Well done to all involved in organising this mornings coffee morning in the Youth Cafe in the Mill. It was brilliant to see such a crowd there to support such a great cause. The coffee/tea and cakes were fabulous. Great music and a wonderful atmosphere. BIG congratulations to you all for a very successful morning….!!
Celbridge and Naas rail commuters, using the Kildare Line, now have an opportunity to participate in a public consultation process in relation to changes to the timetable as a result of the opening of the Kildare Line via the Phoenix Park Tunnel to Connolly and Grand Canal Stations according to North Kildare TD, Frank O Rourke.
‘Iarnrod Eireann will complete its €13.7m project by Christmas. As a result of this investment, new rail services from Naas and Hazelhatch will be routed through the Phoenix Park Tunnel into Connolly Station. This project will be completed towards the end of this year.’
‘By this Christmas, some commuter trains from Kildare, Naas, and Hazelhatch will be able to travel through the tunnel beside Heuston Station and loop around the north city to Connolly Station, before continuing on to Pearse and Grand Canal Stations, bringing commuters directly into the south city business district of the city’.
‘An estimated 7,500 commuters a day living in the commuter belt from Co Kildare to Dublin will be able to avail of 15 new weekday trains to and from the city centre a day. Seven new morning rush-hour services will run from Newbridge and Hazelhatch to Grand Canal Dock with eight return rush-hour services in the evening.’
‘While Kildare Line commuters will have a mix of Kildare to Dublin Heuston and Kildare to Grand Canal Dock services, not all trains will be stopping at Hueston Station when the tunnel opens. I appreciate that this relates to restrictions around Platfrom 10 at Heuston. Irish Rail is now seeking input from the public on the draft timetable and commuters have until September 19 to comment. The draft timetable is available online at www.irishrail.ie where customers can make submissions,’ concluded Deputy O Rourke.
IT Tallaght along with the NTA and Dualway Coaches have announced two new bus routes servicing the Institute starting on September 19th. The first route will connect Kildare Town to IT Tallaght stopping off at Newbridge town, Naas & Rathcoole, while the second route will service Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip, Lucan & Clondalkin. This is very welcome news, as I am currently working on delivering a service connecting Clane, Rathcoffey,Maynooth & Blanchardstown, along with a Naas-Maynooth Orbital Route to help alleviate the current pressure on NUI Maynooth Student Accommodation. I have already successfully campaigned for additional Dublin Bus 67 & 67X services for Celbridge, along with an increased frequency Sunday service which is due to commence in Autumn 2016.
I will continue to work alongside Bus Eireann, Dublin Bus and the NTA to deliver additional improved services for commuters in the constituency.
Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O Rourke, has been informed by Bus Eireann that it has given its approval for the Park and Ride facility for Bus commuters in Kilcock.
‘Last month, I welcomed the proposed location for a 100 spaces Park and Ride facility for Bus Commuters at Kilcock.’
‘A Park and Ride facility with a capacity for 100 cars is proposed for Bus commuters west of Kilcock on the Old Galway Road, and following a public consultation process, should be in place by early 2017,’ stated Deputy O’Rourke.
‘Bus Eireann have now considered the proposal and is supporting the provision of a Park and Ride facility in Kilcock. They will it adjust their timetables accordingly.’
‘This Park and Ride facility will be free, have a CCTV and street lighting in place. Public consultation and Part 8 planning process will now commence and all going well, Kilcock will have a Bus Park and Ride facility in early 2017. It will also free up parking in the centre of Kilcock and allow vibrancy return to the town centre,’ stated Deputy O’Rourke
‘This is a welcome development for both the businesses in Kilcock and commuters alike and I will keep in touch with all, and press for this Park and Ride facility to move to construction phase as soon as possible,’ concluded Deputy O’Rourke.
Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O’Rourke, has been informed by Kildare County Council that the public consultation process for the proposed Bus Park and Ride for Kilcock will start on Tuesday 13th of September with submissions to Kildare County Council by 14th of October next.
‘Drawings showing the proposed works at Kilcock may be inspected during normal opening hours from Tuesday 13 September 2016 to Tuesday 11 October 2016 at Kilcock Library on Bridge Street or Maynooth Municipal District Office on Leinster Street in Maynooth or by viewing Kildare County Council’s website www.kildare.ie/countycouncil. I would encourage all interested to consider the proposal and make an observation or submission if required.’
‘This is an important facility for Kilcock and surrounding areas. We are making progress on improving the public transport for Kilcock commuters, with additional services either in place or planned. This Park and Ride will bring additional benefits not only for commuters but also for the town centre of Kilcock. It will assist in alleviating the town centre of traffic congestion relating to bus pickups; although Buses will continue to stop in the town centre which will be used mainly by people who will walk to the bus stop’ concluded Deputy O’Rourke.
Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O’Rourke, has met with Bus Eireann to press for additional morning and evening services from Clane to Dublin return, and in particular to improve the connectivity with St Stephen’s Green and Belfield UCD from Clane and Straffan.
‘I believe, based on issues raised in my weekly Clane clinic, that additional morning services are required to deal with the increased demand for the 120 Bus Route, the service from Edenderry to Dublin. In particular, extra services are required to cater for the increased number travelling from Clane to St Stephen’s Green and Belfield UCD campus.’
‘At the moment, there is only one service in the morning, servicing St Stephen’s Green and UCD Belfield from Clane. Generally, Route 120 serves Clane, Straffan, Celbridge Liffey Valley and straight to Busaras. However, many residents in Clane and Straffan also want to improve service to St Stephen’s Green and UCD Belfield. Currently there is only one service in the morning leaving Clane at 7.10am, and we need to improve this service and provide a return service in the evening.’
‘Overall, we need to increase the capacity of Route 120 servicing Clane and Straffan to Dublin, and by providing at least one extra service in the morning and an evening service, servicing St Stephen’s Green and UCD, would help alleviate the situation.’
I will continue raising issues of concern to commuters using the 120 Route and I will also continue my campaign to some form of park and ride in Clane for public transport users. I was delighted that a site was agreed for the 100 space Park and Ride in Kilcock recently, but Clane would also benefit from a Park and Ride facility, even with a capacity for 50 cars,
’ concluded Deputy O’Rourke
Last night I had the opportunity to speak in the Dáil in relation to Ireland’s Corporation Tax Policy. 187,000 jobs are supplied by 700 US multi-nationals resident in Ireland along with the many others indirectly employed by the presence of such companies making the multi-national sector account for 10% of the total employment in the country. It should also be noted that as the only native English speaking country in the Eurozone and despite having only 1% of the overall EU population, Ireland has secured 11% of the US Foreign Investment into the EU by US companies.
More details in the video attached:
Image: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O Rourke, has called on the Government to adopt a strong negotiation stance with the EU in relation to our Taxation policy, following the European Commission’s decision in relation to Apple’s tax liability.
‘Irish Tax policy is the competency of the Irish Government and not that of the EU. It is vital that during the current debate on Apple’s Tax liability, that no damage is done to Ireland’s reputation in relation to its policy of attracting Foreign Direct Investment,’ stated Deputy O’Rourke, who highlighted Kildare’s success in attracting Foreign Direct Investment.
‘Kildare is home to many multinationals and provides valuable employment to many Irish citizens. The EU must not undermine our taxation policy and our track record in relation to attracting Foreign Direct Investment.’
‘It is vital from Ireland’s perspective that the country’s corporation tax system, which is an essential part of the country’s overall inward investment strategy, is defended. Of course, we have many other attributes that attract multinationals to Ireland, including access to markets, the availability of skills, a flexible labour force and the ease of doing business from a legal point of view.’
‘However, having control of our taxation system is critical and we must maintain that control. The EU must not undermine a country like Ireland in relation to its industrial policy. As we emerge from a financial crisis we need support from the EU, not undermining.’
‘It is not possible to defend the low tax level that Apple paid, however, this is a global issue and must be viewed in that context,’ stated Deputy O Rourke who has kept in touch with Multinationals based in Kildare since getting elected as a TD for Kildare North.
I was delighted to accept the invitation from RTE to visit their radio and television studios today. It was great to meet all the staff and crew. The presentations and talks were excellent and it was fascinating to see how it’s all put together and see the engine room…!!! Well done to all in RTE today and thank you.
The lack of adequate school transport connecting secondary school pupils from Johnstownbridge to Kilcock Secondary School has been raised by Local Fianna Fail TD Frank O’Rourke at a meeting recently with Minister John Halligan, Minister of State with Responsibility for Training and Skills.
‘Over the last number of months, I have raised the lack of school transport for secondary school pupils attending Kilcock Secondary School and living in Johnstownbridge. This is a long running issue, and it is important that we find a resolution to it,’ stated Deputy Frank O’ Rourke.
‘There is school transport linking Enfield with Kilcock and we need to ensure that Johnstownbridge is included in the school transport loop. Some parents in Johnstownbridge raised this issue with me last year and I have been raising it with Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board and the Department of Education.’
‘Following our meeting with the Minister, he has assured me that he will consider the points made by myself and the parents of the affected pupils,’ concluded Deputy O’Rourke.
