“I am delighted that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, has decided to allocate €75,000 for works on Lower Aghada Pier. This funding consists of 75% of the €100,000 needed to carry out vital works to the Pier. The Lower Aghada Pier Development Group and the local community in Lower Aghada and the surrounding area should be commended for their hard work and commitment to this project. They have raised a considerable amount of money themselves and their enthusiasm and professionalism has ensured that the pier will finally be refurbished and reopened.

“Cork County Council and the Port of Cork have also been involved and have both given huge support to the pier project.

“This funding approved by the Minister will cover large scale refurbishment of the pier, which is currently closed to the public for safety reasons. Work to be carried out includes repairs to the concrete slipway, the stone steps and the pier stonework. Once these works are concluded, the pier can then be reopened again to the public.

“The refurbished pier will be a huge asset to the people of Lower Aghada and Cork Harbour. It will add to the infrastructure in the harbour and will facilitate recreation, watersports and other marine activities.

“I am pleased that the PET/CT scanner is now operational in CUH, albeit on a limited basis. This unit has been lying idle since 2009 and is the only such scanner in the Munster area. Up until now all patients in Cork and the surrounding area had been forced to travel to St James’ Hospital in Dublin for PET/CT scans,” said Deputy Stanton.

“I understand from the HSE that, following a public procurement process, the operation of the PET/CT scanner has been contracted out to Alliance Medical and that initially the unit will only be operational for two days a week catering for public patients only. I believe that discussions are continuing with private health insurance companies to cover scans for all their customers in CUH also. Unfortunately, until an agreement is reached, some private health insurance customers will continue to travel to Dublin for scans.

“Despite the restrictions I am happy that the PET/CT unit is finally up and running. PET/CT scans are an essential diagnostic tool for people suffering from cancer and other illnesses and as such are a vital part of health services. I look forward to the PET/CT unit being operational on a full time basis in CUH soon.

David Stanton, Fine Gael TD for Cork East and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Justice Committee was pleased to launch the Committee’s report on Missing Persons last week. The report followed a series of Committee hearings, which invited groups involved in searches for missing persons and assistance for families affected, to discuss what can be done at national level to increase levels of help and support with missing person cases.

“I would hope that our Committee Report will make a meaningful contribution to help raise public awareness and public assistance in searching for those who have gone missing and in supporting families and friends,” said Deputy Stanton.

“The Committee strongly backs suggestions that were made to by groups to help achieve this and we are very aware of the need to explore further how to help and support families and those left behind. The never ending deep trauma, worry and sense of loss arising from not knowing how or why a loved one has gone missing, what has happened to him or to her, whether he or she is still alive or not was appreciated by all other Committee Members.

“The report recommends the establishment of a single helpline, Child Rescue Ireland, for those wishing to report a missing person. This would be similar to the internationally recognised amber alert system which will be used ‘when a child has been abducted and there is a reasonable suspicion of an immediate and serious risk to his or her health or welfare’. This telephone line should be staffed by fully trained personnel who can make the appropriate initial enquiries to allow quick commencement of any investigation.

“The Committee also believes that a national forum consisting of Gardaí, relevant State bodies and recognised NGOs that work in the area of missing persons should be established to ensure a viable, agreed and co-ordinated response system is put in place. Other key recommendations included the possible involvement of mobile phone service providers in the provision of an alert system for missing persons; a public information process, and the establishment of a National Missing Persons Day.

“During the hearings, I was particularly pleased to welcome the contribution from Davis College, Mallow, Co Cork. Students from this college undertook the very successful ‘Forget Me Not’ campaign as part of their transition year project to raise awareness of the issue of missing persons in Ireland. These students recently won first place at the National Final of the Young Social Innovators Awards, and have worked hard to have a National Missing Persons Day established which I believe the Minister for Justice is considering.

To view David Stanton TD, Committee Chairman discussing the report: http://youtu.be/-72ckrkWw2I

To view the Committee’s full report click on the following link: http://bit.ly/KHILOZ

“The car parking charges at railway stations on the Midleton to Cork rail line have been a matter that I have raised with Iarnrod Eireann on many occasions. I know that people in East Cork are very happy that the rail-link opened to Midleton after years of campaigning and planning. The service is very reliable and punctual. However, one issue remains to be resolved: car parking charges.

“The Minister for Transport advised that the rail stations at Midleton, Carrigtwohill, Glounthaune and Little Island in County Cork have car parks which are charged on the same basis as commuter stations through the Iarnrod Eireann network. These charges vary from €2 of €3 per day or €8 to €10 per week depending on the payment method used. While I acknowledge that these charges are not high, the rail stations are the only places in these towns and villages where car parking is not free.

“I remain concerned that the parking charge policy of Iarnrod Eireann may be a deterrent to train use on this service. As a regular train user, I can see that the car park in Carrigtwohill is virtually empty as is the huge space in Midleton where the adjoining streets are taken up with the cars of rail users.

“Also up to very recently car parking was free at Little Island and Glounthaune stations. When charges were put in place at these stations we now find that most rail commuters chose to park on the roadway which is, of course, free. Others may choose to abandon using the train altogether.

“Minister Varadkar has also asked Iarnrod Eireann to respond to me directly regarding general car parking policy at these East Cork rail stations so I look forward to hearing from them.