Protests at closure of care home

(An edited version of this was published in the Sunday World June 12th)

Over 60 people protested on Thursday outside the offices of Apex Housing in Derry on Thursday, in protest at Apex’s decision to close Bell Gray House in Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone. The UNISON trade union organised the demonstration, attended by relatives, staff, members of the public and Assembly members.

Apex plans to move Bell Gray’s 23 elderly residents 10 miles away, to another care home it owns in Castlederg.

Eddie Donnell from Newtownstewart  fears the move will kill his 99 year old mother, who lives in Bell Gray. “She is very, very happy here,” Donnell said. “It’s very easy for family and friends to call in.” As a retired nurse, Donnell knows how important that contact is.

Donnell is also concerned for the staff. “Several of them in her can walk in in the mornings, they can’t drive, it’s a non starterfor them to move to Castlederg.”

Janet Cooper’s mother also lives in Bell Gray. She accused Apex of not  caring about the effect on residents. “The care here is excellent,” she said.  Her mother became ill very suddenly, and had been in a couple of other facilities before Bell Gray. “Since she came here, she’s improved,” Ms Cooper said. “Her social skills is improved, she’s interacting well with other residents. The social worker, the doctor, have said how much she improved.

“It’s down to the staff, the environment. It’s stimulating, it’s homely. It’s a small house, they can do that. Apex should have a duty of care.”

A resident in his late 80s said: “We shall not be moved. Money, money, that’s what this is all about.”  He said residents were not consulted. They just got an announcement. “We’re only a broken stick, we’re not big enough for that crowd,” he said. “The staff is first class. You couldn’t get better in the world. I know all of them by their name. It’s more like a part of a family.”

Another residents in his 80s said he was disgusted at how they were being treated. “They’re going to chuck us out now, from one place to the other,” he said. “That’s what they’re doing.”

Staff members are being offered redeployment to Castlderg – but for some it’s not possible. They will be losing their jobs. Jackie Donnell is one. “I don’t drive and I’ll have to give up my job,” she said. “There is no public transport. I’d have to to on the bus to Strabane, and another to Castlderg. That’s not on for a half seven shift.”

Niall McCarroll from UNISON said he questioned why Apex was closing the home. “The reasons that they are giving for closing the place down are false,” he said. “They’re trying to use the RQIA (Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority) and the state of the building,” he said. “But the last RQIA report gave it a well-run home.”

 3,000 signed have already signed a petition calling for Bell Gray to be kept open. There has been a packed meeting in Newtownstewart. The campaign has got support from MLAs and councillors of all parties, and from West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty

According to the latest set of accounts, Apex Housing had an operating surplus of £7.5million last year ending 31^st March last year.

A spokesman for Apex said the closure was necessary due to high staff turnover, and the condition of Bell Gray House. “Apex employed technical consultants to assess both the physical fabric of the building and its mechanical and electrical components,” the spokesman said. “Their report showed a requirement to spend over £300,000 plus vat (which is not reclaimable) on the property which would only increase the number of available beds marginally. Considerably more investment would be required to increase occupancy to a more viable level however the number of vacancies arising over the last number of years indicates that there is insufficient demand within the local area.”

McCarroll said the campaign is continuing. Campaigners have asked to speak to the next meeting of the Western Trust on June 9^th.

by Anton McCabe

Fermanagh woman burned Republican wreaths

A police witness has told Omagh Magistrates Court tensions are high in the Netownbutler area of Fermanagh after wreaths on Republican graves were burnt last weekend. The witness was opposing a bail application from Donna Bradley. Bradley was charged with burning the wreaths, belonging to the National Graves Association. She was also charged with three counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, and one of common assault. When police charged Bradley, she said: “That’s lies. I was burning my black wreath.”

Judge Bernie Kelly asked Bradley why she had been shouting when held in cells below the court. “I was afraid them boys from Newtownbutler were going to get me,” Bradley told the judge. “They’re all in the IRA you know.” After listening to defence submissions, Judge Kelly granted bail to 44 year old Bradley, of Galloon Gardens, Newtownbutler, and remanded her to Enniskillen Magistrates Court on July 4^th.

Is Irish becoming a girls' language in schools?

by

Anton McCabe 

(an edited version of this piece was published in An tUltach, May 2016)

Tá athrú suntasach agus tobann ann ó thús an chéid mar a bhaineann le Gaeilge sna scoileanna ó Thuaidh. Is cailíní níos mó agus níos mó atá ag tabhairt faoi.

Tá sin le feiceáil sna staitisticí.

I 2002, rinne 2771 Gaeilge ag GCSE. Bhí sé beagnach chomh cothrom agus is féidir a bheith. Bhí 1359 gasúr agus 1412 cailín ann. Sna scoileanna ‘Neamh-Gramadaigh’ (na sean-scoileanna idirmheánacha don chuid ba mhó) bhí rud beag nìos mó gasúr ann, 682 malairt 659 cailín.

I 2015, rinne 1,830 Gaeilge ag GCSE. Bhí 1,136 cailín ann, agus gan ach 694 buachall. Taobh amuigh de na scoileanna gramadaigh, ba cailíní beagnach 75% a thug faoi.

Is tuar dóchais nach amháin go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ag coinneáil ag A Léibhéal, ach go bhfuil méadú ann. Is a mhalairt atá ag tarlú do theangacha eile. Rinne 253 an A Léibhéal i 2002. Bhí 160 cailín ann, malairt 93 buachall. Ba laghdú sin ó 329 trí bliana roimhe.

I 2015 rinne 330 A Léibhéal Gaeilge. Tá an feabhas sin maith, ach go gcaithfear bheith cúramach leis. Ba cailíní go huile is go hiomlán a spreag an méadú. Bhí 239 acu ann, malairt 91 buachall. Taobh amuigh de na scoileanna gramadaigh, ba cailíní 81.5% orthu siúd a chuaigh faoin scrúdú.

Cinnte, cúis atá leis ná go bhfuil athrú ar oideachas. Tá níos mó ábhar ar fáil, roghanna nach raibh ann san am a chuaigh thart. Chríochnaigh mise an A Léibhéal i 1971, i Scoil Gramadach na mBráithre ar an Ómaigh. Ba scoil measartha mór é. Bhí ocht n-ábhar ar fáil ag A Léibhéal, agus trí cinn déag ag O-Léibhéal (GCSE anois). Tá anois dualgas ar scoileanna 27 ábhar a chur ar fail ag GCSE, agus 24 ag A Léibhéal.

Is comhartha arathruithe go bhfuil laghdú ar Ghaeilge i roinnt de na scoileanna gramadaigh a bhíodh láidre. Nuair a bhí mé ar an scoil, bhí tréan scoláire ó na scoileanna sin go raibh Gaeilge acu.  Cuid acu, is ar éigean más ann don Gaeilge iontu ag A Léibhéal anois.

Aithníonn múinteoirí gur labhair mé leo go bhfuil fadhb ann ó thaobh buachaillí agus Gaeilge. Tá claonadh ag gasúir dul le hábhair atá praicticiúla, nó bainte le spórt. Bíonn cailíní níos tugtha d’ábhair acadúla i gcoitinne. D’inis múinteoir amháin dom go raibh sí ag teagasc i scoil a bhí láidir ó thaobh na Gaeilge. Dá mbeadh 15 i rang Gaeilge, bheadh beirt nó triúr gasúr ar a mhéid. Ag an tríú léibhéal, is maith más é an ceathrú cuid den rang a bhíonn i gceist.

Baineann seo, chomh maith, leis an ísliú céime a fuair teangacha i gcoitinne sa chóras oideachais. Nìl nua-theanga riachtanach ag GCSE ó 2004 i leith. Ba rialtas Tony Blair a ghlac an cinneadh. Dá mba rialtas de chuid an Lucht Oibre é, bhí fealsúnacht ‘Little England’ Thatcher agus na dTóraithe go smior iontu.

Táimid faoi thionchar na fealsúnachta sin, faraor. Sampla den toradh atá air ná go bhfuil deireadh le teagasc na Gearmáiníse in Ollscoil na Ríona, agus deireadh dá chur leis in Ollscoil Uladh go luath.

Cinnte, tá scoláirí an lae inniu faoi bhrú le torthaí maithe a fháil. Sa chomhthéacs ain, tá tuilleadh brú ar theangacha. Tá sé amuigh ar theangacha go bhfuil sé deacra. Tá cuid den fhírínne ansin, go háirithe sa Tuaisceart, ó tugadh isteach ‘controlled assessment’ tamall de bhlianta ó shoin.

Caithfear a rá, mar sin féin, go bhfuil rian maith den scéal gan bhunús ar an ‘deacracht le teangacha’ i scrúdaithe. I Sasana agus an Bhreatain Beag anuraidh ag GCSE, fuair 74% d’iarrthóirí C nó níos fear sa Gearmáinís, 71% sin sa bhFraincís, agus gan ach 63% sa Mhatamatic. Seans, b’fhéidir, go raibh na daoine a rinne teangacha níos tiománta, ach an míniú iomlán sin?

Cinnte, tá impleachtaí don Ghaeilge sa neamhaird ar theangacha. Tá toradh air sa Bhreatain, agus is cuid den stát céanna sin. Dúirt An British Academy go bhfuil an stat sin sáinnithe i ‘a vicious circle of monolingualism’. Níl 85% de phobal na Breataine ábalta comhrá a dhéanamh i dteanga eile, seachas an Béarla. Rinneadh suirbhé i 14 tír de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh: bhí na scileanna teangan ba mheasa ag scoláirí na Breataine.

Tá rudaí ag dul in olcas. Le 10 bliain anus i Sasana agus sa Bhreatain Bheag, tá laghdú 50% ar an lion atá ag gabháil don Gearmáinís, agus laghdú 40% ar an lion ag gabháil don bhFraincís. Tá impleachtaí tromcúiseacha ann d’achan gné den saol.

Agus sin mar chúlra, tá ag éirí go maith leis an Ghaeilge.

Tá níos mó suime sa Ghaeilge sa Tuaisceart ná mar a bhí riamh. Cinnte, is mionlach iad an mhuintir a chuireann suim ann. Níl siad teoranta don phobal Caitliceach nó náisiúnach. Tá buaine leis an athbheochan atá anois ann. Cinnte, bhí Conradh na Gaeilge ann ag tús an Chéid seo caite, sularbh ann don stát ó thuaidh. Ba thonn é a tháinig go tobann – agus a thráigh chomh tobann céanna. Cinnte, bhí níos mó páirteach. Ba bheag go maith an rian a d’fhág sé. Cinnte, tá cuid mhór den locht ar an chorraíl idir 1912 go 1923. Sciob sin a lán den obair chun siúil.

Tá impleachtaí ag a bhfuil ag tarlú sa chóras oideachais ó thuaidh don chóras oideachais ó dheas. Is léir don uile duine gur praiseach atá sa Ghaeilge éigeantach mar atá anois. Cinnte, dá gcuirfí deireadh leis, mhairfeadh an Ghaeilge mar ábhar scoile. Mhairfeadh tréan scoláire ag gabháil dó.

Ach tá fianaise ann go mbeadh na laigí céanna ag baint leis agus atá ag baint leis sa Tuaisceart. Is ésin, gur ábhar ag cailíní a bheadh ann.

Tá sé riachtanach go bhfanfadh Gaeilge ar churaclam na scoileanna ó Dheas, go mbeadh sé éigeantach, le go mbeadh tuiscint ag scoláirí ar chultúr agus dúchas s’acu. Leis, tá sé riachtanach go mbeadh bealach ann le buachaillí a spreagadh chun tabhairt faoin Ghaeilge, agus ní cailíní amháin. Nach don uile duine an Ghaeilge?

Wind Farm Expansion turned down

by Anton McCabe

(an edited version of this piece was published in the Sunday World May 30th 2016)

The Planning Appeals Commission has refused permission for taller replacement turbines at one of Northern Ireland’s most visible wind farms, Bessy Bell One, near Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone. The Commission ruled: “The adverse impacts on visual amenity, landscape character, the historic (Baronscourt) demesne and listed buildings within it as well as the risks to public safety and protected species are unacceptable.”

The wind farm is on the side of Bessy Bell Mountain, and can be seen from much of West Tyrone. Wind Farm company SSE had applied to replace the 10 existing turbines. They are 56.5 metres (185 feet) high. Six of the proposed new turbines were to be 126.5 metres (415 feet) high, and the other four 115 metres (377 feet) high. The wind farm was to cover a bigger area: six of the turbines were to be to the south-west of the current site.

Replacing the turbines was going to mean large-scale building work on the site. It would also have meant works on the road from Derry port, to allow the turbines to be transported.

In its ruling, the Commissioner said it had examined the proposed farm from several viewpoints. “The magnitude of change would have an adverse impact on landscape character and visual amenity,” it ruled. This was particularly from the west and south.

It was also scathing of the expanded wind farm’s impact on Baronscourt House and Demesne, one of Northern Ireland’s most important listed buildings. “The introduction of these incongruous features into the planned historic view outwards from the House would cause harm to its setting from the view southwards,” it ruled.

The Commission also rejected the wind farm because it could pose a small but real danger to public safety. Part of the Ulster Way long-distance walk goes through the new site. There is no proposal to re-route it. “Whilst there is no evidence that this would be a significant risk, public safety is a consideration where it is appropriate to adopt a precautionary approach,” it ruled.  The wind farm would damage habitats for badgers and red squirrels.

Campaigners against wind farms welcomed the decision. Owen McMullan of West Tyrone Against Wind Turbines said there are already too many wind farms in the area. “I am delighted to see the planners seeing sense,” he said.

According to SSE, the proposed upgraded wind farm would produce four times more electricity than at present. A spokesman for the company said: "We are disappointed with the decision of the Planning Appeals Commission and will take time to consider the Commissioner's report. SSE remains committed to developing green energy through our wind farm projects, bringing with those projects local jobs, economic contribution and significant community benefit for the region, not only during construction but through the operational lifetime of each of our wind farms."

Last month, the Commission also rejected another wind farm at Cloghinarney, outside Ballymena, because of “a very considerable adverse impact on the landscape character of the area.”