LABOUR NEWS Clane Design Team Appointed for New St. Patrick's National School - Stagg EMMET STAGG TD Chief Whip 736 Lodge Park, Straffan, Co. Kildare Tel: 01 618 3013 / 618 3797 Email: emmet.stagg@oireachtas.ie
Working with Deputy Emmet Stagg has been advised by the Minister for Education that the Design Team has now been appointed to complete the architectural planning to enable the New St. Patrick's National School in Clane to be completely rebuilt. Previously St. Patricks N.S was to be refurbished and extended but in 2012 the Department decided that a completely new school was required. The new school will comprise of 24 classrooms and ancillary accommodation. The Design Team will now proceed with securing planning permission for the project, securing Fire Safety and Disability Access Certificates and the completion of Tender documents.
CLLR. JOHN McGINLEY Phone: 087 9890645 Email: jmcginley@eircom.net
As soon as all the necessary architectural planning is completed the project will proceed to construction and Deputy Stagg congratulated the principal Pat Costello and the Parents Association on succeeding in getting the school project back on track. Deputy Stagg will continue to monitor progress on the project in association with the School Authorities.
JULIE MCNAMARA Phone: 045 868324 Email: julie.mcnamara.clane@gmail.com
Stagg Praises Work of Kildare Samaritans
Emmet Stagg TD and Ena Loakman at the briefing
Attending a briefing session for members of the Oireachtas on Wednesday 17th December, Deputy Emmet Stagg praised the Kildare Samaritans for their unstinting work in providing confidential non-judgemental support 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to Suicide. Deputy Stagg met with Ena Loakman and Carmel Hedderman from the Newbridge Branch and heard of the tremendous work undertaken by their volunteers in Newbridge and that the past year has been their busiest to-date. The increase shows that more than ever we need the Samaritans to help those struggling to cope with the pressures of life. The introduction of free call number 116 123 launched in March 2014 has seen the amount of listening hours provided by volunteers in Newbridge increase by 38% since the launch. Emmet urges anybody who is in distress or despair to ring the free phone number 116 123 where compassionate people are available to listen and to give advice.
Samaritans Free Call Number
116 123
Labour Is Delivering On Collective Bargaining Rights - Stagg Labour TD Emmet Stagg has said news that collective bargaining legislation has been approved by government is proof that Labour is delivering on a significant commitment in The Programme for Government to reform the current law on employees' right to engage in collective bargaining. The announcement by my colleague, Employment Minister Ged Nash, on December 16th shows we are making good on that commitment as it provides for an effective system whereby workers who are not covered by collective bargaining can, through their trade
union, improve their terms and conditions of employment. “As a result of this legislation, workers will have clarity and confidence about their employment rights, and will be assured of protection against any bullying or intimidation that results from making claims to their employer. This is particularly important in workplaces where collective bargaining is not currently recognised. “Workers should feel entitled to seek to better their pay and conditions, and this legislation will make it easier for them to do so.
Minister Ged Nash
In conclusion Deputy Stagg stated ''This is part of a wider body of work by Labour on the ‘dignity of work’ agenda, with Minister Nash also making progress on setting up a Low Pay Commission, as well as overseeing a study into zero-hours contracts'.
STAGG TO RAISE WITH GARDA COMMISSIONER WHY THERE ARE NO COMMUNITY GARDAI IN KILDARE In response to a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Justice, Deputy Stagg was provided with the distribution of Community Gardai in each Division with the following community gardai in the Eastern Area: WICKLOW DIVISION
14
LAOIS/OFFALY DIVISION
18
MEATH DIVISION
9
WESTMEATH DIVISION
9
LOUTH
6
WEXFORD DIVISION
14
DUBLIN WEST DIVISION
62
KILDARE DIVISION
0
Deputy Stagg stated the Aims of Community Policing are: ■ To provide the people in an area with their own
dedicated Garda, someone with whom they can discuss everyday occurrences and build up a strong and supportive personal relationship.
■ To help the residents of the area to prevent crime
by supporting crime prevention initiatives such as Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert. ■ To work with other social agencies in the area to
help curb crime and vandalism. In the Ministers response to Deputy Stagg she stated 'Community policing is the underpinning philosophy and ethos through which An Garda Siochana delivers a service across the Country'. Commenting on this assertion Deputy Stagg stated that if community policing is the underpinning philosophy then why has the Kildare Division no Community Gardai. Given that the Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of Community Gardai, Deputy Stagg stated that he would now contact the Commissioner demanding Community Gardai for the Kildare Division given the critical role they play in interacting with the Community in reducing crime.
SERVICES AVAILABLE AT CLANE PRIMARY CARE CENTRE The new Primary Care Centre at Abbeylands, on the site of the Westgrove Hotel and SuperValu Shopping Centre, opened in the latter part of 2014. Primary Care Services are based on the first floor and services for the North Kildare Network Disability Team are also located in this building pending re-location to a new site in Celbridge in 2016. This team is based on the second floor. The following are the Primary Care Services presently available in Clane. Clane Primary Care Services Tel: 045 986300 Fax: 045 986375 ■ Public Health Nurses (Wound Clinics, Mother Baby Groups, Developmental checks for baby's, Weight
checks for baby's, Well Elderly Groups, Home Visits and Transports for the Elderly.) ■ Registered General Nurses ■ Speech and Language Therapists (Adult Therapy) ■ Occupational Therapy ■ Physiotherapy Treatment ■ Dieticians Clinics ■ Dr. Forde (Area Medical Officer - Developmental Clinics) ■ Information and Advice Officer ■ Issuing of temporary European Health Insurance Cards ■ Counselling - Counsellors from C.I.P.C. (Counselling in Primary Care) provide a
free counselling service to Medical Card holders. The Services and contact numbers for the Network Disability Team are as follows: North Kildare Network Disability Team Tel: 045 986301 Fax: 045 986374 The North Kildare Network Disability Team provides interdisciplinary supports for children with complex disabilities who live in North Kildare. These services and supports include: ■ Speech and Language Therapy ■ Occupational Therapy ■ Physiotherapy ■ Psychology Services/Behavioural Support
Emmet Stagg TD Advice Service Every Friday (Except Bank Holiday weekends)
Manzor’s, 11am Phone: 01 618 3013 / 618 3797 Email: emmet.stagg@oireachtas.ie Web: labour.ie/emmetstagg 0612