MCCARTHY MICHAEL CLONAKILTY NEWS 1510_Layout 1 02/12/2011 10:27 Page 1
KEEPING IN TOUCH Michael McCarthy TD Clonakilty News
THANK YOU Firstly, I wish to take this opportunity to thank you, the people of Clonakilty, for the courtesy and kindness shown to my canvass team and I throughout the general election campaign. The level of support we received from the local community was heartening and I will now endeavour to represent your voice in Dáil Eireann where I will do my very best to effect positive change in the lives of people in Cork South-West. There are various issues that are of concern to people in the Clonakilty area - unemployment, access to healthcare, and education, to name but a few. Many people, for the first time in their lives, are genuinely uncertain about the security of their homes, their jobs and the future of their children, and it is my responsibility, as your local TD, to listen to these concerns and help try to ensure that people can enjoy stable and secure lives.
We live in challenging times, however we are not without hope. The new Government, tasked with an overwhelming mandate from the Irish people, are already putting right some of the wrongs imposed on our country by the previous administration. Reform, fairness and jobs are at the centre of Labour Party policy, and I hope to put those same things at the centre of life in areas like Clonakilty. I hope you enjoy this newsletter, which aims to provide you with a good insight into the work that I have been carrying out on your behalf since my election to Dáil Eireann in February. Please do not hesitate to get in contact if there are any local issues you wish to bring to my attention. Kind regards,
PEDESTRIAN WORKS TO GET UNDERWAY In July, my party colleague Minister of State Alan Kelly allocated €76,000 towards pedestrian and path works in Clonakilty. This funding will enable the construction of a push button-activated pedestrian crossing and 160m length of 2.0m wide footpath at Park Road, Clonakilty. This will be of considerable benefit to the local community and assist pedestrians greatly. The works are due to get underway shortly. It is one part of a smarter travel funding package announced by Minister Kelly which sees local authorities across the country awarded various parcels of funding for ‘smarter travel’ projects in their area. The funding was made possible under the recent Jobs Initiative.
EASYLINK EXPANSION CREATES 20 JOBS The local area got a boost of good fortune in May when US firm Easylink announced that they plan to expand their base in Clonakilty. The expansion of EasyLink will benefit the region of West Cork significantly as it will lead to the creation of 20 finance and accounting jobs. Easylink has begun filling these positions, which were advertised both internally and externally. These jobs will complement Easylink’s existing clutch of 25 staff which are based in their European shared services centre at the West Cork Business and Technology Park in Clonakilty. It is a huge boost for West Cork and I hope it marks the beginning of a wave of new inward investment into the region. Michael McCarthy TD with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore TD
MCCARTHY MICHAEL CLONAKILTY NEWS 1510_Layout 1 02/12/2011 10:27 Page 2
FUNDING FOR MUGA WILL ENGAGE MORE YOUTH IN SPORT Funding of €18,149 has been announced by Minister of State Michael Ring to assist in the operation of the MUGA (multi-use games area) in Clonakilty. It is a great boost and follows on from an allocation of €112,489 to local sports projects in the general West Cork area a few months ago. This funding is specifically designed to boost participation in sport, and I hope it will encourage the local community to organise more activities together.
UPDATE ON N71 I was recently in contact with the National Roads Authority on the issue of the N71 Bandon to Inishannon road. Around the winter months, people are understandably concerned about possible deterioration of the road heading into the winter period. The latest update on the project is that it is being kept under review as part of the authority’s national roads programme and when determining grant allocations for future years. The Authority has allocated almost €0.9 million to Cork County Council this year for maintenance works on national secondary roads in the county.
Michael with Senator Jillian van Turnhout, outgoing Chief Executive of the Children’s Alliance signing a pledge to the Alliance and its call to strengthen children’s rights in the Constitution
FUNDS FOR SUMMER WORKS AT CLON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Michael, Minister Kathleen Lynch and supporters at the recent opening of his constituency office in Dunmanway
Clonakilty Community College was one of eight schools in the constituency to be allocated funding under the Summer Works Scheme this year. This funding enables small to medium improvements to be carried out over the summer months, when disruption to pupils can be kept to a minimum. It has the added benefit of generating work for local construction companies.
MOUNT CARMEL HOSPITAL The issue of proposed long-stay bed closures at Clonakilty Community Hospital is one which is causing considerable concern to the local community. The Clonakilty Hospital Action Group has done sterling work to date in terms of rallying local support for the cause and raising awareness around the issue. I will continue to support their campaign to the best of my abilities and make every reasonable effort to bring their concerns to the attention of the Health Minister James Reilly.
CALL TO REVIEW AMBULANCE COVER ISSUE The planned changeover from 24-hour ambulance cover to a rapid response service in Skibbereen and Castletownbere is a live local issue in Clonakilty, as it will have some consequences for the town’s own ambulance service. I have publicly pledged my support to the West Cork ‘Save Our Service’ campaign, which is being spearheaded by my party colleague, Cllr. Frank Fahy. Recently I raised the issue in the Dáil with Minister for Health James Reilly where I urged him to review the situation, given that Skibbereen is the second busiest, and occasionally the busiest 999 ambulance station in West Cork, second only to Clonakilty. I will continue to give this important local issue my focus and attention.
Tel: 023-8855705 Email: michael.mccarthy@oir.ie Web: www.michaelmccarthy.ie Follow Michael on and
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