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O’ROURKE CRITICISES GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO RURAL BROADBAND

Frank O’Rourke TD has said that broadband must be delivered to rural parts of Kildare as soon as possible, as he criticised the Government’s lazy approach to the Broadband Roll-out Plan

There are many locations throughout North Kildare, even within a few kilometres of one of the world’s best known IT companies, where access to broadband is limited or even non-existent.

“High quality broadband is crucial for small businesses, and for many families and young people where there is an increasing opportunity to work from home or a requirement to access the internet for educational needs,” stated Deputy O’Rourke. Continue reading “O’ROURKE CRITICISES GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO RURAL BROADBAND”

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LAWLESS RAISES BUS DELAYS IN THE DAIL

James Lawless TD raised the delays and inconsistencies which have plagued Bus Éireann passengers in Kildare in recent weeks in the Dáil today

“In north Kildare, in particular, places such as Kilcock, Clane and Prosperous, buses are literally not turning up in the morning to collect people. When they do turn up they are delayed, but people are being left stranded at the bus stop.”

“I have engaged with the stakeholders, the National Transport Authority, Bus Éireann and other authoritative sources. There appears to be an unofficial industrial dispute, a form of blue flu, amongst the drivers. I put it to the Minister for Transport who has fobbed it off to the NTA.”

“Commuters trying to travel to work, hospital appointments, college or school are being left stranded in towns were Bus Éireann general is the only mode of public transport. The Taoiseach must direct the Minister to take action and show leadership in this crisis.”

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Frank O’Rourke TD has again pressed Irish Rail to increase the capacity on the Kilcock rail line, following a meeting earlier this week with Kilcock commuters

“Iarnrod Eireann recently gave me a commitment that it will review the level of service on the line. Having met with commuters in Kilcock, it is clear that extra services are needed at peak times.”

“In September, the capacity on the 08:01 service from Kilcock to Connolly has been increased to the pre summer level capacity. However, Irish Rail need to increase the fleet and improve the service at peak times, as passenger numbers grow.” Continue reading “”

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O’ROURKE WANTS LEGAL AID FOR THOSE HIT BY TRACKER SCANDAL

Frank O’Rourke TD says the Government must do more to secure a better deal for mortgage holders from banks operating in Ireland and should provide legal aid to those that are currently in dispute with the banks in relation to the tracker mortgage scandal

“The latest examples of bank customers caught up in the tracker mortgage scandal, reports that profits in banks here are three times the EU norm and the interest rates that the banks charge their customers in Ireland are the highest in the EU, are all examples of the how the banks operating here are not giving their customers fair play.”

“As I said earlier this year, for example, the interest rate on all new mortgages, fixed and variable, stood at 3.3% in June compared to a Euro area rate of 1.83%. This means that a borrower with a mortgage of €200,000 is paying €250 per month more than they would be paying in the average Euro area country.” Continue reading “O’ROURKE WANTS LEGAL AID FOR THOSE HIT BY TRACKER SCANDAL”

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O’ROURKES URGES GOVT TO TACKLE PENSION EQUALITY

Frank O’Rourke TD has called on the Government to review the gap in State Pension pay between men and women, which is currently unfair, and a road map should be proposed for dealing with this inequality.

Frank explained that the current State Pension Scheme hampers women’s ability to qualify for the State Pension. He said that only 16% of women qualify for the full pension and are receiving around €35 less per week in their pensions.

Frank said, “The 2012 band changes, made by the previous Government, to how State Contributory Pensions are calculated have had a detrimental effect on over 35,000 people, including 23,000 women.”

“Time taken out of the workforce and careers, by women, to care for their children or their loved ones, is time lost paying into a pension. This is an unfair situation.”

“I have received many calls to my constituency office in relation to this issue. The Government must now set out a road map to end this unfair situation. The desired impact of our Dail motion last week is quite clear – equality of treatment between men and women in relation to pension contributions.”

“There is now an urgent need to provide an incremental pathway to address the pension anomalies through the Social Insurance Fund. Men and women should be treated equally in terms of their State Pension payment. I will continue to liaise with my colleague Deputy Willie O’Dea our Spokesperson on Social Affairs on this issue,” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.