If Ballybane and its population is to “thrive and flourish in future”, a task force to “reinstate vital community supports that have either been taken away or were never put in place” is essential.
This is the view of Sinn Féin senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, who has called for such a task force, after speaking with community representatives this week to arrange a meeting to progress the project. “‘The local community has been calling for a long time for a task force with a funded person to co-ordinate the work,” he said.
He said the task force would focus on “a realistic approach” to unemployment, the need for a community employment scheme, homelessness and housing, activities for younger and older people, securing funding to facilitate greater integration, supporting adult literacy, initiatives for horse owners, and the maintenance of homework clubs and study groups.
“This is a community with a large cohort of younger people, a very diverse population, and specific social and educational needs,” he said. “Ballybane has seen a doubling of its population since 2002, a doubling of the younger population, and a doubling of the number of those parenting alone for the same period. Services and staffing to support them have been slashed by the last two governments.”
