We’ll protest until they answer
Tired, tired, sick and tired... that just about sums it all up and, as Murt says, it's time to get off the fence!
Our project was to provide an alternative for those caught up in the revolving door of the psychiatric system.
On hearing last October that our social housing project had been approved and that funding would be available once planning was received, Slí Eile Housing Association paid a deposit on a property, engaged a team of architects, engineers, etc, drew up development plans and went on to obtain planning permission last June.
The date for concluding the purchase has come and gone, but still we wait and wait... for sanction of funding from the Environment Department's social housing unit.
Administration for this funding is through the local authority housing unit at Annabella House in Mallow. We have sought, to no avail, meetings with the voluntary housing unit and Minister Noel Ahern who is responsible for this funding.
We have lobbied our TDs, and all we are getting is " the application is under consideration".
Slí Eile is about working with service providers for a common goal, but we too are tired of getting the run-around, tired of the lack of accountability from those who are paid to provide a service to the public.
The local authority say they have done everything necessary, the Dept of the Environment say they are waiting for more information from the local authority, and so it goes on and on and on.
Last Monday we held a protest outside the Annabella House offices of the local authority and plan to do so every Monday from 8.30am9.30am until we receive answers.
Joan Hamilton,
Slí Eile Housing Association,
Dromina,
Charleville,
Co Cork.
