Anthony Lawlor TD - Working for the people of Kildare North

Anthony Lawlor’s Newsletter

It is hard to believe it is almost two years since I was elected,

and what a busy time it has been! Personally it has been a

steep learning curve and I will continue to encounter new

challenges every day. Since elected I have tried to make myself

as accessible to the public as possible. I have a constituency

office in Naas which is open daily, and I encourage you to

drop in if you wish to raise an issue with me.

I canvass door to door in Celbridge most Thursday evenings so

please look out for letters to your home indicating when I will

be in your area. I would also be more than happy to organise

tours to Dáil Éireann for individuals, groups or schools. After

all it is your parliament! Please do not hesitate to contact me

to arrange a tour.

I look forward to meeting with you.

A Message from Anthony

I am encouraging small businesses in need of funding to apply to the Microfinance Fund. This funding will be available to companies across all sectors which have been rejected a loan by a conventional bank. This will give a kick start to many struggling businesses and the overall fund is expected to create 7,700 jobs over its lifetime.

I appeal to any start up companies, sole traders and existing microenterprises, who employ up to ten people and are seeking loans of up to €25,000 to contact the County Enterprise Board for further information and application forms. The contact details for Kildare County Enterprise Board are tel: 045 861707 or email info@kildareceb.ie.

Minister for Sport and Tourism Michael Ring has outlined to me how his Department received over 2,170 applications for funding under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme. I was delighted to see there were 77 applications made by clubs

throughout County Kildare. This is the largest number of applications ever received under the Programme, showing the great enthusiasm Kildare has for sports. Departmental officials are processing all applications and this process will take some time

due to the volume of applications received. The list of successful applicants will be announced shortly. All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application at that stage.

High level of Interest in Sports Capital Programme

Microfinance Fund is a lifeline for Small Businesses

Anthony attending the recent North Kildare Chamber Conference with Peter Minnock, Kildare County Council and Alastair Conway, Conway & Co. Naas.

I was delighted to learn that the Gathering Ireland 2013 and IPB Insurance have established a fund to support local events and activities for the Gathering Ireland 2013. The establishment of this fund is in response to the increasing number of events which have already been planned for 2013. This indicates the growing momentum behind the initiative which is set to be a vital contributor to Ireland’s economic revival.

IPB Insurance is a 100% Irish grown company and has come on board as

they are convinced by the economic rationale and business opportunity afforded by the Gathering Ireland 2013 initiative. IPB Insurance has allocated €1 million of the fund to

support local flagship events and activities in every city and county. The fund will be distributed across city and county councils and will range from €25,000 and €60,000 to support up to three flagship events in each council area subject to approval based on application criteria. In parallel, The Gathering Ireland 2013 has allocated a further €1 million to the fund to target other local and community events in each county. Grant amounts from €500- €2,500 will be made available to these events following approval through a short application process.

New pilot scheme to cut queues at Passport Office A new pilot scheme aimed at cutting back waiting times for emergency passports at the Passport Office in Molesworth Street, Dublin has been launched. This new scheme will greatly assist those who must travel at short notice and find their passport has expired. People now in need of emergency passports and traveling within 10 days can make an appointment with the Passport Office to lodge their passport application at a time that suits them rather than queuing up in the offices for hours, which has been the case in the past. To make an appointment log on to www.passportappointments.ie

Despite this new scheme, I still encourage people to always check that their passport is in date before making travel arrangements. Currently, the most efficient way to lodge a passport application is through Passport Express which guarantees a turnaround within ten working days.

This new appointment scheme is a pilot programme and will run for a three month period. During that time feedback will be sought in the Passport Office and on Twitter @DFATravel. I am encouraging the public to assist with this new scheme and to give feedback on their own experience with the system. Any feedback provided will be used to tweak the system as necessary to provide the maximum benefit to the public.

ANTHONY LAWLOR TD • Tel: 045 888488 • Email: anthony.lawlor@oireachtas.ie • www.anthonylawlor.ie

Local community funding for Gathering Ireland 2013

New Junior Certificate syllabus will produce well rounded students I was delighted to learn of the proposed overhaul of the Junior Certificate examination. This long overdue reform will provide for a skills-based approach to assessment and ensure that students develop key skills for later learning in life through innovative and creative teaching practices.

For too long the Junior Certificate cycle has been examination focused with an emphasis on rote learning and rehearsing questions. As a consequence, many students are not making progress in English and maths and becoming disengaged from learning. The new proposals, which will be phased in over an eight year period, will allow for more

varied programmes and most importantly allow students an opportunity to become more actively engaged in learning.

Instead of the junior cycle culminating in State examinations, continuous assessment will be introduced with the final examinations accounting for 60% of the overall mark. I particularly welcome that schools will have the autonomy to set subjects which will meet the specific needs of the local community. As well as being engaged in core subjects students will have the opportunity to take short courses developed by the school. The short courses, for example, could take the form of agriculture science in rural

schools which could ultimately benefit the wider community.

I believe that these changes to assessment will produce more well-rounded students as they prepare for their senior cycle, by helping them build on their capacity to manage their own learning. Emphasis will also be placed on guidance and pastoral care, among other subjects, which will assist students in difficulties and who are confused about their future. I recently spoke in the Dáil on this matter and highlighted to the Minister some minor concerns I have with regard to the proposed new syllabus. This speech can be found in full on my website page.

ANTHONY LAWLOR TD • Tel: 045 888488 • Email: anthony.lawlor@oireachtas.ie • www.anthonylawlor.ie

Lawlor welcomes awarding of contract to develop for Kildare North Water ServicesI was delighted to hear that the €15.7 million contract to develop the Castlewarden to Ballygoran Water Service has been awarded to Ward & Burke Construction Company by Kildare County Council. This contract will involve the construction of 17km of distribution watermains, an additional reservoir and ancilliary works at Ballygoran.

The contract, which is awarded under the Department of Environment Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2013, will be of huge benefit to Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip and Straffan. The new infrastructure, which will lessen the dependency on supply from Fingal County Council, is set to provide an excellent quality water service to both businesses and homes alike. It will especially benefit the supply of water to the larger multi-national companies in area.

This Water Services Programme is further proof of this Government’s commitment to assist business in Ireland. Not alone will the development secure jobs in the region for the duration of the contract, but the investment will also have a long lasting positive impact on enterprise in Kildare North.

I warmly welcomed the recent announcement by Public Transport Minister Alan Kelly that all taxis will have to bear a branding signage. This branding will ensure a more accountable and professional service and curb the tendency for rogue drivers to ‘moon light’ as taxis.

In recent times I have had a number of local taxi drivers approach me with regard to the negative impact of rogue drivers on their business. Most taxi drivers provide a legitimate service, adhering to the terms of taxi regulations and paying large sums of money for their licence. It is becoming increasingly difficult for many of them to continue to do business when they are competing against rogue drivers. Last June I raised with the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, the need to curtail this practice and also appealed to the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, to increase her Department’s vigilance on social welfare fraud in terms of taxi drivers.

This major new step being undertaken by the National Transport Authority will result in taxis bearing a generic brand signage on the driver and passenger’s doors inclusive of the individual car’s licence number. This will be phased in from January 2013 and I am hopeful that it should assist all taxi driver’s in these tough times by readily identifying those who are legitimate service providers.

Jack and Jill FoundationThe Jack and Jill Foundation launch their Crutch Harvest. If you have any old, unused crutches lying about the house, drop them into your nearest Applegreen petrol station or my constituency office in Naas to help raise funds for critically ill children.

Remembering a loved one at ChristmasA remembrance service and carol singing will take place at St Patrick’s Church on December 9. To participate, place the name of your deceased loved one in an envelope, marked “Remembering a loved one at Christmas” with a €5 offering and put it in the drop box at Celbridge Credit Union or in the collection basket in the church. Your offering will sponsor a Christmas tree light and will then go to support the work of St Brigid’s Hospice.

Branding for Ireland’s Taxi Fleet is a necessary initiative for a professional service

Free Parking for Christmas!There will be free parking in Celbridge town from 19th December to 26th

December. This will encourage people to shop local without the fear of

parking fines.

OPW restoration

works at Castletown Estate

The OPW has commenced

another major phase of works

to restore the landscape at

Castletown. This work, funded

by Failte Ireland, will include

for example the reinstatement

of the historic paths; the Dam,

the Upper and Liffey Rustic

Bridges being conserved; the

Pond being refilled and water

will cascade over the Dam.

Local News

Photo with Kildare South TD Martin Heydon and Senator Mary Ann O’Brien.

Competition Time! For the opportunity to win a tour to Dáil Éireann followed by a meal in the Dáil Restaurant for two people, email me the answer to the following question

Q .Who is the current Minister for Defence?

All correct answers to anthony.lawlor@oir.ie. Deadline for receipt of entries 31st December 2012

Celbridge Useful Contact Details:

ANTHONY LAWLOR TDEmail: anthony.lawlor@oireachtas.ieConstituency Office: 56 South Main Street, Naas, Co. Kildare

Contact Number: 045 888488Opening Hours: 9am -12am & 3pm – 5pm

Celbridge Clinic: Every Thursday 7pm – 8pm Venue - Kildrought Inn, Main Street, Celbridge Website: www.anthonylawlor.ie Find me on Facebook

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YOUR LOCAL FINE GAEL TEAM:

SPEECHES:Since the resumption of the Dáil in September I have spoken on a number of issues such as: the school building programme; the registration of health care professionals; the implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Bill; and the new structures of the VEC, among others.

QUESTIONS:I have tabled Dáil Questions to various Ministers covering issues relating to Rent Supplement applications in Kildare; financial support for postgraduate students; overseas aid; and the sponsorship of sporting events by drinks companies.

COMMITTEE:I am a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and we have dealt with many issues since September such as the negative impact of the black economy, supports for small businesses and the need to enhance ICT skills among workers to match industry demands. I also published a report earlier this year about Casual Worker’s entitlements to social welfare payments.

To keep track of all my Dáil contributions check out my website page www.anthonylawlor.ie or follow me on Facebook or Twitter.

DÁIL BUSINESS

Cllr. SENAN GRIFFINEmail: griffins@eircom.net

Address: Ballygoran, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

Contact Numbers: 01-6285177/ 087- 2331267

Kildare County Council (045 980200) www.kildarecoco.ieHSE Local Health Office (045 873 200) St. Mary’s, Craddockstown Road, Naas.

Celbridge Garda Station (01 6288222) Garda Station, CelbridgeCelbridge Health Centre (01 6303100) Maynooth Road, CelbridgeCelbridge Community Library (01) 6272207) Saint Patrick’s Park, CelbridgeSocial Welfare Office (01) 6106000) Town Hall Mall, Maynooth,Naas General Hospital (045 897 221) www.hse.ieNaas Fire Station (045 879964)KDOC (Out of hours GP Service) (1890 599 362) Vista Primary Care Campus, Ballymore Rd., Naas.