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JAMES LAWLESS : “IRISH RESEARCH IN CRISIS”

James tackled the Government in the Dáil today on the stagnation in Irish Research

James Lawless TD questioned the Government on the current state of Irish Research on the first day of the new Dail session . It has emerged that just one of more than 400 recently announced European Research Council grants has been awarded to Ireland.

James said, “Many stakeholders would agree that Research in Ireland is in crisis. The Government responded with the usual bluster but they cannot deny that changes brought in by Fine Gael and Labour in 2012 hindered Irish Research by directing funding away from discovery research. This is why I have introduced the Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2018, which aims to achieve a better balance between discovery and commercial research.”

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O’ROURKE SEEKING BIKE LOCKERS FOR CELBRIDGE AND KILCOCK

Frank O’Rourke has made representations to the National Transport Authority to have bicycle lockers installed in Kilcock and Celbridge Rail Stations.

Frank commented, “I have asked the NTA and Irish Rail to install Bicycle Lockers at Hazelhatch and Kilcock Rail stations. We need to encourage people to use public transport and cycle to the rail station if possible. Irish Rail is now considering my proposal and I have been given an assurance that once funding is available and it is physically feasible, Bicycle Lockers will be provided at these two stations.”

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COLEMAN SEEKS INCREASE IN ROAD AND FOOTPATH MAINTENANCE BUDGET IN CELBRIDGE

Michael Coleman has put down a motion seeking a substantial increase in the budget allocated to road and footpath maintenance in the older estates in Celbridge.

This is one of two motions he has submitted ahead of the Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District meeting on Friday 20th September. He has put forward two  questions.

The Motions are as follows :

1. That the Council allocate a substantial increase in funding for Budget 2020 for the upgrade of Roads and Footpaths in older estates in Celbridge and Leixlip.
2. That a solar speed sign be installed on the Loughlinstown Road before Elm Hall Nursing Home and Retirement Village.

The Questions are as follows :

1. Can the members have an update on the removal of Eir poles on footpaths at a Church Road and at Oaklee on Maynooth Road?
2. Can the Members have an update on the appointment of a Community Warden for Celbridge?


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O’ROURKE PRESSES FOR FUNDING FOR THE ABBEY COMMUNITY PROJECT

Frank O’Rourke TD has met with Minister Catherine Byrne to press the Government for funding for mental health and addiction services in Celbridge.

Frank is seeking the funding for the local Abbey Community Project, as the demand for their services have increased dramatically.

Frank explained, “I met with the Board of the Abbey Community to discuss the requirement for funding for 2019. We had secured some additional funding towards the end of 2018. An extensive proposal for funding has now been submitted to the Department for their consideration, a proposal that I fully support and is much needed.”

“The Abbey Community Project is providing a very valuable service for the people of North Kildare. It started off as an addiction service and is now providing a much needed mental health service with dual diagnosis.”

“The Abbey Community Project opened in 2007, the staff is very passionate about the services that they provide through the Project. I know that through the Project’s valuable work, lives are being saved”

 “Given that the state is referring people to the Abbey Project in Celbridge, it is only right that state funding be provided to the Project. The reality is if the Abbey Community Project didn’t exist or closed its doors tomorrow, the state agencies wouldn’t be able to deal with the high demand for the services.”

“There are currently over 80 patients in Kildare that are travelling to Dublin to avail of drug treatment services and I am pursuing the urgent need for a drug treatment facility in north Kildare.”

“I raised this issue in the Dáil with the Taoiseach and I was subsequently contacted by the Minister of State for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy Catherine Byrne TD , who provided me with an update on the situation.”

“The provision of treatment services in Kildare has been identified as a priority by both the Government and the HSE. It is now time that the state financially supports the Abbey Community Project. A new National Drugs Strategy is expected to be published later this year and I will be keeping the pressure on to ensure Kildare gets adequate drug treatment services,”

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O’ROURKE CRITICISES DELAY IN TENANT PURCHASE SCHEME REPORT

Frank O’Rourke has called on Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy to swiftly publish a report on the future of the tenant purchase scheme.

His calls come as correspondence received by Fianna Fáil shows further delays in publishing the report which was due to be completed in 2017. The 2016 Tenant Purchase scheme enables local authority housing tenants to buy their own homes at a discounted price subject to significant conditions. A report on how the scheme was functioning was due to be completed 12 months following its establishment.

Frank commented, “Over two years on since the report was due to be published and we are still waiting on it, this is despite repeated calls from Fianna Fáil for the Minister to prioritise its publication.This new correspondence proves that instead of publishing the report and allowing the Dáil to debate its recommendations and set out a path forward for the scheme the Minister has put it on the long finger. “

“Why is the Minister keeping the report hidden? Instead of being open about it he is delaying it for political reasons and clearly intends to swamp it as part of a new social housing announcement over the coming months – yet another example of cynical spin by the Government. Its past time for the Minister to show a bit of honesty and publish the report. Tenants have been waiting far too long and the Dáil needs to debate it as soon as a matter of priority,”