Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O Rourke, has supported calls for a dedicated unit comprising officials from both the Department of Finance and the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation to be set up, which would coordinate an approach to counteract the negative impact of the Brexit vote for businesses exporting to the UK, including businesses in Kildare, and in particular to address the reduced competitive position as a result of the weakness in the sterling.

‘A number of businesses, including food related companies in the North Kildare area, have been in touch with me in recent weeks following the decision of the UK to leave the European Union (EU).  The general consensus is that the overall economic fallout for Ireland will take time to become clear, but it will require careful management and in particular the weakness in sterling is causing a major concern as our exports are more expensive.’ according to Fianna Fail’s Junior Spokesperson on Financial Services, eGovernment and Procurement, Deputy  Frank O Rourke.

“Much will now depend on the negotiations around the UK’s exit from the EU. However, it has the potentially to lead to a protracted period of uncertainty and instability in Europe and affect our relationship with the UK. The change in the value of sterling is making our exports  more expensive and given that 40% of our food export are exported to the UK, the sterling weakness is causing an immediate concern for Irish food exporting companies.’

‘The immediate and short-term effect of a weaker sterling, and currency fluctuations, will have major implications for SME exporters and indeed for the Tourism trade here.’

‘Any reduction in our relative competitiveness, vis s via currency changes, is a huge concern for Kildare companies that export to the UK.’ Stated Deputy O’Rourke after meeting with Food companies in Naas on Monday.

‘I am calling on the Government to ensure that the currency fluctuation risk is managed in a collaborative fashion with the companies concerned. Having a dedicated unit set up to deal with the concerns of the affected companies, will bring focus to the issues that are affecting our exporting companies.’ Concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

I am pleased on behalf of all public transport users that have been in contact with me to give you the following up-date from Dublin Bus regarding the 67 Sunday service. They plan to both start the service earlier and improve the frequency, and expect the enhanced service to be operating by Autumn 2016. This is excellent news and an issue I have been raising with Dublin Bus for some time. This, in addition to the recent additional 67 & 67X services for Celbridge is very positive indeed. I will continue to engage with Dublin Bus for further improved services on the 66 & 67 routes as requested by the public transport user together with the link between Celbridge and Leixlip.

I want to thank Dublin Bus and the NTA for working to deliver this additional improved service and I look forward to continuing to work with them on further improvements.
I will update you with the exact details in the coming weeks for this improved service once they are finalised.

I was delighted to be invited to Straffan this morning to welcome the judging committee for Entente Florale 2016 as Straffan was nominated to represent Ireland in this competition.
Straffan looks great, well done to you all. This is a great honour for Straffan and Co. Kildare. I want to compliment Rose Donavan for her brilliant introduction presentation which covered everything that’s great about Straffan and highlights the excellent work carried out daily by the Tidy Towns committee, volunteers and the community.

I also want to acknowledge and thank local businesses, Kildare County Council and KWETB for their great support and commitment to Straffan in preparing for today.
I hope it all goes well and best of luck Straffan.

Last night I had the opportunity to question Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Helen McEntee, on the current cuts affecting the Home Care Package, in particular the Intensive Home Care Packages for people with Dementia. Health is a constant issue in Kildare North at my clinics and it is becoming increasingly difficult to facilitate the care of older people in their home.

More details in the video attached.

I attended the Glenroyal Hotel this morning to meet the consultants to discuss the Maynooth Traffic Management Plan. Today’s consultation with all stakeholders was to identity the current issues and difficulties while at the same time getting input for our future vision for Maynooth.
I was pleased to be able to feedback to the consultants all the current problems and solutions which I have been given by the residents and businesses from Maynooth and the surrounding area. It was a valuable and informative briefing. Well done and thanks to Brian for this morning.

Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O Rourke, has welcomed further progress on the roll out of quality high speed Broadband for Kildare, as 560 new premises have been added to the Broadband network during the month of June, as new Cabinets were installed in Carbury and Celbridge.

‘In June, new cabinets were added to the Celbridge and Carbury exchanges which further extended fibre coverage to over 560 premises in these parts of Kildare. This was part of Eir’s rollout of fibre broadband to over 22,000 additional homes and businesses nationally last month,’ stated Deputy O Rourke.

‘In May, new cabinets were added to the Ballymore Eustace, Johnstown and Straffan exchanges which extended the fibre broadband coverage to an additional 360 premises.’

‘‘Recently, I met with Eir to outline to them the importance of providing broadband connection to Newtown, Timahoe, Eadestown and Kilteel. By the end of March next, over 2,500  additional rural Kildare premises will be connected to broadband by the Fibre to the Home Technology (FTHH). 400 rural premises in the Maynooth area, 370 in Kilcock, 480 in Donadea, 520 in Straffan and 470 in Carbury are examples of the planned rollout for this year in rural Kildare.’’

‘I will keep making representations to all the relevant authorities to ensure that we continue with the planned rollout of high-speed quality Broadband for Kildare, which will benefit businesses and homes in the future. Great credit is due to the residents associations and businesses that keep the pressure on to secure adequate broadband coverage,’ concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

I was delighted to visit the new temporary Celbridge community school today and meet the principal Gerard O’Leary. Under KWETB this project is progressing at pace and will be ready for the start of the new school year in August/September 2016. This is great news for the students, parents, teachers and all involved. I very much welcome this update today and the opportunity to see the new school. Having looked around the new facility ithas been carried out to the highest of standards and great credit to the contractor and the site staff.

This is a project that I was very involved in having delivered and was pleased to work with all the stakeholders. It will assist positively in reducing the pressure on the existing post primary schools in Celbridge and the surrounding area.

I will continue to work with all until we get the issues resolved to allow the permanent school be constructed on the Hazelhatch road.  Well done again to KWETB, Gerard O’Leary and all the team.

2,824 commuters boarded the train at Maynooth Rail Station when the National Transport Authority carried out a census to determine the number of rail passengers using its services one day last November, which is a 25% increase of the figure 4 years ago, according to Local Fianna Fail TD Frank O’Rourke.

‘In November each year, the NTA undertakes a census to determine the number of rail passengers boarding and alighting services at each station on the rail network, and I asked the NTA to share with me, the updated figures for North Kildare,’ stated Deputy O’Rourke.

‘Between 2011 and 2015, Maynooth has seen the number of passengers boarding at the rail station increase from 2,270 to 2824, which is an increase of 25% over a four year period.’

‘In the same period, Leixlip saw an increase of approximately 10% to 1084, Kilcock saw an increase of 15% to 271, Hazelhatch remains unchanged and Naas/Sallins saw an increase of 15% to 966 commuters,’ stated Deputy O’Rourke.

‘Since getting elected, I have made contact with the NTA, Minister for Transport, Bus Eireann, Iarnrod Eireann and Kildare County Council to make representations to have the public transport services improved. I have met with public transport users in Kilcock last week and residents in Rathcoffey seeking public transport the week before. Every week, public transport is an issue that comes up at my clinics.’

‘We are making progress on the public transport front. We have made progress on the Bus Service for Kilcock Commuters; the NTA have assured me that it is committed to easing the current Fare Structure for Kilcock Rail Commuters, when compared to other rail users inside the Short Hop Zone (SHZ);  the NTA recently allocated €100,000 to Kildare County Council to carry out a study to examine the need for a park and ride facility along the M4 corridor between Kilcock and Leixlip; the NTA is now considering the feasibility of an orbital bus service linking Naas to Blancherstown Hospital, via Clane, Rathcoffey and Maynooth; and later this year the Celbridge and Naas rail commuters, using the Kildare Line, will be offered an opportunity to participate in a public consultation process in relation to changes to the timetable as a result of the investment to link the Kildare line through the Phoenix park tunnel into Connolly station.’

‘As a user of public transport myself, I know that once we provide a regular and reliable service, with back up facilities such as park and ride, we will attract more and more people to use public transport,’ concluded Deputy O’Rourke

My weekly advice clinics are now running every Monday.  See times & venues below.  All clinics are a walk-in service, with no appointment needed.