massive step in the right direction.”
SINN Féin TD for Kerry Martin Ferris has said yesterday’s vote on TDs pay is a slap in the face for ordinary workers.
Sinn Féin had proposed that TDs would not accept the €5,000 per year pay rise but this was rejected by a vote of 90 votes to 32.
“Once again low and middle class income earners are being told that their is no money for wage increases, our teachers, nurses and Gardaí have taken to the streets to try and get equal pay for equal work,” said Deputy Ferris.
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“TDs like myself are handsomely rewarded already and to top up TDs pay by €5000 a year is a slap in the face for hard working families who have to remain at the bottom of the list once again.”
“How TDs who voted for the increase can turn around and tell union members that they must wait their turn is beyond laughable and is inexcusable. Irish parliamentarians are amongst the highest paid politicians in Europe, and to have any understanding of how ordinary people have to manage day to day living, TDs wages should in fact be cut. We were promised a new politics but this is the same old politics at work once again where Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have once again joined hands to ensure their interests are looked after,” said Deputy Ferris.
TDs are due to receive a pay hike of around €300 a month from April, and again from January.
SINN Féin TD for Kerry, Martin Ferris has given a guarded welcome to the assurance from Minister with responsibility for people with disabilities, Finian McGrath, that he will visit St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort, to meet with service users, their families and staff of the facility.
This came about as a result of an invitation from Deputy Ferris.
St Mary of the Angels, which is run by St John of Gods, is planning to move its 78 high-need adult residents from bungalows on its Beaufort campus into the wider community, as they plan to rent houses in Milltown, Tralee, and Killorglin.
Martin Ferris speaking under topical issues in the Dáil, said; “The people I have spoken to have told me there has not been any consultation to date. I hope that will change. They are hugely concerned and worried because their loved ones have been at St. Mary’s for many years. As I said earlier, one individual has been there for 29 years and has known no other home. The parents and relatives of the residents are very satisfied with the services provided and speak glowingly of the staff and facilities. A lot of the money used in St. Mary of the Angels was raised by local people when the State failed them.”
Deputy Ferris further added that; “I also welcome the admission from Minister McGrath that there was no consultation and that, that was unacceptable to him. Minister McGrath needs to see for himself the wonderful facilities that are in place at St Mary of the Angels”.
Earlier this week, singer Daniel O’Donnell, who has visited the centre regularly when in Kerry, gave his support to keeping services at the facility.
SINN Féin Deputy for Kerry, Martin Ferris, has described as “unacceptable”, the waiting lists for appointments in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Kerry and nationwide.
Figures released by the HSE to the Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Health show the area covering Kerry and much of Cork to have to have the highest number on these waiting lists in the State and he expressed his grave concern at the situation.
Deputy Ferris has said that the waiting lists, coupled with the inadequate levels of staffing across CAMHS are indicative of an area not given sufficient priority.
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“The figures released to Sinn Féin shine a light on the critical issue of gaps in mental health services and supports for children and young people, including staff shortages in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS),” he said.
“CHO Area 4, which covers Kerry LHO, North Cork LHO, North Lee LHO, South Lee LHO and West Cork CHO, has the highest number on waiting lists across the State (552). It also has the second highest number in the state waiting for a CAMHS appointment for more than 12 months (68). Allied to this is the fact that in 2015, the area only had 50.2% of the CAMHS teams staffing as recommended in a vision for change. This is unacceptable. This needs to be addressed urgently,” he said.
Waiting list figures for appointments in the State. CHO 4 covers Kerry and parts of Cork.
“Access to mental health services for children and young people is clearly severely restricted when we consider the waiting lists that currently exist,” he continued.
“A cursory glance at the figures shows that mental healthcare is not being prioritised as it should for this cohort, not least because of the waiting lists that exist but also because of the staffing levels across the community healthcare organisations (CHOs). The Minister needs to increase staffing and services to ensure these waiting lists are dealt with. The CAMHS teams must be resourced sufficiently and we need to ensure that the additional staff needed are employed,” said the Deputy.
KERRY Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has called on his constituency colleagues to support his party’s Rent Certainty Bill which will be voted on in the Dáil tomorrow.
Fianna Fáil has signalled that it will vote with Fine Gael and government Independents to reject rent certainty which, he says, will condemn more renters to homelessness.
It comes at a time when there has been a five per cent rise in the cost of rent in Kerry in the past year.
According to figures from the Residential Tenancies Board, the average monthly rent in Kerry in the first quarter of this year was €572, up €29.50 on the same period last year. The average rent in Tralee stands at €577.26.
“The Sinn Féin Bill seeks to link rents to the consumer price index as a way of preventing extortionate increases in private rents which are forcing families into homelessness every day,” said Deputy Ferris.
“The government’s response to this has been to stall and wait for a committee report due out at the end of this week.But the reality is that the recommendations of that report will take at least six months to be implemented.
“That is simply not good enough when we are in the middle of a crisis which is seeing people made homeless every day. There is hardly a day goes by that my constituency offices are not contacted by people who are about to become, or are in fact ,homeless. We need action now. That is why I am appealing to my constituency colleagues to vote in support of the Sinn Féin Bill tomorrow and to lobby their party leadership to see the logic in that position,” said Deputy Ferris.
SINN Féin TD Martin Ferris has strongly criticised both the insurance industry and the last Government after he was contacted by Kerry motorists saying their insurance premiums have risen by as much as 40 per cent in twelve months.
In one instance he said a man was quoted €3,000 despite having over 5 years experience and a clean driving record.
Recent figures released from the CSO’s Consumer Price Index for the past twelve months show a 30.5% increase in the average cost of car insurance in 2015 over the previous year. Deputy Ferris says that constituents who are now renewing policies for 2016 are reporting increases of up to 40 per cent compared with prices quoted last year.
Deputy Ferris said that it was unacceptable that companies are forcing such dramatic increases on consumers, and has criticised the outgoing Government for not conducting a proper review into premium prices.
“Insurance companies have been increasing premium prices across the board over the last number of months and are actively refusing to insure older cars resulting in the cost of owning and driving a car to sky rocket,” he said.
“If we look at the figures from the CSO for 2015, we’ve already witnessed proof that the average premium across the state has risen by 30.5% compared to 2014.
“In recent weeks, I’ve been contacted by drivers from across the county who are very concerned at the hike in prices quoted to them by their insurer for cover for the next twelve months – some have seen a 40% jump in the cost of their premiums. I have also been contacted by numerous young drivers who cannot afford the exorbitant rates insurance companies are looking for, in one instance a young driver has to consider whether he will continue in his current employment as he needs a car to travel to his place of work and his insurance company are asking for over €3000, this despite the fact that he has over 5 years experience and a clean driving record.”
“It is unacceptable for companies to boost the cost of car insurance to such a degree and it is particularly unfair for young drivers who face being priced off the road as a result of such shameful profiteering. Rural isolation and the inherent mental health problems that accompany it, will be exasperated if rising costs of insurance are not tackled in the short term.”
“Motor insurance is mandatory and the Government therefore has a duty as a legislator to conduct a review of premium prices, but as yet they have done very little to remedy this problem.
“My party colleague Deputy Pearse Doherty in fact has been raising this issue in the Dáil with Minister Noonan who simply claims that the issue is ‘complex’ and he continues to hide behind EU law in relation to the motor industry.
“Measures such as enhancing existing legislation and improving Garda technology to help combat fraud could have been considered, but the action required has not happened and thus premiums have been steadily growing.
“I acknowledge that an inter-departmental working group has been established to examine the cost of car insurance and to then make recommendations, however the group has only just begun its work so the chances of motorists in Kerry seeing any improvement in the near future is unlikely.”
KERRY Sinn Fein Deputy Martin Ferris will visit the East coast of the United States to take part in St Patricks Day and 1916 celebrations.
The trip takes in Boston, Springfield Tampa, Miami and New York State and will focus on ongoing developments in Ireland and Irish emigrant issues including the undocumented Irish.
It will also focus on the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising and its legacy. It is also an opportunity to highlight the continuing attraction of Co. Kerry as a tourist destination to the Irish American community.
This trip is entirely financed by Friends of Sinn Féin in the US and there is no cost to the taxpayer associated with the visit.
During the trip, Deputy Ferris will be a guest of Boston GAA at the Boston St Patricks Day parade. He will also be guest speaker at the University of Tampa and will lay a number of wreaths at commemorations in New York and Boston.
Deputy Ferris said: “I am honoured to accept this invitation to travel to the US for the 1916 celebrations and look forward to meeting community activists and civic and union leaders during my visit. I particularly look forward once again in meeting with Congressman Richard Neal who has been a great friend to Ireland over many years. I also look forward to meeting Bob Buckhorn, Mayor of Tampa, who I know also takes a keen interest in all things Irish. I would like to thank the Irish community in Boston who have invited me to participate in various functions surrounding the centenary and St Patrick’s Day and I look forward to meeting the many groups that I am scheduled to visit.”
SINN Féin TD Martin Ferris has blasted Fine Gael’s record on health as Minister Leo Varadkar prepares to visit the newly renamed University Hospital Kerry today.
“Fine Gael’s legacy in health is chaos in emergency departments, people waiting on hospital trolleys for days on end, endless waiting lists, and children denied essential treatments,” said Deputy Ferris.
“There were 30 people waiting on trolleys at the A&E in Kerry General for the first four days of this week. Ambulance call out times have cost lives and put many others at risk in Kerry,” he said.
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“Under Fine Gael’s watch the chaos in our health services has gotten worse. Our health care staff and emergency services are being forced to work in extremely difficult circumstances while patients are not getting the treatment they deserve.
“Fine Gael’s has scrapped their promise to deliver universal health insurance. Their promises to reduce hospital waiting lists and the trolley crisis have been broken. Their promises to deliver free GP care is gone. So is their promise to end prescription charges. It’s one broken promise after another,” said Deputy Ferris.
“It’s time we called stop on Fine Gael’s plans to privatise our health services. Sinn Féin has a fully costed, deliverable plan for health based on the fundamental belief that people should be able to access health care as a right, on the basis of need,” he said.
Minister from Health Leo Varadkar is due at the hospital in Tralee at 1pm to officially announce the name change.
The crowd at the launch of Martin Ferris’ election campaign on Friday night in The Meadowlands Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
A CROWD of 300 people gathered in the Meadowlands Hotel on Friday night for the launch of Martin Ferris’ election campaign.
Ireland South MEP Liadh Ní Riada was the guest speaker on an evening when the Kerry Sinn Féin TD accused both Fine Gael and Labour of betraying the people of Kerry.
Ferris said they had failed to deliver on what they promised before the 2011 election and don’t deserve the trust of the people.
“In 2011, many in this county put their trust in Fine Gael and The Labour Party. Here we stand, five years later, and that trust is in smithereens. The government has utterly betrayed the people of Kerry,
“There has been no democratic revolution. The cronyism remains as strong as ever, all while the ordinary people of Kerry have been subjected to five years of cuts, chaos and hardship.
“Frankly, I think Fine Gael and Labour Party TDs have a nerve to stand before the people of Kerry, claiming to have delivered stability, when they have broken nearly every promise that they made on entering government. That betrayal will not be forgotten or forgiven,” he said.
“Despite the spin from our opponents, Sinn Féin has developed comprehensive and costed policies in healthcare, housing and childcare. We have the proposals for creating a fairer society in which a home is a right, health care is accessed on the basis of need instead of income, and people can find decent work with decent pay. This is not fantasy. It is basic decency.”
The election is expected to be announced this coming week with date expected by many commentators to be Friday, February 26.
CREW members of the Marita Ann and the Cabra Historial Society will be among those laying wreaths at a Kerry Sinn Féin event on Banna Strand this Saturday.
The event, which begins at 3pm at the promenade, will launch Kerry Sinn Féin’s 1916 Centenary Events programme to be held in the county throughout 2016. Martin Ferris will be the main speaker.
Kerry Sinn Fein will be joined by the Cabra Historical Society, who will be dressed in 1916 period Volunteer costume with rifles. This will be their first outing of 2016 and will also launch their programme of events for 2016.
Cabra Historical Society chose Kerry to launch their events as the county played a pivotal role in the events leading up to the Rising and was the place where the first casualties of 1916 took place.
They will give a demonstration on a number of military drills and will also sing the Volunteers song “Óró, sé do bheatha abhaile” and “Lonely Banna Strand”.
Crew members of the Marita Ann – the ship seized by the Irish Navy just off the south Kerry coast carrying arms intended for the Provisional IRA back in 1984 – will also attend and lay wreaths.
Refreshments and entertainment will be provided in Kate Browne’s afterwards where the programme of events will be officially announced. The programme will include events in Banna, Ballybunion, Ballyduff, Dingle, Killorglin, Rathmore and Tralee.
FORMER Sinn Féin TD, Martin Ferris, says the people daubing republican political slogans on properties in the Tralee area should stop immediately.
KERRY Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has written to University Hospital Kerry Management and the HSE about current waiting times at A&E at the Hospital.
