29 January 1998 Edition
Community empowerment for Limerick East
SF seek to improve vote in by-election
By Marcas Mac Ruairí
THOUGH no date has yet been set for the Limerick East by-election, the Sinn Féin candidate in the constituency has emphasised the need for more community empowerment.
Criticising the way community funding has been used in the past, Jenny Shapland.called for more openess and for people in disadvantaged areas of the constituency to be consulted with a view to tackling marginalisation.
A mother of two teenage boys, Jenny has been selected to represent Sinn Féin in the forthcoming by-election which was caused by the death of Labour TD, Jim Kemmy in September.
Born in England to Irish parents, she came to live in Limerick in 1989. Her mother, Mary Monaghan, was born and raised in Garryowen. Her road to politics began in Abington, England where, bearing an Irish name, she was the focus of much anti-Irish racial abuse.
She joined Limerick Sinn Féin seven years ago and quickly became a driving force in the party locally, focusing activists on community issues.
Living in the sprawling Moyross estate, she has campaigned for improved housing conditions, resources for the unemployed and facilities for the youth.
Particularly concerned about the growing drugs problem in the city, she comments: ``Though harder drugs such as heroin are not yet especially prevalent in Limerick, it can only be a matter of time before they become more easily available.
``Part of the problem is that dealers can operate with obvious immunity from the Gardaí, while political and community activists in Sinn Féin have found themselves victim to constant surveillance and harassment.''
``Everyone knows who the main drug dealers are, but no action is taken against them. And we have a system that allows the Corporation to evict people from Corporation houses who are supposed to be involved in anti-social behaviour.
``The irony is that the main dealers in the Limerick area are operating from their cosy private houses in cosy private estates.
She continued: ``Unfortunately there is an inextricable link between drugs and crime. The biggest problem facing the youth of large estates like Moyross or South Hill is unemployment and boredom. It is estimated that in these estates there is up to 70 percent unemployment.
``While the problem is not strictly a working class one, I believe this backgound provides a breeding ground for drug abuse and anti-social behaviour.''
Jenny continued: ``A compehensive strategy to tackle the problem should involve a dialogue with the youth of Limerick themselves, addressing their needs. We must work with teenagers and not against them.
``In each youth club in Limerick there should be a drugs counsellor who can effectively communicate with the youth on this pressing issue.
``Training facilities, involving the multi-national companies and major employers in the area should also be developed which can help ensure that the cycle of unemployment and poverty is broken.''
In the coming weeks An Phoblacht provide a weekly focus on the issues Sinn Féin will raising in the Limerick East and Dublin North by-elections.
By Marcas Mac Ruairí
THOUGH no date has yet been set for the Limerick East by-election, the Sinn Féin candidate in the constituency has emphasised the need for more community empowerment.
Criticising the way community funding has been used in the past, Jenny Shapland.called for more openess and for people in disadvantaged areas of the constituency to be consulted with a view to tackling marginalisation.
A mother of two teenage boys, Jenny has been selected to represent Sinn Féin in the forthcoming by-election which was caused by the death of Labour TD, Jim Kemmy in September.
Born in England to Irish parents, she came to live in Limerick in 1989. Her mother, Mary Monaghan, was born and raised in Garryowen. Her road to politics began in Abington, England where, bearing an Irish name, she was the focus of much anti-Irish racial abuse.
She joined Limerick Sinn Féin seven years ago and quickly became a driving force in the party locally, focusing activists on community issues.
Living in the sprawling Moyross estate, she has campaigned for improved housing conditions, resources for the unemployed and facilities for the youth.
Particularly concerned about the growing drugs problem in the city, she comments: ``Though harder drugs such as heroin are not yet especially prevalent in Limerick, it can only be a matter of time before they become more easily available.
``Part of the problem is that dealers can operate with obvious immunity from the Gardaí, while political and community activists in Sinn Féin have found themselves victim to constant surveillance and harassment.''
``Everyone knows who the main drug dealers are, but no action is taken against them. And we have a system that allows the Corporation to evict people from Corporation houses who are supposed to be involved in anti-social behaviour.
``The irony is that the main dealers in the Limerick area are operating from their cosy private houses in cosy private estates.
She continued: ``Unfortunately there is an inextricable link between drugs and crime. The biggest problem facing the youth of large estates like Moyross or South Hill is unemployment and boredom. It is estimated that in these estates there is up to 70 percent unemployment.
``While the problem is not strictly a working class one, I believe this backgound provides a breeding ground for drug abuse and anti-social behaviour.''
Jenny continued: ``A compehensive strategy to tackle the problem should involve a dialogue with the youth of Limerick themselves, addressing their needs. We must work with teenagers and not against them.
``In each youth club in Limerick there should be a drugs counsellor who can effectively communicate with the youth on this pressing issue.
``Training facilities, involving the multi-national companies and major employers in the area should also be developed which can help ensure that the cycle of unemployment and poverty is broken.''
In the coming weeks An Phoblacht provide a weekly focus on the issues Sinn Féin will raising in the Limerick East and Dublin North by-elections.