MOWLAM PROMISES TO DO HER BEST ON JOBS AND HOSPITAL SERVICES
Mowlam promises to 'do her best' on jobs and hospital services
ACQUIRING inward investment for Omagh will be at the 'forefront' of the Secretary of State's mind, as she travels around North America on a major IDB trade mission, she told district councillors this week.
Dr. Mo Mowlam also gave assurances that local people would have access to accident and emergency services, and that she would do her best to represent the case for the retention of acute services at the Tyrone County Hospital.
She was speaking at a meeting with councillors on Monday, prior to the launch of the 'Omagh Renewal and Beyond' initiative.
The meeting was to be held 'in committee' but, after some debate, the public gallery was opened, and members of the Press were permitted to attend.
Later in the meeting, four representatives from the group of protesters who demonstrated outside the council offices, calling for the retention of acute services at the hospital, were invited in to hear the proceedings.
At the outset of the meeting, Mr Reuben McKelvey asked the Secretary of State for an up date on compensation claims and benefits.
Dr. Mowlam revealed that 622 people had lodged notice of intent to claim compensation for injuries sustained in the bomb, and 168 formal applications had already been received.
She apologised for any delays in the compensation procedure, and added that payments of benefits were being handled as speedily as possible.
She said the Government would also be looking at the submission by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust for additional funding.
Mr Sean Clarke, chairman, pointed out that many traders had been affected by the bomb. He claimed that Omagh was a 'ghost town' and the traders needed special help to bring the life back into the town centre.
Mr. John McKinney, chief executive, said the council had applied to Europe for funds to assist the traders, but there had been little movement. And he asked if the Government would match any funds received from Europe.
Dr. Mowlam said the Government had supported the council in its application, but she could give no financial commitment as yet.
She said the Government would be pushing for a quick decision from Europe, and the matter would be looked at once any grants came through.
Mr. Crawford McFarland said morale and business could be boosted if the Market Street area was opened up again.
Mrs. Ann Gormley said Omagh and Enniskillen had agreed to share one hospital on a split site, but she asked for an assurance that there would be equity of access to acute services, particularly accident and emergency.
Dr. Mowlam said she was fully aware of the concern locally about the future of the hospital.
She said she had received a number of letters on the matter, and the protest outside had served to reinforce those feelings.
Referring to accident and emergency services, she said the Government would "make sure" there would be access to such services.
'Major gap'
Mr. Joe Byrne commented on the Government's strategy for acute services in Northern Ireland, saying there was "major gap" regarding health service provision in the south and west.
"We went with Fermanagh council on developing one hospital on a shared site, and we would like our case to be pressed to Health and Social Services. The type of model we have tried to develop has not been fully appreciated. We want viable hospital services in Omagh and Enniskillen," he said.
Mr. Drew Baxter said there was great concern that a decision had been made to withdraw local cancer outpatient clinics at the end of the month.
However, Dr. Mowlam said she was not aware that any decision on the matter had been taken, and consultation was still ongoing.
She said the issue should be taken up with the Western Health and Social Services Board to find out the exact nature of the consultation, and what stage it had reached.
Mr. Mickey McAnespie asked for an assurance that jobs would be created once the town's new advance factory was set up.
The Secretary of State said Omagh would be "at the forefront" of her mind while in America on the IDB trade mission to seek inward investment.
"I can't guarantee that I will get investment, but we will do everything we can to get that factory occupied. I am giving you a serious commitment, but it can't be 100 per cent," she said.
Mr. Francis Mackey called for more decentralisation, in line with Labour Party policy, so Omagh could regain its status as a major administrative centre.
The council submitted a number of other written queries to Dr. Mowlam, and a delegation is to meet her at a later date to discuss them.
ACQUIRING inward investment for Omagh will be at the 'forefront' of the Secretary of State's mind, as she travels around North America on a major IDB trade mission, she told district councillors this week.
Dr. Mo Mowlam also gave assurances that local people would have access to accident and emergency services, and that she would do her best to represent the case for the retention of acute services at the Tyrone County Hospital.
She was speaking at a meeting with councillors on Monday, prior to the launch of the 'Omagh Renewal and Beyond' initiative.
The meeting was to be held 'in committee' but, after some debate, the public gallery was opened, and members of the Press were permitted to attend.
Later in the meeting, four representatives from the group of protesters who demonstrated outside the council offices, calling for the retention of acute services at the hospital, were invited in to hear the proceedings.
At the outset of the meeting, Mr Reuben McKelvey asked the Secretary of State for an up date on compensation claims and benefits.
Dr. Mowlam revealed that 622 people had lodged notice of intent to claim compensation for injuries sustained in the bomb, and 168 formal applications had already been received.
She apologised for any delays in the compensation procedure, and added that payments of benefits were being handled as speedily as possible.
She said the Government would also be looking at the submission by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust for additional funding.
Mr Sean Clarke, chairman, pointed out that many traders had been affected by the bomb. He claimed that Omagh was a 'ghost town' and the traders needed special help to bring the life back into the town centre.
Mr. John McKinney, chief executive, said the council had applied to Europe for funds to assist the traders, but there had been little movement. And he asked if the Government would match any funds received from Europe.
Dr. Mowlam said the Government had supported the council in its application, but she could give no financial commitment as yet.
She said the Government would be pushing for a quick decision from Europe, and the matter would be looked at once any grants came through.
Mr. Crawford McFarland said morale and business could be boosted if the Market Street area was opened up again.
Mrs. Ann Gormley said Omagh and Enniskillen had agreed to share one hospital on a split site, but she asked for an assurance that there would be equity of access to acute services, particularly accident and emergency.
Dr. Mowlam said she was fully aware of the concern locally about the future of the hospital.
She said she had received a number of letters on the matter, and the protest outside had served to reinforce those feelings.
Referring to accident and emergency services, she said the Government would "make sure" there would be access to such services.
'Major gap'
Mr. Joe Byrne commented on the Government's strategy for acute services in Northern Ireland, saying there was "major gap" regarding health service provision in the south and west.
"We went with Fermanagh council on developing one hospital on a shared site, and we would like our case to be pressed to Health and Social Services. The type of model we have tried to develop has not been fully appreciated. We want viable hospital services in Omagh and Enniskillen," he said.
Mr. Drew Baxter said there was great concern that a decision had been made to withdraw local cancer outpatient clinics at the end of the month.
However, Dr. Mowlam said she was not aware that any decision on the matter had been taken, and consultation was still ongoing.
She said the issue should be taken up with the Western Health and Social Services Board to find out the exact nature of the consultation, and what stage it had reached.
Mr. Mickey McAnespie asked for an assurance that jobs would be created once the town's new advance factory was set up.
The Secretary of State said Omagh would be "at the forefront" of her mind while in America on the IDB trade mission to seek inward investment.
"I can't guarantee that I will get investment, but we will do everything we can to get that factory occupied. I am giving you a serious commitment, but it can't be 100 per cent," she said.
Mr. Francis Mackey called for more decentralisation, in line with Labour Party policy, so Omagh could regain its status as a major administrative centre.
The council submitted a number of other written queries to Dr. Mowlam, and a delegation is to meet her at a later date to discuss them.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1264
Published Date: 08-Oct-98
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