Ballintotis Community Alert

News Update 14/9/2010

Ballintotis Community Alert hosted a public meeting recently dealing with all aspects of Safety in the Home and in our Community. As autumn creeps in and winter hangs on the horizon so to the risk factor increases particular in matters relating to fire.

Our guest speaker Diarmuid Cronin, who is the Regional Development Officer for the Community Alert Area gave a very informative and interesting talk. Having previous experience in the area of fire safety, Diarmuid outlined a number of steps and precautions that should be taken by all householders.

Obviously the installation of smoke alarms is top priority for everybody. Previously Balintotis Community Alert installed smoke alarms in the householders who had received social alarms. Now with the formation of a new grants scheme under the Department of Community Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, it is hoped to submit a further application for grant aid which would cover monitored smoke alarms. The local committee in Ballintotis will endeavour to contact those who are eligible under the scheme over the next few weeks. Application to the Department may only be made on a phased basis with no more than 15 applicants on each submission.

Elsewhere Diarmuid Cronin highlighted the current dangers of radon gas and pointed out that according to information at hand parts of the East Cork region seemed to have high levels of radon. The first step advised in finding out information is to contact The Radiological Protection Institute on 01-2697766. Two radon test units may be purchased from this group which are to be placed in your home for a period of 3 months before being returned. At this point an accurate reading will be derived for two sections of your house.

In other news it is hoped to erect further Community Alert Area signage locally whilst Ballintotis Community Alert have also purchased a quantity of High Visibility Jackets which will become available to local residents in the near future.

Officers of the local Ballintotis Community Alert are also advising all householders who have a socially monitored alarm to carry out regular checks on their system. The efficient and very pleasant staff at Midleton based AlertLine will only be too happy to acknowledge your call. Remember to press the red button if you need assistance.

On the social scene the Tuesday Club has recommenced again for the new season. Meetings take place every second Tuesday from 2.3opm at The Two Mile Inn. The group’s next meeting is on Tuesday next September 28 th, where Susan Herlihy from Crafty Hands will be the special guest. Also on the upcoming agenda is a shopping trip to Blarney in November.

Meantime details of the Ballintotis Community Alert Christmas Dinner will be confirmed in the near future.

Finally committee members are reminded that Ballintotis Community Alert will host a meeting at the Church Sacristy on Monday evening next September 27 th – all members are asked to attend.

 

Ballintotis Community Alert was formed in January 1997 as part of an initiative to improve awareness in our local community of the need to preserve the quality of life and sense of security which the locality enjoys.

Community Alert is a project organised jointly by the Gardai and Muintir na Tíre. It is supported by the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Health and Children. Grant aid is provided under the auspices of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Since its inception in 1997 the local Ballintotis group has gone from strength to strength and has received tremendous support from within the community.

To date Ballintotis Community Alert have organized the installation and maintenance of over 35 grant aided Security Alarms in homes in the neighbourhood as well as security lighting, smoke alarms, security locks and other safety devices for the protection of residents.

Another important feature of the local organization has been its Social dimension. From the outset social gatherings and events have been a feature for the people of the area. The Community Alert Christmas Social has now become an eagerly anticipated annual event.

The Community Alert Summer Outing in June has also become a regular feature in the social calendar of the Ballintotis area. Popular destinations in the past have included trips to Waterford, Bunratty, Kilkenny, West Cork and Killarney as well as many local trips organized by the very active social wing of the group; The Tuesday Club.

The Tuesday Club evolved within Community Alert as a social outlet for senior citizens in our locality. It is a very energetic and progressive club which run a varied programme of events throughout the year.The Christmas Social and the Annual Summer Tour are now primarily organized in conjunction with the Tuesday Club. They meet every fortnight at the Two Mile Inn and host their own link here on the Community Council’s web site detailing their activities.

Through popular support in the neighbourhood, Ballintotis Community Alert became a focus for many local issues and concerns, many of which were outside the remit and scope of the organization. Arising from this, the committee decided to explore the possibility of establishing a Community Council for the area and organized a number of public meetings to explore possibilities. From this Community Alert initiative; Ballintotis Community Council came into existence.

Ballintotis Community Alert is now a Sub-Committee of the Community Council and although an autonomous organization it is subject to the Constitution and regulation of the Council. The Chairperson must be an elected member of the Council and the committee must have at least one elected Council member.

A most important element of Community Alert is that local people become more aware of the need to preserve the quality of life of members of their community, in particular the more vulnerable.

Community Alert is about raising the alertness and awareness of everybody to the presence in their neighbourhood of any person(s) or vehicle(s) acting suspiciously and reporting such matters to the Gardai.

Community Alert is about participation by all members of the community in the nationwide programme through increased neighbourliness and interest in issues affecting the safety and sense of security of the general locality.

At present the Ballintotis Community Alert Committee is actively engaged in an ambitious and progressive project which aims to supply and install the most modern and efficient monitored social alarm system available on the market, in the homes of every eligible resident in our locality.

Alarm systems and the like, while helpful in themselves, cannot take the place of human contact. This principle must underpin all the activities of local Community Alert committees. The success of Community Alert in the long-term will rely almost entirely on on-going interest of local people in the needs of those around them.

BE ACTIVE! BE ALERT! BE INVOLVED

Community Alert is about creating and maintaining a caring community. Community Alert aims to allay fear and reduce feelings of isolation. Community Alert is about a partnership with you and the other statutory and voluntary agencies in your community.

Why not become involved? New members of the group are not only welcome but are vital for Community Alert to provide this valuable service in our locality. Please contact any committee member for further information.

2007 Committee: Chairperson: Paul Kelly, Secretary: Marie McCarthy, Treasurer: John Cashman. P.R.O: Kay Curtin, Committee Members: Pam Curtin, Pat Quinlan, Marie Hayes.

Garda Liaison Officers: Gda. Liam Ryan & Gda. Rachel McGrath of Midleton Garda Station.

ALARM SYSTEMS

DOES YOUR HOME HAVE A SECURITY SYSTEM?

HAVE A FULLY MONITORED SECURITY SYSTEM INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME FOR THE GREATLY REDUCED COST OF JUST €760.

THIS OFFER IS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH BALLINTOTIS COMMUNITY COUNCIL IN CONJUNCTION WITH BALLINTOTIS COMMUNITY ALERT GROUP.

Alertline Security in co-operation with Ballintotis Community Council will provide, install and certify a fully monitored system in your home at this greatly reduced price of €760 (incl VAT).

The system includes 3 PIRs (Passive Infra-Red sensors/detectors), 1 wireless door contact, a two-way audio/speech box and external bell box. The whole system is completely wire-free and uses the most up-to-date technology available.

The €760 installation price includes the first 12 months monitoring fee.

With this system in your home security is monitored 24/7.

Alertline have already been contracted by Ballintotis Community Alert to install 33 Grant-aided monitored Social Alarms in the homes of our senior citizens.

How to avail of this exclusive offer????

Full demonstration provided by Alertline Security Company at the AGM of Ballintotis Community Council and Communtiy Alert at the Two Mile Inn on Monday November 19th at 7.30pm.

Application forms available at the AGM or from members of the Community Alert sub-committee.

PLEASE NOTE: this offer is only available to homes within the Ballintotis Community Council/Community Alert designated areas.