ALAN
Edition 6, Autumn 2013
FARRELL TD Working for you in Dublin Fingal
www.alanfarrell.ie
DUBLIN FINGAL NEWS Headline crime rates fall in Malahide and Swords, 30% reduction in residential burglaries
Jobs Update 2013 Far too many people are still out of work. Last month the Government launched JobsPlus, a new Government initiative aimed at incentivising employers to target long term unemployment. We still have a long way to go, but recent figures show that we are rebuilding our economy. The Government’s Action Plan for Jobs is a practical plan designed to get people back to work - and it is working. • Unemployment fell below 300,000 for the first time since 2010 • 2,000+ net jobs per month created in private sector • Overall unemployment fell under 14% to 13.7% for first time since 2010 • 1% drop in long term unemployment Prior to the General Election in 2011: • 90,000 jobs per year lost in the private sector • Job Losses of 7,000 jobs per month • 250,000 job losses overall in the private sector Today’s figures show the real impact of this progress.
Minister for Jobs to meet local business owners and managers
Alan Farrell TD photographed with Fine Gael local area representatives for Swords Diane Sexton and Bob Dowling The first quarter of 2013 has shown a 30% reduction in the number of residential burglaries in Malahide and Swords. A report issued in May by An Garda Síochána shows that crime rates in Malahide and Swords improved almost across the board. Reductions in incidents of burglaries, car theft, public disorder, assault, criminal damage and drug possession have all taken place in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2012. Strategies involving smart policing, as well as the deployment of the community policing model have been part of An Garda Siochana’s crime prevention measures. Operation ACER, which is designed to target known burglars, has evidently had a large impact on residential burglary rates, which are down by 30%. I would like to compliment An Cllr Anthony Lavin Garda Síochána’s continued welcomes reduced professionalism in protecting our crime rates in towns, villages and citizens. Malahide
Minister Bruton will hold business meeting in Swords on Fri, 6th Sept 2013
I have invited Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton T.D to hold a breakfast meeting for local business owners and managers in Swords on Friday 6th Sept. This will be a valuable opportunity for local business owners to discuss government policy with the aim of reducing costs and creating jobs in the area. If you wish to register your interest, please call 01 618 4008 or email alan.farrell@oir.ie or visit www.alanfarrell.ie.
€6.4 billion strategic investment fund
Inside...
A Strategic Investment Fund is being created through the National Pension Reserve Fund to provide €6.4 billion for commercial investment to create jobs and stimulate the economy. In tandem with this fund, legislation for NewERA will identify new investment opportunities. This will provide the framework for the Government to invest in key sectors like water, energy and telecommunications.
• FRY MODEL COLLECTION UPDATE • PYRITE RESOLUTION WEBSITE LAUNCHED • 8 KEY ACTIONS TO IMPROVE CRÈCHE STANDARDS
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Alan Farrell TD - Working for you in Dublin Fingal
8 key actions to improve crèche standards
DUBLIN FINGAL NOTES cated has been allo €14,000,000 ty Council so far to Fingal Coun s infrastructure, ad in 2013 for ro and accessibility ts en em ov pr im works.
Safety and Accessibility
Alan Farrell TD raises creche standards with Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald in the Dáil Since the recent Primetime programme which uncovered distressing and entirely unacceptable mistreatment of children in childcare, focus has turned to the government’s strategy to improve standards in creches. The establishment of a Department of Children and Youth Affairs in 2011 was recognition of the huge body of work required in this area and much of this work is already underway. The 8 key actions; 1. All staff will be required to have, as a minimum, a childcare qualification to Fetac level 5; 2. All childcare providers must be registered; 3. New national pre-school standards to be implemented; 4. A more robust and consistent inspection system will be introduced; 5. Ensuring action in response to findings of non-compliance;
• €2,350,000 for cycle lanes in Fingal • €685,000 for footpath improvements and pedestrian crossings, including at Holywell N.S and Lusk Educate Together • €575,000 retained for the Holywell distributor road Dublin North crèches and pre schools have been allocated a total of €67,000 in Childcare Capital Grants in July 2013
Commuting times
• €5.5m widening of the M1, in order to reduce commuting times • €600,000 for the improvement of the Swords Quality Bus Corridor linking Swords and the city centre.
Public Lightin Upgrade for Figngal
Fingal County Council local authorities in Ireis one of three participate in a €30 land that will mi lighting upgrade that llion public jobs and reduce energ will create 200 result, 20,500 publi y costs. As a c lights in Fingal will be upgraded an d many of these jobs will be created locally.
6. Sanctions will be increased for non-compliant providers, including the possibility of losing State funding; 7. Quality and curricular supports to Aistear and Siolta Frameworks will be improved for childcare providers; 8. Inspection reports will be published online in July. There are many excellent crèches in our community and these new actions will ensure that trust in crèche services is enhanced.
Fry Model Railway – UPDATE!
Alan Farrell TD with Cllr Anthony Lavin at The Casino in Malahide
Last year the campaign to return Fry Model Collection to Malahide and securing the restoration of The Casino was a success. I have received the most recent update from Fingal County Council in relation to the progression of this important project. • The most recent proposal outlining the process for the purchase of The Casino and the Fry Model Collection has been finalised by Fingal County Council and furnished to representatives of Michael Gaffney’s estate. • On approval of this proposal, funding will be made available for the local authority to expedite the purchase and development of The Casino and Fry Model Collection museum.
Funding for Fingal rural LEADER development programme The Fingal LEADER rural development programme will receive a further €6.2 million funding for new projects in 2013. Fingal LEADER Partnership has been playing a vital role supporting economic activity in Fingal’s rural areas by investing in non-agricultural activities for farming families. Projects such as Grange Gallery in Oldtown and the Fingal Way Committee Walking Route at Turvey have been funded by this programme in the past and this further investment will be a boost to community economic development.
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Alan Farrell TD and Cllr Anthony Lavin join Irish athletes at the launch of the European Team Championships Athletics at Fingal County Council.
Alan Farrell TD - Working for you in Dublin Fingal
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM €420 million in savings targeted
The Report of the Local Area Boundary Committee has made recommendations on how to improve the balance and consistency in representational ratios in local government. This is part of the Local Government Reform agenda, entitled ‘Putting People First’. Taking into account that this reform will bring about €420 million in savings and reduce the number of councillors nationwide by 42%, public representation in Fingal will increase due to the Cllr Anthony Lavin standardising of the ratio of population numbers welcomes fair and elected councillors. representation for To put this into context, Fingal has a current ratio urban areas of one representative per 11,416 people. The population of Longford has one representative per 1,857 people. The report recommends that these ratios are standardised throughout the country at a rate of 4,830:1. For large authority areas such as Fingal, which has a population of over 270,000, this would have resulted in 57 councillors. In order to ensure that councils can run practically and efficiently, this number has been capped at 40. As a result, the population of Fingal, now at over 270,000 people, will now have one local representative per 6,850 people.
Changes to Councillor numbers in Fingal LOCAL ELECTORAL AREAS
POPULATION 2011
NUMBER OF MEMBERS 2011
NUMBERS OF MEMBERS 2014
POPULATION PER MEMBER
Balbriggan
57,427
5
8
7,178
Castleknock
46,968
4
7
6,710
Howth-Malahide
55,948
5
8
6,994
Mulhuddart
54,064
5
8
6,758
Swords
59,584
5
9
6,620
Total
273,991
40
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Local Government Reform ‘Think Small Business First’
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan recently visited Fingal County Council to showcase the new ‘Local Enterprise Office’ network, aimed at increasing support for small and medium business by incorporating the resources and expertise of the current County Enterprise Boards, Fingal County Council and Enterprise Ireland. Enterprise Ireland is a national centre of excellence with expertise in job creation, networking, mentoring and linking national and local policy programmes. The LEO will provide the incentive for Local Authorities to “think small business first” as part of their work and the broader services that they provide. This is a large part of the overall reform of local government. This model will draw and build on the success of the Fingal County Enterprise Board, but for the first time bring together the skills, experience and resources of Enterprise Ireland, the CEBs and the Local Authorities to micro and small businesses in Fingal.
Website launched for pyrite affected homeowners
The new website launched by the Pyrite Resolution Board is the first official ‘one stop shop’ source of information for pyrite affected homeowners. The website, www.pyriteboard.ie, is a very big step forward in the process of remediation for homeowners as it outlines fully the steps that will need to be taken in order to engage with the remediation process once the online application process begins. Essential information such as the criteria to meet the terms of the scheme, and guidance on obtaining a Building Condition Assessment prior to the application process can also be found on the website. Property owners can register their interest in the application process, and will receive an automatic notification once the date for receiving applications has commenced. As an affected homeowner and someone who has campaigned strongly on this issue, it is a remarkable shift from the period prior to government intervention in 2011 when homeowners had no hope and no support, to present day where homeowners can now actively engage in a fair resolution process. It is life changing, and I commend fully the extraordinary body of work that has been undertaken by Department of the Environment, the National Standards Authority of Ireland, and the Pyrite Resolution Board in order to establish a feasible resolution without placing the burden on the taxpayer. The pyrite helpline is also available on 1890 252 842.
CONSTIT OFFICE OPE UENCY NING HOURS Aug - mid S ept M on to Fri 9.30am - 5.3 0 6 Townyard pm Lane, Malahide
Alan Farrell TD - Working for you in Dublin Fingal
BANKING REFORM AND MORTGAGE RESOLUTION During this Dáil term, mortgage arrears and banking reform have been to the forefront of our agenda. We have closed down Anglo and the IBRC, dealt with the promissory notes, brought the bank guarantee to an end and seen successful issuing of Irish bonds since we entered the bailout. Dealing with the mortgage arrears crisis is an important step in allowing people to deal with their financial issues and to become part of our economic recovery.
Personal Insolvency Service information campaign
(ISI) launched a public The Insolvency Service Ireland le to find the best way peop le information campaign to enab on their situation. g ndin depe s, debt their with of dealing to offer information live gone has ov.ie The website www.isi.g both secured and for s, about debt resolution measure . debt unsecured been available since June • Applications for this service has 2013. ers will be authorised to • Personal Insolvency Practition customer and the credit the act as mediators between provider. what can be determined • Guidelines have been set on g and reasonable living livin as reasonable standards of . expenses line for negotiation and • These are intended as a base flexible and to help both be discussion and are intended to lution. reso ry facto satis a to e sides to com nt that is acceptable to • The aim is to come to an agreeme all.
Targets set for banks to provide much needed relief to homeowners
Some 94,500 homeowners are in arre ars for more than 90 days and 23,5 00 are in arrears for over 720 days. This is an unsustainable situation which has the potential to continue indefinitely. Therefore government have set targets for the six main back to get the following number of hom eowners who have been in arrears for 90 days a sustainable solution; TARGETS Other measures: • 20% by the end of June 2013 1. Updating the Code of Conduct of • 30% by the end of September Mor tgage Arrears 2013 2. The establishment of the • 50% by the end of December Insolvency Service 2013 These targets are being 3. Further roll-out of mortgage-tocontinuously monitored by the rent schemes and the progression Central Bank and appropriate of mortgage-to-lease schemes. action will be taken in the event of banks failing to meet them.
Rent Limit increase will keep low income families in their homes across the North County I was very pleased with the decision by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton T.D. to increase the limits for rent supplement in Dublin Fingal. As a result of the rental market increase in Fingal, tenants were finding it difficult to source appropriate accommodation within the current limits.
A number of constituents contacted me in crisis over the past twelve months, unable to source appropriate accommodation for themselves and their families, and were facing the prospect of leaving the community in which they worked or enrolled their children in school. I raised this matter repeatedly in the Dáil
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and on a one to one basis with Minister Burton to highlight that urgent change was needed, and welcomed the decision to carry out a Rent Limit Review which has now resulted in the increase of rent limits. This will ensure that 35% of the relevant market is suitably priced for Rent Supplement recipients.
Clinic Times in Fingal (exc Aug)
YOUR LOCAL FINE GAEL TEAM:
FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH 6.45 - 7.15pm Balbriggan Town Hall 7.30 - 8.00pm Skerries Community Centre 8.15 - 8.45pm Rush Community Centre
James Reilly TD Minister for Health Tel: 01 890 1300 james.reilly@oireachtas.ie
Cllr Anthony Lavin Malahide / Portmarnock Tel: 087-9931329 anthony.lavin@fingalcoco.ie
Cllr Joan Maher Malahide / Portmarnock Tel; 087 2837169 joanmaher1@eircom.net
LAST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH 7.00 –7.30pm Portmarnock P.S.L.C 7.45 –8.15pm Malahide Constituency Office
ALAN FARRELL TD Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 6184008 alan.farrell@oir.ie www.alanfarrell.ie www.twitter.com/alanfarrell
Alan Farrell TD - Working for you in Dublin Fingal
Constituency Office 6 Townyard Lane Malahide Co. Dublin
0612
FIRST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH 7.00 - 7.30pm Swords Senior Citizen Centre 7.45 - 8.15pm Donabate Community Centre 8.30 - 9.00pm Lusk Murray’s