COLM
BROPHY TD Newsletter PRSI REFORMS BENEFIT SELF-EMPLOYED AND MAKE IT EASIER TO TAKE A CAREER BREAK WITHOUT LOSING YOUR STATE PENSION The Government has reformed the PRSI system to make it easier to take a career break without losing your State pension entitlements. The reforms also benefit selfemployed people, those who move abroad temporarily, and people who take early retirement. The reforms make it easier for people to make voluntary contributions under the PRSI system. They are designed to ensure that more people who take career breaks, early retirement, move abroad temporarily, or experience a bad year in self-employment can protect or improve their right to a contributory State pension, and a pension for their spouse or child’s guardian should they die prematurely. The self-employed will also have access to the treatment benefit scheme which includes free eye and dental examinations, and contributions towards the cost of hearings aids.
Treatment benefit entitlements will also be extended from October 2017 to provide further dental and optical benefits both for employees and the self-employed. Even more significantly, selfemployed contributors will be eligible for the Invalidity Pension from December 2017. For the first time, this will give the selfemployed access to the safety-net of State income supports if they become permanently incapable of work as a result of an illness or disability without having to go through a means test. This is a real advance in the level of cover available to the self-employed.
Colm Brophy T.D. speaking recently to the National Media.
Unemployment in Ireland currently stands at 6%
50,000 Apprenticeships and traineeships by 2020 under new Government plan The Government will expand apprenticeships and traineeships programmes in Ireland, aimed at delivering 50,000 apprenticeship and traineeship registrations by 2020. One of the greatest causalities of the recession were apprenticeships and traineeships. Enrolment in their career pathway collapsed and fell by over 80%. This closed down an important pathway which is a characteristic element in many of the most successful education systems. We now need to do two things. Firstly, rebuild these traditional
pathways; and secondly build new apprenticeships and traineeships in areas where they haven’t traditionally existed. We need to rebuild these options into a new robust pathway which will become an attractive and respected option for at least 20% of our school leavers. This would see the present apprenticeship and traineeship system expand significantly, covering all major economic sectors, and doubling enrolments to 14,000. This will require us to forge a new partnership with employers, both in the public and private sectors.
Working with employers, we will strengthen apprenticeship and traineeship in Ireland, increasing the range of courses and increasing the number of student places to achieve the Government targets. Under the plan, apprenticeships and traineeships will give an exciting career path for many young people. Apprentices and trainees will be embedded in enterprises and will get the chance to learn skills and get hands on experience. It will give young people the opportunity to acquire applied, technical skills
within a variety of sectors, and provide a very practical grounding which will stand to them as they move through their career and take advantage of promotional opportunities. For companies, the aptitudes which will be learned by these apprentices and trainees will be invaluable. It will help exporting companies based in Ireland to scale their business, to grow their exports and to take advantage of the opportunities offered by a global economy.
Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare St, D02 A272 · Tel: 01-6183196 · Email: colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie
COLM BROPHY TD PUBLIC FORUM ON BREXIT IN TALLAGHT I recently hosted a public forum on Brexit in the Maldron Hotel in Tallaght. Guest speakers on the night included Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe, Economist Jim Power, CEO of the Small Firms Association Patricia Callan and local South Dublin Chamber CEO Peter Byrne. After brief introductory remarks from each of the speakers, the meeting was then opened to an in-depth question and answer session. A variety of queries and concerns were expressed by a number of local residents and business people based in Tallaght. The issue of exports to the UK was raised as a principal concern, with 90% of 200 local businesses surveyed active exporters to the UK. The tone of the meeting was generally upbeat and focused on the potential opportunities to attract businesses to Ireland as the only remaining English speaking member state of the European Union. However, as Patricia
Colm Brophy T.D. with (L-R) Peter Byrne, Minister Paschal Donohoe, Patricia Callan and Jim Power at the recent Brexit Fourm held in Tallaght.
Callan of the Small Firms Association said, ‘we are going to see a much harder Brexit that we would have liked.’ As a TD representing Dublin South West, I genuinely see opportunities for us in Brexit. My focus will continue to be on attracting jobs to this area. Our location is appealing to
employers because of its excellent transport links and skilled workforce. Other issues raised on the night ranged from the EU’s peacekeeping missions, to addressing political unrest across Europe as well as the impact of a potential hard border with Northern Ireland.
NATIONAL FAMINE COMMEMORATION BILL I recently published the National Famine Commemoration Day Bill. Since my election to Dáil Éireann last year, I have raised the matter of commemoration of The Great Famine. I am delighted to have published a Bill which will enshrine into law the second Sunday in May as the National Famine Commemoration Day. We need a fixed date as it will allow everyone to work towards the commemoration on a yearly basis, and allow schools to make it part of their curriculum. A permanent date would also allow more of the Irish diaspora to attend the commemoration each year, which would be very fitting considering the impact famine had on emigration. The Bill progressed to second stage and was passed by the Dáil, It will now move to committee stage for review and possible amendments before moving on to become enacted into law.
Colm Brophy T.D. meeting with members of Scouting Ireland when they were before the Oireacthas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs.
Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare St, D02 A272 · Tel: 01-6183196
Colm Brophy T.D. hosted a series of coffee mornings recently; local residents pictured here with local residents following a coffee morning in the Cottage Tea Rooms in Firhouse. Colm Brophy T.D. on a recent visit to Tallaght Fire Station supporting the Dublin Fire Brigade’s campaign to retain the Emergency Medical Service.
BLOOMFIELD HOSPITAL I was delighted to visit Bloomfield Hospital recently where I met with staff and inspected the facilities on site. Bloomfield is a centre of excellence with a well-run, innovative operation that has clear measurable positive outcomes for patient care. The hospital has 114 Mental Health Beds and 36 Nursing Home Beds. Bloomfield Hospital runs two primary programs, the National Huntingtons Centre, a specialist staff centre dealing with referrals from all over Ireland, and Challenging Mental Health. Other services at the hospital include a day centre for Alzheimer Care in conjunction with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. Plans to increase and extend the range of services in the day centre are under consideration. Bloomfield employs 188 staff and is an important employer in the Rathfarnham area.
CALL FOR FINE GAEL IBRAHIM HALAWA’S INCREASE PUBLIC IMMEDIATE RELEASE EXPENDITURE ON As a member of the delegation to Egypt, EDUCATION I very much support the letter sent by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny calling upon President El Sisi to sanction the immediate release of Ibrahim Halawa from prison, stressing the Irish Government’s humanitarian and medical concerns.
The government has taken the unprecedented step of deploying a doctor to Egypt to meet with Ibrahim Halawa, who recommended that Ibrahim Halawa be released to facilitate further specialist medical assessments. Ibrahim’s case remains a major concern for the Government. The Government are continuing to give our full support to efforts to secure his freedom and his return to Ireland.
The education Budget will increase by €458 million in 2017 – the third highest ever increase. The additional money secured by the Minister for Education in Budget 2017 will allow the Minister to: · Hire 2,400 additional teachers next year · Hire 135 extra SNAs · Bring 79 additional schools into DEIS for the first time · Invest €36.5m extra in Higher and further education, the first increase in a decade · €95m extra capital spending to provide the extra classrooms to meet a growing population · Locally, two new secondary schools will be built, in Firhouse and Kingswood.
I am working with management in Bloomfield Hospital to engage with the HSE to ensure appropriate levels of funding for the facility.
VISIT LEINSTER HOUSE Colm has welcomed many local community groups on tours of Leinster House, should you wish to come for a tour of Leinster House please do not hesitate to contact 01-6183196 to arrange a suitable time to visit
Email: colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie ·
Colm Brophy T.D. with members of the ICA Marley Guild – ICA Marley Guild.
@brophytalks ·
ColmBrophyFineGael
UPDATE ON HELLFIRE CLUB DEVELOPMENT
NEW BUILDING DEVELOPMENT FOR IT TALLAGHT
South Dublin County Council and Coillte recently held a 2 day public consultation process in relation to a proposed €19m building investment in a tourism project at the Hellfire club and Massey Woods estate. The development is expected to attract an estimated 300,000 visitors a year to the area. Since this project was first announced I have opposed the development and I continue to do so now.
I recently had the honour of attending the official opening of IT Tallaght’s new 2,000 sq m building along with Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton. This opening marked a €3.5m investment by the College.
LOCAL NEWS IN BRIEF
According to IT Tallaght, the investment into Premier House affirms the institute’s ongoing and future commitment to specifically increase and expand the provision of higher education in the South County Dublin region, including the surrounding counties of Wicklow and Kildare – with 92 per cent of current students coming from the greater Dublin region.
TEMPLEOGUE HOUSE South Dublin County Council plans to develop a community facility at Templeogue House in the future. Templeogue House is a protected structure under the Planning and Development Act and Recorded Monument under the National Monument Act. Submissions of interest for community use of this facility are currently being considered. If you have an organisation or community group who could avail of this facility when it is renovated please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
ORWELL ROUNDABOUT UPDATE Work is due to commence on the upgrade of the Orwell roundabout. Orwell Park residents’ association met with Council officials on site and made a very welcome contribution to the proposals. This roundabout is of vital importance as it is used by thousands of commuters throughout Dublin South West every day.
TYMON ASTRO FOOTPATH A footpath is to be installed around part of Tymon Astro Pitch, with walkways from the main footpath to the gates at each end. These improvements will be made as part of the SDCC budget for small improvement works throughout the area and will be of benefit to the many people who use Tymon Park for exercise weekly.
TALLAGHT COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGM The TCC are to host their AGM on 23rd May in St. Maelruain’s Church, Tallaght Village at 8pm and all are welcome to attend. At the AGM the TCC will be outlining their tourism proposals for the Tallaght area which include the creation of a ‘basecamp’ beside Tallaght Stadium as starting point for those wishing to hike the Dublin Mountain Way.
Colm Brophy T.D. with Minister Richard Bruton and Senior Management at IT Tallaght at the opening of their new building. It is also another step in the Institute’s strategic ambition to establish a Technological University in Dublin with their partners, the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown and the Dublin Institute of Technology.
YOUR LOCAL FINE GAEL TEAM Cllr Paula Donovan
Rathfarnham Ward Email: pdonovan@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie Tel: 087 2200741
Cllr Anne-Marie Dermody
Rathfarnham Ward Email: amdermody@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie Tel: 087 2264226
Cllr Brian Lawlor
Templeogue-Terenure Ward Email: blawlor@cllrs. sdublincoco.ie Tel: 087 644 5472
Brian Hayes MEP Dublin
Email: Brian.hayes@ep.europa.eu Tel: 01 - 2096548
GET INVOLVED!
Getting involved in politics at a local level can be a very enjoyable experience! There are lots of different ways to participate and make a difference. I am always very grateful for any help people are willing to give. If you’d like to play a part in public affairs in our area please email: info@GetOnBoard.ie
COLM BROPHY Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare St, D02 A272. Tel: 01-6183196
TD
Email: colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie @brophytalks ColmBrophyFineGael
0612
I firmly believe the revised scale of the project is still too large. It will have a significant negative impact on the local residents, the natural environment in the area and all those who regularly use the Hell fire Club walking routes. According to the project managers the access roads to the site will not require widening to accommodate the additional traffic flow. Proposed one-lane sections of the roads will in my belief lead to traffic congestion in the area. If you would like more information about the project please do not hesitate to contact my office.
The building includes lecture theatres, computer laboratories, classrooms, a student coffee dock and staff services – additions which reflect the college’s growth and its aim to enhance both student facilities and the courses on offer.