Buttimer - Minister must intervene to save Cork School of Music

Cork South Central Senator Jerry Buttimer gave the following speech last night at the Cork School of Music Public Meeting organised by the Cork School of Music Parents Association.

"The Cork School of Music, which is a constituent college of the CIT, is celebrating 130 years of the provision of music and currently has more than 2,000 part-time primary and post-primary students as well as over 100 third and fourth level students. Concerns now arise about the future of the School as the CIT management has instructed the Cork School of Music to implement cuts of 2,000 teaching hours.

"Little more than a year ago the opening of the new school of music, which was one of three pilot public private partnership projects, was met with great fanfare. Many people campaigned for what is a magnificent facility, and its reputation, integrity and provision of service in terms of music reach far beyond Cork. The college has grown immensely over the years and the situation is now that a vibrant, active college, that has waiting lists for many of its courses, exists.

"The Cork School of Music management has recently confirmed to me that the result of the cutbacks will lead to:

* Lay-offs of temporary teachers
* No new harp enrolment
* No new wind enrolment
* 50% reduction in new piano enrolments
* 50% reduction in new violin enrolments
* 50% reduction in new viola enrolments
* Two junior choirs being cut
* Two musicianship classes being cut
* Current students not being offered second instrument tuition

"The School has a vital role to play in the cultural, historical and educational lives of the people of Cork. The result of these cutbacks, and the implications from the severe restriction of new student intake, will inevitably lead to the complete dismantling of music education at the School.

"It is a concern that in a changing economic environment and in a climate where we are reducing expenditure, we are taking a stance against creativity, arts, culture and music. A mere €140,000 is needed to save the School. I am appealing to the Minister not to proceed with the cuts and to make the necessary funds available. It does not augur well in a time of economic change if we impact negatively on education."

He is completely right. The CSM has been great for Cork and should be supported. Under the current cuts 1st and 2nd level students will not be allowed in enrol!

It is a disgrace.

Local Election Boundary Changes

The Irish Examiner are reporting boundary changes for the Local Elections in Cork City and County. The Overall effect of these is the following:

CITY:

South-East goes from six to seven seats.

South-West goes from five to six seats.

North-East falls from five to four seats.

North-West also falls from five to four.

No change in North Central and South Central.

COUNTY:

Kanturk falls from five to four seats.

Mallow goes from four to five seats.

Carrigaline falls from seven to six seats.

Macroom goes from three to four seats.

No changes in Bantry and Skibbereen electoral areas.

Will this change who we run in each area? Or the number of candidates?

Fine Gael Cllr Joe O’Callaghan, who represents the north-west ward, said the changes would have huge implications for the northside of the city.

“Cork is imbalanced in terms of population and economic activity, and this report highlights the need for increased and targeted investment in this part of the city,” he said.

More from the Examiner

The full changes are availible here

YFG Summer School!

This year's annual YFG Summer School will take place on the 11th, 12th & 13th of July in the beautiful medieval town of Carlingford, in Co. Louth.

With a whole array of great activities in this watersports mecca to complement our planned discussions & social events, all will take place under the impressionable backdrop of the Mourne Mts. on the scenic Cooley penninsula.

Contact Susie (susie(AT)finegael(DOT)com) in national office for more info.

Must now ask for time off!

Who else is going?

Coveney criticises Ryan

Cork South Central TD and FG Communications Spokesperson, Simon Coveney, critcised Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications failure to make any progress on next generation broadband after a year in the job.

Mr. Coveney pointed out that no work as been done since the Minister toke office on the issue of Broadband.

- "A Policy Paper is being prepared on Broadband and Next Generation Networks" - introductory brief for incoming Minister Eamon Ryan, 15th June 2007.
- "I propose to issue a draft policy paper shortly on Next Generation Broadband" - Minister Eamon Ryan, 29th May 2008.

Mr. Coveney continued crticisim of the Minsters actions

The only concrete action the Minister has taken in this area since taking office has been to convene a forum of international experts in February to debate the Department's policy paper. Since then he has repeatedly promised that the paper would be published 'shortly' but it has not appeared. In the meantime he has pointed to the growth in Ireland's broadband numbers and made excuses such as 'it is a matter for the private sector'.

Damien Mulley has caught the Department out on lying to Prime Time about our national broadband scheme. Damien also has a post about business response and what they want.

FG is calling on the Government to do the follwing in relation to this area:

1. Mandate the Department of Communications to undertake a comprehensive audit of all ducting under both public and private ownership throughout the country. Based on this audit, a detailed plan of where ducting, especially between the exchange and the cabinet but also at backhaul level, is most needed.

2. Enter negotiations with all private owners of ducting for the purposes of securing open access to infrastructure, in an effort to try to create a web of open-access ducting throughout the country.

3. Tender for private sector interest in managing all State-owned ducting and coordinate with the regulator on the opening of access to privately-owned ducting. The contract will also provide for the management of roll-out of new ducting where appropriate. Funding for this will be provided from the ICT budget within the NDP.

4. The State should support high-speed wireless connectivity to areas too remote to justify ducting and fibre connections.

5. Revise the terms of the contracts for provision of broadband to extremely remote areas under the National Broadband Scheme, to require that this connectivity be of a high-bandwidth.

6. Pass legislation to require ducting to be installed to the home in all new housing and apartment developments under new building standards regulations.

7. Pass legislation to require ducting to be laid as part of all new road developments and maintenance.

8. Ensure that all infrastructure relating to roll-out of next generation access – at all parts of the network – be subject to fast-track planning rules.

9. Invite tenders for provision of wholesale high-bandwidth access to state bodies throughout the country, such as schools, third-level institutions, hospitals and departmental buildings.

10. The connection of Next Generation Access to all schools and educational institutions needs immediate priority in government planning.

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Links:
12 months in job and Minister has nothing done on next generation broadband – Coveney
Creating a Fibre Nation (PDF) - FG Policy

Welcome

This is a new project by Stephen Spillane and others involved (who will be named later!) with Fine Gael in Cork to have a voice that can be listened to by the Leadership, TD's, Senators, Councillors and prospective candidates!

The idea of this has come from ConservativeHome, LabourHome and LibDem Voice where grassroots have become opinion formers within the grassroots of the parties and the leadership also listen. While it would be great to do that on a national level, due to other commitments and other constraints we shall be confining oursleves mainly to Cork.

This is still a Work in Progress so bear with us!

Slán go Fóil!
Stephen

If you wish to help out by reporting on a particular area of Cork or policy area, get in contact with Stephen at spiller2(AT)gmail(DOT)com