Anthony Lawlor TD - Working for the people of County Kildare

Anthony Lawlor’s Newsletter

I am most grateful to the people of Kildare North for

electing me to represent them in Dáil Éireann. I am

honoured to be in this position and intend to do my

best for the people and area of Kildare North. I have a

constituency office in Naas, which is open daily, and I am

holding a clinic in Celbridge every Thursday evening so I

encourage you to drop in or contact me if you wish to raise

an issue. I would also be more than happy to organise

tours to Dáil Éireann for individuals, groups or schools.

After all it is your parliament! Please do not hesitate to

give my Dáil office a call on 01 6183007 or email me at

anthony.lawlor@oireachtas.ie to arrange a tour.

I look forward to meeting with you.

A message from Anthony

New School for CelbridgeIn June, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn announced plans to build a new second level school in Celbridge. The decision to establish three new second level schools between 2012 and 2017 in Naas, Maynooth and Celbridge will address the current overcrowding situation experienced in many schools in the county. Celbridge has experienced a significant population rise in recent years and the establishment of this new second level school will ease the burden both on the school and on parents who have difficulties enrolling their children. I will be supporting the Minister at all times on the progression of these three projects and hope to see the new second level school in Celbridge completed before the end of 2017.

Enda Kenny’s visit to ColourtrendOn 25th May, Celbridge was visited by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny when he launched the new “Ceramic Matt” paint at Colortrend. Unfortunately due to Dáil commitments on the day I was unable to attend the event however I am aware that the Taoiseach entertained the crowd by regaling his own painting experiences! The launch of this product by Colortrend is proof that even during this recession Irish companies are still forging ahead with expanding their business and I would like to wish them every success in this new venture.

Free access to Castletown House In July Junior Minister for Finance, Brian Hayes, announced a new scheme which opens all OPW Heritage sites free to the public on the first Wednesday of every month. Castletown House in Celbridge is included on this scheme. This free access will be available until the end of 2011 when the scheme will be up for review. I recommend people to avail of this free access to Castletown House and other Heritage sites throughout the country. Further information can be found on www.heritageireland.ie.

Anthony Lawlor Newslet Aug11.indd 1 22/08/2011 14:32

Check the RegisterThe cabinet has announced that the Presidential Election will be held on 27th October and three referenda will be held on the same day. If you are not sure if you are registered to vote go to www.checktheregister.ie. If you are not registered, contact Kildare County Council to be included on the Supplementary Register or my office in Naas where we can send out a form. Remember however that in order to be considered for inclusion on the supplementary register for this election, the form must be received by Kildare County Council the fourteenth day (Sundays excluded) before polling day.

Changes to Citizenship Application Scheme announcedA new citizenship scheme will now give a decision on applications within six months. In June a new application form for naturalisation became available on www.inis.gov.ie. This more simplistic application form aims to dramatically reduce the numbers incorrectly completed and will substantially contribute to more efficient and streamlined processing times. A new Citizenship Ceremony has also been introduced to give proper recognition to the importance of a person being granted Irish citizenship.

National Internship SchemeAs part of the Government’s Jobs Initiative, a new National Internship Scheme was announced. This is a time limited scheme operating for two years only with 5,000 places. Internship placements will operate for a 6 to 9 month period with the payment of €50 per week additional to social welfare entitlements. It will operate in the private, public and voluntary sectors. The National Internship Scheme will be available to individuals who are on the Live Register and have been in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance/Benefit or signing on for credits for at least 3 months.

Further information on this scheme can be found at www.jobbridge.ie.

Upgrading of train line to Celbridge A public briefing was held on 12th July 2011 by Irish Rail to outline the Second Phase of the Kildare Route Project which will upgrade the Inchicore to Hazelhatch line. The overall objective of the Project, which has its root in the National Development Plan, is to improve the quality, speed and reliability of rail services, in order to reduce private car usage.

Under the project, Irish Rail is proposing that the route from Inchicore to Hazelhatch be electrified in order to deliver DART services. There are several benefits of this Project, including reducing travel time and the reduction in car drivers, which will reduce emissions, among others.

Iarnród Éireann is now progressing the Kildare Route Project – Phase 2 to detailed design phase, including the submission of a Railway Order during the latter half of 2011. Construction Phase will take place following railway order approval and state funding.

AES, Bord Na Mona secures waste management contract from Kildare County CouncilIn July, Kildare County Council (KCC) announced that AES, Bord na Móna’s Resource Recovery company secured the contract to provide waste and recycling bin collection services to the households across the county currently serviced by KCC. The transfer of this service took place on 22nd August 2011. There is no change to the current pricing structure and collection schedules for existing KCC customers remains the same. This will be reviewed at the end of 2012. Key features of this new arrangement include:

u Customers who have already paid KCC for their service charge until December 2011 will continue to receive service from AES at no additional service charge

uCustomers in receipt of a waiver from KCC will continue to have their bins accepted on the same basis as before until December 2011.

u Bin tags already purchased will continue to be accepted by AES and bin tags will continue to be available from the same retail outlets

u Recycling bins will continue to be accepted by AES from customers where the service charge has been paid, or waived, free of charge

Securing this new contract means that AES expects to recruit up to 25 additional staff in customer service and service provision from August 2011 onwards. More detailed information on changes to the service provided by AES can be found at http://kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/PressReleasesAdverts/

Celbridge Pay Parking Bye-LawsAt their meeting on Monday 25th July, the Council announced their new plans for the Parking Bye Laws in Celbridge. The main changes involve the moving of the taxi rank further down the Main Street and an increased number of double yellow lines at the entrance to residential estates in the town. These changes should ensure an improved traffic management system throughout the town. For more detailed information on the plans, contact Kildare County Council.

ANTHoNy LAwLoR TD • Tel: 045 888488 • Email: anthony.lawlor@oireachtas.ie • www.anthonylawlor.ie

Anthony Lawlor Newslet Aug11.indd 2 22/08/2011 14:32

I warmly welcome the package of reform for Dáil Business, which will be effective from September 2011. Among the measures, the Dáil will now sit earlier on Tuesdays and will sit on the first Friday of every month; Topical Issue Debates will be introduced giving backbench TDs more speaking time; Leaders Questions will now be taken by the Tánaiste on Thursdays and TDs can raise issues regarding replies to Parliamentary Questions.

I was delighted to be appointed

to the Oireachtas Committee

on Jobs, Social Protection and

Education. The work of this

committee will be instrumental

in getting Ireland back on its feet

and I am looking forward to the

challenge ahead.

I have tabled a number of Dáil Questions

to various Ministers on topics such as extra

resources in Co. Kildare as a result of the

increased population according to Census

2011; the level of funding distributed by

Irish Aid and the need to extend the online

service for motor tax to commercial vehicles.

I have spoken in the Dáil on a

number of issues such as suicide

prevention, white collar crime,

electoral reform, bankruptcy

laws and the protection of Good

Samaritans in our society.

Along with my constituency colleagues, I met with Minister Ruairí Quinn to discuss the serious lack of SNAs at St. Raphael’s School in Celbridge.

Dáil Business

I have engaged in a number of

Dáil debates and raised on the

Adjournment of the Dáil the need to

extend water services to facilitate

the new development at Intel and

the need to ring fence funding

to deal with the landfill site at

Kerdiffstown.

ANTHoNy LAwLoR TD • Tel: 045 888488 • Email: anthony.lawlor@oireachtas.ie • www.anthonylawlor.ie

To keep up to date with my activities in the Dáil,

including speeches and responses to Dáil Questions,

join me on Facebook or on my website page.

Anthony Lawlor Newslet Aug11.indd 3 22/08/2011 14:32

Competition Time! For the opportunity to win a tour of Dáil Éireann followed by a meal in the Dáil Restaurant for two people, email the answer to the following question:

Q .Who is the current Ceann Comhairle?All correct answers to anthony. lawlor@oir.ie. Deadline for receipt of entries Friday 30th September 2011.

Presidential candidateOn 9th July the Fine Gael party chose Gay Mitchell MEP as our candidate for the forthcoming Presidential Election in October. I wish Gay all the best in the coming months during his campaign and will offer whatever support he needs in his bid to become the first Fine Gael President of Ireland.

Celbridge useful contact details:Kildare County Council (045 980200) www.kildarecoco.ieHSE Local Health Office (045 873 200) St. Mary’s, Craddockstown Road, NaasCelbridge Garda Station (01 6288222) Garda Station, CelbridgeCelbridge Health Centre (01 6303100) Maynooth Road, CelbridgeCelbridge Community Library (01) 6272207) Saint Patrick’s Park, CelbridgeSocial Welfare Office (045 884430/884431) Unit 2, Rathesker Square, Naas Naas General Hospital (045 897 221) www.hse.ieNaas Fire Station (045 879964)KDOC (Out of hours GP Service) (1890 599 362) Vista Primary Care Campus, NaasKildare County Council Maynooth Area Office (01 6286236)For all local information on Celbridge http://www.celbridgeonline.ie/

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CLLR. SENAN GRIFFINEmail: griffins@eircom.netAddress: Ballygoran, Maynooth, Co. KildareContact Numbers: 01-6285177/ 087- 2331267

ANTHoNy LAwLoR TDEmail: anthony.lawlor@oireachtas.ie

Constituency Office: 56 South Main Street, Naas, Co. KildareContact Number: 045 888488Opening Hours: 9am -12am & 3pm – 5pm

Celbridge Clinic: Every Thursday 7pm – 8pm Venue - Kildrought Inn, Main Street, CelbridgeWebsite: www.anthonylawlor.ie

Find me on Facebook

your Local Celbridge Fine Gael Team:

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