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Cllr Naoise O’Cearuil has called for greater Gardaí numbers in Maynooth
Naoise commented, “At last week’s Kildare Joint Policing Committee (JPC), I called on the Gardaí to increase the number of Gardaí in Maynooth. We need a larger contingent in the town and current figures are not reflective of the population which does not take into account the combined local population and that of the University. ”
“I believe that we need a full 24 hour operational Garda Station in Maynooth.”
At today’s meeting of the Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board, Councillor Naoise O’Cearuil pressed for further updates regarding the progression of the retendering of the project following Sammon’s Liquidation.
The timescale is as follows :
25th June: Pre qualify contractors for retendering…
23rd July: Survey of contractors
8th November: Contract Award
End of March ’19: Contractor On Site
Completion: June 2020
Naoise commented, “This has pushed the completion date for the project to an entire year. The biggest concern now is that the current building is full to capacity and needs refurbishing, students and staff deserve better. The ETB have committed to renovations in the school and provide further temporary class rooms.”
“I will push to have the process of retendering expedited as much as possible and liaise with the ETB to ensure that the necessary provisions are made for the next two academic terms.
Fianna Fail’s Deputy Finance Spokesperson, Frank O’Rourke, has pressed the Government not to increase the net Local Property Tax (LPT) on families, as property valuation has increased since the introduction of the LPT in 2013.
“Local Property Tax (LPT) rates have been frozen since 2013, but in the meantime, house prices have increased substantially. This means that property taxes could rise substantially in 2020 when houses are revalued again, unless fairness is adopted by the Government.”
“The local property tax was reluctantly accepted by the people and it was introduced gradually. However as property valuation increases, homeowners need to be protected from severe hikes in their LPT,” stated Deputy O’Rourke.
Continue reading “O’Rourke – Local Property Tax should not be increased”
Fianna Fáil’s Deputy Finance Spokesperson, Frank O’Rourke, has stated that the Government has not done enough to stop the rising cost of living as Ireland’s reduced competitiveness is having a negative impact on the cost of doing business in Ireland.
“The cost of Insurance, rising childcare costs, rising rents, rising costs of fuel, gas, health insurance, and other day-to-day living expenses, are all putting pressure on families. For instance, electricity costs are going up by over 6%, and gas by over 12%. These increases will lead to an increase of nearly €150 for some customers.”
“Irish consumer prices in 2017 were 24% above the EU average. Irish Mortgage Rates are higher than the EU average. The average standard variable rate for a mortgage in Ireland is currently 3.26%. This is nearly 1.5% higher than the average Eurozone rate which stands at 1.83%” stated Deputy O’Rourke. Continue reading “O’Rourke – Competitiveness being eroded by Cost of Living”
The Government’s policy on third level education is failing after the latest global university rankings show that no Irish university is listed in the top 100 worldwide accord to Fianna Fáil Technology spokesperson James Lawless TD.
“This latest news is worrying but comes as little surprise considering the lack of investment by Fine Gael in third level education over the last seven years. There is clearly a funding and leadership crisis in our third level sector that the Government has failed to get to grips with.”
“The latest information show that almost all of our third level institutions have slid down the global rankings list. The Government claims time and time again that they want to build a smart economy. However it’s approach to dealing with the third level sector as at odds with this commitment considering higher education is the foundation of a smart economy.
The downgrading in the university rankings follows Ireland’s position in the international league tables for research and development which is also slipping. Ireland has not come anywhere near meeting its own target of 2.5% for research and development spending.”
“The Government has also failed to adequately increase funding for the Program for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) fund. €14m was allocated in 2017, at a time when the economy is supposedly recovering, but in 2010 €359m was allocated to the fund. How can we expect to remain competitive in the research and development sector if the Government continues to underfund vital research programs?”
“The Irish Research Council and Humanities budgets have been repeatedly slashed. Ultimately there is no dedicated Minister to account for these decisions or lead the sector as the Department of Education and Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation all influence policy with no real cohesion.”
Research funding is about half the EU average and the Government has given no indication that they plan to do anything about any of this. The slide down the rankings looks set to continue given the Government inaction on issues facing the third level sector.”