John Lyons TD
BALLYMUN NEWS Dáil Éireann, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 618 3280 Email: john.lyons@oireachtas.ie Blog: johnlyonstd.blogspot.com Web: labour.ie/johnlyons facebook.com/JohnLyonsDublinNorthWest
@JohnLyonsTD
MORE ACTION NEEDED ON JOBS Being from Ballymun, I know how important every job in the area is and how we need to create more jobs and opportunities for the people of Ballymun. I believe that the best thing you can do to help someone in life is to give them a job. This is why since being elected, I have been putting forward ideas to the Government on how to create more jobs and how to prepare people for work. So far I have called for: l Investment in jobs from building new schools and other infrastructure l Better education and job training for the unemployed l A ‘Youth Guarantee’ to give every unemployed person under 25 a training or education place l Better supports for small business – every job created counts Progress is being made on these ideas but more can be done. This is why I organised for the Dáil Committee on Jobs to hold meetings with unions, community groups and some of the country’s largest employers to get ideas on what should be done to create more jobs.
John speaking in a Dail com mit
tee meeting on unemploym ent and youth unemployment
These meetings are about finding solutions and acting on them - not another report gathering dust. These meetings will lead to a report with solutions. This will then be presented to the Government and I want to see action on foot of the report. For my work so far, I was recently elected as the vice chair of the Job, Enterprise and Innovation Committee. I want to use this opportunity to lead the Committee’s work in responding to the jobs crisis. I would also welcome any ideas you have on how to get people back into jobs. If you would like to speak with me about this work or any other issue, please feel free to get in touch on 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie
NEW SCHOOL BUILDING FOR BALLYMUN As part of the Government’s €1.5 billion spending on new school buildings, Gaelscoil Bhaile Mhunna is to get a new building to replace the prefabs the school has at the moment. This is very welcome news for all those who have been campaigning for a new school building for the Ballymun Gaelscoil. As a teacher, I also know how important a proper school building is for learning and this new building will be a big help to the students of the school.
DEAL ON TOXIC BANK DEBT CLOSE The Government has secured a breakthrough in getting a European agreement, in principle, to break the link between bank debt and national debt. This is a big shift in our favour. Discussions are now underway to work out the banking problems which are holding us back. This was a big issue on the doorsteps in Ballymun when I was canvassing during the recent referendum. The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore canvassed with me in Poppintree and he explained his plan for tackling the bank debt issue to a number of residents. The Tánaiste also said that it was Labour, alone, which stood against placing the private debt of the banks to the country in the first place. And it was Labour which first committed itself to renegotiating that debt burden. When others said it couldn't be done, Labour disagreed. And, in Government, through sheer grit, and a determination to put - and keep - Ireland's interests on the table, we have been proven right. We have some road left to travel on that deal, and to close the hole in our public finances, but there is no doubt that, this deal is a breakthrough. This will help Ireland regain full control of our finances and to say goodbye to the troika for good.
John at Gaelscoil Bhaile Mhunna
In Ballymun and across the country, people have waited too long for new school buildings. The last Fianna Fail Government failed to provide the school buildings needed and some children spent all their school years in prefabs. This is not good enough. To change this we will; l Spend €1.5 billion on 275 major school projects l Build 100 new school buildings at primary level l Build 43 new schools at second level. This will create; l 15,000 direct jobs mainly in construction l 3,000 indirect jobs Labour in Government is creating jobs through investing in education and I am pleased that Labour will deliver this new school building for Ballymun.
Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore canvassing in the Courts Poppintree