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 ”

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.”

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.

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.

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

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.

Good News on Road Safety in 2010 – Daly

Cllr Richard Daly (FG) today congratulated all involved in Road Safety on the continuing dramatic fall in the number of fatalities on our roads. Kildare was among the first counties to take the significant step of employing a full time Road Safety Officer who has been to the fore in promoting the Road Safety message which is beginning to reap reward.

“Road deaths in Ireland have fallen from 279 in 2008, to 239 in 2009 and to 212 in 2010. This represents a very significant drop in fatalities and spares so many families the torment of experiencing the loss of a loved one.

The fall in the number of fatalities can be attributed to increased enforcement, increased education and environment and engineering improvements for which many of us have long been campaigning for. The recent introduction of speed or safety cameras and the new powers for drug testing must be welcomed in making our roads safer.

No deaths are acceptable on our roads but Ireland’s driver awareness campaigns have exceeded European targets and at a time when our status in Europe is poor in economic terms, it is nice to see us to the fore in addressing our road carnage.

My congratulations to the Road Safety Authority, Kildare County Council and particularly Declan Keogh, Road Safety Officer and all who have promoted Road Safety.” Said Cllr Daly

As Christmas Approaches beware of moneylenders – Daly

As the Christmas season approaches and people are coming under financial pressure they should avoid the temptation to accept offers from moneylenders according to Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael.

“Moneylenders are not regulated and have brought untold misery to so many families throughout the county. They make money immediately available at your doorstep which might be very attractive to the hard pressed householder who doesn’t have money available for the upcoming Christmas season. At the time of handing out the money there is little discussion of how much the payments will be and then suddenly you are in the hands of the moneylenders.

The first point of call should be your be your local credit union and even if you already have financial difficulties they are well worth talking to. If you are already in financial difficulty you should call MABS Money (Advice and Budgeting Service) at 1890 283 438.

What many people think is a short term solution to a short term problem becomes a long term slavery to the clutches of a non regulated moneylender and instead of solving a problem they have created a major one.

MABS and the Credit Union should be the first port of call for people experiencing financial difficulty and any of your local representatives will be glad to put you in contact with them.”