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 19^th 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.

Well done to all involved in organising the annual Liz McDonnell Run. Fantastic to see such a big crowd despite the weather….. The event is exceptionally well organised and great credit to the committee, volunteers, stewards, runners, sponsors and the public for their support. It’s a brilliant fundraiser for such a great charity. Congratulations again to all!

Fianna Fail TD, Frank O’Rourke, has welcomed the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) investigation after suggesting such a move at the Finance Oireachtas Committee last week.

‘The most recent figures on motor insurance, show premiums have raised by almost 40% in the last year. This is unacceptable and all efforts must be made by relevant state authorities, the Government and Dail Eireann to reverse these trends and I suggested that the CCPC should investigate the industry.’

‘I understand that the CCPC is investigating suspected breaches of competition law and will take any action to stop specific anti-competitive practices in the motor insurance sector.’

‘In recent months, I have campaigned in Dail Eireann to have the unacceptable high level of car insurance addressed. I have suggested a range of measures, including opening up the car insurance market to the EU, re-establishing the Motor Insurance Advisory Board (MIAB), which was successful in the past, and requesting that all state agencies, including the CCPC, consider any actions available to them to reduce motor insurance.’

‘As I said in the Dail, it is not unusual for young people in their early 20s to be asked to pay anything between €6,000 and €12,000 a year for their car insurance. This level of premium is not an option for many young people, many of whom require cars for their educational, work or family purposes as have been raised in my weekly clinics.’

‘Talk about tax reductions in the forthcoming budget is irrelevant if the insurance industry is just going to extract more from the consumers. The increases in motor insurance for some people is more that their annual Universal Social Charge (USC).  We have to reduce motor insurance premiums, and I will continue to raise this matter until progress is made,’ concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

From this Monday, a new service will be available to Kilcock commuters travelling from Dublin.  The service will run from Monday to Friday, departing Dublin at 5.10pm.

I am delighted to be working alongside Bus Eireann and the National Transport Authority to bring an improved timetable to Kilcock residents, having already managed to secure additional early morning weekday services and obtaining the backing of Bus Eireann in relation to the proposed 100-space Park and Ride facility in the town.

The public consultation process is currently underway for the Park and Ride facility, with submissions welcome to Kildare County Council by 14^th October 2016.  More information is available on www.kildare.ie/countycouncil

I am continuing to work with commuters to ensure a more accessible public transport infrastructure is created.  Kildare Line train users now have the 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.  The draft timetable is available on www.irishrail.ie where customers are invited to make submissions.

I will continue to pursue and make progress on projects which have come about as a result of concerns raised by constituents at my weekly clinics.  These include additional services from Clane to UCD via Straffan, additional Dublin Bus services, and additional services connecting Naas, Clane, Rathcoffey, Maynooth and Blanchardstown.

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.