West Cork being bled to death by cuts, say protesters surrounding Dáil

The West Cork region is “bleeding to death” due to Government cuts, protesters claimed yesterday.

More than 150 people picketed Dáil Éireann in response to continued cuts to grants and services in the sprawling coastal constituency.

Some protesters, who got up at 5am to travel to Dublin, claimed the region was not being supported by its three TDs, all from government parties.

Supporters of the West Cork Community Alliance said the region’s three peninsulas and all its towns were represented at the protest. People brandished a number of banners citing the different cuts being inflicted on West Cork people, such as the downgrading of A&E services, Garda station closures, and dwindling rural transport, along with rural funding reductions.

“The recent €2m cut in the West Cork Development Partnership [Leader] budget is causing huge stress with comm-unity groups and leading to the loss of vital jobs in the region,” said alliance spokesman Michael Collins said.

A delegation met with an official from the Department of Transport and provided him with a presentation on cuts to rural transport.

“It’s far more difficult to run a service now and it will lead to increased isolation for elderly people,” said Mr Collins.

Meanwhile, protestors also highlighted the planned night-time closure of Bantry General Hospital’s emergency department, due to come into effect on Jul 8.

“The day service there is second to none,” said Mr Collins. “Nobody can tell us that closing it at night is a good thing. People will have to travel from the peninsulas to Cork University Hospital. It’s like telling people in Cork City their A&E is in Portlaoise.”

Despite meeting West Cork TD Noel Harrington outside the Dáil, Mr Collins said alliance members felt they were not getting the support they needed from their three TDs.

“This [protest] is not politically motivated but community driven. We’re finding it difficult to get support from out TDs. There’s too much spin going on while West Cork is bleeding to death.”

Alliance members also had meetings yesterday with Independent TDs Michael Healy-Rae and Mattie McGrath.

“There’s nothing in it for Michael Healy-Rea as he’s in a neighbouring constituency,” said Mr Collins. “But he’s met our group a number of times before. We’re depending on him and Deputy McGrath to ask the questions which are vitally important.”