Dáil response shows worrying lack of ambition for full Path completion

The announcement by Waterways Ireland of the 2012 upgrading of the Royal Canal Path between Porterstown and Clonsilla is very welcome. Now a commitment needs to be made by all the stakeholders, particularly at political level, to bring together the various interests to work together to ensure the full completion of the Path linking Dublin 15 with Dublin City Centre, according to Cllr David McGuinness.

Cllr McGuinness said, “During the by-election last October, I placed the development of the Royal Canal Path very much on the agenda. I firmly believe that the Path is an under-used local resource, which with some investment, could provide a fantastic facility in terms of commuting and recreation. This announcement by Waterways Ireland marks an important first step in achieving this goal.

I am now calling on the various stakeholders, including the National Transport Authority, Waterways Ireland, the Department of Transport and the two Local Authorities, to engage proactively in putting together a timetable for the development of the Path. This will ensure a link onwards from Keenan Bridge in Porterstown linking it with Coolmine, Castleknock and onwards through Ashtown to the City Centre.

Worryingly, a Dáil response supplied my colleague Timmy Dooley TD received this week (link below) on the issue of the Royal Canal Path showed a real lack of ambition by the Dept of Transport in terms of developing this local resource. I am calling on the Minister for Transport to place his full political support and influence behind this important project and ensure that it is realised – sooner rather than later – for the residents of Dublin 15.”

ENDS. READ THE FULL ARTICLE >>

Minister shouldn’t resort to shooting the messenger

After just 11 months in Government it would seem that local Minister has taken to shooting the media messenger rather acknowledging that both Fine Gael and Labour have broken a long list of promises to the people of Dublin and Ireland. Now he must say which, if any, of our local papers in Dublin West are guilty of ‘cynicism’ after his comments carried in the Irish Times, according to Cllr David McGuinness.

Cllr McGuinness said, “In a clumsy attempt to shift blame from the Government in which he serves, Minister Varadkar has accused the media of ‘cynicism’ in the manner in which they report the Government. This is unfair and I would call on him to name any local media organisations he may feel are guilty of cynicism or not balanced in their reports.

What makes the whole accusation most nonsensical is the Minister’s unwillingness to acknowledge that Fine Gael did in fact make a range of promises last February which they have now broken. The people of Dublin West alone have seen broken promises in terms of Metro North, bed closures at Connolly Hospital, job creation, increased train and bus fares, and cuts to local disadvantaged schools.

Just because the Minister now doesn’t like the fact that the growing list of broken promises is becoming known to the people, should not mean that he resort to a cheap shot of shooting the media messenger.”

ENDS.

Note to Editor

See article containing Minister Varadkar’s comments:http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0127/1224310809208.html

Time to focus more on job creation and not scaremongering

Cllr David McGuinness has expressed surprise at the hostile and scaremongering tone in the latest policy proposal from Joan Burton’s Department in relation to the people in this locality who are unable to find work – many of whom have never experienced unemployment in their life.

Cllr McGuinness said, “I am joining the many voices in criticising one of our local Ministers for the reckless manner in which she is seeking headlines in her Ministerial duty by sabre rattling in relation to people on the Live Register.

Of course, we need to have strict controls within the social welfare system. This is something which we all agree upon, and many of these measures were put in place before Minister Burton came to office. However, it is pointless, even counterproductive, in frightening people who have no history of being unemployed.

I believe that it would be much more in the Minister’s line to focus on measures which help to create jobs for the 8,363 currently on the Live Register in Blanchardstown. The harsh reality for many people in this area is that Labour and Fine Gael have failed to deliver on their job creation promises.

Indeed, I would agree that they have to date delayed recovery in the job market. When the Government came to office, projections by organisations such as the ESRI were for unemployment at this stage to be between 13 and 13.5%. However, unemployment still stands at 14.3%. Minister Burton and Varadkar must share some of the blame for this delay in job market recovery.

ENDS.

McGuinness Slams Government over Phoenix Park delays

Excuses for delay based on ‘weather’ not plausible

Dublin West Fianna Fáil Councillor David McGuinness has slammed the delay in completing road resurfacing works in the Phoenix Park. An original plan, to last 12 weeks, started on October 3rd and is still ongoing causing widespread disruption to traffic within the park and in the communities that surround it. The information was provided to McGuinness by way of written response to a parliamentary question.

Councillor McGuinness says ‘I have been raising concerns relating to these works since September 2011 when I questioned Minister Varadkar’s regard for the local community in Dublin 15. The ongoing disruption to traffic in Castleknock and through the Phoenix Park is unacceptable and using the shocking claim that weather was a factor in these delays is disingenuous given that we have had one of the mildest winters in recent times.’

‘The failure of officials to include provision for an archeological site at the former Star Fort is reprehensible and should have been factored into considerations for this project,’ according to McGuinness.

‘The park will not be ready until Mid February at the earliest. This new date of completion represents an increase of at least 50% of the original time, Additional costs will now inevitable be incurred and this government have not displayed any regard to local residents or business as they have not informed either of the new arrangements. It is now time for Minister Varadkar and Hayes to address these concerns immediately,’ McGuinness concluded. READ THE FULL ARTICLE >>