BRENDAN RYAN TD Your trusted voice in the Dáil Autumn 2015
TOWARDS RECOVERY Message from Brendan The last seven years have been especially difficult for our country and the people of Fingal but we can look forward to the future with some confidence that better days are ahead. We in the Labour Party are committed to support people in sharing the recovery that is currently underway. The national unemployment rate now is down to 9.5%, down from a high of 15.1%. We are making healthcare more affordable and this Summer has seen the introduction of Free GP care for under 6s and over 70s. These are the first steps towards universal free GP Care. We have introduced ground-breaking workers rights legislation and in January we will be raising the minimum wage to €9.15. This is the result of a recommendation from the Low Pay Commission, an independent commission set up by Labour in Government to establish more appropriate levels of pay and conditions for low pay workers. There is still a lot more to do but I am working hard to represent the views of ordinary people in Fingal to Government. As the economy continues to improve, I will continue to work hard to ensure the recovery is delivered in a fair manner that helps the most vulnerable.
The Live Register in Fingal continues to fall with an
11% decrease in the Balbriggan region in the past 12 months and a 15% decrease in Swords. Unemployment now stands at 9.5%. With 1,958,700 people in work, employment is at a six year high.
Brendan at the recent announcement of 100 new jobs at Ballymaguire Foods in Lusk. Pictured with Brendan, Edward Spellman, MD Ballymaguire Foods, Mayor David O'Connor and Michael Hoey, Chairman Country Crest Food Group.
CONTACT Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Phone: 01 618 3421 Fax: 01 618 4584 Email: bren.ryan@oireachtas.ie BRENDAN: Web: www.brendan-ryan.ie www.labour.ie/BrendanRyan @BrendanRyanTD
DELIVERING FOR IRELAND 1. BACK TO WORK FAMILY SUPPORT
2. HOUSING ADAPTATIONS GRANTS
The new Back to Work Family Dividend announced in Budget 2015 aims to help families to move from social welfare into employment. The scheme provides a weekly payment for up to 2 years to people with children who were getting jobseeker and one-parent family payments who take up employment, increase their hours of employment or become self-employed. Further details are available at local Intreo offices.
The Government recently announced extra funding for housing adaptation grants for homes in Fingal. The grant allows extensions to be built for people with a disability, and also housing adaptations to improve mobility, by funding items such as stair lifts and access ramps. This is hugely important for those affected as it can greatly improve their quality of life. The funding was made available as part of an overall extra €91m housing investment package by Minister Alan Kelly.
3. FUNDING FOR CARERS Eligible groups in Fingal should apply for a new €1 million funding scheme for home carers. The Tánaiste, Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton confirmed that €1 million will be provided for support and training. Full details on this are available on www.pobal.ie.
4. LOW PAY COMMISSION Low Pay Commission change text to “The new low pay commission has recommended a new minimum wage of €9.15 which will be introduced in January 2016. This is another step forward in improved worker pay and conditions. I signed the ICTU Congress Charter for Fair Conditions at Work which supports a living wage of €11.45 and Fair Employment Conditions as set out in the Congress Charter: www.ictu.ie/congresscharter
5. NEW LAW TO PROTECT WORKERS Brendan with Minister Kevin Humphreys examining the work on the new Intreo Office on the site of Gallen Mills in Balbriggan.
The new Industrial Relations Amendment Bill will provide legal protection for workers, by bringing in Registered Employment Agreement (REAs). It means that rules about pay and working conditions of workers can be enforced.
7. PUBLIC SECTOR PAY DEAL I am pleased that my colleague Minister Brendan Howlin T.D. has reached agreement in concluding public sector pay talks on behalf of our public servants. This agreement will deliver a €2,000 pay increase over two years. This is the start of a process to restore the pay of public sector workers and will involve a combination of adjustments to the public sector pension levy and a partial reversal of pay cuts imposed in 2010 by the previous Fianna Fáil/ Green/ Independent Government.
FROM CRISIS TO RECOVERY 2015 was the year when our economic recovery began to accelerate. Tough decisions have been made but these, along with the determination and sacrifice of the Irish people, have built this recovery. There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that everyone - every worker, family and pensioner - feels the benefit of the economic recovery. But to do this we need practical and effective policies that copper fasten rather then wreck the economic recovery. And we need an approach that puts the needs of real people and their families before the politics of protest and megaphones. 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. ■ Over 100,000 new jobs created since 2011
■ New Strategic Banking Corporation to aid SMEs
■ Unemployment at 9.5% from a high of 15.1%
■ High speed broadband installed in all 2nd level schools
■ 410,000 low paid workers taken out of USC
■ 1,700 new teachers and SNAs employed in 2015
■ €3.8 billion for Social Housing investment
■ 92,517 fewer people on National Live Register
■ Budget deficit down from €22 billion to €5 billion
■ MicroFinance Ireland provides loans of up to €25,000 to businesses who employ 10 people or less.
■ Strong export figures and return of consumer confidence
FREE GP CARE FOR UNDER 6S AND OVER 70S The Government has now introduced free GP Care for under 6s and Over 70s. These are important first steps in providing universal free GP service. It marks a shift towards promoting health and well-being that will benefit out health system as a whole. It is also an important milestone in achieving Labour’s priority of enhancing primary care and keeping people well in their own community. Free GP Care for Children under 6 will make a real difference to a family’s household budget. Labour has also ensured that adults aged 70 and over will benefit from free GP Care. This means that from now, up to 300,000 children and older people who currently have to pay to see their GP will no longer have to. I am working to ensure that the Government keep pushing to have all GPs signed up to this scheme in order to ensure that no family is excluded.
HOUSING Since January this year, Fingal County Council has begun the process to build Local Authority housing in the following areas of Fingal. ■ Balrothery 11 Units ■ Balbriggan 25 Units ■ Ballyboughal 9 Units ■ Lusk 77 Units
Brendan with Minister Jan O’Sullivan on a visit to Loreto College in Swords
■ Swords 25 Units These housing projects are being funded through the Government's €2.2 billion housing strategy which also includes housing acquisition and working with voluntary housing bodies. Fingal County Council are working hard to acquire and provide homes during this very difficult housing crisis. The Pyrite Resolution Board has begun work in remediating homes affected by Pyrite in Fingal. I am working closely with homeowners through this process and I look forward to all homes being remediated to the correct standard in the future
Brendan visiting the Balbriggan Community Creche
EIRCODE – MAKING LIFE EASIER The Eircodes which have been dispatched to homes and businesses in Fingal will be hugely beneficial, in particular for the rural areas of the County. The Eircode will solve the problem of duplicate addresses or addresses with one or more property by allocating a unique, easy to remember, seven digit code to each premises. The new Eircodes make life easier as they enable delivery, postal and emergency services to identify the right address quickly and easily. You can find your Eircode online at www.eircode.ie. A modern and efficient postcode system has been promised by successive Governments but I am pleased that this has been delivered by Labour Minister Alex White in this Government.
NASH’S NEW LAW WILL ADVANCE WORKERS’ RIGHTS The Minister for Employment has introduced a new law which provides greater protection for workers as well as stability for employers. The Industrial Relations act 2015 became law on August 1st. The new collective bargaining law has been welcomed by trade unions. It provides strong and effective solutions in situations where employers refuse to engage with trade unions on issues such as workers’ pay and conditions of employment.
Brendan with Minister Ged Nash seeing the great work being done by Fingal County Council and workers on the Gateway scheme in the Swords Rivervalley Park.
In such cases workers can have their terms and conditions assessed by the Labour Court in comparison with those in similar firms. If the employer chooses to ignore the Labour Court’s recommendation, the finding can be enforced in the Circuit Court. The Bill also allows for registered employment agreements(REAs) which covered 70,000 to 80,000 people in areas such as the construction industry, to be re-established and for sectoral wage rates and conditions to be re-introduced. This will bring a sense of stability and confidence around terms and conditions for both sides of industry. This legislation contains strong anti-victimisation elements that protect workers seeking to have their pay and conditions improved. Good industrial relations result in workplaces that serve workers, employers and the country well.
Brendan and Cllr Duncan Smith showing support for the poorly treated Clery's workers
CONSTITUENCY ADVICE CENTRES Malahide: Mondays, 11.00am in St. Sylvester’s GAA Clubhouse, Church Road
Lusk: Thursdays, 8pm in The Carnegie Library, The Green
Portmarnock: Mondays 12pm in the Portmarnock Sports and Leisure Club
Swords: Fridays, 5.30pm in Swords Day Centre, Chapel Lane
Donabate: Thursdays, 5.30pm in St. Patrick’s Parish Hall
Balbriggan: Saturday, 11.00am in The Combined Clubs Community Centre
Rush: Thursdays, 7pm in Rush Community Centre, Main Street
Skerries: Saturday, 12.00pm in The Carnegie Library, Strand Street
OTHER AREAS BY APPOINTMENT 618 3421
Brendan Ryan TD Working with your local Labour team Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Phone: 618 3421 Email: bren.ryan@oir.ie Web: www.brendan-ryan.ie @BrendanRyanTD brendanryanlabourparty Cllr Duncan Smith Swords LEA 087 9862686 duncansmithfingal@gmail.com
Cllr Brian McDonagh Howth-Malahide LEA 086 3858979 brianmcdonaghlabour@gmail.com 0612
Cllr Ken Farrell Balbriggan LEA 087 7551927 ken.farrell@fingalcoco.ie