KEEPING IN TOUCH Michael McCarthy TD Summer 2015
DELIVERING FOR WEST CORK 1. PRESIDENT VISITS WEST CORK
2. FREE GP CARE FOR UNDER 6s & OVER 70s
The President accompanied by his wife, Sabina made an official visit to West Cork. Their first official stop was the Island Heritage Centre on Cape Clear. As part of his visit President Higgins also marked the 20th anniversary of Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Uí Choileáin in Clonakilty and attended official engagements in Skibbereen including the opening of the €3.5 Michael with President Higgins million West Cork Arts Centre and unveiled the new Centenary Memorial to Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa at the memorial park.
The rollout of free GP care for children aged under 6 is good news for local families. Labour in Government has also ensured that adults aged over 70 will benefit from free GP care. This means that from this summer up to 300,000 children and older people who currently have to pay for GP care will Michael with Minister for Primary Care no longer have to.
3. DUNMANWAY SWIMMING POOL The first foundation has been laid at the site of the new Dunmanway swimming pool. Minister Michael Ring, who has responsibility for Sport, did the honours. I am delighted that I was able to play a pivotal role in bringing this €5 million state of the art development to Dunmanway, which will be a huge boost for our local community. Michael, Minister Ring and Former Senator Michael Calnan
5. WEST CORK TO BENEFIT FROM BROADBAND EXPANSION Eircom have announced that they are to significantly expand access to high speed fibre broadband in rural Ireland benefiting a number of areas in West Cork. In West Cork broadband will be expanded to include Ardgroom, Ardfield, Allihies, Caheragh, Churchcross, Dunderrow, Goleen, Inchydoney, Kilcrohane, Lislevane, Lyre, Pedlar's Cross, Rossmore, Terelton and Templemartin. This expanded footprint will hugely benefit families and businesses in West Cork.
Kathleen Lynch
4. INVESTING IN LOCAL SCHOOLS Minister for Education & Skills Jan O'Sullivan recently announced that 12 Schools in West Cork are set to benefit from the €36m Summer Works Scheme. They include Ballyheeda NS, Ballinhassig; Adrigole NS; SN Clogach, Clogach, Timoleague; SN Baile Muine, Ballineen; Togher NS, Minister Jan O'Sullivan on a recent visit to Kinsale Dunmanway; Castletownsend Mixed NS, Skibbereen; SN Oir Cheann, Eyeries; Timoleague NS; SN Fionan Na Reanna, Nohoval; SN Fhiachna, Glengarriff; SN Chobh Chionn Tsaile and St. Brogan’s College, Bandon.
6. NEW CLASSROOMS The Right Reverend Dr. Paul Colton recently opened a new extension to Bandonbridge National School. In the last 4 years more than €159 million has been provided for major school building projects in Cork. Michael with the Right Reverend Dr. Paul Colton
7. EMPLOYMENT FIGURES Figures provided by the CSO show there has been a 11.42% fall in the number of people signing on the Live Register in Cork County in the past year. The live register fell by over 15% in Bandon, Clonakilty, Kinsale and Skibbereen. Ireland now has the fastest growing employment rate of anywhere in Europe and this is expected to continue in 2015. This is a huge turnaround from the situation we inherited in 2011, with 300,000 jobs lost across the State.
8. TOURISM FIGURES This year is set to be a record year for tourism in Ireland. 1.5 millions trips were made to Ireland by overseas visitors in the first three months of 2015, an increase of 14.1%. This is great news for Irish tourism and is a reflection of the hard work of all those involved in the industry.
9. WEST CORK SAYS YES TO MARRIAGE EQUALITY I was delighted that Cork South West was one of the constituencies with a YES vote of more than 60% in the recent referendum on Marriage Equality. The turnout of voters reached a level usually only seen at a general election. Young voters showed a strong commitment to the issue. I am proud the Labour Party played such a leading role in putting the matter before the people and campaigning for such a landslide victory. Thanks to everyone in West Cork who took part in the campaign, shared their stories, and voted in the referendum. The Dáil will now have to pass the Marriage Bill which will provide in law for the solemnisation of same-sex marriages.
CONTACT MICHAEL:
Constituency Office: Market Square, Dunmanway, Co. Cork
Michael welcomes the Yes Equality Bus to Clonakilty
Tel: 023 8855705 Email: michael.mccarthy@oir.ie
www.michaelmccarthy.ie
@mmccarthyTD
DELIVERING FOR IRELAND 1. BACK TO WORK FAMILY SUPPORT
2. HOUSING ADAPTATIONS GRANTS
The new Back to Work Family Dividend announced in Budget 2015 aims to help families to move from social welfare into employment. The scheme provides a weekly payment for up to 2 years to people with children who were getting jobseeker and one-parent family payments who take up employment, increase their hours of employment or become self-employed. Further details are available at local Intreo offices.
The Government recently announced an allocation of €5.4 million for housing adaptations grants for homes in Cork City and County. This will allow older people and people with a disability to extend their homes or to provide aids to improve mobility within the home including stair lifts and access ramps.
3. FUNDING FOR CARERS Eligible groups in West Cork should apply for a new €1 million funding scheme for home carers. The Tánaiste, Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton confirmed that €1 million will be provided for support and training. Full details on this are available on www.pobal.ie.
4. BACK TO SCHOOL The Back to School Clothing & Footwear Allowance will issue automatically to 106,460 people in July. This is a very important payment to many families as it helps to provide with the necessary costs for growing children as they head back to school in the autumn. I would urge anyone who feels they may be entitled to this payment to call 1890 66 22 44.
5. LOW PAY COMMISSION The new Low Pay Commission has begun its review of the minimum wage. In 2011 the new Labour-Fine Gael Government restored the minimum wage to €8.65 per hour. The Commission will examine all aspects of employment from pay and conditions to competitiveness and the need to protect existing jobs. Michael supporting Dunnes Stores workers in Clonakilty
6. NEW LAW TO PROTECT WORKERS The new Industrial Relations Amendment Bill will provide legal protection for workers, by bringing in Registered Employment Agreement (REAs). It means that rules about pay and working conditions of workers can be enforced.
7. PUBLIC SECTOR PAY DEAL I am pleased that my colleague Minister Brendan Howlin T.D. has reached agreement in concluding public sector pay talks on behalf of our public servants. This agreement will deliver a €2,000 pay increase over two years. This is the start of a process to restore the pay of public sector workers and will involve a combination of adjustments to the public sector pension levy and a partial reversal of pay cuts imposed in 2010 by the previous Fianna Fáil/ Green/ Independent Government.
FROM CRISIS TO RECOVERY 2014 was the year when our economic recovery began to accelerate. Tough decisions have been made but these, along with the determination and sacrifice of the Irish people, have built this recovery. There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that everyone - every worker, family and pensioner - feels the benefit of the economic recovery. But to do this we need practical and effective policies that copper fasten rather then wreck the economic recovery. And we need an approach that puts the needs of real people and their families before the politics of protest and megaphones. Every step of the way, Labour will continue to guard the public purse, ensure there is no return to crisis and focus on putting money back in your pocket and delivering reliable public services. ■ Over 100,000 new jobs created since 2011
■ New Strategic Banking Corporation to aid SMEs
■ Unemployment below 9% from a high of 15.1%
■ High speed broadband installed in all 2nd level schools
■ 410,000 low paid workers taken out of USC
■ 1,700 new teachers and SNAs will be employed in 2015
■ €3.8 billion for Social Housing investment
■ 92,517 fewer people on National Live Register
■ Budget deficit down from €22 billion to €5 billion
■ MicroFinance Ireland provides loans of up to €25,000 to businesses who employ 10 people or less.
■ Strong export figures and return of consumer confidence
Michael McCarthy TD
Advice centre every Friday constituency office at 11am
@mmccarthyTD
0612
Constituency Office: Market Square, Dunmanway, Co. Cork Tel: 023 8855705 Email: michael.mccarthy@oir.ie Web: www.michaelmccarthy.ie