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O’ROURKE SEEKING BIKE LOCKERS FOR CELBRIDGE AND KILCOCK

Frank O’Rourke has made representations to the National Transport Authority to have bicycle lockers installed in Kilcock and Celbridge Rail Stations.

Frank commented, “I have asked the NTA and Irish Rail to install Bicycle Lockers at Hazelhatch and Kilcock Rail stations. We need to encourage people to use public transport and cycle to the rail station if possible. Irish Rail is now considering my proposal and I have been given an assurance that once funding is available and it is physically feasible, Bicycle Lockers will be provided at these two stations.”

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COLEMAN SEEKS INCREASE IN ROAD AND FOOTPATH MAINTENANCE BUDGET IN CELBRIDGE

Michael Coleman has put down a motion seeking a substantial increase in the budget allocated to road and footpath maintenance in the older estates in Celbridge.

This is one of two motions he has submitted ahead of the Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District meeting on Friday 20th September. He has put forward two  questions.

The Motions are as follows :

1. That the Council allocate a substantial increase in funding for Budget 2020 for the upgrade of Roads and Footpaths in older estates in Celbridge and Leixlip.
2. That a solar speed sign be installed on the Loughlinstown Road before Elm Hall Nursing Home and Retirement Village.

The Questions are as follows :

1. Can the members have an update on the removal of Eir poles on footpaths at a Church Road and at Oaklee on Maynooth Road?
2. Can the Members have an update on the appointment of a Community Warden for Celbridge?


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O’ROURKE PRESSES FOR FUNDING FOR THE ABBEY COMMUNITY PROJECT

Frank O’Rourke TD has met with Minister Catherine Byrne to press the Government for funding for mental health and addiction services in Celbridge.

Frank is seeking the funding for the local Abbey Community Project, as the demand for their services have increased dramatically.

Frank explained, “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 has now been submitted to the Department for their consideration, a proposal that I fully support and is much needed.”

“The Abbey Community Project is providing a very valuable service for the people of North Kildare. It started off as an addiction service and is now providing a much needed mental health service with dual diagnosis.”

“The 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”

 “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.”

“There are currently over 80 patients in Kildare that are travelling to Dublin to avail of drug treatment services and I am pursuing the urgent need for a drug treatment facility in north Kildare.”

“I raised this issue 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 provided me with an update on the situation.”

“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. A new National Drugs Strategy is expected to be published later this year and I will be keeping the pressure on to ensure Kildare gets adequate drug treatment services,”

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O’ROURKE AND COLEMAN WELCOME NEW SCHOOL BUS SHELTER

Frank O’Rourke TD and Cllr Michael Coleman have welcomed the construction of a Bus Shelter at St. Wolstans School in Celbridge

Frank commented, “I’m delighted to see the Bus Shelter installed on the Clane road beside St. Wolstans school. This was an issue that myself and Cllr Michael Coleman has been working on for some time at the request of all those that use public and school transport. This Bus Shelter will now give an improved standard for all those people waiting to get the Bus at this location.”

“I will continue to make representations for further Bus Shelters to be installed at the appropriate locations in North Kildare. I want to thank the NTA and Kildare Co Council for their assistance in delivering this Shelter.”

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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.”