OLIVE WANTS AN OXOMETER FOR TOWN COUNCIL
Cllr Olive Corcoran is calling on Fermoy Town Council to explain why the weir was allowed to fall in to such disrepair over the years when funds were available for its upkeep, writes Brian Moore.
“A couple of weeks ago, I attended an information day organised by Fianna Fail in Limerick, to discuss local government reform, which is long overdue. During discussions I outlined the reforms, which I feel, are badly needed on Fermoy Town Council.
“I discussed the many worthwhile motions, which have been passed but no attempt made to implement them, the wastage and inefficiencies, the higher paid civil servants swanning around town, while on their ‘go slow’.
“I speak to the ratepayers of this town who work hard to pay for all of this and I have a constant feeling of frustration,” Cllr Corcoran told The Avondhu.
THAT 'OXOMETER'
At the meeting a councillor from Clare told Cllr Corcoran that Fermoy should get an oxometer for the town council.
“What’s an oxometer?” asked Cllr Corcoran. She then added her own explanation of the term.
“Here is an example of what an oxometer is used for. At a recent town council meeting we discussed our deputation to Dail Eireann to meet with Minister Martin Mansergh and Minister Conor Lenihan to discuss phase two of the flood plan and financing of work to Fermoy Weir, a deputation which I previously proposed that Deputy O’Keeffe lead, and he did same.
"I expressed my disgust at the fact that Dr Mansergh had explained literally dozens of times that phase two of the flood plan will start before the end of this year as soon as phase one is finished. How difficult is that to understand?” Cllr Corcoran said.
MILLIONS IN FUNDING
“At another meeting Mr Lenihan made it quite clear that the weir was the property of Fermoy Town Council and that it should not have been allowed to get into disrepair and that there was millions in funding available over the years from central government. Neither was I happy with the explanation, given by the town clerk at this same meeting, as to why the council could not access the money, which was available from Brussels. As I expected, the other councillors present heard none of this and were actually angry that I referred to any of it.
“In relation to Minister Lenihan, one councillor remarked and I quote, ‘I wouldn’t believe the daylights off him if he was standing in front of me’. I couldn’t believe my ears - this was in relation to the man whom they expected to sanction the funding, or do they even want it? The political football would then of course be gone,” Cllr Corcoran continued.
“In spite of the blundering, most of which is simply political posturing and point-scoring, and the very worst kind of party-political broadcasting and never to the advantage of Fermoy, I will continue to work with my parliamentary and ministerial colleagues, to acquire the necessary funding to repair Fermoy weir.”
FARMING INMPLEMENT
“What irritates me most is that some of my fellow councillors want another trip to Dail Eireann to discuss exactly the same issues. Our local TDs are well capable of taking it from here; my fellow councillors and I have the utmost confidence in their ability to do the job correctly.
“My greatest worry is that we might not be able to get our two Labour councillors out of the Dail, now that they’ve got a taste for it, and what a loss that would be to Fermoy Town Council,” Cllr Corcoran said. But what is an oxometer and what would it be used for in Fermoy Town Council?
“It’s a farming implement, used in Moldova to measure the thickness of bullshit,” Cllr Corcoran explained.
Published:
Thursday 25th March 5:33pm
