Joan
BURTON TD IRELAND: A BETTER PLACE TO BE Autumn 2014
Winter is coming with darker days but Ireland’s economy is defying the seasons and is showing all the signs normally associated with Spring - recovery, renewal and optimism. For the past 3 years, above all else, we had to restore Ireland’s financial independence. Now, Ireland has an A rating in international markets. This will enable us to attract inward investment, to borrow money at reasonable rates and to refinance high costing earlier loans. Everywhere, there are signs of life in the economy - in construction, tourism and the numbers at work. I don’t pretend that all of our country’s problems have suddenly melted away. There is a long way still to go and challenges to be overcome. I do however think we should feel a reasonable degree of optimism, in contrast to the relentless negativity from Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin who continually deny all signs of improvement. As the new Leader of the Labour Party in Government and Tánaiste, I want the economic recovery to bring meaningful results for all workers and families, secure jobs, higher incomes and reduced taxes. Now is the time to aim higher. Firstly, I want to build on the increased numbers at work. Our jobless rate has fallen below the EU average. But many who are without work for long periods find it extremely difficult to get a job. My priority is to fine tune policies to support the long-term unemployed, especially the many former construction workers who can benefit from the upturn in that sector. Secondly, I will be seeking additional investment in affordable and social housing. Thirdly, I recognise the need to renew social solidarity and to promote a more equal society. The past years have been divisive as many people endured enormous financial stress and despair. With a better financial outlook, it should be possible to direct resources to heal some of these scars. The new political season has started. I am hopeful by next summer Ireland will be a noticeably better place. Top photo: Viewing a scale model of the Grangegorman with Labour Ministers Jan O’Sullivan and Brendan Howlin along with Joe Costello TD
Grangegorman welcomes First Group of Students This month, 1,000 DIT students transferred to the new campus at Grangegorman. They will attend courses in some of the old hospital buildings which have been beautifully restored. Construction work will continue until 2017, by which time all the existing courses in Kevin St, Bolton St, Aungier St and other DIT centres will have relocated to the new campus. This is one of the biggest construction projects currently underway. The new Luas line connecting Cabra to the city centre and beyond will run alongside the campus.
Meeting with new students at Grangegorman
This new facility will offer further choice of quality third level courses to the people of Dublin 7 and Dublin 15. Local businesses can expect to benefit from the large number of students and staff. Joan is very pleased with the progress on Grangegorman having lobbied energetically for resources to fund it as TD and Minister. “I was on the DIT staff for many years as was my husband and often heard of the ambitious plans. Now it is good to see the first group of students arriving and to see the construction jobs that the project has created, many of which have gone to workers who live locally”.
With Minsters Howlin, O’Sullivan and Donohue at Grangegorman
Ireland’s First Multi Denominational Secondary School Opens in Ongar A small piece of history was made in Ongar last month when Ireland’s first multi-denominational secondary school opened its doors and welcomed 75 first year students. Joan was on hand to mark the occasion with the students and families who will participate in this venture which is an important milestone for the Educate Together movement which is already the patron body of 74 primary schools around Ireland. Joan said “I’m very happy to celebrate what I think is an enormous achievement for the whole community. Educate Together has been a tremendous positive force in education in Ireland.” She went on to say that Labour Ministers for Education were committed to providing for diversity of schools and that more Educate Together secondary schools would open in 2015 and 2016. Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School will eventually have 1,000 students and be based in a new building in Ongar, Dublin 15. It is one of a number of new post-primary investments in recent years in Dublin 15. Luttrellstown Community College was completed last year and a substantial extension to Castleknock Community College is currently under construction. In addition, a new Catholic secondary school opened at Tyrellstown this September.
Opening Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School
Dublin West Sports Grants: 11 projects share €733,000 Eleven sports clubs in Dublin 15 and Dublin 7 will benefit from the 2014 Sports Capital Grants. Joan said that this funding confirms this Government’s commitment to sport and local communities. Funding was increased by 33% over the last Sports Capital Programme in 2012. Joan said: “Sports clubs and organisations are the lifeblood of communities across Dublin West and I’m very pleased to see that the Government values the role and contribution that they make”. Publishing the Government’s Statement of Priorities
The main local beneficiaries this year include Castleknock Hurling and Football Club, St Mochta’s Football Club, Coolmine Rugby Club and the development of a floodlit pitch at Blanchardstown IT in conjunction with St Peregrines GAA.
Home Improvement Budget Measure is a Huge Success Last year’s Budget included a new tax measure to encourage homeowners to carry out home renovations. €6 million a week is now being spent by households much to the delight of small building firms and hardware suppliers who had been badly hit by the recession.
Jobfair at Blanchardstown Town Centre
The Budget measure allows homeowners claim back much of the VAT they spend on their home improvements. The minimum spend to be eligible is €4,405 up to a maximum of €30,000 which means a tax refund of between €595 and €4,050, paid through an extra tax credit over 2 years. Tánaiste Joan Burton says: “The remarkable take up for this tax refund scheme is proof that confidence in Ireland’s economic recovery has deepened among consumers”. Full details on the Home Renovation Incentive can be found on www.citizensinformation.ie or www.revenue.ie
New Dublin West Election Boundaries
Opening new MRI and Acute Medical Assessment Unit at Connolly Hospital
The Dublin West Dáil constituency has been substantially revised since the last general election. Blanchardstown, Clonsilla, Castleknock, Tyrellstown and Mulhuddart remain and are now joined with the area around Ashtown and the Navan Road down to Nephin Road. You can check if you are registered to vote at the libraries in Blanchardstown and Navan Road or on www.checktheregister.ie New Irish citizens should check that they are listed correctly on the new electoral register with the right to vote in all elections and referendums.
Your Local Labour Councillors Last May, Labour’s Mary McCamley was elected to Fingal County Council and Brendan Carr was elected to Dublin City Council. Councillors McCamley and Carr are very grateful to everyone who voted for them and are committed to working hard over the next five years representing their areas and neighbours. Opening the new IBM European Sales Headquarters
Should you wish to contact Mary or Brendan regarding any local issue their contact details can be found on the back page.
New Water Support Payment The Government has agreed, on foot of a recommendation by the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton, to put in place an affordability measure to assist the 413,000 pensioners, people with a disability and carers who receive the Household Benefits Package with the cost of water bills. The Household Benefits Package, currently provides assistance with electricity/ gas bills as well as covering in the full the cost of the Television Licence. The value of the additional benefit will be €100 a year to each eligible household, beginning in 2015 at an estimated cost of €42 million per annum. Joan said: “This initiative along with the free water allowances will go a long way towards easing the cost of the domestic water charge”.
Jobless rate drops to five year low Ireland’s unemployment rate has fallen to 11.2%, hitting a five-year low point and is now below the European average. The number of long-term claimants on the Live Register in August 2014 decreased by 4.7%. Joan welcomed the fall on but warned that the unemployment rate remains too high. “The Government’s priority is to help unemployed people to get back into work. We are beginning to see a positive turn in our economy and it is imperative we help those who have been hit during the recession get back on the ladder of recovery as quickly as possible”.
Remembering Peggy Hamill Peggy Hamill who was a Labour Councillor for Castleknock for 10 years, died on June 11th. Paying tribute to Peggy, Joan made special mention to the fact that: “Peggy Hamill’s time was passed with total dedication to the service of family, of community and of the political beliefs she espoused faithfully”. She will be sadly missed and always remembered in the minds and hearts of all who loved her.
Working with your local Labour Team
Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection
Cllr. Brendan Carr Cabra/Finglas Area
Mobile: 087 6501441 marymccamley@gmail.com
Mobile: 087 207 5921 brendan.carr@dublincity.ie
Leinster House, Dublin 2 Phone: 01 618 4006 Email: joan.burton@oireachtas.ie www.joanburton.ie
0612 0612
Joan Burton TD
Cllr. Mary McCamley Mulhuddart Area