PEDESTRIAN WORKS TO GET UNDERWAY

Firstly, I wish to take this opportunity to thank you, thepeople of Clonakilty, for the courtesy and kindness shownto my canvass team and I throughout the general electioncampaign. The level of support we received from the localcommunity was heartening and I will now endeavour torepresent your voice in Dáil Eireann where I will do myvery best to effect positive change in the lives of peoplein Cork South-West.

There are various issues that are of concern to people inthe Clonakilty area - unemployment, access to healthcare,and education, to name but a few. Many people, for thefirst time in their lives, are genuinely uncertain about thesecurity of their homes, their jobs and the future of theirchildren, and it is my responsibility, as your local TD, tolisten to these concerns and help try to ensure thatpeople can enjoy stable and secure lives.

We live in challenging times, however we are not withouthope. The new Government, tasked with an overwhelmingmandate from the Irish people, are already putting rightsome of the wrongs imposed on our country by theprevious administration. Reform, fairness and jobs are atthe centre of Labour Party policy, and I hope to put thosesame things at the centre of life in areas like Clonakilty.

I hope you enjoy this newsletter, which aims to provideyou with a good insight into the work that I have beencarrying out on your behalf since my election to DáilEireann in February. Please do not hesitate to get incontact if there are any local issues you wish to bring tomy attention.

Kind regards,

In July, my party colleague Minister of State Alan Kelly allocated €76,000 towards pedestrian and path works in Clonakilty. Thisfunding will enable the construction of a push button-activated pedestrian crossing and 160m length of 2.0m wide footpath atPark Road, Clonakilty. This will be of considerable benefit to the local community and assist pedestrians greatly. The works are dueto get underway shortly.

It is one part of a smarter travel funding package announced by Minister Kelly which sees local authorities across the countryawarded various parcels of funding for ‘smarter travel’ projects in their area. The funding was made possible under the recent JobsInitiative.

KEEPING IN TOUCHMichael McCarthy TDClonakilty News

THANK YOU

Michael McCarthy TD with Tánaiste and Minister for ForeignAffairs Eamon Gilmore TD

The local area got a boost of good fortune in May when US firm Easylinkannounced that they plan to expand their base in Clonakilty. Theexpansion of EasyLink will benefit the region of West Cork significantlyas it will lead to the creation of 20 finance and accounting jobs.

Easylink has begun filling these positions, which were advertised bothinternally and externally. These jobs will complement Easylink’s existingclutch of 25 staff which are based in their European shared servicescentre at the West Cork Business and Technology Park in Clonakilty. It isa huge boost for West Cork and I hope it marks the beginning of a waveof new inward investment into the region.

EASYLINK EXPANSION CREATES 20 JOBS

MCCARTHY MICHAEL CLONAKILTY NEWS 1510_Layout 1 02/12/2011 10:27 Page 1

Funding of €18,149 has been announced by Minister of State Michael Ringto assist in the operation of the MUGA (multi-use games area) in Clonakilty.It is a great boost and follows on from an allocation of €112,489 to localsports projects in the general West Cork area a few months ago. This fundingis specifically designed to boost participation in sport, and I hope it willencourage the local community to organise more activities together.

FUNDING FOR MUGA WILL ENGAGEMORE YOUTH IN SPORT

Clonakilty Community College was one of eight schools in the constituency tobe allocated funding under the Summer Works Scheme this year. This fundingenables small to medium improvements to be carried out over the summermonths, when disruption to pupils can be kept to a minimum. It has the addedbenefit of generating work for local construction companies.

FUNDS FOR SUMMER WORKS AT CLONCOMMUNITY COLLEGE

I was recently in contact with the National Roads Authority on the issue ofthe N71 Bandon to Inishannon road. Around the winter months, people areunderstandably concerned about possible deterioration of the road headinginto the winter period. The latest update on the project is that it is being keptunder review as part of the authority’s national roads programme and whendetermining grant allocations for future years. The Authority has allocatedalmost €0.9 million to Cork County Council this year for maintenance workson national secondary roads in the county.

UPDATE ON N71

The issue of proposed long-stay bed closures at Clonakilty CommunityHospital is one which is causing considerable concern to the local community.The Clonakilty Hospital Action Group has done sterling work to date in termsof rallying local support for the cause and raising awareness around the issue.I will continue to support their campaign to the best of my abilities and makeevery reasonable effort to bring their concerns to the attention of the HealthMinister James Reilly.

MOUNT CARMEL HOSPITAL

The planned changeover from 24-hour ambulance cover to a rapid response service in Skibbereen and Castletownbere is a live local issue in Clonakilty, as itwill have some consequences for the town’s own ambulance service. I have publicly pledged my support to the West Cork ‘Save Our Service’ campaign, whichis being spearheaded by my party colleague, Cllr. Frank Fahy. Recently I raised the issue in the Dáil with Minister for Health James Reilly where I urged himto review the situation, given that Skibbereen is the second busiest, and occasionally the busiest 999 ambulance station in West Cork, second only toClonakilty. I will continue to give this important local issue my focus and attention.

CALL TO REVIEW AMBULANCE COVER ISSUE

Michael, Minister Kathleen Lynch and supporters at the recent opening of hisconstituency office in Dunmanway

Michael with Senator Jillian van Turnhout, outgoing Chief Executive of the Children’sAlliance signing a pledge to the Alliance and its call to strengthen children’s rights inthe Constitution

Tel: 023-8855705

Email: michael.mccarthy@oir.ie

Web: www.michaelmccarthy.ie

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Michael McCarthy TD

GET IN CONTACT

0612

Cllr Aidan Pendlebury

3 Clarke Street, Clonakilty, Co. Cork

t: 085 8237231e: aidanpendlebury2000@yahoo.co.uk

Working with Michael McCarthy TD

Listen to Michael’s weeklypodcast onwww.michaelmccarthy.ie

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