SEÁN KENNY TD KEEPING IN TOUCH Spring 2014
Dublin Bay North Constituency
WORKING TOGETHER FOR POST-BAILOUT IRELAND Labour is proud of Ireland exiting the bailout on 15 December 2013. This is an important moment for our country. The economy is starting to recover. Jobs are being created. In 2011, Fianna Fáil left Ireland with only five months of funding to pay for public services, wages and pensions. By 2013, Labour in government has ensured Ireland exits the Bailout and has €25bn in reserve. We have ended the bank guarantee and the promissory note. We liquidated Anglo. Had we not done what we have done, our country would be going into a second bailout. Labour prioritised jobs, education and health, implementing an Action Plan on Jobs. We reduced the costs of education and introduced free GP care for 5s and under. We protected core welfare rates and ensured decent working terms and conditions. We are determined to do more to help hard-pressed families and individuals who need a break. The Bailout exit is a means to an end.
And because Labour is the Party of work, the creation of jobs is our priority. By working together, we can and must complete the job of economic recovery. But for the first time since the crisis began, we can dare to hope again.
We still have a distance to travel before people feel a turnaround in their daily lives.
MASSIVE BOOST OF 58,000 JOBS IN 2013 Jobs Increases in 2013
Creating jobs is the best route to growth and the fight against poverty. To date: ■ 58,000 jobs were created in 2013.
60,000
■ 1,200 on average are being created per week.
■ Over €500 million pro-jobs measures planned for 2014. ■ There has been a 6% increase in the number of skilled positions available year on year.
48,000 New Jobs Created
■ Unemployment has reduced from 15.1% in 2012 to 12.8% to the 3rd quarter of 2013.
36,000 24,000
12,000
■ 1,007 new jobs due to JobsPlus alone. ■ 20,200 education, training, work and apprentice places ringfenced for young people.
0
■ €2.5m invested in 2014 in funding young entrepeneurs e.g. Micro Finance Ireland.
CONTACT SEAN KENNY TD
Address: Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Email: info@seankenny.ie sean.kenny@oir.ie Phone: 01 848 1806 (Home) 01 618 3744 (Dáil) Web: www.seankenny.ie facebook.com/SeanKennyTD
@SeanKennyTD
Member of Oireachtas Committees: Transport and Communications; Justice, Defence and Equality
2011
2012
2013
IMPROVED FINANCES –RENEGOTIATED DEBT Labour was determined to re-negotiate the bad debt deal done by Fianna Fáil and the Greens. Ireland’s debt is now under control: ■ The promissory notes are gone. The annual payment of €3.1bn has
been stopped. ■ Anglo-Irish bank has been closed. ■ The interest rate on the bailout loans was reduced from 6% to
3.5%. ■ €7bn was secured in burden-sharing with junior bond-holders. ■ The EU has agreed in principle to separate banking debt from
sovereign (taxpayers’) debt. Work is continuing apace on a possible Banking Union and retrospective access to the ESM. €25bn in cash balances exist to provide a buffer, should there be a down-turn in the external environment.
ROADMAP FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH The Medium-Term Economic Strategy 2020 has been launched. It seeks to end the boom bust approach to economics. No more ‘if I’ll have it I’ll spend it’ Fianna Fáil waste of taxpayers’ money. Instead, the government sets out a clear roadmap so the economy serves society.
INCREASED INVESTMENT BOOSTS DOMESTIC ECONOMY
■ Jobs are at the heart of the Strategy. ■ Full employment is the over-arching aim. ■ Tackling household debt and mortgage distress prioritised. ■ Opportunities for young and those who have emigrated identified. ■ Sound public finances and a functioning banking system deemed vital. ■ Protecting the vulnerable and eliminating poverty are key aims.
The future will still contain some difficult choices. We must face these choices honestly if we are not to see a return to the failed politics and economic despair of the past. Full report at: www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/reports/2013/mtesfin2013.pdf
€79 BILLION HORIZON 2020 COMES TO IRELAND Horizon 2020 is the new €79 billion programme for research and innovation in the EU. Ireland aims to win €1.25 bn – an average of €3m per week – over the 7 year programme.
Investing in Ireland’s critical infrastructure will help to literally rebuild Ireland. That’s why: ■ €17.1bn has been approved for a major
Government Stimulus Plan, including the building of new schools, roads and transport links. ■ €200m for the National Children’s Hospital
from sale of the National Lottery. ■ 4,300 construction jobs are expected for the
education sector alone. ■ 2,700 new classrooms have been
constructed since Labour took office, providing high quality classrooms for over 66,000 children at a cost of €800m. ■ Tax Relief for Home Improvements coming
on stream in 2014. ■ Unfinished housing estates to be completed
with €10m of funding. ■ Homes for the elderly, disabled and
homeless with €100m additional funding. ■ €205 million to fund 14 schemes like the
Wild Atlantic Way and National Sports Centre.
SEÁN KENNY TD KEEPING IN TOUCH SPRING 2014
LOCAL NEWS FLOOD DEFENCE BALDOYLE, SUTTON AND HOWTH COASTAL AREA
BALDOYLE ESTUARY GREATER DUBLIN DRAINAGE SCHEME
Fingal’s Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Department applied to the OPW in April 2013 for funding to appoint a Consultant to carry out detailed design of flood defence works at Strand Road, Sutton. Flood defence works had been presented in the Royal Haskoning Report of 2005 “Dublin Coastal Flooding Protection Project”. OPW are considering Fingal’s application for funding. Also, The Eastern Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) study is currently in progress and due for completion in 2015 with implementation and review from 2016. This OPW study addresses flood risk and management in the Eastern River Basin District of the country and will include Baldoyle, Sutton and Howth coastal areas. Fingal’s Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Department is liaising with the OPW on this project.
The proposed Greater Dublin Drainage Scheme treatment plant includes the provision of a wastewater pipe at Baldoyle Estuary. Seán Kenny TD was informed on 15th January 2014 that over the coming weeks the Greater Dublin Drainage project team is going out to meet members of the public in the area through informal information stands in public libraries, local authority offices and shopping centres before a planning application is submitted by Fingal County Council to An Bord Pleanala under the Strategic Infrastructure Development Act 2006. For further information see http://www.greaterdublindrainage.com/
GRANGE ROAD, BALDOYLE – TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT Fingal Council have informed Seán Kenny TD that they recently carried out a traffic survey at that the junction of Grange Road/Baldoyle Industrial Estate and junctions further east along Grange Road to determine what measures can be put in place to improve the flow of traffic along Grange Road. Following the results of the survey it is proposed to carry out some adjustments to the signal timings, sequence and traffic signal heads at the Industrial Estate junction. These adjustments should improve the flow of traffic along Grange Road and turning movements into the Industrial Estate.
PROGRAMME OF WORKS 2014 Cllr Judy Dunne has welcomed Fingals Programme of works for 2014 which will see a total of €97,000 provided for Footpath Improvement Works in Sutton, Baldoyle and Howth. Fingal Council has also made a provision of €10,000 for public lighting on the Pedestrian access to Racecourse Park, Baldoyle.
MARKETING SUITE, COAST BALDOYLE A number of residents have raised the issue of the use of the marketing suite at the Coast Baldoyle with me. Fingal Council has said that the developer has agreed to meet them with a view to agreeing the necessary works to adapt the building for use as sports changing/meeting rooms and the timeframe for completion of these works. When this work is complete the building will be taken in charge and made available to local clubs.
BLUE LAGOON SERVICE STATION, DUBLIN ROAD, SUTTON – PLANNING APPLICATION F13A/0033 In November last An Bord Pleanála upheld a decision by Fingal Council to grant planning permission for the demolition of the existing forecourt building and the construction of a new unmanned filling station and associated facilities.
FINGAL COUNCIL PROGRAMME OF WORKS 2014 The programme includes Road Restoration Improvement of €147,000 for Dublin Road, Kilbarrack €147,000 and €119,000 for Coast Road, Baldoyle. Seán Kenny TD with Cllr. Judy Dunne and Local Representative Brian McDonagh
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA? For regular updates on meetings of Dublin City Council North Central Area Committee, and meetings of Fingal County Council Howth-Malahide Area Committee see www.seankenny.ie/news
SEÁN KENNY TD KEEPING IN TOUCH SPRING 2014
SEÁN KENNY TD SPEAKING ON PROTECTED DISCLOSURES BILL 2013 IN THE DÁIL ON 5TH FEBRUARY 2014 “The public generally becomes aware of an incident of whistleblowing when things have gone wrong – usually when the whistleblower has been dismissed or has suffered or been made to suffer in some way. When it appears that the whistleblower has been motivated by genuine and well-founded concerns, public opinion tends to support the whistleblower on the grounds that they have done a public duty. Unfortunately however, the message that emerges from media reports of whistleblowing tends to be negative that those who put their heads above the parapet and speak out are liable to be penalised in some way…(this Bill will) help to strengthen and reinforce political will to confront corruption. In addition, the willingness of the public to engage in anti-corruption efforts through whistleblowing as well as voicing concerns and demands is likely to greatly enhance attempts to uncover corruption when it occurs and to undo its effects.” For full details of Seán weekly Dáil and Oireachtas committee contributions see www.labour.ie or facebook.com/SeanKennyTD
Constituency Advice Centres Every Monday 10am - 10.45am Unit 1, Rear Community Sports Hall, Darndale
Every Saturday 10.30am - 11.30am Concorde Lounge, Edenmore Shopping Centre
Every Monday 11.15am - 12 noon Donnycarney Community and Youth Centre (Le Chéile)
Every Saturday 11.30am to 12 noon Foxhound Inn, Greendale Shopping Centre
Every Thursday 7pm - 8pm Ard Scoil La Salle, Raheny Road
Deputy Seán Kenny acting as Ceann Comhairle
Every Saturday 12 noon to 12.30pm Donaghmede Inn
(Excluding Bank Holiday Weekends and months of July and August)
USEFUL CONTACTS/WEBSITES JobBridge - National Internship Programme Ph: 1800 303 515, www.jobbridge.ie
Better Energy: Warmer Homes: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Ph:1800 250 204, www.seai.ie
Springboard - Training Courses www.bluebrick.ie Citizens Information Ph: 0761 07 4000, www.citizensinformation.ie
Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) Ph: 0761 07 2000 Mon - Fri, 9am - 8pm www.mabs.ie
YOUR LABOUR TEAM WORKING FOR YOU
Seán Kenny TD CONTACT SEAN KENNY TD
Cllr. Judy Dunne
Brian McDonagh
087 6178557 judy.dunne@fingalcoco.ie
086 385 8979 brianmcdonaghlabour@gmail.com
Address: Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Phone: 01 848 1806 (Home) 01 618 3744 (Dáil) Email: info@seankenny.ie sean.kenny@oir.ie Web: www.seankenny.ie
EMER COSTELLO MEP 086 383 1805 emercostelloMEP@gmail.com
facebook.com/SeanKennyTD @SeanKennyTD 0612