As per the old election thread. This is a follow on from the election, and hopefully will chart the progress of the town council in its endeavours over its life.

To get the ball rolling, I see that Cllr. Daly is calling for increased MABS representation in Youghal (youghalonline.com refers). A welcome move, and sorely needed in these times.

Not quite a move, like Cllr Daly said in the election run-up, anyone can comment on an issue.
Definitely a step in the right direction though, fair play to him; it'll be interesting to see how he acts on this.
Obviously something close to home with Daly if one was to look at his line of work, lets hope he'll let Sherlock focus on East Cork and he concentrate on Youghal.

True. Speaking of TDs, Dave Stanton was in my local last week (can't remember which night, Friday possibly). Working, of course as he was meeting a few folk. If Mick Ahern or Neddy boy walked in, you'd hear my jaw hitting the floor from the ferry point. Nice to see something happening on the part of the two opposition TDs.

For info, the council reports are also available on youghalonline.com (on youghalnews.ie too, but as a pdf copy of the paper version, and not as soon). Latest one is at the link below:

Youghal Town Council Meeting June 2009 | YoughalOnline.com

Liam Burke has suggested a retail strategy, which although welcome, is something which should have been looked at a long time ago, IMO.

Still, it's a step forward...

From small acorns ...etc. My initial 'move' on this was to bring it to the attention of the TD for the area, Deputy Sherlock. 2nd 'move' was to table a Parlimentary question to the Minister of Social Welfare. On receipt of her reply the next 'move' was to bring it to the attention of the public at large by way of the local & national media. To date this has meant, Youghalonline, East Cork Journal, Irish Examiner, and today at 4 pm on CRY and hopefully an article in the Youghal Notes on Mondays Echo (if they have space). The next 'move' will be to encourage my colleagues on the Council to lobby the other 3 TDs for the area. Having a MABS office is completely in the gift of Fianna Fail and if there is no appetite on behalf of Michael Ahern or Ned O' Keeffe to move forward with this it wont happen!
The most Sean Sherlock and I can hope to do is to consistently lobby and keep this subject in the public arena until we eventually embarrass FF into doing something!
As regards Sean focussing on East Cork and I focussing on Youghal thats a strange comment. Obviously as a Town Councillor, my sole focus will be Youghal for the next 5 years - and I will use whatever influence, persuasion, coercion, pleading or whatever else to improve the lot of the Youghal people. Youghal, being an integral part of East Cork, will, I feel be higher on Seans agenda than on many TD's that 'represented us over the last 20 years.

An encouraging start all the same. I have friends with personal experience of using MABS and by all accounts they offered great help and in times like this I would assume they are going to be in more demand than ever so if anything the waiting list for their services is going to increase.

Donie How are you finding working for oh sorry with Mr Ryan?

LoL!
To date, all I can say is that Liam has been extremely obliging and has helped me enormously to find my feet on the Council. And if things aren't getting done, I certainly can not point the finger in his direction!

Have I got my facts right in saying that 85,000 Euro is to be spent on a ground covering for the childrens playground? I find the figure obscene.

Now I know kids need protecting and all, but 85k? What was wrong with throwing a great big dollop of sand in there as a ground covering?

Liability concerns, I imagine. Ground covering of a certain standard may well be a condition of insurance too. It's the way of the world these days unfortunately.

That said, it should be ensured that the council have sought out the best deal under the circumstances.

Good point. At least the kiddies won't scrape their knees now