Housing and health top agenda for new Cathaoirleach Paddy Farrell as he embraces new role
"Housing and health are the biggest issues; I hope to do whatever I can to help the people that need the attention."
The new Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council Cllr Paddy Farrell this week spoke to the Leitrim Observer about his plans for the coming year.
He said: "I hope to carry on the good work of the previous Cathaoirleach Cllr Paddy O'Rourke. Housing and health are the biggest issues; I hope to do whatever I can to help the people that need the attention."
He said that in terms of housing, he said that people are struggling with the cost of living. At the moment, rent prices have gone out of control and people are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. A lot of landlords are putting pressure on tenants to move out because a lot of them are selling up and getting out of the renting market. That is adding to the pressure as well."
In terms of health, he said that there are a lot of hospital appointments "being put on the long finger and waiting very long periods; I've had people coming to me who have been waiting up to four years on a waiting list and that's not good enough in this day and age. There needs to be more staff. I'm a member of the health board and bring up these issues as often as I can to try and alleviate the situation."
Cllr Farrell welcomed the construction of a new unit, with a contract construction value in excess of €38m, which will contain 90 beds facilitating long stay, short stay and dementia wards. "It's taken a long time for this to come as far as it has and will probably take another two years to build and recruit staff etc. but it's great to see it as far as it is. Another big priority is the Carrick-on-Shannon bypass; it won't be here for another while but things look good and it's going for planning shortly so hopefully it'll come to fruition in the near future."
Cllr Farrell said he'd like to thank all his fellow members and "his proposer Cllr Sean McGowan and seconder Cllr Mary Bohan; I got unanimous support from all the members and I very much look forward to working with them over the 12 months and being as fair as possible to them all."