Alex White TD Minister of State
END OF TERM
REPORT Summer 2014
A MESSAGE FROM ALEX WHITE TD
FREE GP CARE FOR CHILDREN AGED UNDER SIX
Since the formation of this Government, Labour has fought long and hard to try and protect those most in need, and to ensure that the fruits of our tentative recovery are fairly distributed. In this regard, I’m looking forward to working closely with our successfully elected local Labour team which includes Cllr. Lettie McCarthy, Cllr. Grace Tallon, Cllr. Richard Humphreys and Cllr. Peter O’Brien. Priority areas for the Labour Party are children, families and education. This newsletter will focus on key policy objectives related to children. I am proud of Labour’s record in protecting, reforming and investing in our education system at a time of financial constraint. I’m working to introduce universal access to GP care for all, starting with our youngest children. Major legislation has also been introduced to strengthen child protection in Ireland. As your local TD, I’m keen to hear your thoughts and views. Please get in touch by emailing me at alex.white@oir.ie or calling me on 01 618 3972.
Keep in touch! Phone: 01 2960047 or 01 6183972 Email: alex.white@oir.ie Address: 2nd Floor, 9 Braemor Road, Churchtown, Dublin 14 Website: alexwhite.ie
Visiting the staff at Leopardstown Primary Care Centre in March
As Minister of State at the Department of Health, I’m working to reform our health services to make them fairer and more effective. I introduced the General Practitioner Medical Service Bill 2014 to the Dáil which will provide for free GP services for children aged under six. This is really good news for young families and it represents a significant milestone in the reform of our health services. A decision to see a doctor should never be a financial dilemma and free GP care for children under 6 is the first step in introducing free GP care for the entire population. It’s a sad truth that many parents who are not eligible for a medical card are simply unable to pay the fee needed for their sick child to be seen by a GP. Children deserve the best start in life. The foundations of a person’s health are established in childhood. Free GP care will help people to stay healthy, more productive and active throughout their lives. Children are a priority health group. The Government has provided new, additional funding of €37 million to meet the cost of free GP care for children aged under six. In recent weeks I’ve made great progress with GP representative groups on this public health initiative. I’m pleased to report that I recently brokered a framework agreement between the IMO and the Dept. of Health which sets out a process for engagement concerning publicly funded contracts involving GPs. I look forward to meaningful engagement between the Department, the HSE and the IMO.
SchOOlS UPDaTE Building New Schools ■ Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh has secured a new home at the Loreto Abbey on the Grange Road. The Department of Education purchased the property which will act as a permanent home for the 500 pupil Gaelcholáiste from September 2014 onwards. ■ The Department of Education has appointed Educate Together as patron for the new 1,000-pupil secondary school for Ballinteer and Stepaside which is due to open in 2016. The exact location of the school has yet to be confirmed. ■ Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua, which is temporarily housed in De la Salle Palmerston Rugby Club, opened in September 2013 and has proved to be very popular with parents and pupils alike. The multi-denominational, Irish speaking primary school has been granted planning permission for its new site on the Ballyogan Road. The Department of Education has signed a contract with Western Building Systems. The construction work for the new building will commence shortly and students will move in during early 2015. ■ As part of the Government’s five year construction plan, three new primary schools have been earmarked for construction in 2015/2016 in the Ballinteer and Stepaside areas. Despite our economic difficulties, we have a pressing need to provide new schools and major extensions to continue to meet the accommodation requirements of our growing school going population.
Fairer Admissions Minister Ruairí Quinn secured cabinet approval for the drafting of the Admissions to Schools Bill. This progressive legislation will ensure that each child is treated equally when they apply for a place in a school. With the new Bill there will be a requirement for all schools to make an explicit statement in their admissions policy that they will not discriminate against an applicant for admission on the grounds of disability, special education needs, sexual orientation, family status, membership of the traveller community or race.
End of Term Report Summer 2014
Investing In Our Schools ■ The prefab replacement scheme was announced by Ruairí Quinn to replace rented prefabs in our schools with permanent classrooms. Three schools in Dublin South have had prefabs replaced by seven permanent classrooms. The schools to benefit from the scheme are:
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Ballyroan Boys National School The Islamic National School in Clonskeagh The Divine Word National School in Marlay Grange
■ Fifteen schools in Dublin South were awarded Working with Minister Ruairi Quinn to deliver new schools for Dublin South funding this year to improve and upgrade their students buildings. The phasing-out of inefficient and outdated prefabs was a key commitment in the Programme for Government. Approximately 4,200 pupils in Dublin South will benefit from these improvements making their schools a better environment to learn in. The successful schools in securing funding under the Summer Works Schemes are:
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St. Olaf’s National School in Dundrum St Patrick’s Girls National School in Ballyroan Our Lady’s Girls National School in Ballinteer The Divine Word National School in Marlay Grange The Queen of Angels Primary School in Wedgewood Rathfarnham Parish National School Oatlands College in Mount Merrion
✓ Scoil Mhuire in Ballyboden ✓ Our Lady’s Boys National School in Ballinteer ✓ Edmondstown National School in Rathfarnham ✓ St. Brigid’s National School in Stillorgan National School ✓ Whitechurch ✓ St. Mary’s National School in Lamb’s Cross ✓ De La Salle College in Churchtown
St Attracta’s Senior National School in Dundrum
Making Schooling More Affordable €206,900 was awarded by the Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn to seven primary schools in Dublin South. This will enable the schools to establish book rental schemes. 2,069 pupils in Dublin South will benefit from more affordable school books as a result of this funding. The schools that will receive funding to start new book rental schemes include:
✓ St. Mary’s National School in Lamb’s Cross ✓ Ballyroan Boy’s National School ✓ Scoil San Treasa in Mount Merrion ✓ Kilternan National School ✓ St Attracta’s Senior National School in Dundrum ✓ St. Michael’s House in Leopardstown ✓ The Islamic National School in Clonskeagh
End of Term Report Summer 2014
THE CHILD & FAMILY AGENCY – TUSLA
CHILDREN FIRST BILL 2014 The landmark Children First Bill was published by the Oireachtas in April of this year. This important new law will strengthen child protection in Ireland. It will ensure that child protection concerns are brought to the attention of the Child and Family Agency without delay.
The Child and Family Agency was established on the 1st January 2014 and is now the dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children. It represents the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland. It is an ambitious move which brings together some 4,000 staff and an operational budget of over €600m. For more information on the agency, go to: http://www.tusla.ie/
The Bill will mean there is a legal obligation on mandated professionals such as gardaí, teachers, clergy, medical practitioners, social workers, and child protection officers to report suspected child abuse as soon as practicable.
CHURCHTOWN CONSTITUENCY OFFICE
NEW ALL WEATHER FOOTBALL PITCH OPENS IN MARLAY PARK I was delighted to attend the official opening of a new allweather pitch in Marlay Park in April, alongside the manager of the Republic of Ireland national soccer team, Martin O’Neill and local colleagues Cllr. Lettie McCarthy and Cllr. Carrie Smyth.
As many of you know my constituency office is now based in Churchtown, in what is the old office of the late Seamus Brennan who worked as a TD for many years in our constituency.
AIRFIELD FARM’S DOORS REOPEN TO THE PUBLIC Airfield farm officially re-opened in April after three years of extensive refurbishment and development. Airfield farm is a wonderful amenity for the people of South Dublin, particularly children, as it offers a recreational and educational example of a working farm in the heart of suburban Dublin. Alex White TD, Grainne Kelliher & Grainne Millar at the official reopening of Airfield Farm
ALEX WHITE TD Phone: Email: Website:
01 2960047 or 01 6183972 alex.white@oir.ie alexwhite.ie
facebook.com/AlexWhiteTD @AlexWhiteTD
CONSTITUENCY OFFICE Opening Hours: Monday: 17.30 - 19.00 Friday: 10am -12 or by arrangement. 2nd Floor (above Churchtown School of Motoring) 9 Braemor Road, Churchtown, Dublin 14
Cllr. Richard Humphreys 086 7814518 rhumphreys@cllr.dlrcoco.ie
Cllr. Lettie McCarthy 086 8186718 lmccarthy@cllr.dlrcoco.ie
Cllr. Grace Tallon 086 2492837 gtallon@cllr.dlrcoco.ie
Cllr. Peter O’Brien 086 4611638, pobrien@cllr.dlrcoco.ie
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