COLM
BROPHY TD Newsletter A NEW LEADER Dear Resident, On the 2nd June, Leo Varadkar was elected as the new leader of the Fine Gael party, taking over from Enda Kenny who had successfully led the party for over fifteen years. Subsequent to this, Leo was elected as Taoiseach by the Dáil on the 14th June. Having known Leo as a politician and as a friend; I was delighted to support his leadership campaign. Leo’s election to the office of An Taoiseach brings with it a lot of firsts for Ireland. However, the most important thing is that Leo will be an excellent Taoiseach who will lead our country through a very turbulent few years as Brexit is negotiated and as Ireland seeks to bring itself out of recovery mode. With Leo at the helm, Fine Gael are seeking to rebuild the party as well as to continue to rebuild the country. We are looking for new members, supporters and indeed candidates. If you would like to join the party and to contribute to the improvement of life for everyone, feel free to contact me. As always, If there are any issues, local or national, that I can be of assistance with, please do not hesitate to contact me. Regards, Colm Brophy T.D.
Dublin South West to benefit from competition in the bus market
Bus and Rail operator ‘Go-Ahead’ has recently been announced as the winner of the tendering competition to operate 10% of Public Service Obligation Bus Services in Dublin (currently operated by Dublin Bus). This opens the Dublin Bus market to competition and provides more choice for bus passengers. It is great news for commuters in Dublin South West. Routes include 75, 76, 76A, 161 and a new route 175 which will go from Citywest to UCD.
Passengers should be reassured that services will continue to be regulated by the National Transport Authority (NTA) so they can still use their LEAP card and Free Travel Pass, and also avail of Real Time Information when planning their journeys. Fine Gael campaigned on a policy of increased choice and competition for bus passengers in the last election. We committed to this and we are now delivering on this commitment in Government.
Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare St, D02 A272 · Tel: 01-6183196 · Email: colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie
COLM BROPHY TD Fine Gael is making life easier for families with more affordable childcare Fine Gael is delivering on its election commitment to help ease the financial cost of childcare for hard-pressed working families. Parents are being encouraged to visit AffordableChildcare.ie to learn about new childcare supports. Up to 70,000 children have extra supports since the new measures came into effect at the start of September. A new universal childcare subsidy, of up to €1,040 per year, is available for children aged from 6-months up to starting their free preschool year (ECCE Scheme) at 36 months. In addition to this universal payment, there are further childcare supports for families who need them most. Families on lower incomes, who qualify by way of a means test, are now eligible for supports worth up to €7,500 per year for children aged 6 months to 15 years of age. Parents previously prevented from taking up jobs, training or education because of the cost of childcare, are now able to do so. Since entering Government Fine Gael has prioritised children and families. The free preschool year (ECCE scheme) we introduced and later extended to two free years has been hugely beneficial to families saving them on average €4,000 per child. Now with these new measures, families with children
New Law to remove discrimination in School admissions
under 3 years of age can also benefit from State supports. Fine Gael also recently introduced two weeks paid Paternity Leave for new fathers for the first time in the history of the State. Under 6s now benefit from GP care and an extra 10,000
The Government has approved the new Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016, which will remove discrimination in school admissions. The new legislation explicitly bans discrimination in school admissions and will make it easier for parents to access local schools and to enrol their children in a school that meets their needs. The law will mean that where a school is not oversubscribed it must accept all students applying. Over 80% of schools
children now qualify for a medical card thanks to it being extended to those on Domiciliary Care Allowance. The Government has also provided for 47,000 extra breakfast club places to benefit children and the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance has increased by 25%.
are not oversubscribed, so this will mean a big change across the school system. The new law also bans waiting lists, so children who move to a new area will no longer be discriminated against. The legislation also ensures that in a situation where a child (with special needs or otherwise) cannot find a school place, the National Council for Special Education or Tusla will designate a school place for the child.
Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare St, D02 A272 · Tel: 01-6183196
Opposing the Hell Fire Club Development South Dublin County Council has submitted a planning application for the development of Hell Fire Club Site known as the Dublin Mountains Project with An Bord Pleanála. The Council are proposing a €15 million Visitor Centre located between Massy’s Wood /Estate and Montpelier Hill. The joint development proposal by South Dublin County Council, Coillte and the Dublin Mountains Partnership and includes a visitor centre, café, shop, a rambler’s lounge, toilets and conversion of 26 hectares of the Hellfire forest to an amenity open space with increased car parking (275 parking spaces) incorporating a tree-top walkway/ bridge from Montpelier Hill into Massy’s Wood.
I have opposed the scale of this development since its inception. I firmly believe that there is no need for such excessive development of this wonderful natural amenity. I am particularly concerned about the implications for traffic congestion in the local area. I do not believe the road improvements suggested by the Council will be sufficient to cater for the expected increase of 300,000 visitors a year. I am joining many local residents and interested parties in writing a submission to An Bord Pleanála outlining in detail my concerns. If you are interested in doing so also you can make a submission to An Bord Pleanála before the 25th September.
New crime legislation will tackle repeat offenders while The recent passage of the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016 through the Dáil is a major boost to crime fighting in Ireland. This Bill, when passed through all stages of the Oireachtas, will give the Courts more powers in imposing bail conditions, including prohibiting an accused from contacting victims, prohibiting him or her from driving when charged with a serious road traffic offence, and the imposition of a night-time curfew. Courts will also be required to take additional factors into account when considering whether to refuse bail to serious offenders including the nature and frequency of previous offending. The Bill allows for people on bail to be monitored electronically to demonstrate compliance with bail conditions when requested by the prosecutor. This Bill also helps the victims of crime allowing for victim evidence at bail proceedings and makes it a requirement that the court give reasons for bail decisions.
Bus Connects – Bus network redesign The National Transport Authority of Ireland (NTA) has recently embarked on an ambition project expected to cost in the region of €1 billion to redesign the Bus and transport networks in Dublin. The proposals include plans for bus corridors, new routes, rapid transit routes and cashless fare payments. Over 7000 respondents have voiced their opinions on the proposals during a recent consultation process. Following a meeting with Dublin Bus on the proposed Bus Connects project there are a number of issues which need to be addressed. It is imperative that suburban areas in Dublin Such as Dublin South West maintain direct links to the city centre by bus. Bus users should not be asked to transfer to multiple buses in order to avail of a bus corridor which will bring them to the city centre as has been proposed by the NTA proposals. The submissions from the consultation process are now being considered by Bus Connects to better inform their options before they make their Network Review Report later this year.
Email: colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie ·
@brophytalks ·
Government committed to increased Garda numbers Fine Gael in Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. By the end of 2017 we will see over 900 trainees become members of An Garda Síochána. This will bring Garda numbers to about 13,500 by year end, real progress towards the target of 15,000. Furthermore funding has been provided to recruit 500 civilians during 2017 to support the wide ranging reform plan in An Garda Síochána. In 2016, some €10m was invested in new vehicles for the Garda fleet with 597 vehicles being allocated to the fleet.
ColmBrophyFineGael
The Templeogue Tidy Towns Committee is one among many such committees in Dublin South West that has significantly improved the aesthetic of our local villages. Templeogue Village has, throughout the summer, been blooming with colourful flower boxes and benefitting from regular clean-ups. I personally wish to express my appreciation to all the members of the committee who support this great work not just during the summer months but right through the year. If you wish to get involved in joining a committee or indeed establishing one in your area please do not hesitate to contact me.
Local Youth Groups and Clubs to benefit from additional funding A new fund of €4million has been established to benefit local youth groups in funding capital expenditure. Community based groups or clubs in Dublin South West have been asked to examine which sports, arts, adventure or other equipment they need the most. The application process opens in late September for this funding and is an opportunity for groups to replace equipment which may have become outdated. For more information on this scheme please do not hesitate to contact my office on 01-6183196.
Dodder Park Greenway The long awaited Dodder Park Greenway project has just completed a public consultation period. The submissions, which were made by members of the public, interest groups and elected representatives (including myself), are now being reviewed by South Dublin County Council. According to Council documents, the Greenway is being developed to be of international renown and to be on a par with the best greenways in the world. The Greenway route is approximately 14km in length and passes along the Dodder Valley from Orwell / Terenure through the outer suburbs of Tallaght to rural and upland Dublin to the entrance to the Bohernabreena reservoirs at Glenasmole. Works will include widening and upgrading existing paths, bridges and underpasses as well as the construction of new paths and new bridges. Ecological enhancements including species rich grassland management and the planting of native trees and the provision of bat boxes are all included in the plans.
Kingswood Community College Building works The building contractor with responsibility for the construction of the permanent building for Kingswood Community College moved on site on Monday 28th August 2017. The construction company is called Glasgiven Contacts Ltd. It is expected that the majority of the works will be completed by July 2019 and the new building will be open to students from September 2019. This is another major milestone in the long awaited provision of a new secondary school for Kingswood. I will continue to work with the principal, staff, parents and students of the school as the building works move towards completion.
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
COLM BROPHY Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare St, D02 A272. Tel: 01-6183196
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TD
Email: colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie @brophytalks ColmBrophyFineGael
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
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Tidy Towns Committees have a big impact in Dublin South West throughout the summer