Fine Gael Kildare South General Election candidate, Cllr Richard Daly has said that commuters in the constituency have got a very bad deal under the current government.
“As we approach the next General Election Kildare voters must look to the lack of major employment opportunities within the county. The constant commuting to the capital could be reversed by the promotion of relocation of industry to the county and by the active attracting of new industry to the county.
The Kildare South commuters are wasting time, energy and enjoying a poorer quality of life due to the long and endless trek to the workplace. Our communities are loosing out by not having the involvement of the families who are absent from their homes for so long that they do not have time to participate in community activities.
The development and relocation of employment opportunity outside the capital could alter for the better both the local economy and more particularly the large section of our population who are forced to travel each day.
The failure of the current administration to even expedite the decentralisation of the Civil servants to Newbridge and Athy shows the lethargic approach of our government representatives in the constituency. While we may benefit from a strong economy which is pushing up our house prices we are losing both the sense of community and the quality family time.
At a time when we should be encouraging many more of our commuters to use public transport a real examination of the cost of using our trains should be taking place.
It seems ridiculous that the cost of rail transport is dearer than road and even air transport within the country. Both in the interest of our environment and to relive congestion on our roads, rail development is an obvious alternative yet the current fares make it far more economical to use the car. The supply and reliability of train services and the facilities at our stations need urgent improvement.
With FF holding two out of the three Dail seats in this constituency I am disappointed at the failure to address the difficulties experienced by commuters.” Said Cllr Daly
Monday, January 29, 2007
Monday, January 15, 2007
Over 2600 operations cancelled in Tallaght/Naas hospitals shows Govt reform agenda an utter failure – Daly
Fine Gael has revealed that over 2,600 elective surgeries were cancelled in Tallaght and 53 in Naas General Hospital in the first six months of last year, with over 40,000 operations cancelled nationally since 2004. The Kildare South’s General Election Candidate, Cllr Richard Daly, has today [15/1/07] said that this level of such cancelled procedures showed that patients were suffering despite the reform agenda promised by the Fianna Fail/PD Government and billions in increased health spending.
“The cancellation of operations is a symptom of the serious problems in the health sector which are preventing the delivery of a decent service to patients, despite the best efforts of staff who are working in extremely difficult conditions. The bed shortage, a major factor in the A&E crisis, is leading not only to hundreds of patients on trolleys each day but also to the cancellation of elective surgeries because day-case beds are being inappropriately occupied by A&E patients. Fine Gael has put forward proposals, including significant investment in step down facilities and Urgent Care Centres, which would provide extra beds and take pressure off A&E. In contrast, Fine Gael’s information shows the current Government is failing to make an impact.
“HSE figures obtained by Fine Gael reveal that over 2600 elective surgeries were cancelled in Tallaght and Naas in the first six months of 2006. The patients who require these surgeries, like for example gallbladder, hernia or varicose vein operations will suffer pain and discomfort while they await their procedures and Fine Gael believes that the cancellation of operations is as big a threat to the welfare of patients as the A&E crisis.
“The impact of waiting times for procedures has been tragically highlighted by the story of ‘Rosie’ which has been the subject of the Liveline programme last week. Last year, the Irish Times revealed that 22,000 operations in total were cancelled in 2005 and Fine Gael’s research shows that over 15,000 of these were elective procedures. Who knows how many of the 7,000 operations which were non-elective were investigative procedures like the one required by ‘Rosie’ to offer the best chance of early detection and successful treatment?
“The sad reality is that while there may be minor progress on the numbers on trolleys the overall picture for the health service is one of total paralysis despite billions in increased spending. The obvious conclusion is that this Fianna Fail/PD Government has utterly failed to deliver on promised reform and for patients like ‘Rosie’ that failure is fatal.
“In addition to our commitment to 1,500 step down beds and 15 Urgent Care Centres, Fine Gael has put forward the kind of innovative ideas which we believe will make the most difference to keeping patients healthy and treating them to the highest standard if they become ill. In particular, our detailed proposal for a fixed interval screening programme would see patients diagnosed free-of-charge through their GP surgery. There is no doubt that health sector reform is desperately needed but after 10 years in power it is clear that the current Government is out of ideas and either incapable or indifferent when it comes to delivering for patients.”
“The cancellation of operations is a symptom of the serious problems in the health sector which are preventing the delivery of a decent service to patients, despite the best efforts of staff who are working in extremely difficult conditions. The bed shortage, a major factor in the A&E crisis, is leading not only to hundreds of patients on trolleys each day but also to the cancellation of elective surgeries because day-case beds are being inappropriately occupied by A&E patients. Fine Gael has put forward proposals, including significant investment in step down facilities and Urgent Care Centres, which would provide extra beds and take pressure off A&E. In contrast, Fine Gael’s information shows the current Government is failing to make an impact.
“HSE figures obtained by Fine Gael reveal that over 2600 elective surgeries were cancelled in Tallaght and Naas in the first six months of 2006. The patients who require these surgeries, like for example gallbladder, hernia or varicose vein operations will suffer pain and discomfort while they await their procedures and Fine Gael believes that the cancellation of operations is as big a threat to the welfare of patients as the A&E crisis.
“The impact of waiting times for procedures has been tragically highlighted by the story of ‘Rosie’ which has been the subject of the Liveline programme last week. Last year, the Irish Times revealed that 22,000 operations in total were cancelled in 2005 and Fine Gael’s research shows that over 15,000 of these were elective procedures. Who knows how many of the 7,000 operations which were non-elective were investigative procedures like the one required by ‘Rosie’ to offer the best chance of early detection and successful treatment?
“The sad reality is that while there may be minor progress on the numbers on trolleys the overall picture for the health service is one of total paralysis despite billions in increased spending. The obvious conclusion is that this Fianna Fail/PD Government has utterly failed to deliver on promised reform and for patients like ‘Rosie’ that failure is fatal.
“In addition to our commitment to 1,500 step down beds and 15 Urgent Care Centres, Fine Gael has put forward the kind of innovative ideas which we believe will make the most difference to keeping patients healthy and treating them to the highest standard if they become ill. In particular, our detailed proposal for a fixed interval screening programme would see patients diagnosed free-of-charge through their GP surgery. There is no doubt that health sector reform is desperately needed but after 10 years in power it is clear that the current Government is out of ideas and either incapable or indifferent when it comes to delivering for patients.”
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Govt has no Road Safety Strategy - Daly
No speed cameras, no drug-driving test, only half penalty points
Fine Gael Kildare South General Election candidate, Cllr Richard Daly has said it is an incredible the Government now has no Road Safety Strategy as the 2004 to 2006 strategy has now expired following the death of 367 people on our roads last year.
“367 people died in road accidents last year. Each of these deaths is tragic and senseless. I had hoped that the Government would finally start taking road safety seriously in 2007. However, it has failed to make even the most basic provision for road safety, because it has allowed the Road Safety Strategy to expire.
"Key aspects of the outgoing 2004-2006 Road Safety Strategy remain unimplemented including
a nationwide network of speed cameras,
provisions for a drug driving test, and
a roadworthiness test for motorcycles.
The single most crucial target of the last Road Safety Strategy, to keep road deaths below 300, has not been achieved. Minister Cullen has asked the Road Safety Authority to draft the next Road Safety Strategy, but has also washed his hands of the issue. Yet as Transport Minister he should have full responsibility.
"There was an 18 month gap between the 1998-2002 strategy and the 2004-2006 strategy, during which time some 517 people died. There is now a very real danger of another lengthy gap, particularly given that so many aspects of the outgoing safety strategy have not been implemented.
They include -
Nationwide network of speed cameras: The Government still only has three fixed speed cameras under a pilot programme launched five years ago. The long-awaited nationwide system has not even gone out to tender. There was a promise to speed check 11 million vehicles per annum. The absence of a speed camera network and the under-resourced Garda Traffic Corps means that only three million vehicles will be registered speeding this year.
Drug driving test: A pilot scheme in Australia found that five times as many motorists tested positive for drugs than for excess alcohol. A similar test is also being piloted in the UK, yet Ireland does not even have the necessary legislation to launch a similar pilot because the Government voted against Fine Gael proposals.
Roll out full roster of 69 penalty points: Only 36 of the promised penalty points have been implemented, and there is no indication when the remaining 33 will be brought in.
Mutual recognition of penalty points with UK and Northern Ireland: Twenty per-cent of vehicles which incur penalty points cannot have points allocated because the vehicle cannot be identified.
Compulsory training for motorcyclists: Motorcycles represent only 1.6 per-cent of all vehicles on the road, yet 10 per-cent of all fatalities are motorcyclists. It is crucial that training becomes compulsory to stop this slaughter.
Discourage long-term reliance on provisional licences: 404,000 people are on provisional licences, with a shocking 27,054 drivers on their fifth licence which means they have been driving for eight years without passing a test.
"All of these policies could have been implemented in the lifetime of the 2004-2006 Road Safety Strategy, if the Government had shown some initiative. With no follow-on road safety strategy in sight, it is crucial that these outstanding policies are implemented as early as possible in 2007.”
Fine Gael Kildare South General Election candidate, Cllr Richard Daly has said it is an incredible the Government now has no Road Safety Strategy as the 2004 to 2006 strategy has now expired following the death of 367 people on our roads last year.
“367 people died in road accidents last year. Each of these deaths is tragic and senseless. I had hoped that the Government would finally start taking road safety seriously in 2007. However, it has failed to make even the most basic provision for road safety, because it has allowed the Road Safety Strategy to expire.
"Key aspects of the outgoing 2004-2006 Road Safety Strategy remain unimplemented including
a nationwide network of speed cameras,
provisions for a drug driving test, and
a roadworthiness test for motorcycles.
The single most crucial target of the last Road Safety Strategy, to keep road deaths below 300, has not been achieved. Minister Cullen has asked the Road Safety Authority to draft the next Road Safety Strategy, but has also washed his hands of the issue. Yet as Transport Minister he should have full responsibility.
"There was an 18 month gap between the 1998-2002 strategy and the 2004-2006 strategy, during which time some 517 people died. There is now a very real danger of another lengthy gap, particularly given that so many aspects of the outgoing safety strategy have not been implemented.
They include -
Nationwide network of speed cameras: The Government still only has three fixed speed cameras under a pilot programme launched five years ago. The long-awaited nationwide system has not even gone out to tender. There was a promise to speed check 11 million vehicles per annum. The absence of a speed camera network and the under-resourced Garda Traffic Corps means that only three million vehicles will be registered speeding this year.
Drug driving test: A pilot scheme in Australia found that five times as many motorists tested positive for drugs than for excess alcohol. A similar test is also being piloted in the UK, yet Ireland does not even have the necessary legislation to launch a similar pilot because the Government voted against Fine Gael proposals.
Roll out full roster of 69 penalty points: Only 36 of the promised penalty points have been implemented, and there is no indication when the remaining 33 will be brought in.
Mutual recognition of penalty points with UK and Northern Ireland: Twenty per-cent of vehicles which incur penalty points cannot have points allocated because the vehicle cannot be identified.
Compulsory training for motorcyclists: Motorcycles represent only 1.6 per-cent of all vehicles on the road, yet 10 per-cent of all fatalities are motorcyclists. It is crucial that training becomes compulsory to stop this slaughter.
Discourage long-term reliance on provisional licences: 404,000 people are on provisional licences, with a shocking 27,054 drivers on their fifth licence which means they have been driving for eight years without passing a test.
"All of these policies could have been implemented in the lifetime of the 2004-2006 Road Safety Strategy, if the Government had shown some initiative. With no follow-on road safety strategy in sight, it is crucial that these outstanding policies are implemented as early as possible in 2007.”
Fine Gael to prioritise Kildare rail in Government - Daly
Fine Gael in Government will ensure fast, high capacity, commuter rail services for Kildare, the Party’s Kildare South General Election candidate, Richard Daly, has said.
“Fine Gael will deliver this, not just promise it. We recognise the time for timid solutions is long past. We need the big investment in rail. Our population and our economy demand it. We will deliver on time and on budget.
“We also have to start thinking about early answers, at school transport solutions that would keep thousands of cars off our roads each morning. We need to look at innovative uses of rural school buses so they can offer additional transport solutions for more remote areas.
“This Government has never been short on promises, or press conferences or photo-calls. They enchant us with announcements like ‘an ambitious underground interconnector rail tunnel’. Yet, thousands of commuters are spending longer, and longer, in their cars.
“The gap has grown between the public transport places available and the public transport places needed in every year of the lifetime of this Government.
“The Government has no credibility on this issue. They have had their chance, had all the opportunities, and had all the money. They have simply failed to deliver.
“As new communities, and many new young families, settle further and further from Dublin, bereft in many cases of even a single bus, the demand for early delivery of clean, reliable and frequent public transport becomes ever more compelling.
“Fine Gael will build the rail-based high capacity solutions. But we simply cannot sit, in the meantime, on our hands and wait for them.
“Fine Gael will, immediately on entering Government, liberalise the bus market, in Dublin and in the other towns and cities, to dramatically increase capacity so we can provide services to growing populations and increase frequency on existing routes.”
Ends
“Fine Gael will deliver this, not just promise it. We recognise the time for timid solutions is long past. We need the big investment in rail. Our population and our economy demand it. We will deliver on time and on budget.
“We also have to start thinking about early answers, at school transport solutions that would keep thousands of cars off our roads each morning. We need to look at innovative uses of rural school buses so they can offer additional transport solutions for more remote areas.
“This Government has never been short on promises, or press conferences or photo-calls. They enchant us with announcements like ‘an ambitious underground interconnector rail tunnel’. Yet, thousands of commuters are spending longer, and longer, in their cars.
“The gap has grown between the public transport places available and the public transport places needed in every year of the lifetime of this Government.
“The Government has no credibility on this issue. They have had their chance, had all the opportunities, and had all the money. They have simply failed to deliver.
“As new communities, and many new young families, settle further and further from Dublin, bereft in many cases of even a single bus, the demand for early delivery of clean, reliable and frequent public transport becomes ever more compelling.
“Fine Gael will build the rail-based high capacity solutions. But we simply cannot sit, in the meantime, on our hands and wait for them.
“Fine Gael will, immediately on entering Government, liberalise the bus market, in Dublin and in the other towns and cities, to dramatically increase capacity so we can provide services to growing populations and increase frequency on existing routes.”
Ends
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Are You Being Served
Fine Gael General Election candidate for South Kildare Cllr Richard Daly has said that a priority for the coming year must be one of upgrading services in the county.
“With an embarrassing amount of surplus cash in the exchequer serious money needs to be spent in upgrading the existing infrastructure of roads, rail, schools, amenities, etc within the county.
I constantly receive complaints about the length of time it takes for phone installations and repairs within the county. Our electricity network can take up to six weeks to repair a blown street light and in excess of a year to connect power to services like traffic lights. Our rail service is not meeting demand either in supply of train service or in station amenities.
We have a shortage of school places in the county and hospital operations and procedures are still being postponed and cancelled at alarming frequency.
The provision of safe footpaths throughout the county is a concern for several citizens who feel that they put their lives in danger walking on our roads. I have received several complaints from people in Castledermot, Kildare and Athy demanding safe passage for pedestrians on our roads.
While our Christmas television programmes inform us that we have one of the highest per capita ownership of helicopters and millionaire status in the world I would be more proud of the inclusion of many of our citizens in the new found wealth through the provision of infrastructure..
2007 must be the year for provision of basic services for our citizens:
hospital beds, school places and basic infrastructure.
I will be demanding an improvement in all services for the county.
“With an embarrassing amount of surplus cash in the exchequer serious money needs to be spent in upgrading the existing infrastructure of roads, rail, schools, amenities, etc within the county.
I constantly receive complaints about the length of time it takes for phone installations and repairs within the county. Our electricity network can take up to six weeks to repair a blown street light and in excess of a year to connect power to services like traffic lights. Our rail service is not meeting demand either in supply of train service or in station amenities.
We have a shortage of school places in the county and hospital operations and procedures are still being postponed and cancelled at alarming frequency.
The provision of safe footpaths throughout the county is a concern for several citizens who feel that they put their lives in danger walking on our roads. I have received several complaints from people in Castledermot, Kildare and Athy demanding safe passage for pedestrians on our roads.
While our Christmas television programmes inform us that we have one of the highest per capita ownership of helicopters and millionaire status in the world I would be more proud of the inclusion of many of our citizens in the new found wealth through the provision of infrastructure..
2007 must be the year for provision of basic services for our citizens:
hospital beds, school places and basic infrastructure.
I will be demanding an improvement in all services for the county.
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