LABOUR NEWS Naas Stagg Welcomes Capital Funding of €110 Million for M7 Upgrade, Osberstown Interchange and Sallins Bypass Deputy Emmet Stagg has welcomed the announcement of Capital Funding of €110 Million for the Upgrade of the M7 to three lanes between Johnstown and the junction of the M7/M9 at Great Connell, for the construction of the Osberstown Interchange and the construction of the Sallins Bypass. The Projects were good value based on the benefits the schemes would bring to Kildare and the State. These include: ■ To address congestion at a bottleneck in the National Road Network - Second busiest road in Country after M50. ■ To address safety for Road Users - Predicted to save 11 lives and 23 serious injuries - Most collision prone zone in Kildare. ■ Facilitation of the planned development of the Naas Northwest Quadrant with the potential creation of 6,000 jobs.
EMMET STAGG TD Chief Whip 736 Lodge Park, Straffan, Co. Kildare Tel: 01 618 3013 / 618 3797 Email: emmet.stagg@oireachtas.ie
Working with
■ Provide effective link with Naas Western Distributor Road and Osberstown Park. ■ Provision of effective link from Motorway to Sallins Village with improved access to Sallins Train Station and Significantly reduce traffic congestion in Sallins. Since the flyover at Newlands Cross opened the congestion on the M7 at Johnstown/Naas has increased significantly with long tail backs. This has led to numerous accidents and increased traffic in Kill and Johnstown by motorists trying to avoid the area. The Osberstown Interchange will open up a large landbank suitable for job creation similar to the Kerry Group. Deputy Stagg thanked his colleague Minister Brendan Howlin for accepting the case for these three vital projects and for providing the funding required to enable them to become a reality.
CLLR ANNE BREEN Phone: 087 123 02 10 Email: annebreen8@eircom.net
Commissioner's Office responds to Stagg on Garda Numbers in Kildare
On foot of a letter sent by Deputy Emmet Stagg to the Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan in relation to Garda Numbers in the Kildare Division and the fact that the Kildare Division is the worst manned in the State, with 1 Garda for every 697 people, Marie Broderick, Superintendent in the Commissioner's Office, has responded to Deputy Stagg on behalf of the Commissioner. Deputy Stagg had suggested that when allocating Gardaí from additional recruitment that a bonus would be applied to the Kildare Division to address the imbalance in Garda Resources over time. In the Superintendents first response to Deputy Stagg in May, she pointed out that the moratorium on recruitment from 2009-2014 had provided a major obstacle to deploying resources to the Kildare Division and redressing the imbalance of Gardaí to population. It was pointed out that 300 trainee Gardaí were scheduled to leave the Garda College in 2015 and that recruitment would continue in 2016 to counter retirements and the strength of sworn members. The Kildare Division had been allocated 5 additional Gardaí in May 2015 and that further consideration would be given to allocating additional probationer Gardaí to the Kildare Division on completion of their training. Finally the Superintendent stated in addition, it is anticipated that An Garda Síochána will be in a position to facilitate consequential transfers at Garda rank into the Kildare Division in 2015 which may go towards redressing the imbalance referred to. In June Deputy Stagg responded to the Superintendent stating that the imbalance of Gardaí to population had been there long before the 2009/2014 moratorium on recruitment and again sought a defined system which over time would give a clear way in which the imbalance would be reduced in a progressive way. In late August the Superintendent responded further to Deputy Stagg stating that whilst the imbalance existed prior to the moratorium, it had however provided a major obstacle to deploying resources to the Kildare Division and redressing the imbalance of Gardaí to population. It was pointed out that a further 5 Trainee Gardaí were allocated to the Kildare Division on August 7th. As the current recruitment campaign continues it is anticipated that more Trainee Gardaí will be allocated to the Kildare Division in accordance with the distribution model used which takes into account all relevant factors including population and crime trends. Concluding, the Superintendent reiterated that it is anticipated that consequential transfers of personnel at Garda rank into the Kildare Division will be facilitated thus redressing the imbalance referred to in my correspondence. Commenting on the responses received Deputy Stagg that whilst he was disappointed that his suggestion of a defined system was not been put in place, the correspondence clearly accepts the imbalance and seeks to redress the imbalance in Gardaí to population. This is a matter that I will keep under review concluded Deputy Stagg.
WORKERS TO BENEFIT FROM COLLECTIVE BARGAINING - STAGG Deputy Emmet Stagg has welcomed the enactment in the Oireachtas in July, of collective bargaining legislation, which Deputy Emmet Stagg and Minister of State Ged Nash will benefit workers in Kildare and he complimented Labour Minister Ged Nash on getting the legislation through the Oireachtas. Deputy Stagg stated “I am very proud that Labour has delivered on a key priority of implementing collective bargaining. Since the party’s foundation we have consistently championed improving working conditions for all workers. “Collective bargaining will improve working conditions because it requires employers to negotiate with their employees. Furthermore, this legislation also gives all workers the right to be represented by a trade union. The Legislation also contains strong anti-victimisation elements to protect workers who pursue such claims and also provides for any collective agreement to be enforced through the Circuit Court, should an employer refuse to do so. “Many businesses in Kildare and across the country have already had collective bargaining arrangements in place for many years with their employees and recognise the benefits of it. Collective bargaining is a positive step for employers and employees alike because it provides a legal framework for employers and employees to plan pay and working conditions. “The implementation of collective bargaining is part of a range of policies Labour is introducing in Government to deliver better pay and better work. It is a priority for Labour that all benefit from the economic recovery.”
Stagg Welcomes Minimum Wage Increase Recommendation Deputy Emmet Stagg has welcomed the Low Pay Commission's recommendation to raise the minimum wage by 50c to €9.15 per hour. "The evidence based approach used by the Commission indicates that the Irish Economy is well capable of a modest increase in the minimum wage, without causing harm to businesses. In real terms over 75,000 workers currently on the minimum wage will see their take home pay increase by up to €1000 per year. As our economy continues to improve, it is important that all workers reap the benefits of the recovery they have helped create. This is already happening in many sectors of work and it is now time that the lowest paid receives an increase too. "The minimum wage is a threshold of decency in Irish society; a floor which no worker should fall below: "As a society, we much strive towards a wage that allows people to live well, rather than merely exist."
TENDER REPORT FOR NEW SCHOOL FOR MERCY CONVENT PRIMARY SCHOOL NEARLY COMPLETE - STAGG Deputy Emmet Stagg has continued to press his colleague the Minister for Education in relation to the New School for the Mercy Convent Primary School on Sallins Road, Naas. The Minister has advised Deputy Stagg that the Project Design Team are in the process of completing the Tender Report which is expected to be returned to the Department Shortly. The Tender Report will recommend which Tender for the Construction of the New School should be accepted. Welcoming this continued progress Deputy Stagg stated that the existing building serving Mercy Convent was built in 1974 and 10 classrooms are in prefabs, some of which are 20 years old. The New School which will cater for over 700 pupils, will have 32 classrooms and planning permission was granted for the project on 24th January, 2014. Deputy Stagg congratulated the Board of Management, Parents Association and the School Principal Jacqueline O'Reilly on their success in progressing the construction of the new school and he looked forward to work commencing on site in 2015.
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