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.

Well done to all involved in organising the 5K Arthur’s Way Run in Ardclough on Saturday July 2nd. It was another great event and I was delighted to be able to attend to support everyone taking part.

Well done to Deirdre on her finish time……!!!! Congrats to everyone.

Local Fianna Fail TD Frank O’Rourke has been informed by broadband supplier Eir that their FTTH (Fibre To The Home) rollout scheme, ideal for rural areas, will include Newtown and Timahoe.

‘Recently, I met with Eir to outline to them the importance of providing broadband connection to rural areas of North Kildare such as Newtown, Timahoe, Eadestown and Kilteel.’

‘The work to provide Newtown and Timahoe with FTTH is provisionally planned for the period 2017 to 2020. However, the precise rollout programme has not yet been determined.’

‘I strongly believe that we need to firm up the roll out and I have asked Eir to consider my proposal to have this work completed next year, and effectively fast track their plans. These areas have waiting too long for a reliable broadband service.’

‘I know from meeting businesses and residents in areas of Kildare the negative impact of not having adequate or reliable Broadband access. Having reliable and a consistent broadband service enhances businesses ability to trade, and gives residents the opportunity to work from home or assist in students accessing their educational needs.’

‘The Fiber to the Home (FTTH) technology, which is a fibre cable connection from the telephone exchange direct to the customer premises, is the ideal technology, particularly for rural areas. It is speedy and reliable. Details of the rollout programme can be obtained from www.fibrerollout.ie,’ stated Deputy O’Rourke.

‘92% of Kildare premises are currently broadband enabled. By the end of this year or certainly by the end of Q1 2017, over 3000  additional rural Kildare premises will be connected to broadband by the Fibre to the Home (FTTH) technology. 400 rural premises in the Maynooth area, 370 in Kilcock, 480 in Donadea, 520 in Straffan, 1110 in Roberstown and 470 in Carbury are examples of the planned rollout for this year in rural Kildare.’

‘I intend meeting Eir again in the near future to make further representations to fast track the FTTH for rural Kildare,’ concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

The government’s creation of Irish Water has left the Irish taxpayer €59 million worse off this year, than if it had not been set up.

On 28th June, I spoke in the Dáil about Irish Water & the burden it has become for families in Ireland.

I was pleased with my colleague Deputy Fiona O’Loughlin to have facilitated Kildare Carers Focus Group to give a briefing today in the AV room in Leinster House for all elected member of the Oireachtas. The briefing covered issues in Kildare and across the country.
The briefing given by parents was excellent and outlined the concerns with “Progressing Disability Services” and the areas that needs and requires additional resources and supports. It is very important that we have full engagement with a partnership approach between the service provider, service user and the depts.

I want to thank those who attended and the Kildare Carers Focus Group for giving the briefing and their personal stories which highlights the pressure the parents/carers are under on a daily basis.  I look forward to continuing to work with this group and others to resolve the issues which exist.