Brendan Ryan

There are 4418 on the Live Register at the end of November. 2136 additional people signed on during the past 12 months in the Swords area, which includes Donabate and Portrane, according to my analysis of the CSO figures for the month of November. This represents an annual increase of 93.6% during this period which compares with a 54.8% increase nationally, and a 60.1% increase with in Dublin generally. This clearly illustrates that Swords continues to be very badly hit by the recession with 4418 people are now signing on.

Unfortunately in comparison with last month’s decrease of 17 persons signing on, the Live Register figures with respect to Swords have increased for the month of November with the number of people having increased by 134. The monthly increase of 3.1% in the Live Register for Swords compares with a -0.6% decrease for Dublin and 0.3% increase for all of the country. With monthly decreases of 4.5% in September and O.4% in October the upward trend again in November is a disappointment.

There are now 783 people under 25 years of age on the live register in Swords, an increase of 24 people since the end of October, which is unfortunately a 3.2% increase in the month. Since taking office, this government has watched unemployment amongst under 25s treble. Currently Ireland has 83,362 young people who cannot find work and who are not in full-time education. Cutting social welfare payments for U25s is not the answer. Already too many young people are struggling to survive on what little they have.

There is a €4bn gap in our public finances that needs to be closed, and one of the best ways of doing that, is to reduce the numbers of people who have been forced onto the dole queues. Although we face into what has been signalled as one of the toughest budgets in living memory, it is imperative that it contains measures to tackle joblessness.

It must provide a coherent jobs strategy which would include elements such as a ‘Bridge the Gap’ work experience programme for graduates and apprentices; a skills drive for people who have lost their jobs, and PRSI breaks for employers who create jobs for people who are currently out of work.

here are 4835 on the Live Register at the end of November in Balbriggan. 2291 additional people signed on during the past 12 months in the area according to my analysis of the CSO figures for the month of November. This represents an annual increase of 90.1% during this period which compares with a 54.8% increase nationally, and a 60.1% increase in Dublin generally. This clearly illustrates that Balbriggan continues to be very badly hit by the recession with 4835 people are now signing on.

Unfortunately in comparison with last month’s decrease of 69 persons signing on, the Live Register figures with respect to Balbriggan have increased for the month of November with the number of people having increased by 164. The monthly increase of 3.5% in the Live Register for Balbriggan compares with a 0.6% decrease for Dublin and 0.3% increase for all of the country. With monthly decreases of 1.4% in September and 1.5% in October the upward trend again in November is a disappointment.

There are now 865 people under 25 years of age on the live register in Balbriggan, 17.9% of the total people on the Live Register in the area. Compared with 460 people aged under 25 years old who were on the Live Register this time last year, this represents an 88% year on year increase, which is nearly double the national yearly increase of 43.9% and the yearly increase in Dublin of 48.6%.

Labour believes that getting Ireland working again will be the key to recovery, and that the 2010 budget can’t be just about cuts – it must be about jobs. While accepting a net reduction in the 2010 of nearly €4.1bn, we are proposing to dedicate €700m to a job creation fund in 2010, and €1,150m in a full year. The Jobs Fund will:
- Include half a billion euro for labour intensive capital projects in a full year
- Support businesses with targeted measures, such as PRSI relief for jobs created
- Provide 60,000 extra training and work experience places to give people the skills they need for the jobs they want.
- Be allocated by a Cabinet-level Jobs Taskforce

Kingscroft Developments will have a place name sign for Laurelton Estate, Swords, in place within the next two weeks.

Local residents had been in contact with me regarding the need for a place-name sign to be erected for the estate. Local people had very serious concerns that Fire/Ambulance services would not be able to find the estate in case of emergency. I have also been told that letters posted to residents have gone missing in the past.

Fingal County Council has confirmed with me that the developer of Laurelton requested that the development be taken in charge in March 2006. Inspections of the roads, open spaces and underground services were undertaken to ensure that the development was constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Council and that ongoing maintenance works had been carried out. Defects and items requiring maintenance were brought to the attention of the developer.

I understand from the council’s Transportation Department that remedial works are now at an advanced stage and that the developer has recently advised them that adequate resources will be allocated to the development to secure early completion of outstanding items. I have been told that a date for bringing the development before a meeting of the County Council for consideration of taking-in-charge will be set following satisfactory completion of the remedial works.

Following my representations to Kingscroft Development Ltd, I am happy to inform Laurelton residents that the company has informed me that the sign has been ordered and that it will be put in place within the next 14 days.

The ESB must prioritise the promised upgrade works in Malahide and the Kinsealy / Drynam areas and they must ensure minimum disruption in the future to longsuffering residents, who have already had to endure unacceptable power outages.

Following a great many representations from local residents, the ESB has informed me that they have already begun reinforcement works on the ground, and that further improvements will be undertaken in the near future including:
Upgrading of the existing 38,000 Kv station in Malahide
Construction of 3.7 Km of 10,000 overhead line
Installation of 1.7km of 10,000 underground cable
The ESB informs me that this will amount to a €1 Million investment in the area, with an overall completion date of Autumn 2010.

The ESB has further stated that a considerable amount of civil work is required as a result, which will include planned power outages. I have written to the Chief Executive of the company demanding that residents undergo the most minimal disruption possible, and where it is unavoidable, plenty of notice is given.

Given that the works are also contingent on permission from landowners and the county council, I am calling on the County Manager to ensure full cooperation and co-ordination with the ESB in these matters.

The investment from the ESB is some good news and is no less that what residents deserve. The fact that there has been 12 medium voltage faults in recent months is an absolute scandal.

I welcome to the positive response from the ESB and hopefully this will bring to an end the problems for Malahide and Kinsealy / Drynam residents.

The fact that people from Swords and Donabate must sign on in the city centre is an absolute disgrace, and I am calling on the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to reverse this outrageous decision.

The Swords Local office is now spread out between the new office in the Credit Union on North Street, the portacabins on the Malahide Rd. and now the old North Cumberland St. Social Welfare office aswell.

Up until now, signing on for Swords Jobseekers had been suspended, a common sense approach to the problem. However, I am now informed that the suspension has been lifted as of this month, and people who are signing have been told that they must now do so in the city centre.

This is a totally unacceptable solution and will cause great difficulty, especially for those recently made unemployed, who have perhaps suspended previous childcare arrangements to allow for the unemployed party to mind the kids. They may now have to drag the kids into the city centre with them when signing on.

The OPW together with Senior Management in the Department secured the premises in North St. seemingly knowing that it would be totally inadequate to service the needs of the local area. I have been informed that North St. will now deal with new claims and information queries, Malahide Rd will be a back office and for storing claims and North Cumberland St which had been closed and moved to Kings Inn St has now been reopened to form part of the Swords service.

The new permanent Local Office on Forster Way is in the pipeline, but will take 2/3 years at a minimum before it is completed.

I am calling on the Department to rearrange the service in some way to ensure that the signing on process is carried out in Swords. Failing that, perhaps they can allow people to sign on every two months instead, which may somewhat alleviate the unnecessary hardship.

I am very glad to confirm that Bus Éireann has erected the new much needed bus shelters on Drogheda Street, Balbriggan.

The two bus shelters have been in use since before Christmas, and are located on Drogheda Street, adjacent to Lambeecher Estate, Bath Road, and also at St. Mologa’s National School.

The long campaign fought by local residents, and Cllr. Monica Harford and I, to have the bus shelters put in place has finally borne fruit, and the shelters will be especially welcome during this long bout of bad weather.

Bus Éireann are to be thanked for following through on their commitment and ensuring the provision of the shelters, especially in the current climate when budgets are tight.

The lack of public lighting along the M1 adjacent to the M1 Business Park, Balbriggan, is a matter of concern and needs to be addressed. The fact that none of the lighting columns which have been erected along the footpaths fronting the business park are working was brought to my attention by a number of residents from the area.

In a reply to my representations, Fingal County Council have confirmed that this is a long-running issue which dated back to the building of the Apple Petrol Station. It seems that the developer completed the works before the ESB were available for connection of the lights. A temporary supply was arranged via overheads to power lights for the roundabout at the Balbriggan end of the new road alignment, and it seems that nothing else was done since then.

At a recent meeting, Fingal County Council informed the developer that as a part of the revamp of the area, which included new roundabouts east and west of the M1 interchange, that they wanted the supply put in place to facilitate the street lighting fronting the business park.

I am not satisfied that this matter is being given the priority it requires, either by Fingal County Council or the developer in question. In the interests of the health and safety of the road users in the area, it is imperative that the lights be made operational.

My colleague Cllr. Ken Farrell and I are calling on the County Manager to release the necessary finance from the development bond to enable the necessary works to be carried out.

I secured a special debate in the Senate yesterday on St. Oliver Plunkett’s National School, Malahide, during which I condemned the delay in processing the provision of a new school. The Board of Management acknowledged the need for a new school as far back as 1995 and made an application at that stage to the Department of Education and Science. 15 years later, the school now accommodates 900 pupils, 31% of which are now being educated in prefabs. This is a scandal, and a matter of grave concern for the parents, principal and staff of the school.

I also raised with the Minister the fact that the Department of Education has sanctioned the outright purchase of the 12 prefabs, which were meant to be part of the original “temporary” measure to meet the accommodation needs of the school. The decision of the Department to purchase the prefabs outright, given the age and structure of the buildings is questionable, and also raises the priority of the Department to a new school for St. Oliver Plunkett’s.

I regret that Seán Haughey, TD, Minister for State, who responded in the Minister’s absence, and who acknowledged children attend St. Oliver Plunkett’s, failed to give any reassurance to the Board of Management and to the parents with regards to a timetable for a new school. He confirmed that a meeting will take place next week between the representatives of the Board of Management and Departmental Officials to discuss the up to date proposals from the school.

In the interest of the proper education of the children of the school, the Board of Management and the parents may be assured of my full support in my campaign for a new school.

Senator Brendan Ryan and Cllr. Gerry McGuire have welcomed the commitment given by Fingal County Council that funding has been identified and a contractor has been appointed to complete a revised Phase 1 Improvement Scheme at Turvey Avenue, Donabate.

The delayed completion of Phase 1 of the Turvey Avenue Road Improvement scheme is totally unacceptable, and especially given that this project has been on the agenda and promised for at least 10 years now. The roads and footpath between Donabate Railway Bridge and Beverton estates are most dangerous for parents pushing buggies, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike. Thankfully there hasn’t been a fatality at this location to date.

The construction of the boundary wall, which was part of the scheme, was completed in early June, nothing else has been done since then, and the area now resembles a derelict site.
Since then, the standard reply from the council in response to ongoing representations from Cllr. Gerry McGuire and I was that the funding of the scheme was “frozen” by directive from John Gormley, TD, Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government and therefore work could not proceed.

The scheme was earmarked to be funded from the council’s development levies fund, a significant amount of which accrued from developments in the Donabate area. The outstanding works of the scheme consist of: provision of footpath: a new roadway; pedestrian crossing; bus stop lay-by; new pedestrian access to Newbridge Park.

It is a scandal that over the years residents who have purchased the houses in the area and who have made significant contributions for these facilities in the cost of the houses, are being denied a safe environment for themselves and their children.

The first housing development in the Turvey area of Donabate commenced in 1985 when planning permission was secured by Brendan Kinnane. Since then Kinanne Developments have continued to build and develop in the area. In that time, the developer has been conditioned to pay over €1.8 Million in conditions and special levies to the Planning Authority Fingal County Council arising from his developments, for council services and infrastructural developments, including the Turvey Road Improvement Scheme.

The funding embargo imposed by the Minister is questionable given the conditions of the planning permissions granted by Fingal County Council and fulfilled by the developer. I intend to raise this issue with the Minister for the Environment in the Seanad.

In the meantime, I welcome the commitment given by Fingal County Council that funding has been identified and a contractor has been appointed to complete a revised Phase 1.

The delay in the completion of Carraig Leathan Estate, Kilbush Lane, Rush, is a scandal. For over three years now, the residents of this small estate have been pressuring the builder and Fingal County Council, without success, to have the outstanding works completed.

These works entail the provision of a concrete footpath fronting the development along Kilbush Lane, road re-instatment along the length of the footpath and a 50 mm road-wearing course overlay.

The lack of a footpath along this section of Kilbush Lane, has made the roadway extremely unsafe for the increasing numbers of school children, pedestrians and motorists using this road. The unfinished area in question is not only unsightly, but has been used as an area for dumping and unauthorised parking since the houses were completed a number of years ago.

Fingal County Council submitted a claim with respect to the developer’s bond, to his bank, in October last. However, the council was obliged to suspend the claim on the basis of a further undertaking by the developer to carry out the work which he has once again reneged upon. I am pleased to be informed that Fingal County Council has today written to the bank in question reactivating their claim on the development bond with a view to having the work carried out themselves.

Especially given the role played by the state in bailing out the banks, I am calling on this bank to acknowledge its social responsibility and to release the bond without delay and thus enable Fingal County Council to have the work carried out and the estate taken in charge as a matter of urgency.

The new expanded car park at Donabate Train Station is due to be completed by 21st December 2009.

CIÉ has informed me that the extension to the car park is currently under construction at the station, and will increase the capacity from the current 200 spaces to a total of 345 spaces. This work will be completed by 21st December.

Furthermore, I understand that the next stage of the works to be carried out is the accessibility improvements including the provision of lifts. The designs for this are complete and the tender package will be sent out to potential contractors when funding is approved.

CIÉ has confirmed that they anticipate that the work on the lifts will be undertaken during the first quarter of 2010, if approval for funding from the Department of Transport Accessibility Programme is received early in the new year.

In the meantime, I am repeating my call that a temporary wheelchair access be opened up at the old car-park entrance onto Turvey Avenue, which can be closed once the lifts are in place.

Kingscroft Developments will have a place name sign for Laurelton Estate, Swords, in place within the next two weeks.

Local residents had been in contact with me regarding the need for a place-name sign to be erected for the estate. Local people had very serious concerns that Fire/Ambulance services would not be able to find the estate in case of emergency. I have also been told that letters posted to residents have gone missing in the past.

Fingal County Council has confirmed with me that the developer of Laurelton requested that the development be taken in charge in March 2006. Inspections of the roads, open spaces and underground services were undertaken to ensure that the development was constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Council and that ongoing maintenance works had been carried out. Defects and items requiring maintenance were brought to the attention of the developer.

I understand from the council’s Transportation Department that remedial works are now at an advanced stage and that the developer has recently advised them that adequate resources will be allocated to the development to secure early completion of outstanding items. I have been told that a date for bringing the development before a meeting of the County Council for consideration of taking-in-charge will be set following satisfactory completion of the remedial works.

Following my representations to Kingscroft Development Ltd, I am happy to inform Laurelton residents that the company has informed me that the sign has been ordered and that it will be put in place within the next 14 days.

Fingal County Council has directed Knightstone Construction to take immediate measures to eliminate the source of the ongoing odour problem at the temporary sewage treatment plant in Rush. The temporary plant is located in the uncompleted development site off the Skerries Road in Rush, and I have received many complaints from local residents about the unpleasant smells emanating from the plant.

Fingal County Council has informed me that the problem relates to poor housekeeping on the site, rather than with any fundamental defect with the plant. The Water Services Department in Fingal County Council has directed the developer to resolve the problem, and has also sought copies of the maintenance agreement, maintenance logs and sample results relating to the plant.

I am pleased that the plant is now being monitored on a daily basis for a two week period and will be kept under review thereafter.

If the odour problems persist I will be demanding that Fingal County Council initiate the necessary action against the developer using the power available to them under the Water Services Act 2007 to have this matter resolved for once and for all. I have given a commitment to the residents to keep in contact with them until this matter is resolved to their satisfaction.

Youth unemployment is a social time-bomb. If young people are condemned to a pattern of long-term unemployment in their teens and early twenties it will be very difficult for them to emerge from the current recession unscathed.

It is clear from the latest FÁS Quarterly Commentary that young people have been worst affected by the downturn in the economy, which has resulted in a 60% year-on-year increase nationally in the number of graduates seeking further training with FÁS.

The young people of Fingal have also been affected by the recession and by failure of the Government to introduce a Job Stimulus programme. The year-on-year figures show a 51 % increase in the numbers of males and females under 25 years of age signing on throughout Fingal. This is in addition to the numbers of young people who have decided to stay on in education, and the numbers who feel that they have been left with no alternative other than to emigrate to find employment, which in my opinion constitutes a crisis.

In the light of this, it is disturbing that for example the numbers of new apprentices entering the workforce was down 60% in the first nine months of this year. Speaking in the Senate last week, I demanded that the Government acknowledge the extent of youth unemployment and that they significantly increase the numbers of education, training and job opportunities for our highly educated young workforce.

I welcome the fact that the Live Register figures with respect to Balbriggan have decreased for the month of October. My analysis of the Central Statistics Office figures show that the number of people signing on in Balbriggan in September decreased by 69.

Balbriggan still has one of the highest unemployment in the country according to my analysis of the latest Live Register figures released by the CSO, which show that 4671 people are now signing on.

However, in the month of September 69 less people signed on, with a month on month decrease of 1.5%. The CSO figures show that 2334 additional registered as unemployed during the past 12 months. This represents an annual increase of 99.9% during this period which compares with an 64.5% increase nationally, and an 70.1% increase with in Dublin generally. This clearly illustrates that Balbriggan continues to very badly hit by the recession.”

“The monthly decrease of 1.5% in the Live Register for Balbriggan compares with a 3% decrease for Dublin and 2.7% for all of the country. However the year on year increase shows that Balbriggan remains an unemployment black-spot.”

It is imperative that various state agencies pull out all the stops to make sure that everything possible is retrieved from this situation. There is an urgent need now, for the Government to mobilise the resources that are already at its disposal to assist people in training and up-skilling in Fingal. The Government must pull together a co-ordinated response, through FAS, the education sector and other agencies to start responding to this need.

There are 4284 on the Live Register at the end of October. 2140 additional people signed on during the past 12 months in the Swords area, including Donabate and Portrane, according to my analysis of the CSO figures for the month of October. This represents an annual increase of 99.8% during this period which compares with an 64.5% increase nationally, and an 70.1% increase with in Dublin generally. This clearly illustrates that Swords continues to be very badly hit by the recession with 4284 people are now signing on.

However, I welcome the fact that the Live Register figures with respect to Swords have decreased for the month of October with the number of people signing on in Swords decreasing by 17. The monthly decrease of 0.4% in the Live Register for Swords compares with a 3% decrease for Dublin and 2.7% for all of the country. However the year on year increase shows that Swords remains an unemployment black-spot.

There are 759 people under 25 years of age on the live register in Swords, which is 17.7% of the total. Youth unemployment is a social time-bomb. The government need to very significantly increase the number of educational and training options for the young unemployed. If young people are condemned to a pattern of long-term unemployment in their teens and early 20s it is particularly difficult to emerge from it.

When I welcome the provision of the new Swords Social Welfare Local Office, a Dole payment is no substitute for employment. It is Labour’s view that in order to set the country back on the road to full employment, we need to secure agreement on a new programme for national recovery that should be based on five pillars:

•The first priority should be to get people back to work, to keep people in employment and provide training and re-education for those who have lost their jobs.
•Secondly there should be a guarantee, with statutory backing, that people facing difficulties in meeting mortgage repayments will not be put out of their homes for the period of the recession.
•Thirdly there should be a specific and unequivocally commitment from the government that the December budget will be based on the principles of fairness and equity.
•Fourthly there should a negotiated agreement to secure savings in the public sector wage bill, that would be based on securing reforms and savings, rather than an across the board cut in public sector pay.
•Fifthly there should be a commitment from the trade union movement, that if these actions are taken, then there will be no strikes and a guarantee of industrial peace.

The decision taken by the HSE to close Ballydowd Secure Special Care Unit in West Dublin and transfer the children to the Crannóg Nua facility in Portrane, which will then become a secure unit, needs to be reviewed. Whilst I welcome the commitment given to me from the HSE to meet with representatives of the Donabate/Portrane community, serious questions remain unanswered.

This decision had been made without any prior consultation with local residents, despite the fact that plans were in place since last year to move the Ballydowd facility.
It would seem that the HSE’s decision was taken as a response to the Health Information and Quality Authority Report which was highly critical of the facilities for the children, and the management and operation of the unit.

I am informed that the HSE plans to stand down the current management in Portrane and transfer across management from Ballydowd. This is of concern to me as I am aware of a litany of management problems in Ballydowd, whereas management at Portrane seem to have been broadly successful. It makes no sense to me why the HSE would stand down an effective management team and replace them with a highly criticised one.

The HIQA report states management practices “did not meet the standard” and there exists a “reciprocal lack of trust between senior managers and many staff”. The report goes onto say that “difficulties with the management of staffing” has led to serious concerns for the ongoing welfare of the children” and that the €13 million facility has been allowed deteriorate so that it is now “no longer an acceptable premises in which to detain children”, which is another indictment of the management at Ballydowd. There were a 31 unauthorised absences in the year covered by the report.

If the unacceptable management practices are transferred to Portrane, then this facility may also become unviable, and may put both members of the local community and residents of the facility at serious risk. I am calling for a review of the decision as the problems at Ballydowd may continue with a transfer of the management to Portrane.

Speech by Senator Brendan Ryan
Dublin North - Labour Party Representative
Wednesday, 7th October 2009
Speaking in the Seanad on Private Member’s Business 2009

Colm McCarthy and An Bord SNIP NUA have made quite a number of recommendations on where cuts in public spending may be made.

The Tanaiste and some other Ministers have indicated that some of them make no sense.

For me however there are a number of proposed cuts contained within the report that I could not even contemplate.

One of them is the proposal to cease funding the Rural Transport Programme.

Of the €4 billion that the government states that it wants to take out of the economy by way of expenditure savings, this proposal represents €11million of that total, a relatively small amount.

I can only hope that this is one of the suggestions that the Tanáiste feels “makes no sense”.

What is clear is that there is a major gap between McCarthy’s thinking on this matter and the situation on the ground for people living in rural areas.

I have a large rural area in my constituency of Dublin North and I know the benefits of the Initiative.
Naul, Garristown, Oldtown Ballyboughal and Balscadden are the rural villages of North County Dublin.

These, together with the townlands in between, make up the rural hinterland of Fingal which is served by the North Fingal Rural Transport Initiative.

Passenger numbers in the Fingal Initiative have risen from about 7,000 in its first year to about 30,000 last year.

Nationally there were 1.2 million passenger trips last year, there were 1354 volunteers, and there were 326 private operators and 737 drivers.

It is and has been a success story.

It has helped all members of society including the elderly, school children, students, people with disability etc.

Ask the elderly population of Garristown or Oldtown or Naul or Ballyboughal who might be looking forward to their outing to bingo in Swords on a Tuesday night about the “private sector” alternatives.

Ask the young parents from the Naul or Ballyboughal who depend on the Friday shopping trip to Swords about the “underutilisation of synergies” with other services.

They will tell you where to get off.

The reality of the situation is that the rural bus service would not be the success it is today if the motor car alternatives are there and available as suggested by McCarthy.

In this current recession the second run-around car is a luxury many people can not afford any more.

It is at times like this that there is a greater need for the service.

The Minster for Transport said in 2005 that “projects operating under the Rural Transport Initiative have proven to be a very successful, dynamic and innovative set of projects that collectively make a huge difference to the daily lives of thousands of people in rural Ireland.”

I absolutely agree with that statement.

I agree with it, and find it hard to fathom why the Government could now consider scrapping such an important scheme which is making huge strides for Social Inclusion.

The Government cannot now row back on the progress that rural communities have spent many years fighting for and doing the footwork in terms of communicating the service and surveying the people in the rural areas to fully understand the need.

The Government cannot now deny people the chance to get to the big town once a week for shopping or bingo and the opportunity to visit friends neighbours or relatives once or twice a week.

It seems that An Bord Snip Nua is disconnected from rural realities and the benefits that these transport services provide to people whose means are limited and who have no alternative transport.

The Rural Transport Scheme is so important to the rural economy. It is lifeblood for the rural community.

Its removal now would be devastating for people living alone in isolated homes in isolated townlands.

Adequate rural transport is required to ensure that those at risk of social exclusion in rural areas have access to essential facilities and public services.

It is widely accepted that the availability of transport is key to sustaining rural life
Finally, the Rural Transport Programme should be expanded not downgraded or discontinued.

At long last the monthly live register for Fingal has decreased. My analysis of the CSO figures for the month of September shows that the number of persons signing on in Balbriggan has decreased by 65 and in Swords, which includes Donabate and Portrane, by 203. This is the first monthly reduction in the past two years.

This is a positive move, which I welcome, however there can be no grounds for complacency by the Government, as the Live Register figures traditionally goes down in September with the re-opening of schools and colleges. Renewed emigration and a slight uptake in Back to Education Allowance may also be a significant factor in the drop in the numbers signing on.

Protecting jobs and putting people back to work must be a priority in the December budget. In particular, cuts in the capital programme must be avoided as this will simply dump more people onto the Live Register, especially at a time when 4,740 people are signing on in Balbriggan and 4317 in Swords. Fingal is still one of the unemployment blackspots in the country, and I repeat my call for a Job Creation stimulus package to be introduced by the Government.

At long last the monthly live register for Fingal has decreased. My analysis of the CSO figures for the month of September shows that the number of persons signing on in Balbriggan has decreased by 65 and in Swords, which includes Donabate and Portrane, by 203. This is the first monthly reduction in the past two years.

This is a positive move, which I welcome, however there can be no grounds for complacency by the Government, as the Live Register figures traditionally goes down in September with the re-opening of schools and colleges. Renewed emigration and a slight uptake in Back to Education Allowance may also be a significant factor in the drop in the numbers signing on.

Protecting jobs and putting people back to work must be a priority in the December budget. In particular, cuts in the capital programme must be avoided as this will simply dump more people onto the Live Register, especially at a time when 4,740 people are signing on in Balbriggan and 4317 in Swords. Fingal is still one of the unemployment blackspots in the country, and I repeat my call for a Job Creation stimulus package to be introduced by the Government.

Iarnród Éireann has confirmed that mature trees in the vicinity of Donabate Railway Station will be protected during works on the car park, and that the old-style swing gate beside the Post Office will be restored and reinstated when works have finished.

Prior to the collapse of the Broadmeadows viaduct, many Donabate commuters had contacted me regarding the ongoing expansion of the car park at the train station. Commuters were very pleased to witness the speedy manner in which the car park extension works are being carried out.

However, concerns were raised with me regarding a number of mature trees located beside the station, and regarding the removal of the old swing gate beside the Post Office.

I have now received a confirmation from Iarnród Éireann that requirement to protect the mature trees on site is clearly set out in the tender documentation that has been sent to prospective contractors.

Furthermore, Irish Rail has confirmed that the old swing gate was temporarily removed because the exit needed widening. I have received a commitment that on completion of the project, the old gate will be restored and rehung in a suitable position.

SPEECH BY SENATOR BRENDAN RYAN

Seanad Spokesperson on Transport, Labour Party Representative for Dublin North

Speaking during Debate on Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009
Thursday, 24 September, 2009

Efforts must be made to redesign the public transport services being offered to North County Dublin Commuters in the wake of the Broadmeadow viaduct collapse, to ensure the best mix of rail and bus for the travelling public. Public transport cannot just revert back to the services that were being offered beforehand and maximum use must now be made of the Port Tunnel for high-speed public bus transport.

It is essential that the needs of passengers are put at the centre of bus route licensing. Buses can provide an excellent service if that service is properly designed in consultation with public transport users.

The people from my own constituency in parts of Dublin North such as Lusk, Rush, Skerries and Balbriggan have in recent times, following the collapse of the Broadmeadow viaduct and its impact on the train service, seen what a good bus service can be like for the first time and many have taken a liking to it.

I have been out myself in the early mornings talking to people as they used the alternative service on offer.

People in Lusk and Rush, while the rail service is down, no longer have to walk or drive the couple of miles to the station, no longer have to find parking spaces, no longer have to pay for it, and no longer have to stand all the way into the city centre.

With the alternative bus service now in place, many commuters have only a short distance to walk to the nearest bus stop to pick up a bus and have a seat on an express bus that goes through the port tunnel and gets them to work in a comfortable and speedy fashion.

I would recommend to the Minister that he request both Iarnrod Eireann and Dublin Bus, in consultation with his department, to take the opportunity during the next couple of months, while the viaduct is being repaired, to seriously survey commuters as to how their needs might be better met with a redesigned service.

Bus and rail services must continuously be developed if commuters are to be enticed out of their cars and onto public transport.

Fingal County Council has committed to carry out maintenance along the Portrane cliff walk, some of which has become overgrown.

The council has confirmed that the bulk of the walk is on lands owned by the HSE. The council commenced maintenance and some repairs of the walkway itself several years ago, but not maintenance of adjoining lands owned by others. The council also clarified that a section of land at Tower Bay is maintained as turfgrass, and at the southern end of the walk, the area remains in a natural state.

Maintenance of the walkway itself is carried out in late Summer/Autumn and the Parks Department has confirmed that any vegetation growing over the walk will be removed as part of this annual cleanup. The cliff walk is part of the Fingal Coastal Walkway, and is very important to for local tourism and recreation.

Conditions at Balbriggan Post Office are totally unacceptable for the many Social Welfare recipients who use the facility.

I visited Balbriggan Post Office today to witness first hand the poor conditions which customers are forced to deal with. Customers were queuing out the door, with older people; young parents with prams; and people with disabilities forced to stand outside. Also facing into the late Autumn and Winter, there will be worse weather conditions. The Post Office is totally inadequate to deal with volume of customers now attending.

The matter was raised with by a number of constituents, and as a result I made my visit today. In particular I witnessed the difficulties caused for older people, many who have mobility difficulties, who have to queue outside for such a long time.

There is obviously an urgent need for improved facilities. In the immediate interim, I am calling for a dedicated separate queue and hatch for Older People collecting the state pension on a Friday, so they aren’t put through the hassle of queuing. I have written to the Chief Executive of An Post and the local Post Office manager to see if anything can be done, and am calling for action as a matter of urgency.

Fingal County Council has confirmed that the seat in the area of Balbriggan Courthouse has been reinstated, following my representations on behalf of concerned local people.

Many older residents in Balbriggan had contacted me regarding the Public Seating that used to be located at Balbriggan Courthouse, The Square, Balbriggan. They were very concerned that the seating had been removed, and there was a strong desire that it be reinstated.

Fingal County Council has informed me that the contractor engaged in the Village Urban Renewal Scheme has now reinstated it and furthermore, feedback from people in Balbriggan is that there is a need for a second seat. I have written to the County Manager to see if this is possible.

Remedial road repairs have been carried out by Fingal County Council on the road at Barnageera Bridge, Skerries, on the narrow section of road before the bridge

I am glad to have secured these works following my representations to the council. There had been many complaints about this location, and I have had a bad experience personally.

There would have been a serious risk of a road traffic accident and damage to vehicles if the matter had not been resolved quickly.

Issued : Friday 5 October, 2007

Senator Brendan Ryan, Labour's Spokesperson on Consumer Affairs, has welcomed an investigation into claims that written-off cars are being put back on the road again.

He said: "An investigation into this claim made by Cartell.ie is being carried out by the Gardai, the Revenue Commissioners and the Road Safety Authority. Cartell.ie has reported that cars were not only on the road again after being totally written-off but other vehicles classed as complete write-offs have been re-taxed by new owners and even passed the NCT.

"This raises obvious and serious concerns about road safety. Cars which have been written off should not be allowed back on our roads; cars that are total write-offs represent a time-bomb in road safety terms. In addition to the safety aspects of this worrying

Issued : Friday 5 October, 2007

Labour's Spokesperson on Consumer Affairs, Senator Brendan Ryan, has welcomed the Competition Authority's report on competition in Irish dental services.

He said: "The recommendations in the report will make choosing a dentist much easier. Consumers will be made aware of pricing and essentially will have more choice in where and from whom they get dental services. It also found that the number of dentists and orthodontists being trained in Ireland is not in line with the demand for their services. This will be no surprise to many parents who are waiting for years for public access to orthodontal treatment for their children and very often are prepared to get into debt to get overly expensive private treatment. The report recommends a review of the number of training places for dentists and other oral healthcare professionals and this is to be welcomed.

"Dental services is an area where consumer have little choice, they are not able to compare prices and are paying too much for dental. It is time that the consumer has more power over something as basic as oral health.

"I constantly meet people who regularly travel north of the border to places like Banbridge, Newry and Belfast for dental treatment, but recently I met people who travelled to Prague and Bangkok for treatment and saved money against Irish prices.These recommendations, by allowing such basic competitive strategies such as advertising and price discounts should have the effect of driving down prices."

The recommendations with actions for the Dental Council, Health Service Executive, Department of Social and Family Affairs and Minister for Health and Children have a time frame of a couple of years. I am urging all those involved to ensure the recommendations are carried out and within the allotted schedule. Consumers are paying too much for their dental services; this will go a long way to give people a choice."

SPEECH BY BRENDAN RYAN
Labour Party candidate for Dublin North
Speaking at the Labour Party conference
Saturday, February 10, 2007

LABOUR WILL GET DUBLIN MOVING

Delegates

I hardly have to tell you that Dublin is virtually at a standstill. The traffic situation has become so bad that many commuters have to get up at half five in the morning just to get to work in time. Working mums and dads are spending hours – stress-filled hours – stuck in traffic, going nowhere, while their kids are in crèches or other expensive childcare facilities. Parents now spend more time in the car than they do with their kids.

The reasons for this are clear. While the population of the city has grown by a quarter of a million over the past decade, only 20 new buses have been added to the Dublin Bus fleet since 2001. Huge housing, industrial and office developments have sprung up all over the Greater Dublin Area (which now seems to cover most of the country!), but these have been built without any thought to the transport needs of the people living and working in them. The result is that the only way people can get from A to B is by car. Cars make up 80 per cent of the traffic coming into the city centre, while buses represent only 2 per cent.

And the result of that is congestion, greenhouse gases, and stress, not to mention spending hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ money on fines for our failure to meet our Kyoto targets.

Luckily, just as the problem is clear, so are the solutions. It just needs a Government with the imagination, the ideas and the will to address the real needs of real people. There are things we can do – things we will do in Government after the next election – that will get Dublin moving again. Things that don’t need lengthy consultations, tenders, construction, or for people to be stuck in their cars until 2015, but things we can do right away to make a difference.

We are committed to getting more buses on the road.

We are committed to extending their coverage.

We are committed to helping them get to their destinations faster, and

we are committed to making them more attractive for commuters by making them cheaper and more reliable.

We want to add 475 new buses to the Dublin Bus fleet – an increase of 50 per cent.

We want to extend the Dublin Bus network, so that it provides a reliable and regular service to the major residential areas within 25 miles of the city centre.

We want to extend and improve the Quality Bus Corridors, so that they cover more routes – and all of those routes, rather than just a small section. (As an aside, I should tell you that Bus speeds on part of the Swords QBC at the moment can be as low as 4 kilometres per hour!)

Then we want to make using the bus an attractive option for commuters – we want to make it reliable, relatively cheap and easy to access.

We will invest in real-time information at bus stops, so that people can see exactly when the next bus is due.

We want to bring in integrated ticketing as a matter of urgency.

We want to simplify the fare structure, so that that one trip on Dublin Bus costs one euro, no matter where you are going.

We want to create park and ride facilities on the outskirts of Dublin with express bus services into the centre.

We want to introduce a travel smartcard that can be used to pay for any public transport in the city.

I could go on …

So many ideas, so many ways we can make a real difference to the city’s traffic chaos, quickly, cheaply and effectively.

Delegates, I’m really looking forward to the next few years when the voters give us the chance to implement our ideas, to make public services work for the public, and to give hard-working people back some quality of life.

Make sure to check you are on the Register of Electors! If you aren't, you cannot vote in the General Election! Click on the following link: http://www.fingalcoco.ie/ereg/

When Mary Harney became Minister for Health she launched a ten point plant to eliminate the A+E crisis once and for all.

The crisis in our hospital A&E has gone from bad to worse in the last three years. Throughout the month of August there was an average of 10 patients waiting on trolleys in Beaumont A+E . The figures for the year to date show that the average number of people on trolleys remained in double digits for every month.

On Saturday, September 30th, Labour will continue to highlight this issue and we need your support.

We ask those who share our concern about the A&E services on Dublin's northside to lend their support at the protest which takes place from 1-2pm on Saturday, September 30th at the front entrance to Beaumont hospital.

I hope we can count on your support