SEÁN KENNY TD KEEPING IN TOUCH Summer 2015
Dublin Bay North Constituency
INTRODUCTION After many difficult years, Labour in Government has helped to stabilise the economy. We have moved to a new phase where we can begin restoring living standards for Irish families. We want to primarily benefit low and middle-income earners so that the recovery will benefit those that most need it. Labour in Government is delivering for them through both tax and welfare changes in as fair and equitable a manner as our electoral mandate will allow. We are prioritising essential investment in public services such as health, education and social housing. We will continue our unrelenting drive to help people back into well paid employment, with measures specifically designed to assist jobseekers with families return to paid employment. For 2015, Labour in Government will mark a decisive shift towards shared prosperity.
FROM CRISIS TO RECOVERY – FOUR YEARS OF LABOUR IN GOVERNMENT In 2014, Ireland recorded the fastest growth in Europe. We will do the same in 2015. The sacrifice and hard work of the Irish people have put our country on the path back to prosperity. The latest progress report on the Programme for Government underlines the economic turnaround since 2011. And what the report shows is that this was no accident or coincidence. We set out plans to restore the public finances, create 100,000 new jobs and get people back to work. Many questioned those plans and said it couldn’t be done. But our plan is working, and the evidence is clear:
■ 97,000 new jobs created since 2011
Tánaiste Joan Burton TD
■ Budget 2015 cut taxes on work while increasing funding for public services ■ €3.8 Billion Social Housing Investment to deliver 35,000 new homes ■ Low Pay Commission to make recommendations on minimum wage ■ Exports up 2.4% in 2014 with tourism and manufacturing growing ■ Annual budget deficit has fallen from €22 billion in 2010 to €5 billion
■ Unemployment rate
down a third to 9.9% from a peak of 15.1%
■ New €7 billion Strategic Investment Fund to invest in Irish jobs ■ 31 new Local Enterprise Offices supporting jobs and businesses ■ 28,000 places provided under the Youth Guarantee Scheme ■ 110,000 mortgages in arrears have been restructured by banks Having brought about economic recovery, our task now is to secure it and spread the benefits. Labour is focused on the social recovery where every person, family and community will feel the benefit of renewed prosperity. Every step of the way, Labour will continue to guard the public purse, ensure there is no return to crisis and focus on putting money back in your pocket and delivering reliable public services. CONTACT SEÁN KENNY TD
Address: Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Email: info@seankenny.ie sean.kenny@oir.ie Phone: 01 618 3744 (Dáil) Mobile: 086 812 6340 Web: www.seankenny.ie facebook.com/SeanKennyTD
@SeanKennyTD
youtube.com/user/SeanKennyTD
Member of Oireachtas Committees: Transport & Communications; Justice, Defence & Equality; Public Service Oversight & Petitions
LOW PAY COMMISSION BEGINS WORK The new Low Pay Commission has begun its review of Ireland’s minimum wage and is expected to deliver its first report by midJuly. This is the next step in the Labour Party’s efforts to reward work and bring greater fairness for low-paid workers as the economic recovery takes hold. Having a job is the best protector against poverty and fair wages and conditions are essential to that. I have received positive indications from my colleague Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash that 2015 will be the year of the pay rise.
FREE GP CARE FOR UNDER 6S AND OVER 70S The government deal with the doctors (IMO) will mean an additional 270,000 children under 6 will benefit from GP care free at the point of service. The agreement is the first step in the phased introduction of a universal GP service without fees. The long-drawn out negotiations will include an agreed cycle of care for children diagnosed with asthma. The agreement is due to commence this summer and will also provide GP care for all people over the age of 70.
GARDA RECRUITMENT I am delighted with the news that the Garda College in Templemore has reopened in the last year for Garda Recruitment after the previous Government closed it, as well as a further investment in the Garda car fleet. In the next year there will be extra Gardaí on our streets, making sure our community is a safe place to live.
BIG BOOST FOR APPRENTICESHIPS Many large companies have now started to recruit apprentices for the first time in years. First up was Irish Rail and Eircom, the ESB have also announced it is to recruit 300 apprenticeships over the next five years. This is a genuine breakthrough which will bring huge benefits to young jobseekers. I am looking forward to seeing the Government expand and enhance the role of apprenticeships. For too long, apprenticeships have been undervalued. My colleagues Joan Burton and Jan O’Sullivan have been working tremendously hard promoting the value of apprenticeships to every industry in Ireland. Apprenticeships are the best route to higher pay levels. Skills can command much higher pay rates as the economy grows and employers start to hire again. I want new apprenticeships to be higher up the value chain commanding higher incomes.
LABOUR'S €3.8 BILLION HOUSING PACKAGE Labour Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly, announced a €3.8 billion social housing package in November. One of the main priorities for Labour in Government is to address the challenge of providing social housing for the people of this country; this strategy sets out how this priority will be achieved. The Social Housing Social Strategy 2020 includes:
■ Supplying 35,000 additional social housing units at a cost of €3.8 billion over the next 6 years;
■ Estimated 29,000 Jobs in construction and promotion of mixed-tenure developments;
■ Meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through local authority provision via the private rented sector -using Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme;
■ Reforming social housing delivery and management in Ireland; ■ Establishing the Dublin Social Housing Delivery Taskforce, to respond to the current supply difficulties and focus on the delivery of social housing in the Dublin area;
■ Sets out road map to accommodate everyone on the Housing Waiting Lists by 2020 (90,000 households). If you would like Seán to post you a copy of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, you can send him an email at sean.kenny@oir.ie
BELMAYNE/CLONGRIFFIN ROADS UPDATE
Deputy Seán Kenny Speaking in Dail Debate on Spring Statement 2015
Earlier this year, developers opened two roads for public traffic in Belmayne and Clongriffin. In Belmayne, Parkside Boulevard linking the Malahide Road to the Hole in the Wall Road is now open following the removal of planter boxes there. This should assist traffic flows generally in that area and especially access to the Belmayne primary school. Also there is a new road that leads from Marrsfield Avenue to Clongriffin Square and train station, that should facilitate DART commuters. These roads remain the responsibility of the developers concerned as they are not taken in charge by Dublin City Council.
SEÁN KENNY TD KEEPING IN TOUCH SUMMER 2015
LOCAL NEWS NURSING HOME PLANNING APPLICATIONS NORTH CENTRAL AREA 2015 Reg. Ref.
Address
Applicant
Decision
Unit Nos./Development Under Construction
St Gabriel’s Nursing Home, Glenayle Road/Tonlegee Road, Edenmore, Dublin 5
SGNH Limited
New Application
Alteration/Change of use of existing laundry rooms to provide 2 x ensuite bedrooms
New Application
2669/15
2650/15
Former Smurfit Kappa Facility, Tonlegee Road, Coolock, Dublin 5
TLC Spectrum Limited
New Application
149 bedroom Nursing Home
New Application
GRANTED 20/2/15
83 bedroom Nursing Home (extension of duration of original planning permission)
GRANTED 28/2/15
147 bedroom Nursing Home
0.46ha site in Clongriffin, Dublin Newbrook Nursing 4477/09/x1 13, bounded by Park Avenue. Park Terrace South and Park Row Home
2898/13
Site formally identified as Block 6 (Burnell Wood) and Site 7, Mayne River Street, Northern Cross
Spectrum Developments Ltd
DONAGHMEDE MEN’S SHED GROUP VISIT LEINSTER AT INVITATION OF SEÁN KENNY TD MAY 2015
IMPACT OF CONSTRUCTION WORK AT BALDOYLE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE ON DONAGHMEDE RESIDENTS Deputy Seán Kenny and Cllr. Alison Gilliland raised the concerns of Carndonagh Road residents with the Director of Planning, Fingal County Council, regarding breaches of planning permission conditions during construction work at units 23, 24, and 25, Baldoyle Industrial Estate earlier this year. As a result Fingal County Council carried out an investigation at the site. For details of the investigation outcome see www.seankenny.ie/news
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
Under construction
GREENDALE COURT SENIOR CITIZEN COMPLEX KILBARRACK Dublin City Council informed Deputy Sean Kenny earlier this year that the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has approved funding for the conversion of a number of zero bed units, in complexes throughout the City, into one bed units. The existing empty block at the Older persons’ complex at Greendale is included in this proposal. It is intended that work will begin on some of the citywide complexes over the coming months. However as the layout of the units in Greendale is nonstandard, a different solution is required to that being generally implemented throughout the city. Therefore proposals are currently being progressed and a Part 8 planning process will be launched by the end of May 2015.
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL PRIORY HALL UPDATE APRIL 2015 A letter of acceptance has been signed by Dublin City Council to allow the appointment of a contractor to Phase 4 (Block 1) (awaiting the receipt of the project bond) to complete by year end 2015. A letter of acceptance has been signed by Dublin City Council to allow the appointment of a contractor to Phase 5a- strip out of Blocks 8 to 20 ( awaiting only the receipt of the project bond ) Phases 6 and 7 (Blocks 8 to 20) will be in two packages and it is intended to send these to tender by January 2016. Commence by April 16 and complete by year end 2016. Phase 5b (basements and roads) is currently being tendered. Tender return is 24th April and our expectation is that these works can complete by end 2015. Phases 1 to 3 ( Blocks 2 to 7) will be completed on various phased dates from May to August 2015. Phases 1-3 (Blocks 2-7) will be handed back by Dec 15/Jan 16 when Phase 5B is completed. Dublin City Council are providing extensive landscaping to this scheme.
SEÁN KENNY TD KEEPING IN TOUCH SUMMER 2015
SEÁN KENNY TD KEEPING IN TOUCH SUMMER 2015
RECENT LOCAL ISSUES RAISED FOR TOPICAL DEBATE BY SEÁN KENNY TD IN DAIL 2015 Seán Kenny TD raised the matter of the impact of Cadbury’s transfer of Timeout Bar production to Poland
Seán Kenny TD raised the need for grant assistance for homeowners replacing lead pipes
More details for these debates can be accessed at www.labour.ie or viewed on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/SeanKennyTD
USEFUL CONTACTS/WEBSITES JobBridge - National Internship Programme Better Energy: Warmer Homes: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Ph: 1800 303 515, www.jobbridge.ie Ph:1800 250 204, www.seai.ie Springboard - Training Courses www.bluebrick.ie Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) Ph: 0761 07 2000 Mon - Fri, 9am - 8pm Citizens Information www.mabs.ie Ph: 0761 07 4000 www.citizensinformation.ie
Community Law & Mediation, formerly Northside Community Law and Mediation Centre, based in Northside Civic Centre, is an independent, community-based organisation that works to empower individuals experiencing disadvantage by providing free legal information, free legal advice, education and mediation services. See www.communitylawmediation.ie (Phone 01 847 7804)
YOUR LABOUR TEAM WORKING FOR YOU Seán Kenny’s Advice Centres
Seán Kenny TD CONTACT SEÁN KENNY TD
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD
Cllr Alison Gilliland
Minister of State 01 857 4020 aodhan.oriordain@oir.ie
086 6015154 alisongilliland.ie@gmail.com Twitter: @AlisonGilliland Facebook: Gilliland.Alison1
Every Monday 10am - 10.45am Unit 1, Rear Community Sports Hall, Darndale Every Monday 11.15am - 12 noon Donnycarney Community and Youth Centre (Le Chéile) Every Thursday 7pm - 8pm Ard Scoil La Salle, Raheny Road Every Saturday 10.30am - 11.30am Concorde Lounge, Edenmore Shopping Centre Every Saturday 11.30am to 12 noon Foxhound Inn, Greendale Shopping Centre Every Saturday 12 noon to 12.30pm Donaghmede Inn
(Excluding Bank Holiday Weekends and months of July and August)
Address: Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 @SeanKennyTD facebook.com/SeanKennyTD Phone: 01 618 3744 (Dáil) Mobile: 086 812 6340 youtube.com/user/SeanKennyTD Email: info@seankenny.ie sean.kenny@oir.ie Web: www.seankenny.ie
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