Martin Daly urges probe into Banisloe's deep social deprivation
Martin Daly asked the Taoiseach to examine a case for a multi-agency taskforce to tackle chronic focal and social deprivation in Banisloe. He outlined long-standing unemployment, educational inequality, stalled redevelopment and urgent school refurbishment needs; a Government representative said they would be open and positively disposed to the proposal.
Martin Daly asked whether the Government would commit to examining a case for a multi-agency taskforce across education, housing, youth and enterprise to tackle the chronic focal deprivation and social deprivation affecting Banisloe, which he described as one of the most deprived areas in the country.
He described Banisloe as a proud town just off the M66 that once hosted major employers such as Jabari Square D and A.T. Cross. He cited analysis by Bubble and Deistat identifying severe focal deprivation, intergenerational unemployment and educational inequality; he also named stalled projects and local institutions including Skullcree Nefa awaiting redevelopment for 20 years, Garble College in need of refurbishment ahead of an imminent amalgamation with Ord School Wirra, and local groups BCAD, BACD, Youth Reach and Banisloe Social Services.
A Government representative thanked the Deputy and acknowledged the issue had been raised previously. The representative said they would be open to examining the proposal and that the Government would be "very positively disposed to working on such a proposal."
The exchange leaves open a formal examination of a multi-agency approach focused on education, housing, youth and enterprise in Banisloe. Any further action would depend on that examination and subsequent Government decisions, as indicated by the representative's willingness to consider the proposal.
Request to Government
Martin Daly asked whether the Government would commit to examining a case for a multi-agency taskforce across education, housing, youth and enterprise to tackle the chronic focal deprivation and social deprivation affecting Banisloe, which he described as one of the most deprived areas in the country.
Local conditions cited
He described Banisloe as a proud town just off the M66 that once hosted major employers such as Jabari Square D and A.T. Cross. He cited analysis by Bubble and Deistat identifying severe focal deprivation, intergenerational unemployment and educational inequality; he also named stalled projects and local institutions including Skullcree Nefa awaiting redevelopment for 20 years, Garble College in need of refurbishment ahead of an imminent amalgamation with Ord School Wirra, and local groups BCAD, BACD, Youth Reach and Banisloe Social Services.
Government response
A Government representative thanked the Deputy and acknowledged the issue had been raised previously. The representative said they would be open to examining the proposal and that the Government would be "very positively disposed to working on such a proposal."
Possible implications and next steps
The exchange leaves open a formal examination of a multi-agency approach focused on education, housing, youth and enterprise in Banisloe. Any further action would depend on that examination and subsequent Government decisions, as indicated by the representative's willingness to consider the proposal.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, Banisloe is a proud town in the heart of Ireland, just off the M66, with huge untapped potential, once home to major employers like Jabari Square D and A.T. Cross. Today, Bubble and Deistat identify severe focal deprivation in the town with intergenerational unemployment and educational inequality. Skullcree Nefa is awaiting 20 years for redevelopment. Garble College urgently needs refurbishment, despite imminent amalgamation with Ord School Wirra. Yet Banisloe spirit and jurors, local businesses, clubs, groups like BCAD, BACD, Youth Reach, Banisloe Social Services worked tirelessly, despite long-standing disadvantage. Taoiseach, would the Government commit to the examination of a case for a multi-agency taskforce across education, housing, youth and enterprise to tackle the chronic focal deprivation and social deprivation that has affected Banisloe, which makes it one of the most deprived areas in the country? Thank you, Deputy Taoiseach. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I know he has raised this with me before. I certainly would be open to doing that, and the Government would be very positively disposed to working on such a proposal. Thank you, Deputy.