Frank O’Rourke TD has been informed by Bus Eireann that an additional vehicle has been allocated to the 9am morning service on Route 115 for Kilcock commuters
This service will commence tomorrow morning and start from Kilcock each morning.
“An additional bus was required for this 9am service as the turnaround time for the existing fleet to return from Dublin for a 9am Kilcock departure was too challenging. This is welcome news for Kilcock Bus Commuters as the current service is falling well behind what is expected.”
Frank O’Rourke has expressed his disappointment at the fact that Naas is going to lose its status as a divisional headquarters under the new Garda reform plans.
Deputy O’Rourke acknowledged that the restructuring of An Garda Síochana is very important but said it was a backwards decision to take the divisional headquarters away from Naas and to relocate it to Portlaoise.
Frank O’Rourke TD has again called for Government action on unacceptably high mortgage rates
Frank said “Irish Mortgage rates are noticeably higher than the average European rates and I’m calling on the Government to enlist the support of the EU. Irish banks are charging their customers double the EU mortgage rates. At a time when interest rates across the EU are falling, Irish Banks have increased the cost of taking out a mortgage.”
Frank O’Rourke TD
“My understanding from the Central Bank is that Irish mortgage rates are the second most expensive in the EU. The average interest rate on a new mortgage is around 3.pc compared with the average rate for the euro area of 1.7pc. To put this in real money terms, the average first-time buyer is paying an extra €154 a month for their mortgage, based on a loan of €225,000 paid back over 30 years. Parents and working families are in much need of this extra income to cater for their day to day expenses. In addition, as Brexit brings uncertainties, having this extra €154 per months available for the local economy will bring benefits to local businesses. “
“With our spokesperson on Finance, Michael McGrath TD, I continue to put pressure on the Government to deal with this inequality. I have repeatedly called on the Government to address the rising cost of living issues; such as Mortgage Rates and Insurance rates and they must get support from the EU to deal with this imbalance.”
“We also have a situation, where as the Taoiseach says our mortgage lending rules are ‘very tough’ when he cited situations where couples are trying to save for a deposit to buy a house but have to pay as much €2,000 in rent. We need to provide support to assist young couple buy their home.“
Frank O’Rourke had been campaigning for additional resources for some time
Frank O’Rourke TD has welcomed the news that four additional 67X services are on the way for Celbridge commuters. From November 5th, two additional 67X Bus morning and evening services will be in place.
Frank commented, “These additional direct services are needed for Celbridge commuters. I have campaigned for some time to have additional direct bus services provided for Celbridge commuters. I debated this with the Minister for Transport in Dáil Éireann in April and I had many meetings with the NTA and Dublin Bus to secure these much needed additional services for Celbridge, which has a population of 22,000 people.”
“The 67X is operating at capacity and we need to increase the capacity and frequency to cater for current demand, and these additional services are a step in the right direction. We are making progress on the 67X and the 67 service. 67X is a direct Celbridge/Dublin service providing commuters with a relatively high speed connection to and from Dublin City Centre.”
“As the college students return, this improved service will ease some of the pressure on the route. I will continue to campaign for better public transport services for Celbridge commuters”
James joined school secretaries on the picket line in Sallins today
James supporting the School Secretaries protest
James said, “I was delighted to join local School Secretaries in Sallins this morning and offer support to them in their strike for proper pay and conditions. 90% of school secretaries do not have the same safeguards in place as the other 10% who are employed directly by the Department. They are at a great disadvantage in terms of sick pay, certainty of hours or pay increases. Many have to sign on for social welfare payments during the summer months as there is no holiday pay.”
“School secretaries are vital to schools and they have to be treated with the respect they deserve. The Workplace Relations Commission has mandated that talks would take place between the Government and the Unions. It is not good enough that the Government has not engaged in this process.”
