It was a great day in Kilglass today for the Paddy Holton Memorial event and to see if the world record would be broken for the “most siblings ploughing simultaneously”. The weather was great and lots to see and do with entertainment for all. It was great to meet and engage with so many people there including former TD and Minister of State for Kildare North Aine Brady. Gearoid Lohan was spotted enjoying the day. Well done to all involved in organising this great event.
On October 1st, Leixlip Fire Station held an open day for the public to come along and meet the members of the service and see live demonstrations. It was an excellent morning and well done to all involved in organising it. Great crowds were in attendance and the weather was perfect for the open day. All the members of the service are to be highly complimented and acknowledged for the wonderful work they do when called upon to save and protect peoples lives. Most informative, interesting and enjoyable open day at the Fire Station.
Well done to everyone involved in organising such a successful fundraiser on September 30th in Maynooth GAA for Mark Nugent. There was a massive crowd in attendance and the atmosphere was great. It is brilliant to see the people of Maynooth and surrounding areas coming together to support Mark and his family. Well done again to all involved.
Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O Rourke has welcomed the Self Help Grant for House Maintenance Works announced by Kildare County Council, to assist Kildare Local Authority Tenants.
‘This Self Help Grant, administered by Kildare County Council, can be used to replace defective windows and doors, defective kitchen units, repair or replacement of fascias and soffits or for other minor works. The maximum grant is €2,500.00 and the objective of this scheme is to assist Local Authority tenants carry out improvement works on the property.’
‘Other applicable works include the installation of a new storage shed or the replacement of boundary fence/wall.’
‘Application forms and further details of the scheme are now available from Kildare County Council, Customer Services Telephone 045980200/Housing Section Telephone 045 – 980562 or email customercare@kildarecoco.ie / housingmaintence@kildarecoco.ie or my constituency office.’
‘Completed application forms , together with the relevant three quotations, must be returned to Kildare County Council by 7th of October next. It should be sent to , Self Help Scheme 2016, Housing Maintenance Sections, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co. Kildare,’ stated Deputy O’Rourke.
‘Up to 90% of the works may be grant aided, however the maximum grant available is €2,500, the tenant is liable for all costs above the grant approved,’ concluded Deputy O’Rourke.
I am delighted to be notified that the national awards for the Tidy Towns have just been announced and there is plenty of good news for the towns and villages in the constituency.
Following on from the Entente Florale Success, Straffan finished first, with Naas second and Rathangan third in Kildare while there were gold medals for Straffan, Naas and Maynooth, with Leilxip, Celbridge, Kill, Rathangan and Newbridge winning silver medals, and bronze medals for Clane and Ballymore Eustace.
Congratulations to all involved!
The new evening Bus Eireann service on Route 115 for Kilcock commuters, which commenced on Monday 19th of September last, is receiving strong support from Kilcock commuters, according to Local TD Frank O’Rourke.
‘Following representations that I made over the last couple of months to Bus Eireann to improve the bus service for Kilcock commuters, I was delighted that Bus Eireann put a new evening service on Route 115 in place, departing Dublin at 5.10pm. This commenced on Monday 19th of September.’
‘Each day this week, 35 to 40 commuters are using the new 5.10pm service from Dublin to Kilcock. This is a very positive response to the new service and it shows that once we develop a public transport service that is regular and reliable, more and more people will use public transport,’ stated Deputy O’Rourke
‘I am delighted that we are making progress on the bus service for Kilcock commuters. Earlier this year, additional services were added to the morning timetable, and last month funding was approved for a 100 space Park and Ride adjacent to Kilcock.’
‘I will continue to work with the community of Kilcock, Iarnrod Eireann, Bus Eireann and the National Transport Authority to secure further improvements for public transport users,’ concluded Deputy O’Rourke.
Brilliant afternoon at the Annual Duck Race in the Mill. Despite the heavy showers there was a great crowd and a fantastic atmosphere at the Duck Race. Brilliantl family entertainment been enjoyed by all. I had no winner but had a great time! Congrats and well done to all involved in organising another great event……!!!
I was delighted to be invited by the Celbridge Athelitcs Club to officially open their Discus Cage this morning. This was a great privilege for me and thanks to the club for their invitation. The Club is hugely successful with 400 members and has achieved great success in competitions at all levels. This is the only Discus Cage in Co. Kildare which will bring further success to the club and increase the clubs profile even more.
Well done to the committee, its members, athletes, coaches, volunteers and all associated with the Club in delivering this fantastic facility for the Club. In particular Kieron Stout who championed this project for the Athletics Club. It is great to see the Club being successful in accessing funding through the sports capital grants for the Discus Cage. Continued success to Celbridge Athelitcs Club in the future and well done to everyone involved.
I was delighted to be invited to attend the 20k drop fundraiser for St. Farnan’s Post Primary School in Prosperous at Larry’s pub on Sept. 21st. It was an excellent event, brilliant crowd and it was great to meet up with everyone. Well done to all involved in organising such a successful launch and best of luck with the fundraiser.
Kildare County Council and the Office of Public Works (OPW) are currently in talks in relation to flooding alleviation schemes for the Hazelhatch road in Celbridge.
‘I have contacted the OPW and met with Kildare County Council senior manager and Director of Services Joe Boland on a numerous occasions in recent months in an effort to have the issue of flooding up at Hazlehatch resolved.’
‘This is a significant issue for this area given that planning permission has been refused for the construction of a new school on the Hazelhatch road because of the risk of flooding. It is now vital that measures are put in place to have the risk of flooding addressed.’
‘The Local GAA club, the Tennis Club and estates such as Primrose Gate are all vulnerable to flooding if we don’t address it. Future development along this route will also be damaged if we don’t address this flooding issue. This area is also the preferred site for a new school which when built will ease the traffic congestion problems in the town.’
‘I intend to have another meeting with Kildare Co Co very soon but I am delighted now that consultants will be appointed next month and given the responsibility to put forward proposals to alleviate the risk of flooding on the Hazelhatch road.’
‘I am confident that Kildare Co Co will have a full design for the flood alleviation measures in place by early 2017. Once funding is committed, construction could be starting on this project during the summer of next year.’
‘I am fully committed to working with all to ensure this project is kept on track. I’m pleased the works that I got carried out last year had played a vital role in reducing the risk of flooding while we wait for the permanent solution. I am committed to having this long running problem solved as quickly as possible.
I want to thank Joe Boland Director of Services, Kildare County Council and his staff for their work and commitment to this project since I raised the matter with them.’