DOWDS ROBERT CLONDALKIN A3 NEWS 2032_Layout 1 25/06/2012 16:44 Page 1
CLONDALKIN UPDATE Robert Dowds TD Constituency Office: Main Street, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 Tel: 618 3446 Mobile: 087 652 0360 E-mail: robert.dowds@oireachtas.ie Website: www.robertdowds.ie Robert Dowds
@robert_dowdsTD
Summer 2012 NEW STUDENT GRANT SYSTEM FOR NEW COLLEGE STUDENTS Robert Dowds has given a very warm welcome to Minister Ruairí Quinn's announcement that there will be a new system for processing student grants, which will be faster, more efficient and save the taxpayer €5million. Students can now apply online and be given a provisional answer on their grant in a short period. Students who are awarded grants will now get payments through a monthly electronic transfer, which will be a huge improvement on the present system. This new system for those starting college in September is to be called SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) and is available at www.studentfinance.ie "Until now we have had 66 different authorities each awarding grants and replicating the work involved, costing the taxpayer more than was necessary and was incredibly slow at getting grants to students who were badly in need of them. I have had several students come to me who were still waiting on grants in May or June of their academic year. The new system, SUSI, will centralise the grants system, speed up the processing of grant applications and save the taxpayer money. I would encourage new students who are starting college in September to apply online as soon as possible."
NEWLANDS CROSS-UPDATE FROM NATIONAL ROADS AUTHORITY After the announcement in late 2011 that the Government had approved a funding mechanism for the Newlands Cross flyover, Robert Dowds has been working hard to get this project off the ground as soon as possible. In recent weeks he has spoken to the National Roads Authority about the progress of the project. "After speaking to the NRA, I am very glad that they are optimistic that the contract for the project will be awarded this year and they are confident that construction will start by the end of the year. I understand that due to the European financial crisis, there has been a slight delay in getting this project off the ground, as the funding for the project depends on investment from the financial markets. In this regard, the recent passing of the referendum was very helpful is minimising the delays to the project." "The Newlands Cross flyover is a project that I want to see completed as soon as possible, so that we can put an end to the mile long traffic jam from the Red Cow interchange to the Cross which forms almost every evening. I will continue to press this project forward so that we get our flyover sooner rather than later. It is a vital piece of infrastructure that will make a real difference and it is long overdue." Artist's Rendition of the Newlands Cross Upgrade
Labour TD Robert Dowds has welcomed the opening of the historic Round Tower of Clondalkin to the public for the Clondalkin Village Festival which took place on June 30th and July 1st. "I was delighted that, for the first time, we managed to get the OPW to agree to open the ground floor of the Round Tower for the Clondalkin festival. It was a great opportunity for the people of our community to stand inside what is our most famous and historic structure. I have long argued that the authorities should be doing more to improve the access to the Tower and sorting out the area around it." "I know there were plenty of people wanted to climb to the top of the Tower, and hopefully we might push for that in the future. But getting into the ground floor was an important first step to making the Tower more accessible to the people of Clondalkin." "I want to say a very special thanks to Minister Brian Hayes, for all his help in this matter. Minister Hayes is only down the road in Tallaght and understands how important the Round Tower is to the people of Clondalkin. I am delighted that so many people took the opportunity to go into the Tower. I want to commend all those involved with the organisation of the Clondalkin Village Festival.
CLONDALKIN IN THE RUNNING FOR STATUS UNDER NEW GAELTACHT BILL In June the Government published the new Gaeltacht Bill which for the first time allows for the recognition of areas outside the Gaeltacht as being strongholds of the Irish language. Robert Dowds has been championing the case that Clondalkin be recognised as one such area due to the large numbers of Gaelgóirí, Gaelscoileanna in the area. "Since this idea of recognition was mooted, I have been championing the case that Clondalkin should be recognised as a "Líonra Gaeilge" or "Irish Language Network". I have met with Minister Dinny McGinley and I have emphasised to him that we have thousands of fluent Irish speakers in Clondalkin, two primary schools, a secondary school and an Irish cultural heritage centre in Áras Chrónáin. "Thar 40 bliain tá ana chuid obair tar éis bheith déanta chun an Gaeilge a chur chun cinn i gCluain Dolcáin, agus ba chóir go mbeidh sé sin aitheanta go hoifigiúl. Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall chun a cinntiú go bhfaigheann Cluain Dolcáin an aitheantas atá tuillte againn mar ceantair ina bhfuil an teanga láidir. Tá súil agam amach anseo go mbeidh Cluain Dolcáin aitheanta mar Líonra Gaeilge faoi Bhille na Gaeltachta 2012.
If you wish to raise any issue with me, whether personal, local or national, please contact me.
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ROUND TOWER IS OPENED FOR CLONDALKIN VILLAGE FESTIVAL