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 >>

Councillor David McGuinness has welcomed today’s decision by Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar to scrap plans to increase tolling on the M50 and describes it as a ‘victory for the people of Dublin West.’ Residents were unequivocal in there anger aimed at Minister Varadkar for setting out to cripple motorists and commuters alike.

“Motorists are now levied with increased motor tax, higher fuel costs, higher vehicle registration tax and additional carbon taxes since Varadkar took over as Minister for Transport, additional tolling, on the M50 and around the country, would have been a step too far for already pushed motorists,” said McGuinness.

McGuinness believes hard-pressed motorists can not find comfort in the public transportation services as “fares have increased on buses and trains and major infrastructural projects have been scrapped including Metro North and the electrification of the Maynooth line.”

“I am now calling on Minister Varadkar to give public transport users and motorists a break. Scrapping tolling plans is a start but fails to deal with the current difficulties faced by these groups.”

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITOR:

Please see link below in relation to Minister Varadkar’s announcement;
http://www.thejournal.ie/varadkar-says-no-new-tolls-on-irish-roads-330642-Jan2012/

Cllr David McGuinness has called on local Ministers Burton and Varadkar to seek urgent clarification from Minister for Health James Reilly to ensure that A&E Department in Blanchardstown Connolly Hospital is not being considered for downgrading to an Urgent Care Centre’.

Cllr McGuinness said “On Newstalk yesterday morning, Dr Reilly clearly said:
“There will be other Emergency Departments which will change to Urgent Care Centres, but I’m not going to say which ones at this point in time”
In this comment, Dr Reilly has clearly signalled that possibly up to 10 other hospitals nationwide will see their A&E’s downgraded, similar to what has happened in Roscommon. I am asking Leo Varadkar and Joan Burton to now seek immediate clarification that our local A&E in Connolly Hospital is not one of those A&E Departments under consideration.

During the recent by-election, Government representatives, including Ministers Varadkar, Burton and Reilly, were at pains to say that there would be no downgrading. Embarrassingly for them, even while they were making these commitments, the HSE announced significant bed closures at Connolly Hospital.

It has been clear for some time that the Connolly’s A&E was being considered for downgrading. I am now asking Minister’s Varadkar and Burton to get confirmation that our hospital is not on Minister Reilly’s ‘list’ that is currently being considered.
ENDS.
Note to Editor
Please see link to Dr Reilly’s interview on Newstalk (17/1/12)
http://www.newstalk.ie//2012/news/health-minister-more-ae-downgrades-for-hospitals/