
What can be done with derelict Sligo?
Sligo Champion
Today at 00:00
Dereliction across Sligo has been highlighted by Senator Nessa Cosgrove who says they could go a long way to addressing the housing crisis.
Senator Cosgrove, Labour Party Spokesperson on Rural and Community Development, the Gaeltacht and Worker's Rights was Speaking following last week's Seanad debate in Vacancy and Dereliction,.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Leitrim national school pupils forced to cross busy road and learn in converted toilets amid new school plea
For over a decade, the parents association, staff and the school community have been calling for a new school building on a single campus to replace the current Scoil Mhuire. The need for the new school on a green field site emerged as the girls and boys national school in Carrick on Shannon merged in 2013. However, the school remains on two campuses despite the school population doubling in that time. Since the amalgamation, the school has fallen into a state of disrepair and campaigners say not a single classroom is fit for purpose. Despite the poor conditions, no commitment has ever been given by the Department of Education for a new school building. Recently, John Campion Davey, assistant to Senator Nessa Cosgrove, visited the school and met with some members of the New School Committee. Mr Davey saw first hand the conditions within the school and said the facilities within each building are 'severely inadequate', with a technical report from the Department of Education issued several years ago calling the school building "sub-standard". Mr Davey said 'I had the privilege of being shown around the two campus Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Shannon, by members of the staff and parent body. 'I had been asked to attend by Senator Nessa Cosgrove to see how she could help with their campaign for a new school building. 'The most glaring issue is immediately evident. "The school is spread across two different campuses, the former girls school and the former boys school. "I heard how Scoil Mhuire had been one of the earlier proponents of amalgamations, they embraced the change enthusiastically, yet they still exist across two campuses. 'Apart from the damage this does to a sense of a school identity, it is a hazard for children crossing roads to go from one school to the other. 'It also results in the ridiculous situation of many parents dropping off and collecting children from each campus every day for multiple years,' said Mr Davey. Mr Davey observed the school has 'gone out of its way' to cater for the increased number of students but building a new school is the 'logical thing to do'. 'The PE Hall is tiny, for the numbers of children attending, having been subdivided to provide additional learning spaces. "The school has gone out of its way to welcome increased numbers of children from many different cultures and backgrounds many of these have language needs. 'As in all schools, there are more children with additional needs, which must be met. 'I saw converted corridors, store rooms and even rooms which had formerly housed toilets and hand washing facilities converted into Special Education Needs classrooms. 'The two campuses dating from 1953 and 1963 must be a nightmare to heat in winter, and to keep cool in a hot summer. "The savings on energy costs alone, never mind the environmental impact, must make construction of a new school the logical thing to do. 'Despite the very real challenges faced by the school, the commitment which the school Principal, Staff and Parent body show to the children is phenomenal,' said Mr Davey. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that funding was granted to provide a two mainstream classroom extension for Scoil Mhuire. While the funding was welcomed, it does not provide a long term solution. "While the promise of two new modular classrooms over the summer is welcome, in terms of learning space, it does nothing to address the core issues highlighted, and in fact will further reduce the amount of outdoor space available for play,' said Mr Davey. "As an Early Years Educator, I am fully aware of the importance of having outdoor space for physical activity and play. "It is a fundamental part of a child's holistic development, particularly their physical, emotional and social development. 'The school community are not campaigning for a new school to have a shiny new building to work from. "They are doing it because they feel a real bond with the children and families they educate and care for. 'Inclusive practice is at the heart of everything that is done at Scoil Mhuire. "The passion of the teachers and the happiness of the children to be at school is written all over them,' said Mr Davey. Leitrim County Council has identified a suitable greenfield site close to the current school building and the school are happy with the proposed site. Mr Davey continued, 'All we need now is for the Government to commit to funding the new building. "Senator Cosgrove has committed to highlighting the need for a new school building, which has the support of all four local TDs, and will be hoping to raise the matter personally with the Minister for Education before the summer recess. 'Carrick-on-Shannon is the County Town of Leitrim, it is a fast growing town and it deserves a National School which reflects its developing and changing needs,' said Mr Davey. A spokesperson for the school said, 'On Tuesday, June 17th, John Davey, assistant to Senator Nessa Cosgrove, met with some members of the New School Committee. 2The meeting went well, and John assured us he would pass on all information to Senator Nessa Cosgrove. 'We call on all politicians and members of the wider community to put pressure wherever they can to help us secure a new school for Carrick-on-Shannon.'


Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
No plans for former Tipperary convent to house asylum seekers
In a post on social media, Labour Party councillor Michael 'Chicken' Brennan said that there are no plans to house International Protection Applicants (IPAs) in Ballingarry's Old Convent. Cllr Brennan said that following conversations with the owners of the Old Convent, Ballingarry, outside Thurles, he can confirm that the property is not being examined for use as an IPAS centre. The Labour Party councillor also said that there has been no offer of accommodation made, and that the Department of Justice are not examining the property for use. "After talking to the owners yesterday evening of the Old Convent, Ballingarry, Thurles that no offer of accommodation has been received and the Department within IPAS are not examining the property for use,' Cllr Brennan wrote on social media. "I would request people to be calm and not spread misinformation with regard to this premises,' Cllr Brennan added. Two years ago, Tipperary County Council granted planning permission for use as tourist accommodation. The plans at the time gave the green light for seven dwellings made up of a mix of two, three, four and five bedroom houses, with a digital hub proposed for an existing school room while the disused chapel would be converted to a community building. Those plans would also see the old Presentation National school converted to a café and showroom.

The Journal
4 days ago
- The Journal
Taoiseach tells Ivana Bacik she 'didn't have the courage' to be in Government
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN lashed out at Labour leader Ivana Bacik during Leaders' Questions today, telling her she did not 'have the courage' to be in Government. The heated exchange came as the Labour leader accused the Government of 'chaotic decision-making' in relation to rental regulation. Referring to the Government's decision to extend Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) across the country, Bacik said: 'Of course we support the extension of RPZs across the country, but not a hollowed out version of RPZs that offer no real protections for renters.' In response to her comments, the Taoiseach said the Government's actions will help increase the supply of rental properties. He then claimed that the Labour Party would not make 'difficult decisions' to increase supply. 'You will not support anything that in any way you perceive to be injurious to your electoral base or might cost you a few votes. That's the prism through which you're looking at our housing crisis,' he said. Bacik hit back:'I think anyone watching will be wondering when you're going to take political responsibility for the housing crisis. 'You're the Taoiseach, you're in Government, your party and Fine Gael have effectively governed together for the best part of a decade, and yet you're resorting to throwing critiques of the opposition for not building homes.' The Taoiseach then said that he had 'no difficulty' taking responsibility. 'You're the opposition, you say. You could have been in Government, you could have been a Government. 'You could have been a Government, but you didn't have the courage,' he said. Advertisement 'You and many in your party didn't have the courage,' Martin said, adding that he knows former Labour leader and TD Alan Kelly did want to go into Government, 'to be fair to him'. The Labour Party walked away from Government formation talks in December last year after the general election. At the time, Bacik said it was because the policy gap between her party and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael was too large. Rental regulation Leaders' questions in the Dáil today focused on the Government's proposed changes to how the rental sector in Ireland is regulated. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald accused the Government of implementing changes that will lead to rent hikes for tenants. She said the changes will be a 'blueprint to boost the profit of the big boys and to screw over renters'. 'That's your plan, and you do this during a persistent cost-of-living crisis, when people are hit with price hikes right across the board. Over the last four years, the cost of the weekly shop has skyrocketed by €3000 a year for many, many families,' she said. Likewise, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore used her slot to criticise the Government's changes to rental regulation. 'You've been planning these rental reforms for months, and yet you made an absolute hames of them last week. Even your own Cabinet colleagues couldn't make sense of them,' she said. 'For the avoidance of any doubt, there was one simple thing that these reforms were to do, and that was to drive rents higher,' Whitmore said. Defending the changes, the Taoiseach said reforms will enhance protection for renters and highlighted the fact that every existing tenant will have their rents capped at 2% once the emergency legislation to extend the RPZs is passed later this week. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal