Athy once more neglected in decentralisation fiasco – Daly

Reports that the RAPID town of Athy is once more to be put on the long finger for completion of the decentralisation programme is another example of the lack of concern which the government has for the South Kildare town according to Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael

“As Táiniste Deputy Cowan was vociferous in his promises to expand to 250 the workforce of the Revenue office in Athy at the official opening of temporary premises earlier this year. This was proof that the government would stick to its word on decentralisation. Like the previous Taoiseach in 2000 who promised the speedy delivery of Athy Community College, Mr Cowan now uses the disadvantaged town as a scapegoat to pay for the financial mismanagement of the previous government.

Because Athy had fallen behind similar towns during the boom, it was assured of special treatment, of prioritisation, to bring it up to the similar economic and social level of the others. During the reign of the economic tiger delivery to the town was postponed and now as the economy seems to be in chaos, Athy is once more to pay the price as plans to establish a permanent centre for Revenue go on hold and not a block is laid for the Community College. The good times were wasted on inflating house prices and neglecting infrastructure and competitiveness.

Two hundred and fifty real jobs locating to the town would have given a significant boost to the economy at a time when the unemployment figures seem to be in freefall. Athy particularly has suffered excessive unemployment over the years. The local community has felt the pain of the closure of the sugar factory and Batchelors in recent times while projects like decentralisation have been dangled in front of them to in some way offset the loss to the community.

Neglect and broken promises cannot be tolerated by the South Kildare community and residents should be letting their representatives know their feelings.”according to Cllr Daly.

ENDS

School Buildings and Minor Works Scheme in Crisis in Kildare – Daly

Excluding the school building projects which have completed the tender process and are awaiting the finance to continue, there are a further 55 school building projects on the books in county Kildare, many of which have been categorised as urgent by the Department itself according to Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael.

“Nationally almost 1400 applications are with the Department of Education and Science, some in excess of ten years and currently none of them know where they stand or when they will be moved forward on the invisible list. The complete lack of disclosure of a list or of a transparent and equitable system has meant that schools must wait for the favouritism of a minister to be progressed.

The next announcement of any movement on school buildings is expected next September which will probably kick all projects into 2009 so that another school year will now be lost and most likely the projects which should have been advanced in 2008 will be the only ones considered for 2009.

At the moment there is overcapacity in the building industry and ver competitive rates could be achieved. With a slump in the overall building industry a concentration on school buildings could sustain employment in the building industry, develop our knowledge economy and remove many of the unsightly and uneconomic prefabs from our system.

Meanwhile the Grant Scheme for Minor Works to National School Properties which is normally received by primary schools in the last quarter of the year for infrastructure, equipment, etc has this year been “postponed” until next year which will have a very negative effect on the condition of schools this year.

The education area was to be protected from cutbacks but instead seem to be having all of its capital spending deferred into the future. There seems to be no plan available for what has become a school building crisis.” Said cllr Daly

Rail Commuters should be helped not penalised – Daly

Commuters using the Athy station will be faced with a €2 a day parking charge for the use of the car park from next September. This excess comes at a time when we should be trying to promote public transport and making it a s cheap as possible according to Fine Gael councillor Richard Daly.

“It is counterproductive to penalise those who make use of public transport by placing an additional €500 a year parking charge. This is going into the coffers of a company which is already subsidised to the tune of almost €200m per annum.

It is time for the government to get real about public transport and Minister Dempsey should immediately react by dropping the subsidy until this “park and pay” policy is reversed. We have an inadequate enough public transport service in Kildare South without driving away those who are taking the green option.”said Cllr Daly

“Commuters have already endured the effects of inflation and will no doubt see the price of their tickets being hit by fuel costs and this imposition of parking charges will be a further blow.

The Green parties professed promotion of public transport should have prompted an immediate reaction to this charge on commuters”

ENDS