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O’ROURKE WELCOMES PROGRESS ON NEW BRIDGE IN CELBRIDGE

Local Fianna Fáil TD, Frank O’Rourke, has welcomed the news that the tender is been advertised today which will lead to appointing the consultants to take the second bridge in Celbridge from concept through to the design and tender stage.

“I have been informed that Kildare County Council are going to tender today which will lead to the appointment of the consultants, to bring the propose…d 2nd bridge in Celbridge from concept through to the Design and Tender stage. The consultants should be appointed within three months approximately. This is very positive news and as a result of the funding that I fought to have allocated to Kildare County Council for this important project in recent months. This project is now progressing.”

“I have been in regular contact with the various Departments and Kildare County Council over recent years to highlight the need for a second crossing over the river Liffey in Celbridge. This is a much needed piece of infrastructure and Celbridge has waited too long for it.”

“Traffic congestion in Celbridge is a major issue. We are making progress on increasing the capacity of the Liffey Bridge but congestion will only be substantially relieved when a second bridge is provided with the associated link roads for Celbridge. This is important also for the future development of the town.”

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O’ROURKE SAYS KILDARE NOT GETTING FAIR SHARE OF TES FUNDS

Frank O’Rourke TD has welcomed the allocation of funds for projects in Kilcock and Prosperous under the Town and Village Town Enhancement Scheme.

However Deputy O’Rourke also highlighted that Kildare was not receiving its fair share of funding under this scheme.

“Kilcock and Prosperous will each receive €100,000 under the 2019 allocations . Three main approach roads to Prosperous will be improved. Four principal approach roads to Kilcock will also be improved.”

Continue reading “O’ROURKE SAYS KILDARE NOT GETTING FAIR SHARE OF TES FUNDS”

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O’ROURKE INTRODUCES BILL TO BROADEN ACCESS TO HAP

Frank O’Rourke TD introduced a bill into the Dáil last night that seeks to allow families facing eviction access the HAP scheme sooner.

Frank commented, “This Bill aims to prevent families from entering homelessness, by making changes in access to HAP. As it stands, a family served with a tenancy termination notice can only access HAP as their eviction date looms. My Bill seeks to give families access to HAP at a much earlier stage of their notice period, thereby giving time to seek and secure alternative accommodation. As well as the social implications, my Bill also makes economic sense, as it costs the state significantly more to house families in emergency accommodation, than in a stable home assisted by HAP.”

You can see Frank speak in the Dáil here

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O’ROURKE WELCOMES FUNDING FOR ABBEY COMMUNITY SERVICE

Frank O’Rourke, has been informed by the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Catherine Byrne TD, that Celbridge Abbey Community Project is to receive additional funding of €35,000.
Frank had made strong representations and had many meetings on their behalf to have funding approved.

“Earlier this year, I met with the Board of the Abbey Community to discuss the requirement for funding for 2019. We had secured some additional funding towards the end of 2018. An extensive proposal for funding was submitted to the Department for their consideration. I fully supported this proposal.”

“I have now been informed that funding of €35,000 is now approved for Celbridge Abbey Community Project.”

“The Abbey Community Project is providing a very valuable service for the people of North Kildare. It is providing a much needed mental health service with dual diagnosis for many people.”

“Given that the state is referring people to the Abbey Project in Celbridge, it is only right that state funding be provided to the Project. The reality is if the Abbey Community Project didn’t exist or closed its doors tomorrow, the state agencies wouldn’t be able to deal with the high demand for the services.” stated Deputy O’Rourke.

“The Celbridge Abbey Community Project opened in 2007, the staff is very passionate about the services that they provide through the Project. I know that through the Project’s valuable work, lives are being saved.”.

“I raised the requirement for funding in the Dáil with the Taoiseach and I was subsequently contacted by the Minister of State for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy Catherine Byrne TD , who has now confirmed this additional funding.”

“The provision of treatment services in Kildare has been identified as a priority by both the Government and the HSE. It is now time that the state financially supports the Abbey Community Project.”

 

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Frank O’Rourke TD  has welcomed confirmation that a second round of funding to finance critical pieces of infrastructure in counties like Kildare, such as a second bridge in Celbridge, ring roads around Maynooth and Clane, will be available.
 
“Last year, under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), Round 1, €14m was allocated for the construction of the Maynooth Ring Road linking the Dublin Road to the Celbridge road.”

“Since being elected, I have made repeated representations, and met the relevant Minister, to secure funding for the construction of a number of ring roads, including the construction of the Maynooth Ring Road, Clane Ring Road and a second bridge for Celbridge.”
 
“Funding from the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), which I proposed in my Dail contribution, is an ideal way to ensure that we have a source of funding for critical projects. As more housing units are being developed in the area, we have to provide matching infrastructure, such as roads, public transport and schools.”

“Following a Parliamentary Question, I received confirmation that the Government will launch the second round of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), before the end of March, and this will give Kildare County Council an opportunity to seek funding for critical projects.”

“We must learn from the mistakes of the past. We must provide adequate infrastructure in line with development, rather than trying to retrofit the infrastructure subsequent to the development, as happened in the past.”

“I continue to raise the requirement for infrastructure of this nature, with the Department and Kildare County Council, for projects in Maynooth, Celbridge and Clane and I welcome the announcement of Round 2 funding under the (LIHAF),” concluded Deputy O’Rourke. Continue reading “”