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LAWLESS WELCOMES PROGRESS ON HOSPITAL EXTENSION

James Lawless has welcomed news that essential funding has been provided for an extension to Naas Hospital

The HSE Capital Plan 2019 recently allocated funding to the long awaited extension of Naas Hospital. The new endoscopy, day procedures and oncology units can now progress to the design stage of the process.

James commented, “This summer the County Council extended the planning permission for this extension, which was originally granted in 2014, and it is good to see that concrete funding has finally been allocated to this much needed project. I have raised this matter over the past few years with the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, and I will continue to follow up on this issue and ask that the extension proceed as quickly as possible following the 5 year delay.”

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LAWLESS WELCOMES SALE OF NAAS SHOPPING CENTRE

James Lawless has welcomed the news that Naas Shopping Centre is finally to be sold some ten years after it was originally supposed to open.

Naas Shopping Centre

Negotiations have been ongoing between KCC, NAMA and the developers and agreement was reached at the end of the summer. Further to this, Kildare County Council have signed off on an agreement with the receiver which allowed it to be put up for sale. KCC has also taken possession of the Cill Corbain houses immediately adjacent as their value represents some of the money owed to the Council for the original development.

James commented, “I am pleased to hear that all obstacles to the sale of this site have been removed. I have been actively seeking a resolution of this problem for nearly a decade and the sale of the Shopping Centre is a vital part of the revival of Naas town centre.” 

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LAWLESS URGES EXPANSION OF NAAS HOSPITAL TO BE PRIORITISED

His comments come as Kildare County Council announce that it has decided to allow the HSE to extend the planning permission for a significant extension of Naas General Hospital. 

The extension would include a new endoscopy/day services unit as well as Physical medicine and oncology departments. 

James commented, “The extension of planning is welcome. However it also serves to highlight the HSE have stalled on this project since the original planning was granted in 2014. The endoscopy unit in particular is badly needed, I have visited the hospital to inspect existing facilities and I have raised this on the floor of the Dail with Minister Simon Harris. Whilst the planning is key and I welcome this decision, it is imperative that the HSE now press ahead with funding and concrete plans to develop this needed extension.”

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LAWLESS WELCOMES COMPLETION OF MOTORWAY WORKS

James Lawless TD has welcomed the completion of Motorway works between Junction 10 (Naas South) to the M7/M9 junction.

James said, “This is a huge help to commuters who face lengthy journeys and congestion on the M7 every day. The M7 widening project is vital to improving journey times and I am glad to see it move closer towards completion.”

“This represents a €110 million investment in the area and the last phase of this is the Sallins Bypass, completion of which is expected by Quarter 1 of 2020. Having campaigned for these for many years I am delighted to see these infrastructural improvements become reality. These will also relieve pressure on villages like Kill, Johnstown and Eadestown which had developed as “rat runs” due to congestion.”

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NAAS COMMUTER EXPERIENCE MUST BE IMPROVED – DIGNAN

Naas Fianna Fáil Candidate Terry Dignan has said that both short-term and long-term solutions are needed to improve the services for the thousands of Naas Residents who commute to work in Dublin every day.

Terry’s comments come on the back of a Public meeting Terry and James Lawless hosted on Thursday 18th April in Lawlor’s Hotel which focussed on public transport issues for local commuters out of which Terry and James have set up an action group with over twenty people signed up who want to see change.

Terry said, “James gave a very detailed update on the plans for the improvement in the Rail services. We had a pragmatic discussion on issues such as overcrowding on trains, lack of parking space, inadequate timetables, disability access and the feeder-bus service.”

“We also talked about short-term solutions such as having trains retrofitted with grab-handles and poles to improve safety. Longer-term solutions which James has been working on include extending the short-hop fare zone to Newbridge to ease demand at Sallins, and increasing the available Rail stock.”

Terry concluded, “I hope to be able to continue working with James on these and other issues if elected”