KEEPING IN TOUCH WATERFORD
CIARA CONWAY TD
HIGGINS REPORT: WATERFORD REGIONAL HOSPITAL UPDATE After months of campaigning with Cllr. Jack Walsh and the local Labour team, Minister Reilly has confirmed that Waterford Regional Hospital will continue to be a National Cancer Control Programme. Waterford will keep its current population referral base for cancer patients. Joint consultant appointments (such as general surgery shared with Wexford) across the groups will continue to support the specialist cancer services it provides. The hospital will retain its current suite of invasive cardiology as well as trauma and oncology services. DEVELOPMENTS IN WATERFORD REGIONAL HOSPITAL IN 2013 Waterford is set to gain a considerable number of new and replacement consultant posts in areas such as emergency medicine, dermatology and acute medicine. New Emergency Department The new Emergency Department is a significant improvement on what was there previously. It has almost double the number of spaces and will now have the capacity to treat up to 26 patients at one time. New Regional Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit The existing 18 bed unit is being replaced by a 25 bed state of the art neonatal unit which will serve all Obstetric Units across the South East, offering the best possible care for babies. HOSPITAL GROUPS In future, consultants will be recruited to the hospital groups rather than to an individual hospital. This ensures that Waterford Regional Hospital will have access to world class medical staff. The increased flexibility of staff will enable a reduction in the hours that junior doctors work. This will improve patient safety at Waterford Regional Hospital. Patients will not be restricted in their choice of hospital group. GPs remain free to refer patients to the hospital of their choice outside of their local area. The hospital group will be reviewed before they become permanent hospital trusts. Revision of hospital group composition may be considered at this stage.
Ciara with Cllr Jack Walsh at Waterford City Council
CONTACT CIARA:
A HISTORIC APOLOGY Following on from the Government's apology to the women of the Magdalene Launderies, Labour TD Ciara Conway spoke on the issue in the Dáil. "The State has at long last acknowledged the extent to which time spent in the Laundries tragically blighted the lives of so many. I want to express my deep gratitude to the women of the Magdalen Laundries who began a journey a long time ago to have the truth of what happened told and acknowledged. There must have been times on that journey when they wondered if it was ever going to end, if indifference and evasion were the only responses they would receive. With courage and tenacity, they persisted. Due to their efforts, the veil of secrecy surrounding the laundries has at long last been lifted and it can never now be replaced. “I welcome the Government’s decision to assist surviving women in the matter of payments and other supports, including medical cards, psychological and counselling services, and other welfare needs. The Government is determined that that the process will be speedy, fair and meaningful. It is recommended that the survivors get in touch with the Department of Justice to register their interest in receiving assistance. In addition, I am available to assist any woman who wishes to talk about the process and to help her in any way that I can. “I also support the statement by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, that there is a role for the religious orders which ran the laundries to make a fair contribution, along with the taxpayer. I agree with him that these laundries were private businesses, run by those orders, which benefited from the unpaid labour of the women committed to them.”society has made a meaningful apology.”
Constituency Office: 36 Mary Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Phone: 058 245 14 Email: ciara.conway@oir.ie
WATERFORD CITY COUNCIL REPORT R680 GREEN ROUTE – THE MALL / QUAYS €700,000 was received from the National Transport Authority in February means work can get underway on the next phase. Following a tender process, the Council has now issued a Letter of Intent to the successful contractor and work is starting. This phase will include the completion of work on paving on The Mall (vicinity of Nos 33 – 35), re-paving and new central median from the GPO block to the Granville Hotel and paving/junction work at the Bridge Street / Rice Bridge junction. The contract is due to take seven months we hope most of the work will be done by November 2013. WAYFINDING SIGNAGE SCHEME City CentreDesign and tender work on a new pedestrian wayfinding signage scheme for the City centre has been completed and installation of the new scheme will commence with the next two weeks. The scheme which will be comprised of 29 new signs including some with map panels will link the main transport, retail, historic and visitor attractions in the City.
WILLIAMSTOWN SPORTS COMPLEX ACCESS ROAD This is due to be finished by the end of June 2013. CARRICKPHERISH LIBRARY AND SCHOOLS COMPLEX This project is currently at the pre-qualification of tenders stage. Work on this 12 million euro project is due to begin in the Autumn FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME Construction is continuing on Phase 2, 3 and 4 along the Suir between De La Salle College playing pitches and the Marina Hotel and along Johns River behind Williamstreet and the Peoples Park. Works are progressing to schedule and will continue along both sides of the Johns River as far as the RSC and Kingfisher club. Piling works are ready to start in the old Gasworks site. This contract will finish the scheme and all going well construction should be finished by the end of 2014. The entire scheme was originally budgeted at €30 million but it looks like it will be cheaper than expected , costing around €20 million euro.
FIRE SERVICE HQ
VIKING TRIANGLE
Tendering is underway for the building of a new fire station for the city of Waterford.
Work has started on the the Viking Triangle Tourist OfficeThe Holy Ghost buildings will be refurbished and and the tourist office block will be finished in July with an official opening in August 2013.
Labour Councilllors and Ciara Conway TD at the Labour Party centenary celebrations with Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore
Constituency Office: 36 Mary Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford Phone: 058 245 14 Email: ciara.conway@oir.ie Web: labour.ie/ciaraconway
Working with Cllr. Jack Walsh Phone: 051 873320 Email: jackwalsh@eircom.net
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CIARA CONWAY TD