Friday, January 16, 2009
Almost 2,000 more out of work in year
By Conor CULLEN
Wednesday January 14 2009
UNEMPLOYMENT IN the Wexford district has now reached 'crisis' point, with the latest CSO figures showing that almost 2,000 more people are now claiming unemployment benefit than at the same time last year.
The latest figures show that 342 more people joined the dole queue in Wexford town in December 2008 as unemployment hit a ten-year high. There are now 4,882 people on the Live Register in Wexford town and district, compared to 2,859 at this time last year – an increase of 1,963 people, or just over 70 per cent.
The numbers claiming unemployment benefit continue to increase every month and yet another threshold was broken in December as over 1,000 people under the age of 25 are now on the Live Register in Wexford. Of these 1,075 claimants, 684 are young men and 391 young women.
Overall, there are 3,032 men on the Live Register in Wexford town and district, compared to 1,790 women.
Labour Councillor Joe Ryan says that unemployment in the Wexford district has now reached 'crisis point' and that he is concerned that the Government has no strategy to deal with it.
Cllr. Ryan said that while the overall unemployment figures are subject to national trends, 'we are seeing a repeat of trends from the 1980s, where young people are bearing the brunt of the jobs crisis'.
'Figures only count the number without work, but its when you look closely to see who is losing their job that the reality of the crisis emerges,' said Cllr. Ryan. 'Last month the number below the age of 25 broke the 1,000 barrier, now it looks set to rise even further,' he said.
Throughout County Wexford almost 5,500 people were added to the Live Register last year. In December alone, 909 more people sought unemployment benefit, bringing the total number of countywide claimants to 12,978.
Of the four social welfare offices, the highest number are signing on in Wexford (4,822), followed by Enniscorthy (3,249), Gorey (2,607) and New Ross (2,300).
- Conor CULLEN
Council accepted incorrect Library Tender...
By Conor CULLEN
Wednesday January 14 2009
WEXFORD County Council could save a lot of money as a result of a hiccup in the tendering process for the new County Library, it was claimed on Monday.
Construction work was due to start this month but has been put back after the Department of Finance rejected the tender accepted by Wexford County Council because the contract was submitted in an old format.
The successful building contractor was given the option of tendering again in the new fixed price form required by the Department but turned it down so the project now has to go to tender again.
In the meantime, the cordoned-off site at Mallin Street is to be re-surfaced at a cost of ¤35,000 and used as a public car park again.
'It didn't work out, but I put no blame on the contractor, these things are quite complex,' said Director of Services Tony Larkin at Monday's meeting of the local authority.
Mr. Larkin said that he expected the project to be back out to tender quite quickly and contractors on site 'over summer'.
He encouraged the Councillors to look for 'the rainbow after the shower', saying that 'the job may be re-tendered for a very reasonable price'.
Mr. Larkin said that in the current economic climate the County Council had found tendering processes are becoming extremely competitive, which is reflected in the projected prices. 'We've lost a few months, but financially it could work to our advantage,' said Mr. Larkin.
The question of when the library would be ready was raised by Cllr. Fergie Kehoe, who felt that if the funds were no longer available or the Mallin Street project, it should be incorporated into County Hall.
However, he was assured the funds were still there and the project would proceed as quickly as possible.
Wednesday January 14 2009
WEXFORD County Council could save a lot of money as a result of a hiccup in the tendering process for the new County Library, it was claimed on Monday.
Construction work was due to start this month but has been put back after the Department of Finance rejected the tender accepted by Wexford County Council because the contract was submitted in an old format.
The successful building contractor was given the option of tendering again in the new fixed price form required by the Department but turned it down so the project now has to go to tender again.
In the meantime, the cordoned-off site at Mallin Street is to be re-surfaced at a cost of ¤35,000 and used as a public car park again.
'It didn't work out, but I put no blame on the contractor, these things are quite complex,' said Director of Services Tony Larkin at Monday's meeting of the local authority.
Mr. Larkin said that he expected the project to be back out to tender quite quickly and contractors on site 'over summer'.
He encouraged the Councillors to look for 'the rainbow after the shower', saying that 'the job may be re-tendered for a very reasonable price'.
Mr. Larkin said that in the current economic climate the County Council had found tendering processes are becoming extremely competitive, which is reflected in the projected prices. 'We've lost a few months, but financially it could work to our advantage,' said Mr. Larkin.
The question of when the library would be ready was raised by Cllr. Fergie Kehoe, who felt that if the funds were no longer available or the Mallin Street project, it should be incorporated into County Hall.
However, he was assured the funds were still there and the project would proceed as quickly as possible.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Wexford 42nd out of 55 towns
Ref Wexford People
By Maria PEPPER
Wednesday January 07 2009
WEXFORD town has improved in the end-of-year IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) survey but is still way down in the national rankings after ending 2008 with a 'moderately littered' label.
The town lost its litter free status and fell from glory in the second half of last year, ending up bottom of the list after being in the top four and five during 2006 and 2007.
It is now in 42nd place, an improvement on the previous survey which placed it 51st out of 55 towns in the country.
The latest survey carried out by An Taisce finds that 36 out of 55 Irish towns are litter free compared to only two when the survey began in 2002. But Wexford fails to make the grade.
'A big improvement but a bad second survey keeps it down the table' commented the judges who criticised Wexford Enterprise centre and the Wexford Harbour wall.
'The Enterprise Centre was more littered than previous IBAL anti-litter surveys', they remarked. 'The level of litter was such that it was almost a serious litter problem - if not tackled, it could deteriorate very quickly'.
A variety of food related litter and plastic bottles were found trapped in the boulders at the harbour wall, with little change from the previous inspection.
A number of areas came in for praise, including the Rosslare approach road. 'An excellent, fresh and clean approach to Wexford -road surface/signage/markings were in very good condition'.
The Dublin approach road was also described as 'excellent' along with the New Ross approach where the paving and grass were in a 'meticulous' condition and the road 'spotless'.
The car park at the Tourist Office was 'moderately littered' during the latest inspection. 'On the whole, this was quite good site but a light scattering of litter prevented it getting the top grade', said the judges.
The quayfront was 'a very well maintained and respected amenity with life-belts, benches, litter bins and poop and scoop facilities all in very good condition'.
Bayview Drive was singled out for its litter-free standard. 'The paving, grass and individual gardens were all in very good condition. This was a very clean site', according to the An Taisce inspectors. Donore Castle at Ferrycarrig was also complimented.
The judges highlighted discarded chewing gum as the greatest blemish on the urban landscape in Ireland. 'It is expensive to remove and consequently, for the most part, remains premanently stuck to our pavements', they said.
Wexford lags behind many of its near neighbours in this latest IBAL league table, with Wicklow (15th), Gorey (18th), Arklow (19th) and Waterford City (34th) all earning 'clean' status, and Enniscorthy (37th) and Kilkenny (39th) both finishing marginally above Wexford town in the litter list.
The cleanest town in the country is Howth according to the nationwide study issued on Monday. 'Seriously littered' Cobh in County Cork is the country's dirtiest town.
- Maria PEPPER
By Maria PEPPER
Wednesday January 07 2009
WEXFORD town has improved in the end-of-year IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) survey but is still way down in the national rankings after ending 2008 with a 'moderately littered' label.
The town lost its litter free status and fell from glory in the second half of last year, ending up bottom of the list after being in the top four and five during 2006 and 2007.
It is now in 42nd place, an improvement on the previous survey which placed it 51st out of 55 towns in the country.
The latest survey carried out by An Taisce finds that 36 out of 55 Irish towns are litter free compared to only two when the survey began in 2002. But Wexford fails to make the grade.
'A big improvement but a bad second survey keeps it down the table' commented the judges who criticised Wexford Enterprise centre and the Wexford Harbour wall.
'The Enterprise Centre was more littered than previous IBAL anti-litter surveys', they remarked. 'The level of litter was such that it was almost a serious litter problem - if not tackled, it could deteriorate very quickly'.
A variety of food related litter and plastic bottles were found trapped in the boulders at the harbour wall, with little change from the previous inspection.
A number of areas came in for praise, including the Rosslare approach road. 'An excellent, fresh and clean approach to Wexford -road surface/signage/markings were in very good condition'.
The Dublin approach road was also described as 'excellent' along with the New Ross approach where the paving and grass were in a 'meticulous' condition and the road 'spotless'.
The car park at the Tourist Office was 'moderately littered' during the latest inspection. 'On the whole, this was quite good site but a light scattering of litter prevented it getting the top grade', said the judges.
The quayfront was 'a very well maintained and respected amenity with life-belts, benches, litter bins and poop and scoop facilities all in very good condition'.
Bayview Drive was singled out for its litter-free standard. 'The paving, grass and individual gardens were all in very good condition. This was a very clean site', according to the An Taisce inspectors. Donore Castle at Ferrycarrig was also complimented.
The judges highlighted discarded chewing gum as the greatest blemish on the urban landscape in Ireland. 'It is expensive to remove and consequently, for the most part, remains premanently stuck to our pavements', they said.
Wexford lags behind many of its near neighbours in this latest IBAL league table, with Wicklow (15th), Gorey (18th), Arklow (19th) and Waterford City (34th) all earning 'clean' status, and Enniscorthy (37th) and Kilkenny (39th) both finishing marginally above Wexford town in the litter list.
The cleanest town in the country is Howth according to the nationwide study issued on Monday. 'Seriously littered' Cobh in County Cork is the country's dirtiest town.
- Maria PEPPER
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