The new Navan Area President Stephen Flattery has been a member of the town’s St. Patrick’s Conference since 2009 and has been its President for the past five years. A native of Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, he is an employee of Tara Mines and is married, with two teenage children.
Stephen, who is particularly concerned about the plight of the homeless in Navan, says he is hopeful that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul can persuade the appropriate authorities to initiate a project to improve the lifestyle and mental well-being of those living locally in emergency accommodation while in receipt of inadequate State payments.
He envisages a project similar to that of a Men’s Shed that could occupy the talents and lift the spirits of these individuals.
He says that the implementation of such a scheme would require the goodwill and involvement of the HSE and Meath County Council, which could be assured of the support of SVP.
Stephen is also seeking the faster payment of approved grants to third level students who frequently face hardship for many weeks because of the delay in this procedure.
He points out that the absence of a University or an Institute of Technology in Meath means that young people face heavy expenditure in travelling to colleges in neighbouring counties or even further afield.
We wish Stephen well in his endeavours.