Saturday, June 25, 2011

Daly elected Cathaoirleach of Athy Town Council


Advancing the Southern Distributor Road, to finalise the Development Plan and to develop within the town a confidence and self determination in facing the future were the main items on the agenda of the new Cathaoirleach of Athy Town Council at last nights meeting. Cllr Richard Daly(FG) was proposed by Cllr Mary O’ Sullivan and Cllr Mark Dalton and vowed to prioritise a number of issues over the year.

Cllr Daly singled out the business community as a vital element in the future development of the town. “It is true that Athy has suffered like the rest of Ireland in the economic downturn. The business and retail community have suffered severely and we see long standing businesses experiencing exceptional hardship and contraction In times like this it is vitally that there is a vibrant, active and comprehensive business organisation. The Town Council will give every support and engage with a coordinated business community and encourages all in business to join forces and develop for the future. Never has there been more need for a single voice to harness the energy and potential of our retail and business sector, to promote the town as a good place to do business to help develop a good retail strategy and to support each other in stringent economic times”

He continued “In term of the role of Athy Town Council I want to reaffirm its role as the single democratic publicly elected body charged with responsibility for the management and running of the town of Athy. Under the direction of the Cathaoirleach and members of theTown Council and under the management of the Town Manager Joe Boland and Town Clerk Brian O’Gorman Athy Town Council must make decisions on water, transport, housing and much more. It must also compile a Town Plan which becomes the roadmap for all future development in our town. While the decisions which we make do not always receive universal appeal it is the duty of each of us to act in an informed and responsible manner without fear or favour and devoid of all personal gain. The role which we must play in advancing this towns economic recovery will bear fruit in the years ahead. As we enter the chamber the time has come for us to put our party allegiances aside and adopt a unified patriotic approach in the best interest of the citizen.

I welcome the recent announcement of €300, 00 towards our Traffic Management Plan and the water scheme which begins in July and will provide improved supply to the Carlow road area.

I acknowledge the important role played by the media in the development of our town and I ask for their continued support over the coming year. Both print and radio have an important reporting and investigative role and are the monitors and watchdogs for the community. They also have an important community building role and local radio and the local papers bear a heavy responsibility in portraying what is best in our society. It is important that we highlight the good and the positive, that we create role models and leaders and that we inform the public of events. In our open and transparent council I will gladly work with the media in portraying what is best in Athy and earnestly ask for their support in the months ahead.

As we advance into 2011 Athy Town Council must make full use of the advances in ICT making what we do more efficient and visible to the community. I congratulate the steps taken in recent years with many of the application forms, minutes etc available through our web page. In the coming weeks we can expect the council chamber to be internet friendly so that we can work better and smarter.

Hand in hand with ICT efficiencies I would like to see more efficiency in the conduct of meetings of which we will have many over the coming months as we adopt our Development Plan. I ask members to comply with Standing orders, be brief, prepared and to the point. We will be judged by the quality of our work rather than the amount of time we spend in the chamber.

Athys future is in its own hands. For too long we have bemoaned the fact that we are a neglected part of Kildare while at the same time our representatives at county level have repeatedly punched above their weight. Around this table I pay credit to Cllr Mark Dalton (outgoing councillor), Cllr Mark Wall who with myself have and do fight for delivery of services and projects for the town. The Swimming pool. The water abstraction plant, the heritage centre, the proposed primary care centre, the education campus. The community arts centre, the enterprise centre and the Southern Distributor Road are some of the examples of Town and county councillors working together and delivering for Athy. We have the greatest location and the greatest potential within the county and it is up the community at large to play its part to create employment.. We are unlikely to see a major employer coming to the town in the near future but each of us can attract and develop a tourist industry which can provide real employment in the current climate. Positive attitude and community participation can literally transform the town.

This work has already begun by the many local volunteers who organise sporting events, tidy towns, community groups, festivals. In the year of the volunteer it is appropriate that we play tribute to those who actively make this a better place to live and attract visitors and business to our town. The thousands who attend the Triathy, the ploughing Championship, the Bluegrass, Shackleton, County Show and sporting events are our future. Throughout the summer our river is getting busier with swimmers and floaters and boaters and fishermen. We need to cater for these and ensure that they have a positive experience and return again. We need to keep our town tidy and every residents group and individual can play their part. Every point gained in our tidy towns competition is a positive step towards developing a future industry. We have been chosen for SHINE and BRAND but before we can get our visitors to think this is a good town we must believe that it is a good town.

Mar a duirt Uachtarain na Stait Aontaithe nuair a thainig se go hEireann “Is feidir linn” and this must also be our battle cry.

I would like to again thank my proposer Cllr Mary O’ Sullivan and my seconder Cllr Mark Dalton and I would like to take the opportunity to thank my family Celine, Ricky and Olivia whose family life often bears the burden of public life. I extend that thanks to the families of all of the councillors here whose partners and families are owed the very same debt of thanks and who allow us to represent our community. In thanking people I also include the deceased members of Athy Town Council particularly those who recently departed. Athy Town Council will remember those members specifically later this year.

Our task for the coming year is to finalise our Development Plan, to advance the Southern Distributor Road and to develop within the town a confidence and self determination in facing the future. I and leas Cathaoirleach Mark Wall will be available to business and community groups on your behalf throughout the year. The past has been given to us but the future is our hands for the making. Together let’s make that a good future for Athy.”

Cllr Mark Wall was elected leas Cathaoirleach

ENDS

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Good News on Athy Traffic

TO:

THE CATHAOIRLEACH AND EACH MEMBER OF ATHY AREA COMMITTEE/

ATHY TOWN COUNCIL

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Re: Athy Traffic Management Plan

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A Chara,

I refer to previous up-dates in the above regard and I am pleased to advise that the National Transport Authority have recently confirmed to Kildare County Council funding in the sum of €300,000 in respect of traffic management measures in Athy. Accordingly, the following four schemes will now proceed:-

Ø Pelican Crossing at Meeting Lane

Ø Up-grading of Forthbarrington Road junction (to include public lighting)

Ø Pelican Crossing at G.A.A. grounds

Ø Improvement to sequencing of lights at Emily Square (installation of a loop system)

I wish to take the opportunity to acknowledge the ongoing representations on the part of the elected members in respect of traffic related issues. The fact that a Traffic Management Plan has been adopted, following a public consultation process, has been really helpful in terms of the Council’s application for funding. It is proposed that all of these schemes will be implemented in the current year. The local authority continues to makes ongoing representations for funding in relation to a number of other aspects including footpath strengthening, safer routes to schools initiatives, other junction improvement etc. The members will be kept apprised regarding progress.

Yours faithfully,

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J. BOLAND

DIRECTOR OF SERVICES/

ATHY TOWN MANAGER

Monday, March 21, 2011

New Chair for Athy Area Committee

Cllr Richard Daly became the new Chairperson of Athy Area Committee following the election of Martin Heydon to Dail Eireann. The Area committee is composed of the four County Councillors for the Athy Area and the Cathaoirleach of Athy Town Council and meets each month. Issues relating to the Athy electoral area are discussed with staff from Kildare County Council including Director Joe Boland and area Engineer Dave Flaherty.

Speaking after his election to the Chair Cllr Daly vowed that the committee would work as one to address issues affecting the area and he urged all councillors to support each other in representing the communities in the area.

These are difficult times and we need a positive approach.

“The Athy area stretches from Athy to Ballymore Eustace and includes several villages in between which will require the full energies of all of the councillors to make sure that this southern end of the constituency gets prioritised by Kildare County Council. Even though we have received positive news on the Southern Distributor road we will continue to keep it on the agenda for every meeting because it is so vital to the town of Athy.

We have a new water supply being developed through the Barrow Abstraction Scheme which will secure supply not only for Athy but for large sections of the county and we positively look forward to improving our road and footpath network over the coming couple of years.

We need to create the infrastructure and the positive environment which will attract investment in the south of the county and that can be achieved best by working together. I have every confidence in my fellow councillors on the Athy Area Committee and together we will work with Kildare County Council and our Dail representatives to improve the quality of life for this area Issues relating to the area can be brought to the attention of any of the individual councillors or collectively by email at athyarea@gmail.com

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Cllr Daly welcomes progress on the Southern Distributor Road for Athy


Following this weeks meeting of Athy Area Committee Cllr. Richard Daly said that he was delighted that the Southern Distributor Road project for Athy has received a positive response and initial approval by the Department of Transport.

“The SDR has been identified as the number one infrastructural project not only by Athy Town Council but also by Kildare County Council and as a member of both bodies I am delighted that the project has now arrived at the starting block.

Recently a cost benefit analysis study was completed by Kildare County Council which outlined the benefits of the construction to the town and which costed the project at €34million which is significantly cheaper than former estimates.

The overall project will take in excess of five years to complete. The first stages will be legal and acquisition work and the final construction phases will see a road from the roundabout on the Dublin road, passing behind the rugby club, crossing the Carlow road, passing adjacent to Dunn Brinn and joining the Kilkenny road. A positive sign for the town which should promote business development and give a better quality of life to residents.”

Monday, February 21, 2011

Grants for Disability and Older People

Advised at today’s Area meeting that funding has been secured for the coming year for Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People with a Disability and Housing Aid for Older People Scheme.

Applications forms are available to download on Kildare County Council Website or from any local representative. Please advise anybody who may be eligible.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Council Grants

Kildare County Council announces Grant Schemes available for 2011.

Housing Community & Cultural Services Grants 2011

We are now inviting applications for the various grants administered by Kildare County Council.

Festival Grants. Community Grants. Amenity Grants.

Application forms and details for these Grants are available on our website;

www.kiidarecoco.ie or by e-mailing_italbot@kildarecoco.ie or Tel: 045-980371.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 18th March 2011.

Arts Grants

Applications are invited for the following schemes

Arts Act Grants Scheme & Bursarv Awards

Application forms and further information are available from

Kildare County Arts Service, Riverbank, Main Street, Newbridge, Co Kildare

Tel: 045-448318 /448328; E mail: arts@kildarecoco.ie

or on the web www.kiidare.ie/artsservice

Closing date is Friday 18th March 2011

Residents Association Grants - Local Authority Estates

- We are inv.ting application for .grant aid to assist residents associations in Local Authority Housing estates to maIntaIn the open spaces. Applicatlon forms are available on our website: www.kiidarecoco.ie or by telephoning 045980692.

Applicants will be dealt with on a first come first serve basis.

Closing date is 18th March 2011.

Environment Grants

Residents Association Grants - Private Estates

Application forms and further information for these grants are available on our

website www.kildarecoco.ie

Email tkelly@kildarecoco.ie Tel: 045-980556.

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Water Harvesting must feature in all future developments – Daly


In the light of all of the recent water shortages throughout the country it is vital that water harvesting must be a feature of all developments in Kildare and throughout th country according to Fine Gael’s Richard Daly.

“Ironicallly the town of Athy has its repeated water shortages when we have an increase in water level in our river. As the water level rises some of our well pumping stations flood causing a water shortage.

For weeks both locally and nationally we have tankers delivering millions of litres of treated water, the majority of which is used for non drinking purposes . such as toilets and washing. Most of this water could come from harvested rainwater source or untreated river sources.

Nationally water is becoming a precious resource and solutions to improved provision need to be promoted.

All new developments both industrial and domestic need to include a measure of water harvesting. In domestic construction this represents a very small fraction of the building cost but will become cost effective as water metering is becoming the norm.

The solution to our water sortages will not be achieved by increasing the volume of water delivered from our resoirvoirs but in the harvesting the supply whicharrives all too frequentlyon our rooftops and hard surface areas.” Said Cllr Daly

Monday, January 03, 2011

General Election will solve nothing without reform - Daly

General Election will solve nothing without reform - Daly


At a time when the political process in this country has proved to be an absolute failure, a root and branch change to the structure is required or the next General Election will only be an exercise in musical chairs according to Cllr Richard Daly.

“On both sides of the political divide there have been calls for dramatic change in how this country is run and the urgent need for reform. The abolition of the senate has been proposed by Enda Kenny and Dep Michael Darcy has further suggested that the referendum to affect this should take place simultaneously with the General Election. The senate latterly has become a consolation prize for losing Dail candidates and last year over 2 million euro was claimed by senators in expenses alone with little value to the taxpayer. Dep Kenny further proposed a dramatic reduction in the number of Dail deputies but definite figures and introduction dates need to be introduced. Minister Noel Dempsey announcing his departure from the political stage recommended an equally dramatic reform to the political process but failed to outline how this should take place.

For decades the Civil War politics of Fianna Fail vs Fine Gael have dominated the political landscape in Ireland which finally was consigned to the past with a Fianna Fail Minister delivering the oration at the Michael Collins commemoration in 2010. Today the political divisions resemble support for football teams rather than clearly delineated political philosophy. Candidates for election are chosen more on their potential popularity than on their political beliefs or talents which sees political parties courting media and sports personalities rather than politically and economically competent or experienced practitioners. This is less likely to give us innovative political thinking and more likely to perpetuate the status quo.

We need to develop efficiencies within our political system both locally and nationally. The role of politicians should be to ensure that systems work, that citizens have access to services and rather than lobbying for individual persons or projects ensuring that all are served. There needs to be finite and transparent processes as to when roads are surfaced and schools are built so that each individual project is not at the behest of a politician but is catered for in an efficient system.
Our country may be broke but not broken irreparably. We have natural resources, home grown talent, a strategic location and a resilience which will overcome our current downturn. We just need political reform and we need it urgently.