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LAWLESS URGES GOVERNMENT TO ACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

James Lawless spoke in the Dáil today about climate change and criticised the Government’s inaction.

James said, “The Government recently published a climate action plan but their failure to properly finance public transport and the SEAI retrofitting fiasco highlights their hypocrisy on this most important issue, as does the Taoiseach’s delayed criticism of the Mercosur deal and the fires in the Amazon.”

“Tomorrow’s climate strike by students across the country is a timely reminder for the Government that minds need to be focussed on urgently improving Ireland’s climate record.”

You can watch James’ speech below :

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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 BASHES BROADBAND PLAN

James Lawless was on Radio 1’s Today With Miriam discussing the National Broadband Plan

James said the government have managed to drive it 6 times over budget, 3 times over due, to 1/3 less houses and still plan at the end to give it all away to a private company.

James commented, “Yesterday’s report by the Communications Committee, of which I am vice chair, raises really serious concerns about the tender process and follows a majority Dáil vote, Department of Public Expenditure and the Public Accounts Committee in finding that this tender is way over price and over spec and risks wasting billions of taxpayers money to achieve what could be done much faster and cheaper.”

You can listen to James’ interview here

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LAWLESS WELCOMES NEW BUS LINKS TO SALLINS STATION

James Lawless has welcomed the National Transport Authority have taken on board suggested changes to Bus Routes serving Sallins Train Station.

James commented, “I recently wrote to the NTA about local transport issues and suggested that changes should be made to the 139 bus route, allowing it to be used for short hop journeys between Clane, Sallins and Naas, providing support to the train service. I am delighted that the NTA has agreed to some of these changes which are effective from this month on certain rush hour services.”

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