Latest news with #MichaelCahill
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Planning refusal for Kerry leisure park a ‘sucker blow' to rural region
TD Michael Cahill (FF) said the proposal for the holiday complex was of major importance to the region and 'would have a major long term impact on employment for all of this neglected area of rural Ireland, for generations to come,' he said. 'This is the 'sucker punch' that local residents and the South Kerry diaspora, scattered throughout the world, did not deserve. It appears to be the same old story, remote, rural areas of our country are being dealt decisions by officialdom, which will negatively impact on the sustainability of the local economy forever more,' stated the Kerry TD. The plans for 'Rinn Rua' holiday Park, revealed in 2023, include the demolition of the famous Reeroe hotel which has been derelict for over 30 years to develop a large scale holiday park west of Reenroe beach. The proposal included holiday lodges, mobile homes, touring campervans, tent/caravan pitches, glamping pods and hobbit huts and all associated services. Planning was also sought for a leisure complex with swimming pool, play areas and a surf shop. Kerry County Council gave four reasons for the refusal including that such a development would contravene the County Development Plan objective as this area is deemed 'visually sensitive'. Another reason was that the local authority said it was not satisfied that it would not cause pollution of groundwater. In light of the decision Mr Cahill, the FF spokesperson on Tourism, said planning restrictions in rural Ireland must be judged by different criteria other than that used for urban settings to help regenerate rural areas. 'With the progression of the South Kerry Greenway project, we were beginning to believe that, at last the pendulum was swinging in our direction. Decisions like this knock the stuffing out of you. Anything that can attract visitors to remote areas, must be encouraged, as the revenue they generate can help to create an employment ripple effect, that allows young people to remain on, and emigrants to return to available livelihoods,' he said. 'Planners need to take into account the bigger picture in rural areas, such as the Iveragh Peninsula. Places that have been neglected for generations like South Kerry, now need to be nurtured and returned to financial health, so that they can sustain viable businesses and jobs,' he said.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Republic Services trash strike heads to court after 6 Massachusetts communities sue
Six cities and towns in Massachusetts struggling with the Republic Services trash collectors strike will go to court Monday. The communities - Canton, Danvers, Gloucester, Beverly, Peabody and Malden - are suing to force the company to pick up growing piles of garbage and recycling. Union workers walked off the job July 1 demanding better pay and benefits from Republic Services. The strike has now lasted three weeks. The six communities filed a joint complaint last Thursday, asking a judge to intervene in the strike. A hearing will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in Salem Superior Court. "We filed suit to try to get some relief from the courts to require Republic to pick up our trash and recycling," Beverly Mayor Michael Cahill told WBZ-TV last week. Cahill said Republic Services told them earlier this summer that if there was a strike, the towns wouldn't have to worry. "They promised that they were a big national company, and they would have resources in our communities to pick up our trash and recycling," Cahill said. The mayor added that health department inspectors found about 25 Republic dumpsters overflowing in Beverly last week. "It is disappointing that these six communities have taken this route as we continue to work with our municipal partners to address their needs," Republic Services said in a statement after the lawsuit was filed. The company and Teamsters Local 25 have been meeting with a federal mediator but have not been able to agree on a new contract. Republic has contracts for trash pickup in 14 cities and towns across Massachusetts and with businesses in other communities, including Newton and Boston.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
6 Massachusetts communities impacted by trash strike file lawsuit against Republic Services
Six communities across Massachusetts impacted by the ongoing trash collector strike filed a complaint in Salem Superior Court Thursday morning asking a judge to put an end to it. "We filed a suit to try and get some relief from the court to require Republic to pick up our trash and recycling," said Beverly Mayor Michael Cahill. The complaint included Canton, Danvers, Gloucester, Beverly, Peabody and Malden. Thursday marked 17 days since the communities received regular trash removal services after union workers walked off the job July 1, demanding better pay and benefits from Republic Services. "Residents can't do this any longer. Our cities and towns can't handle this any longer," said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. "It's a public safety issue. Republic's got to get back to the negotiating table." In response to public scrutiny, Republic Services released a statement Thursday emphasizing their commitment to reaching a strong labor agreement that benefits employees and customers. "Regarding the lawsuit filed today, it is disappointing that these six communities have taken this route as we continue to work with our municipal partners to address their needs," the statement said. For nearly three weeks, Beverly resident and business owner Alex Weatherup says his trash has been piling up. "It does not smell good in my apartment right now. It's hot, it's smelly, and it's not great," he said. Paul Guanci echoed that sentiment saying, "It has affected our business; we've actually rented a big dumpster out back for just our recycling." Back in June, Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga and Beverly Mayor Mike Cahlil say Republic warned them of a potential strike. However, Cahill says, "They said they were trying their best to avoid it but if one happened that we didn't have to worry. They promised that they were a big national company, that they would have resources in our communities to pick up our trash and recycling." "There were promises made leading up to the strike and there have been promises made and unfulfilled since the strike," Verga added. Both mayors told WBZ that they've been in contact with local reps from the company but have yet to hear from the CEO directly. "Our health director went around yesterday with our inspectors and took pictures of about 25 dumpsters that were full and overflowing," Cahill said. To get rid of the trash, Weatherup hired a private collection service. "We had to call junk removal services to take out trash for the condos, the shop, the restaurant," he said. And while the extra business has benefitted Jared Epstein's junk collection service, he says "You know, not ideal for our community." It's helpful for now, but Mayor Cahill says it's no permanent solution. "Fourteen thousand customers. There's no way any small businessperson can do that," he said. A hearing for the lawsuit is expected to be held on Monday at 2 p.m.
Irish Independent
05-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Kerry is ideal location for EU presidency meetings – ‘Where else would you bring them?'
Kerry TD Michael Cahill has said that the county with Killarney as the 'centrepiece' is the most suitable to host international Government ministers given the the provision of accommodation, food and conference facilities, that is available in the town and in the county as a whole. 'Visitors from every corner of the earth have been coming to Kerry for centuries now, to experience its beauty and serenity and have returned on many occasions because of the fabulous time they have enjoyed during their stay here. Where else would you want to bring the senior Government Ministers of all of our EU counterpart states, to experience Ireland, its customs and heritage? said Deputy Cahill. The TD said that they could visit the wonderful sights of the county on their 'downtime'. 'During their downtime, they can visit the Blaskets and Slea Head, Sceilg Mhichíl and the Ring of Kerry, Killarney's Lakes, Gap of Dunloe, National Park and Sliabh Luachra, all of our glorious beaches from Ballybunion to Rossbeigh, Kells to Ventry, Whitestrand to Inch, Ballinskelligs to Cromane, Waterville to Derrynane. "Kerry's golf courses are second to none, with so many to choose from. On to Listowel Writers Week and the Rose of Tralee and to top it all off three days at Puck Fair,' said the Rossbeigh TD. He said he has raised his plans with An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, the Tanáiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris, and the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for European Affairs Thomas Byrne. "If Killarney's bid is successful in bringing the Heads of State to our county for meetings, conferences and functions, it will be a massive boost to the local economy in Killarney and also throughout the county. 'Kerry and Killarney have the experience and the facilities to provide the ultimate experience for these very important visitors, who will bring tales of their travels home with them, initiating a fabulous marketing campaign on our behalf.' The Kerry TD said he will continue to fight for Killarney to host these meetings. "I will continue to push in the coming months for Killarney and Kerry to be included as bases for the rounds of meetings that are to take place from July 1st to December 31, 2026.
Irish Examiner
26-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Kerry families 'frustrated' at pace of review into children's mental health services
Families in Kerry affected by failures in children's mental health services in the county have said they are very disappointed at delays in finishing a review of care. It comes as the Mental Health Commission's annual report shows average compliance rates of 58.34% for Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) centres against four standards. HSE Southwest apologised on Wednesday for not yet finishing a 2023 review into the care of 300 children. 'They are frustrated, it's been really very, very disappointing. This is going on years now,' local TD Michael Cahill said of affected families. 'The impact its had on the individuals, most of whom are young adults now, is long-term and permanent.' He welcomed the HSE's apology but said: 'What does an apology do? I would have called on Simon Harris and Micheál Martin for a public apology, it might give some bit of comfort to the families.' Mental Health Commission report Meanwhile, the Mental Health Commission's annual report found mixed progress in adult and children's services. In Camhs centres it found problems against four standards. These were care plans, risk management, quality of buildings and staffing numbers. These low grades were despite improvements in other areas. The Eist Linn unit in Cork had a rating of 73% overall. Just three counties have Camhs beds nationally. 'Children and young people in crisis may be left with the unacceptable 'choice' between an emergency department, general hospital, children's hospital, or an adult inpatient unit,' the report said. Only five children were admitted to adult units last year, the lowest recorded. CEO John Farrelly welcomed the 'continued decline in restrictive practices' across all services. He noted some centres had fixed long-standing problems, saying: 'These services have demonstrated that poor levels of compliance can be reversed.' He also warned: 'The number of non-compliances rated as high and critical increased on previous years." The commission took 31 enforcement actions across 20 centres, including twice proposing to limit new admissions. Cork and Kerry accounted for 11.52% of physical restraint episodes last year, and the southeast, including Tipperary and Waterford, for 10.56%. The youngest resident physically restrained anywhere was 12 and the oldest was 86. There were 10 episodes of restraint using devices or bodily garments for between 25 minutes and four hours. Last year, there were 316 programmes of Electro-Convulsive Therapy notified for 235 patients in 16 approved centres. The HSE welcomed positive trends, saying six centres achieved 100% compliance, four of which were HSE facilities. Referring to non-compliances, a spokeswoman said: 'The new regional structure will improve how services are run in each area and provide a consistent quality of care across the country. 'HSE Mental Health will develop a detailed action plan with targeted initiatives to improve compliance in these areas.'
