Social Welfare Targeting People Through Facebook - Sean O Neill (RSF)

NO PROBING OF BANKERS AS WELARE
OFFICIALS CHECK SOCIAL NETWORK SITES

Social welfare investigators in Limerick are now probing internet
personal networking sites such as Facebook in a new drive to cut
payments, a local community activist said today.

Sean O’Neill from Quinn’s Cottages in Prospect said that young
people are being questioned about their living arrangements
and holiday plans by officials from the Department of Social
Protection.

Single mothers seem to be the targets of this latest probe
by the investigators he said. One young mother was asked
why there were two toothbrushes in her bathroom.

In addition to highly personal visits where living space is
examined the officials are also using social networking
sites to gain information on some claimants.

In recent days I have had a number of people come to
me and say that they were asked about information on
social networking sites. One person was asked about
an upcoming holiday.

All this type of behaviour smacks of Big Brother and
it contrasts starkly with the way the criminal bankers
are being treated.

The poorest and most deprived segment of society is
probed in such a fashion by social welfare officials,
yet the bankers can waltz off with millions in tax
payers money.

This latest example of targeting the less well off is
misplaced and instead the officials should direct their
snooping to the bankers and developers who have
brought this country to the brink of financial ruin.

Star Spots:

The community of Moyross officially launched its own website this week. The site was launched by Minister Pat Carey (FF), you can view the site @ www.moyross.ie

The Limerick Tunnel is now open for business.

Gary Daly (23) of Ballynanty, has pleaded guilty to stealing copper piping from an industrial estate in Castletroy. The piping which belonged to Flextronics was stolen in November 2009. The case was adjourned for sentencing until September 28th at Limerick Circuit Court.

Limerick's Got Talent returns to Patrick Punch's Hotel this August after a very successful first year.

Power lifters from Southill have picked up five medals from the European Power lifting Championship, the five medal winners ares as follows,

Noel Kelly ( Junior ) - Gold
Jonathan Campbell - Gold
Jonathan Curtin - Gold
Barry Keelan - Silver
John Quinn - Bronze

Tommy Dillon was the Team Coach.

Mayor Byrne And Local Children Clean Up St Mary's Park

Children From St Mary's Park, are spending a portion of their Summer holidays painting derelict houses on St Munchin's Street with Mayor Maria Byrne (FG). The initiative which is called "lets get together" is being supported by the Limerick Regeneration Agency. The Civic Trust and St Mary's aid are providing enviorment workers for the project. The idea behind the project is to clean up and maintain 60 derelict houses, by painting them, and cutting the grass in the gardens, thus making them alot more presentable. "Kings Island" came first when they first entered the tidy towns competition in 1999. That category is now defunct, so St Mary's Park is entering the urban housing estate category this year.