Kelly inspired by work of community groups, reiterates support for City Status
The look on Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly’s Face spoke volumes as workers in the Connect Family Resource Centre in Moneymore told him about the multitude of community programmes they run.
“Incredible” he said repeatedly as family support worker Ciara O’Shea and Foootsteps Co-ordinator Clodagh Naughton told him about all the classes, events, counselling services, parenting programmes, family support services fitness programmes and many more activities that they organise and deliver in the community.
Along with delivering this hectic schedule of services the people at Connect are constantly having to apply for funding for each separate service or event. On top of this they are also heavily involved in seeking funding for a new Community Centre in the area.
Mr. Kelly was in Drogheda on Wednesday at the behest of local TD Ged Nash who brought him on a whistle-stop tour which also included visits to the Drogheda Men’s Shed with Cllr Elaine McGinty; a visit to Scoil Naomh Colmcille in Tullydonnell, Togher to support the campaign for an improved SNA allocation model and supports to children with additional needs and a meeting with the Teachers’ Union of Ireland DkIT branch to pledge Labour’s ongoing support for Technological University status for the Institute.
Also at the meeting in Moneymore was Michael Keogh of the Drogheda Implementation Board who was paying his first visit to the Connect House and he too was very impressed with what he was hearing.
Mr. Kelly told Drogheda Life that he was “really inspired” to learn first-hand from Ciara and Clodagh at the Connect House of the critically important work the centre does in the community.
“The work and the range of services run from the centre on a very small budget is remarkable” he said.
“I was also delighted that I had the opportunity to meet with Michael Keogh and Grainne Berrill of the Drogheda Implementation Board with my colleague Ged Nash and Cllr. Michelle Hall and to commit again the support of the Labour Party to the development of a full community facility to serve the area under the Moneymore Consortium.
Pictured during the Labour Party Leader’s visit to the Drogheda and District Men’s Shed are (from left): Deputy Ged Nash, Martin Rice Chairman of the Shed, Alan Kelly, Liam Reynolds, Secretary of the Shed, Elaine McGinty, and Fr. Iggy Donovan. Photo: Kevin Brogan.
“I know that the multi-agency response to the social and economic problems in Drogheda was pioneered by Ged and Cllr. Pio Smith and we want to see the 73 Geiran Review recommendations achieved in full.
“Drogheda is a fantastic town whose best days are ahead of it. In order for Ireland’s largest town to fulfil its potential, the town must be designated as a city.
“I say this as the Minister for the Environment who commissioned the Drogheda Boundary Review in 2015. I did this fully recognising that Drogheda’s growth had to be achieved in a planned and sustainable way.”
The Labour Leader concluded;
“It is also clear to me that Drogheda’s growth and development is very much dependent on the Northern Port Access Route. Ged Nash is constantly raising this issue with the relevant Departments and Ministers and it is beyond time that government gave a much needed vote of confidence to the town and made the money available to make this happen.”
