Fermanagh District Council is to
ask the Environment Minister to change legislation on how townlands are
formatted on address databases.
In a recorded vote at Monday
night’s meeting of Fermanagh District Council the council was split along party
political lines over the decision to adopt the new ‘Pointer’ system over the
traditional format currently used in the county.
A majority of 13 nationalist councillors voted to support the motion to allow
the Council to number individual properties within townlands, with the
exception of SDLP Councillor Frank Britton who, along with nine unionist
councillors, voted against the recommendation and wanted the matter referred
back to Committee.
In a debate lasting over 40 minutes, Councillors outlined reasons for and against
the ‘Pointer’ system which provides infrastructural support to private and
public sector organisations and is said to allow quick and accurate sharing and
analysis of data.
Opponents to ‘Pointer’ believe it’s address system of a number, road name and
townland is threatening to the heritage of townlands as it would mean the name
would become superfluous and eventually fade away.
They want to see a more ‘unique’ system that centralises the townland and
protects it in the address.
Local historians Bryan Gallagher and Jack Johnston met with the Committee
before Christmas to voice their concerns over the ‘Pointer’ system. They too
feel it would ‘destroy’ the townland heritage of Fermanagh if adopted.
Supporters of ‘Pointer’ on the other hand believe it would bring Fermanagh up
to date with the rest of the 25 councils as it is the only council yet to adopt
the system. They feel the system will protect townlands as well as allowing the
people of the county access to services they can’t get under the current system
because their address isn’t fully recognised.
A meeting was held in October between the Council’s Environmental Health
Committee and Land and Property Services, NISRA and NIFRS on Fermanagh adopting
the ‘Pointer’ database system. The committee was told that If the ‘Pointer’
system is adopted, all government departments, agencies and post offices will
be committed to using it.
Opening Monday night’s debate, UUP Councillor Alec Baird said, “I would like to
see an opportunity for us to resolve this once and for all for Fermanagh
District Council to use the ‘Pointer’ system that is the road name along with
the townland name. If we don’t do it now, after the council’s amalgamate we
will have the influence of another council telling us what to do. I am not
opposed to progress, I believe the ‘Pointer’ system is progress while allowing
us to retain our townlands and would like to see this matter referred back.”
He accused opponents of the system of ‘hyprocrisy’ with ‘some saying one thing
and then doing another’ and urged the community to let their party
representatives know if they are experiencing difficulties in accessing
services due to their format of address.
Councillor Baird was backed by DUP Councillor Arlene Foster who said she too
would like to see the matter referred back to Committee. The previous
Environment Minister said she could not see how Sammy Wilson would change
legislation for the whole country to suit a number of individuals and the fact
that 25 other councils have dealt with the ‘Pointer’ system and acted
accordingly.
“This isn’t about taking away anything it’s about additionality and entering
into a new era.” She said that by introducing the ‘Pointer’ system, Fermanagh
people would be given their basic right to access credit cards and online
shopping.
She further told of how she knew of constituents who can’t get insurance
because of their address and explained that by keeping the traditional method,
it would lose revenue for Fermanagh and lose investment opportunities.
“Land and Property Services tell me there is a loss of revenue for the Council
because they can’t identify properties under this system and we should be
concerned about this. Suffice to say I do believe we are missing out on
investment opportunities from a technology point of view and I would be very
fearful of that,” she said.
Councillor Foster also made the point that emergency services are finding
difficulties in locating addresses in Fermanagh areas.
“The ambulance and fire service operate from a central telephone system and
have trouble locating houses from this current system and I as a Councillor nor
my party are taking any responsibility for ambulances not getting to people in
time because this Council failed to put in a ‘Pointer’ system. We need to look
at the implications of this and what it means. We are the only council, who has
not got ‘Pointer’ and we are penalising our constituents and putting lives in
jeopardy,” she concluded.
In opposition, Sinn Fein Councillor Brian McCaffrey said “I am disappointed by
what appears to be the unionist party’s understanding of the ‘Pointer’ system.
It has been quite clearly explained to us that a number on an individual
property fits into the ‘Pointer’ system and gives it a unique reference point.
This recommendation to write to the Minister is all but putting power in our
hands, power that we don’t have.”
Councillor McCaffery also referred to a system that retains townlands in
Scotland and Wales which doesn’t have the same problem and asked the question
was this some form of ‘anglicisation?’
He also refuted claims made by Councillor Foster over alleged problems with
addresses and the Emergency services.
Backing his party colleague Domhnall O’Cobhthaigh said it was unfortunate the
debate had become ‘party political’ and said, “With the advancement in
technology, it is possible to find any particular location and that there is no
longer a requirement for a linear system such as the ‘Pointer’ system. If we
introduce a road name, townlands will become superfluous and disappear.”
Councillor O’Cobhthaigh said they want to make possible a ‘unique’ system that
makes townlands central to an address and therefore protect them.
DUP Councillor Bert Johnston reminded opponents that, “we are not opposed to
townlands in fact the very opposite. We want to upgrade the current system for
the benefit of our constituents so they can order things on the internet. It is
currently a hassle and I would like to see tonight a recorded vote on who
exactly will agree to have this matter referred back,” he said.
In a surprise move, SDLP Councillor Frank Britton voted against the motion and
agreed that the ‘Pointer’ system would bring about addition to access for
people. He said he understands that some people are not happy with the current
addressing system and want to be able to speak on the phone to a provider and
for them to be able to recognise their address.
Councillor Britton also said he knows of some people who are unable to register
as donors because of their present address. With reference to ‘anglicisation’
claims, he said the townland of Fincashel in Co. Donegal of where he is from,
was anglicised and would like to see a parallel version of printed Gaelic and
English townland names.
UUP Councillor Bertie Kerr also made the point that if Sinn Fein were so
opposed to the idea of a ‘Pointer’ system then why is one of it’s party members
using road name and numbers to advertise his business in the local press?
SDLP Councillor John O’Kane referred to Councillor Foster’s comments about LPS
and said if “LPS where so good at their jobs then why have they admitted to
having not collected £10m of rates in Belfast and other council areas? It is
due to their own incompetence and how badly reorganised they were.” He also
asked the question that if the ‘Pointer’ system was so successful, then why has
there been a review instigated into it’s abilities?
After a lengthy discussion, Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, Thomas
O’Reilly took a recorded vote of 13-10 in support of sending a letter of recommendation
to the Environment minister with a view to sending letters to the other 25
councils.A response from the Minister on the recommendation is expected within
the next six weeks.
