Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O Rourke, has welcomed the announcement by Dawn Farms that 150 jobs will be added to its workforce at the Kildare centre with an investment of €25m and has again called on the Government to make Naas and the surrounding area of North Kildare a Food Hub.

“Dawn Farms is one of Ireland’s leading food companies and this announcement of the creation of 150 jobs, relates to its meat science and innovation centre in Naas, Co Kildare. It highlights the success of this company despite the challenging and changing economic times from an international market perspective.”

“This is great news for the company, its management, the employees and the wider area of North Kildare. It continues to give the industry here a vote of confidence in the midst of much international uncertainty and follows on from the positive announcement earlier this year that Dawn Farm Foods secured a significant contract to supply food products to Subway.”

“Since getting elected, I have campaigned for the area of North Kildare to be designated as a Food Hub. Naas and surrounding areas are home to many Food related companies, which have strong brands. Examples include, Kerry Food, Dawn Farm Food, Queally Group, Tara Vale Foods, Green Isle, Brady Farm Food located in Timahoe, and Ballymooney Foods located in Clane,” stated Deputy O’Rourke.

“These companies continue to invest; in terms of product development, technology, human resources and infrastructure and I know from talking to people in this sector, they see a value to the area being designated as a Food Sector Hub. We must always try and keep ahead of the curve and I believe that designating the area as a Food Hub will give us an additional edge, and assist in developing a centre of excellence for the Food Sector in Naas, adding to its reputation.”

“The agri-food sector is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry which employs over 175,000 people with a yearly turnover of €11bn highlighting its importance to the economy. Our food sector must remain on the Government’s agenda in relation to the Brexit negotiation,” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

Local Fianna Fáil TD and the party’s Deputy Finance Spokesperson, Frank O’Rourke, has called on the Government to implement the series of recommendations from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance on Motor Insurance, and have a quarterly review of the progress on their implementation, to tackle spiraling motor insurance premiums.

“The Government has made a commitment that the 33 recommendations in the report, made by Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance on Motor Insurance Premiums, are to be implemented by the Government. However, regular progress reports on their implementation are vital.”

“Fianna Fáil has long been calling for the government to act on the rising cost of motor insurance. In 2014 Motor Insurance increased by an annual rate of 11.6% while in 2015 it rose by 30.8%.  In the 12 months to August 2016 Motor Insurance increased by 28%.

“These increases are un-sustainable. Exorbitant insurance costs are putting pressure on household budgets, are costing jobs and putting pressure on for wage increases. As I said in the Dail debate on this matter, there is little point in reducing universal social charge (USC), if motor insurance premiums go up by a multiple of the reduction in USC and it is no wonder that wage increase demands are now a regular item on our news ” stated Deputy O’Rourke.

“Last Monday at my clinic, the cost of motor insurance was raised with me again. These costs are placing an increasing financial burden on our families and individuals. This is simply unfair and the increased motor insurance premiums are taking money out of the local economy, at a time when we need it most,” stated Deputy O’Rourke, who previously has suggested opening up the insurance market to encourage more competition in the market and bundling our collective bargaining power to attract better premiums.

“We need the Dail and the Government to focus more on reducing the motor insurance premiums. The timeline being reported regarding the implementation of the committee’s proposals is too long, and we need to ensure that the recommendations are implemented without delay,’ concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O’Rourke, has been informed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) that Smart Card readers will be installed at Kilcock Rail Station.

 “I have been informed by the NTA that smart card readers (validators) will be installed at the Kilcock rail station. It is scheduled for installation during Q2 2017.”

 “The NTA will be tracking progress on this project with Irish Rail to ensure that the agreed timeline is adhered to.”

 “Since getting elected, I have made repeated representations to improve the public transport service for Kilcock public transport commuters. The bus service has improved, we have a fairer fare structure for rail commuters as Kilcock is now included on the Short Hop Zone and plans are in place for a park and ride for Kilcock.”

 “As I have said in the Dail and in other forums, providing a regular and reliable public transport service will attract additional passengers and will make the service more efficient for the public transport provider,” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O’Rourke has welcomed the announcement that the Child and Family Agency TUSLA is to expand their services in North Kildare and will open up in the new Primary Care Centre in Celbridge.

“Tusla is a dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children.  I am delighted that TUSLA will be coming to Celbridge. I understand that the building is currently under construction and TUSLA will be based in the building beside Mangan’s Pharmacy in the Primary Care Centre,”  stated Deputy O’Rourke.

“For a long period of time I have been working with the stakeholders to deliver this much needed service for Celbridge and the surrounding area. A service like this is important to have in a town like Celbridge as it is a fast growing town.”

“In recent days, the contracts have now been signed and a commitment has been made by TUSLA to be based in Celbridge.”

“I was delighted to play an integral part for delivering this service for Celbridge.”

”Celbridge was not getting its share of services and this is a very positive step in the right direction,” said Deputy O’Rourke.

A deadline must be set by the Central Bank so that the banks restore the correct mortgage tracker rate for thousands of mortgage customers who continue to be denied their contractual entitlements, according to Deputy Fianna Fáil Spokesperson, Frank O’Rourke TD.

“Since getting elected, together with my colleague our Finance Spokesperson Deputy Michael McGrath, I have campaigned for a better deal for people on variable mortgages and also those that have a contractual right to be on tracker mortgages.”

“Last week, the Dáil passed our party’s amendment to a Sinn Féin private members’ motion on the ongoing Central Bank ‘Examination of Tracker Mortgages’. It is now imperative that the Central Bank moves to provide the banks with a deadline to put customers back on the tracker rate and, crucially, the correct tracker rate.”

”A family with a mortgage of €200,000, paying a variable rate of 4% instead of a tracker rate of 1%, are being charged an extra €6,000 in interest every year or €500 per month. This is money that could be spent in local businesses and assist in providing a stimulus for the local economy.”

“Last year the Dail passed a bill designed to assist in ensuring that those on variable mortgages received a fair rate for their mortgages. As I said in my Dail contribution on the Bill at the time, customers on typical variable rate mortgages are paying approximately €1,500 per year more than new bank customers and €6,000 more per year than people with a tracker mortgage for the same amount,” stated Deputy O’Rourke, which was another example of unfair practice of the banks.

“The Central Bank must ensure that customers who are being wrongly denied a tracker rate, or are being charged the wrong tracker rate, are put on the correct rate without delay.”

“Both these mortgage issues have been raised at my clinics in Celbridge, Leixlip, Maynooth, Clane and Kilcock over the past year. A mortgage is the single biggest financial commitment for many families, and people on variable mortgages or tracker mortgages have felt the least benefit from the current low interest rate environment in Europe. We need to ensure that mortgage holders are treated fairly,” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

Bus Eireann is now engaging the National Transport Authority (NTA) to seek extra Clane/Dublin (UCD) services according to Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O’Rourke.

“I have been raising the importance of improving the Bus Service from Clane to Dublin and in particular to service UCD for students and others that live in Clane, Properous, Straffan, Derrinturin, Carbury area,” stated Deputy O’Rourke, who pressed for better services on Routes 115 and 120 serving Kilcock and Clane, Prosperous and Straffan respectively, at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport last week.

“At the meeting, I highlighted the requirement of improving the service on Route 120. Bus Eireann has confirmed that it is engaging with the NTA to provide a more comprehensive service on Route 120 and in particular to provide a better service from Clane to UCD.”

“Since elected, I have persistently pressed for better public transport services and we are making progress; additional morning and evening bus services for Kilcock commuters on the 115 service, funding was approved for a 100 space park and ride facility adjacent to Kilcock, a fairer fare structure for Kilcock and Naas rail commuters will now be put in place. I am also campaigning for an orbital bus service linking Naas, Clane, Rathcoffey, Maynooth and Blanchardstown and this will hopefully go out to tender early this year. Improved bus service for Celbridge Dublin Bus commuters have also been put in place,” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O’Rourke, has said he is very disappointed that Clane and Maynooth are excluded from the Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) but welcomed the inclusion of Leixlip, Celbridge, Naas and Sallins in the North of Kildare.

“Rent Pressure Zones are areas where rents are above average national rent level, where rents are high and rising quickly, and have experienced rental inflation of in excess of 7% in four of the last six quarters. Dublin and Cork were designated RPZs in December, and I called at the time for towns in the commuter belt of Kildare to be included in the zones, towns such as Maynooth, Clane and Kilcock.”

“The policy announced last year is designed to restrict rent in high-pressure areas. It means landlords can only increase rents by 4 per cent per year for three years in designated areas.”

“Any discussions with people renting in the towns of Maynooth and Clane show that their rents have increased significantly in recent years. I will be pressing for such towns to be included. I am delighted that some of the towns that I requested to be considered for inclusion, are included,” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

The Government‘s recently announced  action plan for Rural Ireland must benefit the people and the communities from rural parts of Kildare, according to Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O Rourke.

“I welcome the Government’s announcement and its action plan for rural Ireland. Any walk around towns in rural Kildare, such as Johnstownbridge, Kilcock, Newtown, Derrinturn and Prosperous shows how they would benefit from the action plan announced.”

“The plan, which has 270 action items, must not be another lost opportunity to rural parts of Kildare. I support the measures to revitalise the towns and village throughout the country, but I believe that often rural parts of Kildare are missed when such plans are announced,’ stated Deputy O’Rourke who has tabled a Parliamentary Question seeking the exact plan for Kildare.

“As we know, many of our rural towns were badly affected during the recession. We must assist these towns recover – assist in bringing in more residential occupancy in the towns, facilitate more commercial activities, improve the recreational and sporting facilities and broaden the appeal of Ireland’s Ancient East to improve tourism numbers and improve our broadband coverage.”

“Moves to introduce possible rates alleviation schemes to support rural development is long overdue and welcomed,“ stated Deputy O’Rourke.

“For this plan to work, we must have ring-fenced funding. The ultimate test will be what additional new funding will be ring-fenced for this plan. I am calling on the Minister to clearly outline the additional funding for this action plan and introduce a supplementary estimate for 2017,” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North, Frank O’Rourke, says waiting times for Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) inspections for imported vehicles have soared in the wake of Brexit. VRT is a tax which must be paid when a vehicle is first registered in Ireland, which includes imported vehicles.

Deputy O’Rourke commented, “The waiting times for VRT inspections have skyrocketed following the Brexit referendum. Information provided to me by The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) shows that in 2016 Ireland experienced a 51% increase on the previous year of used imported vehicles. A similar increase is expected over the next two years.

“This sudden increase has overwhelmed the system which is currently in place to carry out VRT inspections. Additional resources need to be put in place to clear the current backlog and to ensure people can access an inspection within a reasonable timeframe over the next two years.

“The delay in accessing VRT inspections is not only having a negative impact on the motor industry, it is also affecting companies who rely on importing specialist vehicles from Britain to carry out their work. This is hampering job creation and is creating unnecessary difficulties for companies seeking to expand their operations.

“Broadly speaking, the system in place to deal with VRT inspections has served us well down through the years. However it was never envisaged that it would have to deal with a sudden spike in imported vehicles associated with Brexit. This is why additional resources need to be put in place until the number of imported vehicles returns to a normal level,” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.