Weekend Events To Commemorate West Tyrone Republican Dead

Chair of Strabane National Graves Association, Sinn Fein Cllr Jay Mc Cauley has called upon local people to show their solidarity with the families of Republican dead from the area by attending commemorative events in tribute to their memory this weekend.

He said,

“The first event will be a commemorative lecture entitled ‘Remembering the Past, Forging the future’, which is being held in Fountain Street Community Centre this Saturday (29th September) between 6-8pm.  The event be chaired by Sinn Féin Údarás na Gaeltachta member Gráinne Mhic Géidigh and will hear contributions  from local MLA Barry Mc Elduff and Sinn Fein National Chairperson Declan Kearney.  Refreshments will also be served at this unique event.

"Sunday's Annual Commemoration Parade will leave from "Ballycolman Shops" at 2:30pm and make its way to the Republican Plot at Strabane Cemetery. En route, a wreath will also be laid at the Hunger Strike Memorial at Townsend Street. The Main Speaker at the Republican Plot will be Eibhlín Glenholmes:

“A native of the Short Strand, her father was interned without charge or trial in Long Kesh Concentration Camp in the 1970’s and her grandfather in the 1920’s. When she was 16 she was shot by loyalists and was very fortunate to survive. First arrested on the word of ‘Supergrass Evidence’ in 1983 she was held in Armagh jail before subsequently beating two British Extradition warrant attempts in high profile cases in the Dublin courts in the mid 1980’s.  In more recent years she has acted as National Coordinator for Gender Equality for Sinn Féin and has sat on the Ard Chomhairle of the party. Eibhlin currently works with Coiste- an umbrella organisation for Republican Ex-Pow groups and also sits on the recently established North’s Victims and Survivors Forum.

"Following Sunday's Commemoration participants will be invited back to Fountain Street Community Centre for tea and sandwiches.

“The people of this area have continually shown their support and respect for republicans who have sacrificed everything in the cause of Irish Freedom and, on behalf of the organisers, I would like to extend an open invite for people to attend this weekend’s commemorative events in Strabane.”

New sub-committee to bring rural issues to heart of business of Strabane Council

Strabane Glenelly Sinn Féin Cllr Dan Kelly has described the establishment of a Rural/Agriculture sub-committee as an important step in ensuring that the key issues affecting rural parts of the district are brought to the heart of business in the Council Chamber.

Cllr Kelly, who has been behind the lobby to have such a forum set up, said,

“While Strabane is predominantly rural, many rural dwellers that I speak to feel that council business is disproportionately dominated by issues affecting urban centres in the district.

“So, within council, I have been pressing for the setting up of a vehicle whereby the key issues affecting people in our rural communities can be brought to the heart of council business.

“Following my request, discussions have been undertaken with Omagh District Council, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and representative farming bodies to examine existing models against which to take this proposal forward.

“Based on these discussions it is proposed to establish a liaison group which would be convened up to four times per year to discuss issues relevant to the rural/agricultural sector in the district.

“An initial meeting with the key stakeholders is provisionally scheduled for Wednesday 10 October 2012 at 10.00am to ensure the liaison group adds value to existing consultation and engagement arrangements and to refine the terms of reference and identify priority areas for discussion.  It is further proposed that this group be open to all Councillors with an interest in rural issues.”

Doherty seeks meeting with British Transport Minister to lobby against £1000 charge for 26 county road hauliers

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty has written to Westminster’s new Transport Minister Patrick McLoughlin seeking an urgent meeting to spell out the potentially disastrous consequences for the entire island economy of the Tory led government plans to charge road hauliers up to £1,000 a driver per year to enter the north from the 26 counties.

The local MP with responsibility for transport issues said,

“Once again we have an example of policy being formulated at Westminster which gives no consideration to the economic realities of this island.

“This announcement to charge hauliers up to £1,000 a driver per year to enter the north from the 26 counties is now being met with calls for a reciprocal move from the Irish Haulier Association for a similar charge for drivers from the north.

“Given ever-increasing fuel costs there is already a major strain on very tight operating margins for hauliers throughout the island and such additional taxes could lead to many firms going to the wall.   Moreover, in an effort to survive, increased costs of deliveries would be passed on to business and turn passed on, in the form of higher prices for goods, to consumers. So instead of kick-starting the economy, as the British Minister announcing this additional tax claims, it would actually lead to depressing it further.

“I have therefore written to the new Westminster Transport Minister seeking a meeting to outline the potentially disastrous consequences of this move and to press    the British government to exempt the haulage traffic on the island of Ireland from these charges.

“At the North South Ministerial Council one of the main thrusts is to remove barriers to trade on an all-Ireland basis in order to help to build the economy across the island. Taxes such as this will only have the opposite effect.”

Mc Cauley secures street signage for Marian Park

Strabane Sinn Féin Councillor Jay Mc Cauley says that the erection of street signage at Marian Park in the town will hopefully alleviate the persistent problems local residents have been encountered in terms of service providers and visitors being able to locate their homes in this part of the Head of the town.

He said,

“The absence of signage identifying Marian Park has presented persistent problems for residents living there down through the years.

“Apart from the difficulties some emergency services have had in locating addresses in a prompt manner, there have been countless instances of various delivery service personnel and people not familiar with the area having to stop and ask directions to the home of a Marian Park resident.            

“On the foot of representations from local residents, I pressed Council’s Technical Services Dept to provide appropriate signage to help alleviate these problems.  The signage was installed last Thursday and hopefully its provision will make life easier not only local residents but for people trying to locate addresses in the area."

Altnagelvin Radiotherapy Unit on schedule to commence next year

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle has welcomed confirmation from Assembly Health Minister Edwin Poots that the construction of the planned radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin remains on target to commence next year.

The local MLA, who received the confirmation in response to a written question she submitted to the Minister on the issue, said:

“I asked the Minister to provide reassurance that there would be no slippage in the timeframe for the construction of the Radiotherapy Unit given just how absolutely vital this service is.

“I therefore welcome the reassurance he has provided in confirming that construction remains on target to commence in 2013, with a view to the unit being operational by 2016 and adding that officials {north and south} are working together to finalise arrangements that will ensure the effective delivery of the project to serve the needs of all the people of this north west part of Ireland.”

Sinn Féin welcomes installation of ‘Flashing Light’ safety warning signs at Drumnabey Primary School

Derg Sinn Féin Councillors Ruairí Mc Hugh and Kieran Mc Guire have welcomed the installation of ‘flashing light’ safety warning signs on the approach roads to Drumnabey Primary School.

A joint statement from the local representatives said,

“We have been lobbying Roads Service over a number of years over concerns about pedestrian safety for children attending Drumnabey Primary School.

“While Roads Service previously undertook some remedial work in response to these concerns, we continued to press for the installation of the ‘flashing light’ safety warning signs on both approaches to the school given the particular hazards and dangers which exist.

“We are therefore delighted that Roads Service has acceded to the request to prioritise Drumnabey as part of the “Safer Routes to School Programme” and the warning signs are now installed and operational."

West Tyrone Remembers

Boyle welcomes direct bus service to Altnagelvin Hospital following successful lobby

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle has welcomed the announcement by Translink of the commencement of a direct bus link to Altnagelvin Hospital on Wednesdays and Thursdays after she mounted a lobby for the move following representations she received from local constituents complaining about the logistical and time consuming nightmare that was involved in trying to get to the hospital by way of the conventional bus service routes.

She said,

“Many people have no access to private transport and the absence, up until now, of any direct bus link to Altnagelvin Hospital has presented a logistical and time consuming ordeal for those who have attend appointments or visit loved ones on a frequent basis- with passengers having firstly to go to the Foyle Street Depot in Derry and then having to wait to get the connecting service to Altnagelvin and the same on the return journey.

“Following representations from a number of constituents on the issue, I raised the issue with senior Translink officials at a meeting in January and subsequently made a formal request, in writing, to Translink calling for the introduction of a direct service to Altnagelvin.

“I therefore very much welcome Translink’s announcement of the commencement of “Pilot Service 294” as and from 5th September which will see two return journeys per day every Wednesday and Thursday.
“In terms Of West Tyrone the 2 direct buses to Altnagelvin will leave: Omagh Buscentre at 10:05am and 12noon; Newtownstewart at 10:20am and 12:20pm; Victoria Bridge at 10:25am and 12:25pm; Sion Mills Main Street at 10:30am and 12:30pm; Strabane Bus Centre 10:35am and 12:35pm and the two connecting return buses will leave Altnagelvin once again at 1pm and 4:30pm respectively.

“Having talked to personnel involved in Rural Transport provision locally as well as to passengers who have been using pre-existing Translink service to the hospital, I feel that the critical mass of passengers exists to make this direct service to Altnagelvin viable and hopefully this pilot scheme will lead to an extension of the service if the demand is deemed sufficient."

Report into people with learning difficulties transition problems welcomed

Sinn Féin MLA Michaela Boyle has welcomed the report ‘Review of Transitions to Adult Services for Young People with Learning Difficulties’ by Queens University that looked at the transition from school into adult services.

Ms Boyle said,

“I welcomed the report from Queens University and the recognition from Children’s Commissioner Patricia Lewsley-Mooney that the procedure is flawed.

“There are many people with learning difficulties who fall between the cracks and families are left with no support or a place for the person in any programme.

“This is detrimental to both the patient and the family as the patient is unable to develop and many are likely to experience mental health difficulties.

“It is important that we create a range of facilities so that there is a smooth transition from school into the social health and care system that will cater for all people across the full range of learning difficulties.”

Rat infestation in Camus Park one of the worst cases imaginable

  “One of the worst cases of rat infestation imaginable” is how Strabane Glenelly Sinn Féin Councillor Michelle Mc Mackin describes what residents of Camus Park are being forced to endure and she is now seeking comprehensive multi-agency action to finally put an end to their long running nightmare.

She said,

“I was contacted by a number of residents of Camus Park who said that they are literally being overrun by rats both inside and outside of their properties, but little did I realise the extent of the problem until I visited and spoke with them yesterday. I was told that in broad daylight, rats can be seen scurrying to and fro across the back gardens of a row of 5 homes at one end of the Park.

“There is a privately owned house at one end of this row which has been lying unoccupied for approximately 5 years and as the condition of this property has deteriorated, local residents believe that rats have moved up from the nearby burn and have gained access to and could possibly be nesting in this property. The sole tenant at the other end of this block is at her wits end as she relates how rats can be continually heard moving between adjoining roof-spaces and hers and how she has continually found rat droppings in her downstairs rooms.   There is also evidence that rats are also getting into the other Housing Executive properties which, while currently vacant, are otherwise in good condition and scheduled for re-let.  This tenant has contacted the Housing Executive and Environmental Health on numerous occasions over the years and while, there has been a slight lull in the problem whenever rat poison has been laid, the rats have re-merged with a vengeance.

“Another neighbour who I spoke to says that because of the extent of the problem, with rats moving around outside, she simply does not allow her grandchildren out to play when they come to visit.    This is one of the worst cases of rat infestation imaginable and residents deserve to be freed from this nightmare.
“I have therefore been in contact with both Housing Executive and Environmental Health officials and am seeking for them to jointly meet with myself and local residents early next week and I will be pressing for both bodies to adopt a joined up approach to not only investigating the source of this problem once and for all and to provide- a comprehensive solution to it."

Sinn Féin attend ICTU Welfare Reform protest at Stormont

West Tyrone Sinn Fein MLA Michaela Boyle has reiterated the need to protect the most vulnerable against the Tory welfare reform agenda. Speaking at the protest against Welfare Reform organised by ICTU at Stormont on Tuesday she said:

“This protest is yet another manifestation of peoples anger at the Tory led welfare reform agenda.  The devastating impact of this agenda is being felt right across society but particularly amongst the most vulnerable.

“With swinging changes to Housing Benefit and Incapacity Benefit eligibility already being severely felt there is much trepidation about the havoc the planned introduction of the Universal Credit and the replacement of DLA with PIPS next year will bring as  it is clear that they will have a negative impact on the vast bulk of the population.  

“Sinn Fein Constituency offices right across the six counties are being inundated with people adversely affected by the draconian changes that have been already made in terms of the replacement of Incapacity Benefit with ESA and swinging changes to Housing benefit rates and eligibility.

"There is much therefore much trepidation about the havoc the planned introduction of the Universal Credit and the replacement of DLA with PIPS next year will bring.

“However, it is clear that the combined impact of all these so-called welfare reforms will negatively impact on the vast bulk of the population.  

“Sinn Féin oppose this agenda and have met with the civic, community and political sectors including the four Churches, welfare advice groups, the Equality and Human Rights Commissions and the trade unions which is why we are here giving our support to this protest.

 “There are unique circumstances in the north of Ireland such as higher levels of poverty, unemployment and disability and this  Welfare reform agenda will impact more negatively locally.

 “For our part Sinn Féin will continue to work to protect the most vulnerable on the basis of equality.”

Mutual recognition of exams needed across all universities on the island

Sinn Féin MLA Barry McElduff has called on Department of Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry to do more to remove the barriers facing students from the North applying to universities in the South.

Mr. McElduff said,

“More and more students from the North are applying to universities such as Dublin City University, Galway and Trinity yet they are facing hurdles that prevent them from obtaining places.

“The CAO which is the regulatory body for the universities in the South do not recognise A-levels as the same level of qualification as it is valued in the North nor will they accept A-levels that are completed over different exam sittings.

“It has transpired this is particularly discriminatory against students educated through the medium of the Irish language as they tend to do their GSCE and A-Level Irish earlier than their other exams.  It also forces students to forfeit places because they believed they had achieved the proper qualifications to access the course but are turned down due to this anomaly.

“In a recent report jointly commissioned by the CBI and IBEC the non recognition of A Levels was flagged up as a major barrier to educational mobility and economic prosperity on the island of Ireland.

“I am calling on Minister Stephen Farry to address this issue urgently during the next meeting of the North South Ministerial Council due in mid October when he meets with Assembly Education Minister John O’Dowd and Ruairi Quinn Education Minister in the Irish Government and agree an system of mutual recognition for exam grades across all nine universities on the island.”

"Spread the word about positive 'Blue Bin' changes" -Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin representatives on Strabane District Council’s ‘Waste Management Committee’ have urged householders in the District to maximize the opportunity now available to dispose of glass and small  electrical goods in the blue recycle bin.

In a joint appeal for people to ‘spread the word’ about the change, Councillors Kieran Mc Guire and Jay Mc Cauley said,

“It is clear that many people in the District are still unaware of the wide range of glass and small electrical  goods items that are now permitted to go into the blue recycling bin as from Monday 3rd September.  These are:
•   Mixed Glass – all colours and sizes of bottles and jars e.g. wine, beer, spirit bottles, sauce bottles and jars, jam, coffee jars, medicine, perfume aftershave bottles.  Residents are reminded that all bottles and jars must be empty and rinsed out and the caps and lids can be left on.  Broken bottles and jars can also be accepted.

•   Small Electrical Appliances (Maximum size – an average household toaster or kettle) e.g. toasters, kettles, hair dryers, irons, electric toothbrushes, shavers, radios.

“Attempting to dispose of many of the above items, in an environmentally friendly way, has been extremely problematic for people for various reasons so, at a purely basic level, this extension in ‘items suitable for the blue bin’ will be a great practical assistance to householders and business outlets alike.

“Given the considerable tonnage of glass and small electrical items that have had to be sent to Landfill every year up until now, this change will also hopefully have a substantial positive impact in reducing the major costs of waste disposal being incurred by Council and in turn by local ratepayers.

"Under the Landfill Allowance Scheme, Strabane District Council has been set a target of decreasing Landfill from 10,650 tonnes to 7,330 tonnes this year. So embracing these new changes and stepping up recycling overall is essential to ensure that this target is met so as to offset the potential of incurring fines-which would be £150 per tonne if the target is exceeded.

 “So, there is a lot at stake and we would ask everyone to maximise the opportunity of this initiative and to spread the word among family, neighbours and friends about the additional items that you can now blue bin."

Strabane Sinn Féin Vice-Chair among high-profile delegation taking A5 funding lobby to Dublin

Strabane Sinn Féin Council Vice-Chair Dan Kelly will be part of a high-profile delegation of Council Chairs/Vice Chairs and Chief Executives from border region councils that will be travelling to address the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement in Dublin this Thursday (13 September),  as part of lobbying to get the Irish government to honour the previous financial commitments it had entered into to jointly fund the A5 Dual carriageway in partnership with the Assembly Executive.

Speaking ahead of the lobbying initiative Cllr Kelly said,

“With work scheduled to commence on the Derry-Strabane and Omagh to Ballygawley sections of the A5 next month, this initiative is very much part of the lobby to influence the Irish government to honour the erstwhile financial commitments it had made on the A5 Project.

“At the request of Pat Doherty MP, this all-party Joint Implementation Committee (made up of TDs, MPs, and Senators) paid a fact finding visit to Strabane and Omagh in April of this year and during this visit the request to allow the combined lobby body representing Strabane, Omagh, Donegal, Derry, Monaghan and Dungannon Councils to formally address the Committee on the A5 issue was made.

“So Thursday’s engagement is the follow up to this request and, through the collective lobby approach of the councils involved, a powerful lobby will be presented to the Joint Committee outlining how crucial the completion of the entire A5 route is to the socio-economic progression of this region of the island."

Boyle to meet Western Trust on Greenfield Home concerns.

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle is scheduled to meet Western Health and Social Care Trust Assistant Director Aidan Gordon over renewed concerns for the future of Greenfield Residential Care Home in Strabane.

She said,

“Unlike 2008, there is currently no specific proposal on the table to close Greenfield.

“However, over recent months there have been increasing concerns expressed to me and to other local elected representatives that the Trust is endeavouring to close the home by stealth i.e. incrementally run it down through a reduction new residential and respite  admissions.

“I contacted the Trust in relation to these concerns early last month and as a result of these representations will now be meeting with its Assistant Director Aidan Gordon on Thursday 27th September to further discuss the matters involved.

“Local concerns over the future of Greenfield have been further reinforced by Recommendation 10 of the “Transforming Your Care” report (commissioned by Health Minister Edwin Poots) which proposes “a major reduction in residential accommodation for older people over the next five years,”

“Given that occupancy trends would undoubtedly be considered a key factor in determining which residential accommodation remained open in such a scenario, I will be seeking evidence and assurances from Aidan Gordon that no attempt is, or will be, made to “artificially manufacture” the closure of Greenfield."

‘Bus pass problem’ advice for Strabane students attending NW Regional College in Derry

Strabane Sinn Féin Glenelly Councillor Michelle Mc Mackin says that local students attending courses at North West Regional College in Derry who have been experiencing delays in obtaining their bus passes should ensure that they hold on to the bus tickets that they have already paid for, since the start of term, to secure a refund.

She says,

“I have been contacted by parents of local students attending courses at the North West Regional College in Derry who, because of delays in their children obtaining bus passes, have had to fork out £7.40 a day to cover the cost of the return journey.  Obviously, few parents can ill-afford this major outlay especially in the current economic climate.

“As a result of these representations from parents, I have been in contact with officials from Translink, the Western Education & Library Board and the College itself in an effort to resolve the delays in the issuing of bus passes to students and to query about the issue of refund for the outlay.

“Through these contacts, I have been able to establish that the problem has partially arisen due to a change in policy by Translink.  Up until two years ago, bus drivers were able to accept ‘temporary bus passes’ issued by the College for the entire month of September and previously this had allowed time for the College to process all bus pass applications through the WELB.  Last year, Translink cut this waiver period to just two weeks but this year it has completely withdrawn the waiver period altogether. So students are having to pay cash until they receive their bus passes.

"While College and WELB officials acknowledge that there has been a substantial increase in the number of applications this year, they are stating that there is no undue delay in the processing of these applications but also advised that many students may be unaware that their bus passes may be already available for collection at the collection at the College reception. So I would urge all students who have not already received their bus passes to check on a daily basis.

“I have also been assured that students who have had to pay for their journeys up until they receive their bus pass will qualify for this outlay to be refunded by securing a ‘Refund Form’ from the College Reception but will need to retain their bus tickets as proof of journey to send along with this form to Translink."

PAC Report recommendations to provide greater protection for our listed buildings

Sinn Fein West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle, speaking in her capacity as Chair of the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, says that the implementation of recommendations contained in a report by the scrutiny body would provide greater protection for our Listed Buildings across the north.

She said,

“There are 8,500 Listed Buildings across the north but our committee found that the ‘Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)’ the body charged with safeguarding our listed buildings was not doing enough to protect this part of our heritage.
“For example in my own constituency, the failure by the NIEA to act in the case of the Stable Block at Sion Mills resulted in the deterioration of the signature building to a point where part of it had actually collapsed before NIEA finally stepped in to rescue it," Ms Boyle said.
“PAC found that the NIEA "cannot measure the overall impact" of the £20m it has spent awarding grants for listed buildings since 2005-06.We identified that there is "no statutory requirement for owners of listed buildings to maintain them in good condition".  NIEA also needs a proper performance management system for the listed buildings grant scheme
“It has therefore recommended that NIEA makes better use of its powers, including carrying out repairs to neglected buildings and then recouping the costs from the owner, or, "if necessary”, vesting the building in order to rescue it". While Environment Minister, Alex Attwood, raised the cap on grant-aid for listed buildings in the north from £50,000 to £150,000 in January, we have recommended the targeting of grants on the most vulnerable and valuable buildings.”

Minister fast tracks plans for new Arvalee School

West Tyrone MLA Declan Mc Aleer has welcomed a commitment by Education Minister John O Dowd to fast track a new build for Arvalee School on a section of the Lisanelly Educational campus site.


According to Mr Mc Aleer 'I spoke to the Minister today (Tuesday) who confirmed that he has instructed his officials to fast track the project. His officials are currently completing a dedicated business case for the school and when constructed it will dove-tail into the overall campus

'During the Ministers visit to Omagh last Saturday he was struck by the devastation that the loss of this facility has caused to the whole community. To the Ministers credit he has injected a sense of urgency into replacing the school as soon as possible and, in conjunction with the WELB and officials from his department; this process has now been set in motion.

'My understanding is that in the interim, pupils will be relocated to other facilities in the district with the possibility of providing specialist modular accommodation on the original site at Arvalee while the new school is constructed.


Cllr Mc Aleer concluded 'The destruction of Arvalee School last Saturday morning has cast a long shadow over the district. However, the clear commitment from the Minister and the WELB to fast track a new build for Arvalee on the Lisanelly site is excellent news and will give hope to the many children, parents and staff as they regroup and plan for the future'.

MLA highlights scourge of dog fouling as children return to school

Local MLA Michaela Boyle has appealed to dog owners, and particularly at this time of the year when children are starting back at School, to take a conscientious approach and clean up if your dog fouls on the pavement.

“The issue of dog fouling is consistently registering as a foremost area of complaint among residents as evidenced by the returns from the household constituency survey Sinn Fein has been conducting in different areas of Strabane town and therefore it is important that a constant focus is kept on the problem.  

“The nature of these complaints about dog fouling is amply reflected in a conversion I had had this week with a local mother who spoke of how she dreaded walking her child to school again at the start of the new term as the Melmount Road area is one of the worst hotspots for dog fouling. Unfortunately the routes to our local schools seem to be along among the worst affected areas so I feel it is timely to highlight this issue once again.

“In an effort to bring a renewed focus to the issue I, along with party colleague Cllr Brian Mc Mahon, have met with Council officials in an effort to discuss how more pro-active approach can be taken to address the problem.

“The Council officials outlined a number of new initiatives to be rolled out in the Autumn, including stepping up public awareness campaigns but also indicating the adoption of a zero tolerance approach to this issue, with the sanction of fines to those who flagrantly allow their dog to foul in public.

“I would also once again highlight the fact that poop-a-scoop disposal bags are available free of charge from Council and I would urge that all dog owners to avail of these bags and to use them to dispose of dog foul in the red dog waste bins that are strategically placed throughout every area.

“Sinn Fein is constantly being contacted by residents seeking to have red bins which have been vandalised replaced. The cost to local ratepayers of replacing these bins is considerable so I would make a heartfelt appeal for them to be left alone.
Dog fouling is not just a messy issue it is a health hazard.
Toxocara Canis, caused by larvae of parasites, parasites that usually live in the intestines of dogs and cats, these eggs can be swallowed by children, and after entering the body the eggs hatch into larvae that penetrate through the walls of the digestive tract and may migrate to a child’s liver, lungs and elsewhere and cause blindness.

“Using a poop-a scoop only takes a minute but the health damage done to a child infected by dog fouling can last for life!"