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JAMES LAWLESS WELCOMES APPOINTMENT OF RECEIVER FOR NTC

James Lawless TD has welcomed the news that a receiver has been appointed for Naas Town Centre.

The Centre has lain uncompleted for the best part of a decade in the middle of Naas.

James commented, “I have been championing this project for some time and have held a series of meetings with NAMA, Kildare County Council, the former owners and a number of other stakeholders to advance the project. The appointment of a receiver is a significant step and this will allow the project to proceed to sale. The appointment of this receiver was essentially the final hurdle in allowing a sale of the project to take place.”

“I have again spoken with potential buyers in the last few weeks since the receiver was appointed. Following this move, these buyers will have a new chance to put proposals to Kildare County Council as this removes many of the legacy issues which had previously dogged the site. The old planning permission is obsolete so there is a fresh chance to make this work.”

“I am very please with this significant step forward for the development. There are many strands to Naas as a retail destination but completing the town centre is one of the biggest steps. I will continue to work on this project to ensure it change hands, progresses, and gets open for business as soon as possible.”

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LAWLESS DEMANDS EXTRA CLASSROOMS FOR STRAFFAN

James Lawless TD has called on the Minister for Education to secure approval for four extra classrooms in Straffan National School.

James has met with parents at the school and is adamant that the school currently has the demand for the places.

James said, “From my repeated raising of this issue the Minister is well aware of the capacity issues in Straffan National School. Approval must be secured to allow four extra classes to cater for the growing population. The demand is there and it is now over to the Minister to make the correct decision”.

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O’ROURKE CALLS FOR FLEXIBILITY IN THE TUS SCHEME

Frank O’Rourke TD has again highlighted the need for flexibility to be shown in relation to the way Tus Scheme is administered

He made his comments following a meeting he had with the new Minister for Employment and Social Protection, Regina Doherty TD in relation to the scheme.

‘Last year and earlier this year, I met with the former Minister for Social Protection, Leo  Varadkar TD, and made representations to him to have the Tus Scheme made more flexible and not be as time bound as it is, currently subject to the maximum time of 12 months.” Continue reading “O’ROURKE CALLS FOR FLEXIBILITY IN THE TUS SCHEME”

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O’ROURKE SEEKS PERMANENT SITES FOR CELBRIDGE SCHOOLS

Frank O’Rourke TD has stated that permanent sites in Celbridge are required for St Patricks NS and Celbridge Community College and must be made a priority

Deputy O’Rourke made the comment after raising the issue with the Department of Education.

“We need to secure permanent educational facilities for St Patrick’s NS and the newly established post-primary school, Celbridge Community School, which opened in temporary accommodation in 2015.” Continue reading “O’ROURKE SEEKS PERMANENT SITES FOR CELBRIDGE SCHOOLS”

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LAWLESS RAISES RETURNING EMIGRANTS’ INSURANCE WOES

In a recent Dáil debate on soaring motor insurance costs James Lawless TD called on the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan T.D. to examine the issue whereby emigrants returning home from other European Union countries are unable to secure motor insurance back home in Ireland

James Lawless TD, “I have encountered a number of situations in my clinics which are crucial to this debate. One is the situation of emigrants returning from abroad. Thanks to the putative economic recovery we are beginning to see some people returning home. Many people spent the recession abroad, including in the EU. One individual approached me recently who, on his return from spending six years in Spain, found that he was unable to get insurance cover in Ireland. He has a clean driving history and a full no-claims bonus, but it is non-transferable even within EU states.”

“Surely within the EU we could align our no-claims bonus provisions and driving history to the extent that we should be able to address such cases. I ask the Minister to examine that issue. Hopefully, it will be presenting more frequently as many more people return home after working abroad.”

“It now falls to the Minister to move on this issue and I will continue to raise it to enable returning emigrants live up to the EU promise of freedom to work, travel and live within the union without coming up against as basic a blockage as this on an individual’s budget.”