EAMON GILMORE TD Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Representing the People of Dun Laoghaire
EAMON GILMORE TD, WORKING WITH YOUR LOCAL LABOUR TEAM
Local News in Brief
Delivering in Difficult Times
Cllr Denis O’Callaghan confirms and welcomes the commencement of works on the following projects in Shankill. A new Resource Centre is presently being built for the residents
Cllr. Niamh Bhreathnach has welcomed a statement from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council that plans to proceed with a commuter car park on the circus field in Booterstown have been scrapped. Cllr. Bhreathnach thanked local residents and her Councillor colleagues for supporting her campaign to protect open green space and the vistas of Dublin Bay. Cllr. Bhreathnach is also actively pursuing the Council to apply for the Blue flag status at Seapoint.
of Stonebridge Estate. Work has commenced on the provision of full length G.A.A and Soccer Pitches on Council Lands at Stonebridge which will benefit local schools, sporting clubs and the general community.
Last February, I was honoured to be re-elected to represent the people of this constituency in Dáil Eireann. Along with my Labour colleagues, I entered Government in difficult times, with a clear mandate to sort out Ireland’s economic crisis.
Cllr Jane Dillon-Byrne welcomes the installation of new outdoor exercise equipment on Newtownsmith Green, Sandycove. Cllr. Dillon-Byrne is also looking forward to the presentation of a realistic Plan for the Sea Gardens and Dún Laoghaire Baths in
A new playground and M.U.G.A. (Multi Purpose Games Area)
This, as you know, is no easy task. When the new Government took up office last March, this country was on the edge of an economic cliff. Since then we have gradually worked our way back, and we are continuing every day to improve our economy and to strive for the creation of new jobs.
March 2012.
has now opened in Hyde Park, Dalkey. Cllr. Stephen Fitzpatrick
An interim report on Significant Flood Events in Dún Laoghaire
was at the official opening, “The new M.U.G.A will be of huge
Rathdown County on the night of the 24th of October has been
benefit to generations of Cuala and Dalkey United children. The
completed. If you would like a copy please contact the Council’s
installation of the playground fulfils a long standing need for
Water & Waste Services Section or please contact one of your
one in the village. Congratulations to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown
Labour Party Councillors.
The recent Budget was a necessary part of this journey. In difficult times the Government has kept its commitment to:
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have introduced a
·
not increase income tax for working people
·
maintain core Social Welfare payments including Jobseeker’s, State Pensions and the standard rate of Child Benefit.
County Council and everyone else involved in the project.” An all weather pitch was also recently opened in Kilbogget Park.
new seven day arrangement in the County’s town centre areas Cllr. Carrie Smyth has been pursuing a number of issues including improvement works to Ballinclea Road/Killiney Road junction, improvements to Kibogget Park, the new Resource Centre and Playing Fields at Stonebridge, and ramps on Avondale Road. Cllr Smyth will continue to pursue other issues, which were not completed this year including the resurfacing of Church Road, the New Bowling Club Pavilion in Shankill, and the Killiney Tea Rooms.
for street cleaning and litter bin emptying. This arrangement will greatly improve the cleanliness of these locations especially at
· take 330,000 people on low incomes out of the reach of the Universal Social Charge
weekends. The public are urged to involve themselves in the consultation process for an Area Plan for Blackrock and Dún Laoghaire Town. The planners in the Council are seeking opinions and ideas that
·
maintain the number of Special Needs Assistants in our schools
·
maintain the pupil/teacher ratio in the primary sector
I know how difficult it is for families to make ends meet, but the Government has tried to bring in a budget that protects the most vulnerable in society.
could be included in their first draft of both Area Plans. The more the public are involved the better both final plans will be.
It is my firm belief that we have delivered a budget that is tough but necessary, fair and balanced.
WORKING WITH EAMON GILMORE TD
Yours sincerely,
Cllr. Niamh Bhreathnach 086 607 8193 nbhreathna@cllr.dlrcoco.ie
Cllr. Jane Dillon Byrne 086 607 8150
Cllr. Carrie Smyth Cllr. Stephen Fitzpatrick 086 383 5051 086 781 4519 carriesmyth@cllr.dlrcoco.ie sfitzpatrick@cllr.dlrcoco.ie
Tel: 408 2018 Fax: 408 2690 Email: eamon.gilmore@oir.ie Web: www.labour.ie or Write to Eamon at: Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade Iveagh House 80 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 Follow Eamon on
facebook.com/eamongilmore and
twitter.com/labour ADVICE CENTRE Every Monday from 9.30 am (except Bank Holidays) Park House, Library Road, Dun Laoghaire
Eamon Gilmore T.D.
Senator Aideen Hayden 01 618 3178 aideen.hayden@oir.ie
0612
Cllr. Denis O’Callaghan 086 278 5609 denisoc@cllr.dlrcoco.ie
Contact details for Eamon Gilmore TD
GILMORE EAMON DIFFICULT TIMES 1575.indd 1
20/12/2011 10:23
Delivering in Difficult Times JOBS MINIMUM WAGE restored
On entering Government, we restored the Minimum Wage to e8.65 per hour for all adults, as promised.
internship AND TRAINING schemeS
strategic investment fund
e500m jobs initiative
As part of the Jobs Initiative we cut VAT on tourism related services by a third, boosting the important tourist sector.
Labour fulfilled its election commitment to establish a Strategic Investment Fund to promote innovation and support business start-ups. This fund will play a crucial role in economic recovery in to the future.
UNIVERSAL SOCIAL CHARGE REFORMED
In May, Ministers Ruairi Quinn and Joan Burton announced the creation of 21,000 internship and training places with JobBridge in order to help our long term unemployed and new graduates.
ringfenced e17bn for investment in capital projects
HOME INSULATION SCHEMES
We have adjusted the Universal Social Charge to take the 330,000 people earning under e10,000 out of its reach.
In May, Minister Pat Rabbitte announced the creation of a Better Energy programme with additional budget provided so that more homes can avail of these incentives while at the same time creating jobs.
This includes investment in capital projects, such as the National Children’s Hospital and over 200 primary and secondary schools, as announced by Minister Brendan Howlin.
reform UNIVERSAL primary care
Bondholders burnt
renegotiated eu/imf deal
Despite the nay sayers Labour has succeeded in renegotiating the EU/IMF deal to the tune of e10 billion to date. Our work in this area continues.
Labour has ensured that e7.6 billion has been recovered so far towards the cost of our broken banks by burdensharing with bondholders and the sale of capital assets.
MINISTERIAL CARS ABOLISHED
In the election Labour pledged to make access to GPs free for all during the life of this Government. As a first step, e15 m has now been allocated to ensure access to GP care without fees in 2012 to persons covered by the Long Term Illness Scheme.
public service pension reform
MINISTERIAL pay reduced
On taking office the Government abolished the provision of ministerial cars and Garda drivers to ministers and former office holders saving millions.
In its first act, the Government cut pay to ministers by e12,000 and junior ministers by e9,000.
pay capped for all public servants
High level public servants have had their pay capped by Labour in Government.
The Government has introduced an entirely new, reformed and more cost effective pension agreement for all new entrants to the public service.
fairness CHILD BENEFIT PROTECTED
Labour has protected the standard rate of child benefit.
GILMORE EAMON DIFFICULT TIMES 1575.indd 2
PENSIONERS PROTECTED
Basic rate of State Pensions have been protected.
No income tax increase
As we promised at election time we have not increased income tax rates on working families.
no cut in basic social welfare rates
Labour has fulfilled its promise not to cut basic social welfare rates.
third level grants
SNAs protected
41% of all third level students receive some form of grant and therefore do not pay student contributions. Students who qualify for grant support will continue to have their student contribution grant paid for by the Exchequer.
PUPIL TEACHER RATIO protected
We have maintained the number of Special Needs Assistants at 2011 levels.
Labour in government has protected the pupil teacher ratio at primary level and for disadvantaged secondlevel schools.
mental health services
‘no disconnection’ policy this winter
We have ringfenced e35m in funding for the provision of mental health services.
Minister Pat Rabbitte has agreed with the energy companies that families struggling with utility bills will not be disconnected provided that they enter into a pay plan or agree to the installation of a pay-as-you-go meter.
20/12/2011 10:23
EAMON GILMORE TD Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Representing the People of Dun Laoghaire
EAMON GILMORE TD, WORKING WITH YOUR LOCAL LABOUR TEAM
Local News in Brief
Delivering in Difficult Times
Cllr Denis O’Callaghan confirms and welcomes the commencement of works on the following projects in Shankill. A new Resource Centre is presently being built for the residents
Cllr. Niamh Bhreathnach has welcomed a statement from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council that plans to proceed with a commuter car park on the circus field in Booterstown have been scrapped. Cllr. Bhreathnach thanked local residents and her Councillor colleagues for supporting her campaign to protect open green space and the vistas of Dublin Bay. Cllr. Bhreathnach is also actively pursuing the Council to apply for the Blue flag status at Seapoint.
of Stonebridge Estate. Work has commenced on the provision of full length G.A.A and Soccer Pitches on Council Lands at Stonebridge which will benefit local schools, sporting clubs and the general community.
Last February, I was honoured to be re-elected to represent the people of this constituency in Dáil Eireann. Along with my Labour colleagues, I entered Government in difficult times, with a clear mandate to sort out Ireland’s economic crisis.
Cllr Jane Dillon-Byrne welcomes the installation of new outdoor exercise equipment on Newtownsmith Green, Sandycove. Cllr. Dillon-Byrne is also looking forward to the presentation of a realistic Plan for the Sea Gardens and Dún Laoghaire Baths in
A new playground and M.U.G.A. (Multi Purpose Games Area)
This, as you know, is no easy task. When the new Government took up office last March, this country was on the edge of an economic cliff. Since then we have gradually worked our way back, and we are continuing every day to improve our economy and to strive for the creation of new jobs.
March 2012.
has now opened in Hyde Park, Dalkey. Cllr. Stephen Fitzpatrick
An interim report on Significant Flood Events in Dún Laoghaire
was at the official opening, “The new M.U.G.A will be of huge
Rathdown County on the night of the 24th of October has been
benefit to generations of Cuala and Dalkey United children. The
completed. If you would like a copy please contact the Council’s
installation of the playground fulfils a long standing need for
Water & Waste Services Section or please contact one of your
one in the village. Congratulations to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown
Labour Party Councillors.
The recent Budget was a necessary part of this journey. In difficult times the Government has kept its commitment to:
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have introduced a
·
not increase income tax for working people
·
maintain core Social Welfare payments including Jobseeker’s, State Pensions and the standard rate of Child Benefit.
County Council and everyone else involved in the project.” An all weather pitch was also recently opened in Kilbogget Park.
new seven day arrangement in the County’s town centre areas Cllr. Carrie Smyth has been pursuing a number of issues including improvement works to Ballinclea Road/Killiney Road junction, improvements to Kibogget Park, the new Resource Centre and Playing Fields at Stonebridge, and ramps on Avondale Road. Cllr Smyth will continue to pursue other issues, which were not completed this year including the resurfacing of Church Road, the New Bowling Club Pavilion in Shankill, and the Killiney Tea Rooms.
for street cleaning and litter bin emptying. This arrangement will greatly improve the cleanliness of these locations especially at
· take 330,000 people on low incomes out of the reach of the Universal Social Charge
weekends. The public are urged to involve themselves in the consultation process for an Area Plan for Blackrock and Dún Laoghaire Town. The planners in the Council are seeking opinions and ideas that
·
maintain the number of Special Needs Assistants in our schools
·
maintain the pupil/teacher ratio in the primary sector
I know how difficult it is for families to make ends meet, but the Government has tried to bring in a budget that protects the most vulnerable in society.
could be included in their first draft of both Area Plans. The more the public are involved the better both final plans will be.
It is my firm belief that we have delivered a budget that is tough but necessary, fair and balanced.
WORKING WITH EAMON GILMORE TD
Yours sincerely,
Cllr. Niamh Bhreathnach 086 607 8193 nbhreathna@cllr.dlrcoco.ie
Cllr. Jane Dillon Byrne 086 607 8150
Cllr. Carrie Smyth Cllr. Stephen Fitzpatrick 086 383 5051 086 781 4519 carriesmyth@cllr.dlrcoco.ie sfitzpatrick@cllr.dlrcoco.ie
Tel: 408 2018 Fax: 408 2690 Email: eamon.gilmore@oir.ie Web: www.labour.ie or Write to Eamon at: Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade Iveagh House 80 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 Follow Eamon on
facebook.com/eamongilmore and
twitter.com/labour ADVICE CENTRE Every Monday from 9.30 am (except Bank Holidays) Park House, Library Road, Dun Laoghaire
Eamon Gilmore T.D.
Senator Aideen Hayden 01 618 3178 aideen.hayden@oir.ie
0612
Cllr. Denis O’Callaghan 086 278 5609 denisoc@cllr.dlrcoco.ie
Contact details for Eamon Gilmore TD
GILMORE EAMON DIFFICULT TIMES 1575.indd 1
20/12/2011 10:23