I made a speech on Saturday the 22nd of March on the importance of rebuilding Community Policing and supporting Community Based Policing Initiatives. 

Resolution: That this Ard Fheis calls for a refocusing of resources into community based policing initiatives in order to reassure communities affected by crime and antisocial behaviour

The National Transport Authority has initiated a public consultation process for a “Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) – Core Dublin Network.” There is a proposal to create a route from Blanchardstown via Castleknock to UCD.

Fingal County Council recently published a public consultation regarding a proposal to construct a cycle lane through Blanchardstown and Castleknock Villages to the Phoenix Park. It is important that people locally have substantive input into such proposals and I would encourage all residents to read the proposal. 

If you want further information on this or if you want me to make a representation on your behalf please do not hesitate to contact me.

Further information can be found at: www.fiannafail.ie/fingalpublicconsultations

I have also outlined further detail from Fingal County Council regarding the proposal below:

I welcome the announcement from the Health Service Executive to provide funding for full time beds in St. Francis Hospice from 2014. The funding has been incorporated in the HSE's service plan for 2014 and I hope this commitment is honoured in full. St. Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown was built and developed to provide palliative care to patients in the final period of their lives. This multi-faceted service provides dignity, support and care to families and their loved ones. Funding from the HSE will enable the hospice to provide full time beds in addition to its current day care and community based home care. This announcement is a victory for community activism and the work and endeavour of so many members of our community in fundraising, progressing and driving this initiative must be remembered. 

I am delighted to announce that I will be opening a Local Office in the Laurel Lodge Shopping Centre in the New Year. I hope to run clinics from the office on a regular basis from January 2014 and to provide the active representation that the people in this constituency deserve.

I recently attended and spoke at a public meeting in St. Mochta’s National School and there is widespread anxiety, opposition and concern to this proposal in the Dublin 15 community. Irish Rail are trying to accelerate this on the grounds that they want to provide “electrification” to the Maynooth line. Electrification could still be progressed without permanent road closures as has been achieved with the DART line. There are already significant traffic problems and if the road is closed these problems will only worsen. Fingal have proposed to place a footbridge over the road but there would be no disability access. It was stated at the meeting that the closure could cost close to 500,000 euro which is a gross waste of finite funds when basic local services are scarcely being provided. 

There is a significant shortage of grave plots locally and this is a growing issue causing concern to many residents. Many locals are unfortunately being faced with the logistical difficulty of having to bury their family members in different counties bordering Dublin West. Fingal County Council have not made any provision to deal with this issue and in my role as an Area Representative I will do my best to advocate on behalf of residents who strongly feel that a new graveyard is needed locally.

The continued investment and commitment to education must be maintained with an increasing youthful population locally as evidenced by the recent census. I want to wish all students and staff in all our schools a happy and successful academic year.

My Constituency office is located at the Laurel Lodge Shopping Centre in Dublin West. Eircode- D15 ARY7

I run weekly clinics in my office. Please contact me if you require an appointment.

If you have any local or national issues please do not hesitate to contact me at 01-6933393 or [email protected]