Healthcare:
Sinn Féin have led the campaign to upgrade Wexford General Hospital.
Before the last election the government promised to completely eliminate waiting lists and to provide extra hospital beds. We have clearly seen the reality of that promise.
One of the greatest wrongs in our health service is that the length of time a patient spends on a waiting list depends on their income. There should be a single waiting list with the provision of health care based on need alone.
There is no valid reason why an Irish National Health Service with free care and medication, funded by general taxation cannot be delivered if the political will exists.
If a government is about any one thing, then the health of its citizens should be its greatest priority. Sinn Féin will accept nothing less than excellence in our health services.
Sinn Féin also call for major investment in our emergency services. A new Fire Station has been promised for Wexford. Sinn Féin will work to make sure that this commitment is delivered on and will campaign for a full-time Fire Service in County Wexford.
Housing:
This Government removed the first time buyers grant while at the same time increasing tax allowances for property speculators. People in need of housing have been sacrificed to facilitate a building boom whose only driving force is profit. The wealth that exists should be directed into developing a building programme for those who need housing.
We want the expansion of Social Housing schemes. Sinn Féin has the political commitment to ensure that those who need homes get them.
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Wexford's Sinn Féin councillors have proposed that the maximum allowable rent on local authority homes should be capped at 12% of the principal earners income.
- Sinn Fein are committed to ensuring that the issue of substandard housing in Wexford receives the highest priority.
- There should be a rent allowance for all older local authority houses - central heating/pvc windows/insulation/wiring should all be upgraded for tenants.
Waste Management - Service Charges
Sinn Féin are the only party in Wexford to have presented consistent opposition to unfair service charges. These charges have been used as a revenue collection device only. They have served to penalise the householder while doing nothing to promote proper waste management policy.
We are:
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Opposed to incineration.
- For a proper waste management policy
- For the closure of Sellafield
- Ready to fight any proposals to introduce domestic water charges.
Rural / Planning
- Opposing Wexford County Councils' excessive planning/development levies
- Supporting W.O.R.D., increased LEADER funding and full Decoupling in farming, and opposition to GM foods.
Transport, Roads and Traffic
- SF have long campaigned for urgent government investment for secondary roads in County Wexford and for a state car insurance system to reduce costs.
- Investment in public transport - The Rosslare to Dublin railway line has been under threat. This line and the rolling stock must be protected and upgraded.
Education
Education and training is a fundamental right to all our people as a process of life-long learning. The government has continued to ignore the crisis in education brought about by years of inadequate investment.
Sinn Féin is calling for:
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A proper Third Level facility for Wexford.
- A reduction of class sizes at primary and secondary level.
- Adequate resources in terms of staffing, materials, facilities, and equipment.
- Increased support for Irish-language schools.
Community Facilities & Amenity Areas
The provision of leisure and amenity areas has been totally neglected in Wexford. While all will acknowledge the real problems of under age drinking and drugs, still no alternative recreational facilities or amenity areas have been provided for our young people.
Sinn Féin call for the entire Ferrybank area, including the reclaimed land to be cleaned up, redeveloped and returned to the people as an amenity area for Wexford town. There should be no new charges to access the Ferrybank area.
The Swimming Pool at Ferrybank must be upgraded and kept in public ownership.
The old County Jail should be kept intact. Sinn Féin have campaigned for the old Jail to be restored as a Museum for Wexford town, to showcase our history and to promote tourism.
Peace Process:
- A vote for Sinn Féin is a positive vote for the Peace Process. We have been the engine for change.
- Sinn Féin has honoured all commitments and shown our willingness to take difficult and hard decisions. We are committed to the transformation of Irish society and are working to develop agreement among the people of Ireland. We are confident that we can make this happen.
- The full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
- A lasting peace settlement
- Irish unity and independence.
Make your vote count - Vótáil Sinn Féin
