Social Democrats East Cork

13/10/2026

28/09/2026

🏛️ Cllr. Eamonn Horgan - East Cork and I met with senior management at Cork County Council this afternoon to discuss the urgent need for better amenities in East Cork. We’re grateful to Chief Executive Moira Murrell, Assistant Chief Executive (South) Michael Lynch for their time.

📈 East Cork’s population is set to grow significantly by 2034, particularly in Midleton and Carrigtwohill, but community infrastructure is clearly not keeping pace. We raised the need to break the impasse over the Park Street, Midleton playground upgrade, progress the Water-Rock Linear Park, and provide a swimming pool and multi-sport complex. We also discussed Council efforts to develop a library in Carrigtwohill.

We set out how far East Cork is falling behind other parts of the county, and the unfair burden placed on community volunteers to navigate complicated, fragmented funding streams to secure local amenities.

🤝 Moira and Michael gave us a good hearing and assured us that East Cork will be prioritised for amenity provision as housing developments progress. We’ll continue to press for that commitment to be delivered.

26/09/2026

22/09/2026

Parliamentary Questions of mine have revealed 3,935 safeguarding concerns in adult disability services in just the first six months of 2026 - already around 70% of the total recorded in all of 2025.

↳ A safeguarding concern is raised where there is a suspected risk of abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult, including physical, psychological, sexual or financial abuse, neglect or institutional abuse.

↳ 830 remained open at the end of June, while 297 Garda notifications were recorded from closed safeguarding cases in the first half of the year.

📌 The case for an independent statutory Safeguarding Authority is overwhelming.

We need reporting, investigation and accountability on a clear statutory footing, independent of the organisations providing or funding services.

Article link in comments.

18/09/2026

🌊 Youghal Beach Clean: Redbarn - Sunday 20 Sept 🌊

Join Cork Volunteer Centre for a beach clean in Youghal as part of The Big Beach Clean - Ireland’s contribution to the International Coastal Cleanup, running in over 100 countries worldwide!

Each year, after the bathing season ends, communities across Ireland come together to clear litter from our coastline. But it’s more than a clean-up: volunteers also take part in a global citizen science project, recording what we find on Clean Coasts’ Marine Litter Data Cards. That data helps track the scale of the problem and shapes future policy, so every piece of litter you log genuinely counts.

It’s a great way to give back, meet people in your community, and spend an afternoon doing something worthwhile. No experience needed, all ages and abilities welcome!

☕ 3:30 PM - tea, coffee and a chat before we start
🧹 4:00 PM - clean-up begins
📅 Sunday, 20 September
📍 Youghal

👉 Sign up here: https://www.i-vol.ie/volunteer-opportunity/?ID=a00WS00000bhjmA

Any questions? Contact [email protected]

18/09/2026

I had a frank and constructive meeting with senior management of HSE South West today.

📌 The main focus was the prolonged impasse over the rebuild of the Owenacurra Centre in Midleton.

Following our campaign against the decision to close the service in 2021, the HSE has made significant investment in two properties in Midleton for former residents of Owenacurra. These homes are of a very high standard, are well located, and have been transformative for the people now living there.

But there remains a wider cohort of people on Cork East with mental health difficulties who need access to respite, community-based intensive rehabilitation and longer-term residential care.

HSE South West management assured me that the rebuild of the Owenacurra Centre remains a priority and that work is continuing to overcome the funding challenges holding the project up.

I emphasised the loss of services resulting from this prolonged delay, as well as the impact on Midleton of leaving such a large and prominent site in a state of disuse, surrounded by barriers.

I will continue to pursue the project with the HSE.

🏥 We also discussed a number of other issues of significance to constituents, including progress on Youghal Primary Care Centre, Midleton Primary Care Centre and services on the site of St Stephen’s Hospital in Glanmire.

I appreciate the engagement of HSE management and the opportunity for a direct discussion on these issues.

15/09/2026