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Naas Mayor Robert Power launches Naas Engagers App

There was a great turnout at the Naas Wild Food Festival on Saturday where Mayor Robert Power launched the “Naas Engagers” App. This is an innovative new community mapping project and will provide an opportunity for the people of Naas to put forward and share ideas for the revitalisation & regeneration of Naas. A key part of this pilot project is a mobile phone App that has been developed by Space Engagers, supported by the Social Innovation Fund Ireland in association with Google. The Naas URBACT Local Group, is leading this project as part of an  European Union initiative, called “ The City Centre Doctor Project” – which Councillor Deborah Callaghan has been very involved with – the aim of which is to develop a Naas Town Team and to plan for the regeneration of Naas .

Naas Engagers will enable local people to share stories and information about places in the town and to make suggestions as to how some of them could be reused or improved. The aim is to encourage people to think about their town and how they would like it to develop.

Rob said “I’m really proud that Naas is one of only 4 towns in Ireland to trial this digital solution to help rejuvenate town centres.”

Search the App Store for “Space Engagers” and get tagging your ideas for Naas!

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O’ROURKE URGES OPENING UP CAR INSURANCE MARKET TO EU

Frank O Rourke TD has called on the Government to consider opening up the EU Car Insurance market for Irish drivers, following the unprecedented increase in car insurance premium in recent years

‘The most recent figures on motor insurance, show premiums have raised by almost 40% in the last year, as the underlying rate of inflation stands at 0.5%. In fact the main cause of this 0.5% inflation relates to the rising cost of insurance overall.’

‘It is not unusual for young people in their early 20s to be asked to pay anything between €6,000 and €12,000 a year for their car insurance. This premium level is not an option for many young people, many of whom require cars for their educational, work or family purposes, as I have established at my clinics in recent weeks.’

‘I know from liaising with my colleague Deputy Michael McGrath, that the claims which are being paid out have reduced in recent years, from claims paid out of €1.5 billion in 2011 to claims paid out of €1.01 billion in 2014. Insurance companies have also returned to profitability. This should have led to reduced premium costs not increased premiums.’

‘I raised this matter in the Dáil recently and called on the Government to re-establish the Motor Insurance Advisory Board (MIAB). Given the track record of the MIAB in the past, it seems to me to be an imperative action for this Government, if we are going to make progress on reducing the motor insurance costs.’

‘I also believe that we should look at opening up the insurance market to the EU, whereby, we could purchase our insurance in Germany or France and that it would cover our driving in Ireland. This would have the effect of increasing competition in the market and should reduce premiums from their current high levels.’

‘Rising cost of insurance reduces net income available for people to spend on other life’s essentials and is key driver to increasing the cost of doing business in Ireland. As I said in my Dáil contribution, there is little point in the modest reduction in the USC in the last budget being transferred to enhance the profit of the Insurance companies.‘ concluded Deputy O’Rourke, who is committed to raising the issue in the Dáil again in the next session.

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O’ROURKE SAYS IRISH MORTGAGE RATES HIGHER THAN EU

Mortgage Rates in Ireland remain dramatically out of line with rates charged elsewhere in Europe, according to Fianna Fáil’s Deputy Finance Spokesperson, Frank O’Rourke

Frank stated, “Recent Retail Interest Rate statistics published by the Central Bank show that mortgages rates are falling in Ireland. However, they are not falling at the same pace that deposit rates are falling”

“These statistics published by the Central Bank recently show that despite modest reductions in mortgage rates, Irish mortgage holders are continuing to pay dramatically more than consumers elsewhere in Europe.”

“For example, in Ireland, 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. That is €250 a month, each and every month, which could be spent by families on other household necessities. There has yet to be a credible explanation for such a dramatic difference in the rates charges and it is depriving our economy of much needed money which could be spent more productively in our economy”

“In May 2016, a Fianna Fáil Bill designed to give the Central Bank powers to tackle excessive variable mortgage rates passed second stage in the Dáil. The progress of the Bill through the legislative process has been tortuous and painfully slow. Despite not opposing the Bill at second stage, it is abundantly clear the Government does not want the Bill to become law.”

“As I have said in the Dail on a number of occasions, we must focus on reducing the cost of living as well as reducing the burden of taxation. There is little point in reducing tax rates, if the banks are continuing to charge excessively high variable mortgage rates or insurance companies are continuing to increase their rates, taking back a multiple of any reduction in taxation.”

“However, key elements of our Bill on mortgage rates will proceed when the Dail returns next month which will be of help in relation to securing fairer mortgage rates in the Irish market,” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

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LAWLESS WELCOMES SALLINS FOOTPATH IMPROVEMENTS

James Lawless TD has welcomed the progress on improving the footpaths through the town of Sallins

“In conjunction with Cllr. Carmel Kelly I am delighted confirm that our works have been carried out on footpath repairs in the village. The repairs works included the main footpath through the town. Next to be done is the section on way to primary school going past the Creche. The bins visible in picture were also put in this summer using some of Carmel’s discretionary funding. Most of Sallins village has now had pavement and/or road surface improvements carried out since 2014 between myself and then Carmel representing it on county council.”