RIPPLE Chairman, Frank Fahy was elected as a member of Skibbereen Town Council in June 2009. He stood for the Labour Party and did remarkably well considering that this was his first time seeking public office. Frank has undertaken to promote the interests of RIPPLE at every opportunity while working for the good of the Skibbereen community generally.
In recent weeks he has secured funding from the Council to get the Caol Stream and the stream from Glencurragh road to the Ilen river cleaned, widened and deepened. A report on this work is elsewhere on this site.
Frank has also had the views and aspirations of RIPPLE included for consideration in the Hydrological Study currently being undertaken to determine the best methods of alleviating or preventing the devastating floods that have caused misery for many of our townspeople. It is imperative that this study is completed and that all possible solutions are investigated. In the meantime, RIPPLE will carry out any works that will help but which may not be included in the eventual solutions put forward. RIPPLE asks that any such small works that may be ubdertaken by RIPPLE and that would be of benefit to the town should be notified to any of the members of RIPPLE or directly to Frank for consideration and implementation if possible.
He has been engaged in recent months in the pursuance of the Minister of Communications to have the MAN (Municipal Area Network) fibre optic broadband system activated in the town. This system was installed in ducting in the streets of the town two years ago and has lain dormant since while the company appointed by the Government to wholesale the service E/Net have been in negotiations with Eircom to “light” or activate the MAN.
This system has the capability of providing the fastest broadband available in the country with speeds in excess of 1GBTps and it is shameful that it is lying dormant because of a lack of meaningful negotiation with the service providers. It is frustrating that the high speed link required to light the MAN is 60 metres away from the distribution board for the system.
Frank is currently Deputy Mayor and in June if tradition is followed will be elected as Mayor for the following year. Hopefully, he will be able to get things moving during his period in office.
