My Pre-Budget Leaflet for Dublin North-West

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Your Business Day - Dublin City Enterprise Board

Are you looking to set up your own business?

Are you looking for advice on your business direction or any funding options?

The Dublin City Enterprise Board are hosting a Your Business Day on Friday 9th December in the Science Gallery, Pearse St, Trinity College.

The event is completely free and opening to anyone looking for advice on funding, planning or other aspects of setting up a business.

For one-on-one meetings booking is required and some spots are already booked out - more information here

The event is also a great opportunity to network with other professionals and get the contacts you need to help your business succeed.

The City Enterprise Board also offer free one-on-one mentoring at their advice clinics all year round. Further information at: http://www.dceb.ie/Mentoring/Advice-Clinic

As always, please contact me on john.lyons@oir.ie or on 01 618 3280 if you have any questions on support organisations for setting up businesses or for getting back to employment.

When it comes to reform this Government starts at the top

I have welcomed yesterday's announcement by Brendan Howlin of a new higher reduction rate of 20% on public service pensions above €100,000, as a significant move that is progressive and equitable.

Pensions in excess of €60,000 are currently being adjusted by 12%.

Deputy Lyons stated: “Given the fiscal crisis inherited by this Government and the budgetary challenges it presents, it is an imperative for public to see that those who are able to bear most of the burden do so.

Though the numbers affected are relatively small, it is nonetheless right and proper to reduce these pensions, to reflect the challenges we face as a country. These measures follow on from decisions already taken by the Government in reducing the pay of ministers and in securing pay reductions from the semi state sector.

Last week I called for equality proofing to be at the heart of all budgetary decision making and today’s announcement is very much in line with this.

These decisions also show that when it comes to reforms and savings, this Government starts at the top.

Festival Training Programme for youth and community based festivals

The festival training programme for youth and community based festivals, now in its second year, is a FREE programme which provides artistic and practical training workshops/sessions. Bookings are now underway and while the closing date was last Monday, it is still possible to book in for some of the sessions.

On board this year to deliver the workshops are MACNAS, BUI BOLG and Makeupfablicious among others. It's brilliant to upskills yourself, learn something new that you can take back to your youth club or festival committee.

 

The programme is aimed at artists, youth workers, event organisers and those interested in learning more about how festivals work.

 

We have such an active arts & culture scene here in Ballymun and I'm keen that as many people as possible avail of this opportunity so that we can continue to deliver quality arts events!!

For more information and to apply go to http://www.dublincity.ie/RECREATIONANDCULTURE/ARTSOFFICE/PROGRAMMES/Pages/CurrentProgrammes.aspx

Women's Aid 'One in Five Women' Campaign

This year's One in Five Women Campaign is taking place from 25th November- 10th December - 16 days of action opposing violence against women.

Women's Aid, a leading national organisation which has been addressing the issue of domestic violence for over 35 years, is launching this campaign as part of the international 16 days of action. The launch day (25th Nov) is the UN Day Opposing Violence, and the last (10th Dec) is Human Rights Day. The campaign spans these days to highlight the link between violence against women and human rights.

The events taking place during this time is aimed at positive change to make women safer, and so those being affected by this issue might find the supports they need.

For more information on this campaign and Women's Aid, visit http://www.womensaid.ie/campaigns/ and for more details on the issue of domestic violence http://www.womensaid.ie/campaigns/2in2u

Finglas West News Winter 2011

Open publication - Free publishing - More finglas events

Equality proofing must be at the heart of budgetary decisions

I have today stated that budgetary decisions should be audited for their effect on all groups in society as the previous Government's budgetary measures impacted disproportionately on those on lower incomes.

According to TASC, previous budgetary decisions had a disproportionate impact on groups such as lone-parent households and single low-earners. These groups, they state, include households that are most at risk of poverty and are therefore least able to absorb further reductions in their income.

I firmly believe that the lesson of these past budgetary decisions should be that all decisions on issues like taxation and social welfare are subject to an assessment of the impact they will have on different groups across society. These cumulative changes should then be audited on the basis of the equality of these impacts.

Like all Deputies in the house, I have had numerous meetings with individuals and civil society groups in advance of the budget. These meetings bring home the importance of a fair approach to resolving our budgetary challenges.

With this in mind, we must frame budgetary decision making on the basis of equality, to ensure those who are most vulnerable are least impacted.

Finglas South News Winter 2011

Open publication - Free publishing - More finglas events

Choice Based Lettings Scheme Finglas Area

The following houses are available in the Finglas South Area under the Choice Based lettings Scheme:

11 Hazelcroft Gardens

7 Fairlawn Park

Applicants must register their interest for these two properties in the Finglas Area Office, Mellowes Road, Finglas, Dublin 11 before 5pm on the 25th of November 2011

·         by letter

·         by email northwestarea@dublincity.ie

·         by calling into the local area office Mellowes Road, Finglas, Dublin 11

Information on these Choice Based Lettings is available on the DCC website

If you have any further questions or queries, contact me on 01 6183280 or email john.lyons@oir.ie 

Dublin at Christmas

The Dublin at Christmas programme was launched yesterday by the Lord Mayor Andrew Montague and Richard Guiney, CEO Dublin BIDs .

The launch was done using social media only (for the first time).

The dedicated website for Christmas is now live see www.dublinatchristmas.ie. They also have a Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dublin-at-Christmas/150853858294053 to keep everyone informed of all the great events and offers in Dublin’s city centre throughout the Christmas season!

Proposed Improvement Scheme to Seamus Ennis Road & Jamestown Road Junction

There are two meetings this weekend to view maps and comment on the plan regarding the proposed improvement scheme to the Seamus Ennis Road and Jamestown Road junction.

Dublin City Council now has funding approval from the National Transport Authority to carry out these works as part of the Finglas Village Regeneration Strategy, which aims to re-vitalise Finglas Village as an important urban village in Dublin City.

Meeting times are as follows:

Friday, 18th November 6-8pm in the Finglas Civic Centre, Mellowes Road, Finglas West

Saturday, 19th November 10.30am-12.30pm in the Finglas Civic Centre, Mellowes Road, Finglas West

For queries in relation to this, contact the Finglas Area Office on 2225496/2225412. Alternatively, contact me on 01-6183280 or john.lyons@oir.ie

OWN YOUR OWN HOME

There is currently up to 45% discount available to buy your home if you have been a Dublin City Council tenant for more than 10 years.

The deadline for applications is before 31st December 2011.


If you haven't been a tenant for over 10 years, you may still be eligible for a 30% discount.

Applications for this scheme must be received by June 2012.


For further details, contact 01 222 5449, go to www.dublincity.ie or Dublin City Council, Sales Section, Housing and Residential Services Department, Block 1, Ground Floor, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8

Innovative approach to IT training could create 25,000 by 2015

Speaking after a presentation to the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education by the organisation, Fast Track into Information Technology (FIT), I have stated that their innovative approach has the potential to prepare and up skill 25,000 unemployed people for IT positions by 2015.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting some of the board members of FIT in my own constituency and I was greatly impressed by their ability to give marketable IT skills to the unemployed.

Their approach is to select persons on aptitude rather than educational qualifications and this is particularly relevant for jobseekers and those most at risk of long term unemployment.

As of October, there were 179,773 people unemployed for one year of more. Of these, approximately 90,000 have a primary education or no formal education. Given the imperative of tackling unemployment, it is vital to support and promote initiatives that have shown to work.

Of those trained by FIT over the past decade, 74% have gone onto employment. This success is achieved through working closely with multinationals like Microsoft, IBM and Intel to constantly evaluate and tailor their courses to meet industry needs. This flexibility and responsiveness has seen them develop courses in areas such as cloud computing, smart grid technology and programming.

FIT then delivers their courses by working with SOLAS, the VEC's and local development agencies. This year alone, over 3,500 job seekers will receive training in courses designed by them and a further 2,000 will receive mentoring supports.

At today's committee, FIT outlined their vision of an expanded training and up skilling programme, to place 25,000 jobseekers into employment by 2015. I intend to follow up today's meeting with both Minister Burton and Minister Quinn, to advance this aim and to get these people back to work.

Ballymun Tidy Towns AGM

The Ballymun Tidy Towns AGM is to be held next Tuesday, 22nd November in the members' room, Ballymun Civic Centre.


It begins at 5.30pm and will last approximately 2 hours.


Hope to see you there!

Personal development crucial in reformed Junior Cert Proposals

Speaking following an Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education discussion on proposals to reform the Junior Certificate, and in particular enterprise education, I have stated that equal emphasis should be placed on approaches which emphasise a student's personal development.

Educating students in enterprise and innovation is extremely important to allow them compete in the employment market of tomorrow. Of equal importance, is developing personal skills that encourage creativity and self-expression, while also complementing education in other subjects.

As part of the reform proposals for the Junior Certificate there are proposals to develop short courses in subjects such as the arts and technology. This is a very welcome development and an opportunity for change as it affords the opportunity to broaden a student's educational experience.

A delegation from Dáil na nÓg made the point in today's committee, that there is great interest amongst students in a revised Junior Certificate that focuses on sports, arts-based activities and life skills.

Encouraging enterprise education, to meet the needs of our economy, is rightly considered a priority of the Junior Certificate reforms. It is important however, not to consider initiatives to expose students to new avenues of education as merely add-ons.

These reforms should be considered fundamental to students' educational experience by stimulating creativity, improving their self-esteem and preparing them for the jobs of the future.

€4.6m IN FUNDING FOR NEW HOMES IN BALLYMUN

On a great day for President Michael D Higgins, there has also been some great news for Ballymun. Minister Willie Penrose has given €4.6 million in funding to begin work on 25 new homes in Ballymun.

Following a visit to Ballymun with me yesterday, Minister for Housing Willie Penrose, announced this funding to start work on what is known as the Coultry 6 development.

These 25 homes will allow for further de tenanting of the original flats which is very welcome news for those waiting on new homes. They will also complete the redevelopment around Coultry Park, to take another step towards finishing the Ballymun Regeneration project.

I want to thank the Minister for coming to Ballymun to see first-hand the status of the redevelopment and to talk to those involved in on-going works. I was pleased to be able to show him around the remaining Sillogue blocks and the Sillogue 4 development, where works are underway to remove pyrite.

During yesterday’s visit the Minister also reaffirmed his commitment to completing the BRL project and this funding is evidence of his commitment. 

I will be working with the Minister to see the Ballymun Regeneration project completed for the people of Ballymun and to address housing issues across Dublin North West.

AIB u-turn, a victory for Govt and a victory for common sense

The decision by AIB to pass on this week's interest rate reduction to mortgage holders after all, is a very welcome development.

Yesterday's announcement by the bank that it was refusing to pass on the cut, was an affront to the people of Ireland, to whom AIB owes its very existence, and I criticised the bank at the time describing its attitude as showing shocking indifference to the difficulties facing its customers.

Today in the Dáil, the Govt, and Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore in particular, were accused of being impotent in the face of the bank's intransigence. Tonight it is clear that the Govt's approach to this has been spot on, and the pressure that the Tánaiste and Taoiseach put on the banks, directly at their meeting yesterday, and indirectly in the following 36 hours, has paid off handsomely. While the opposition were jumping up and down in the Dáil and in the media, the Govt was actually doing something about this problem and has ended up getting a great result for thousands of familes around the country.

Passing on this rate cut will alleviate some of the pressure on borrowers whose taxes bailed out AIB in the first place and may also mean that fewer households will find themselves facing the prospect of running into mortgage arrears problems.

It was about time that somebody put manners on banks like AIB, who gorged themselves on the property bubble, only to come running cap in hand to the Irish people when the bubble burst.

Prioritisation of building schools, a welcome boost for education

The announcement today by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin of that over €2bn will be invested in the construction and renovation of 220 schools across the country, is very much to be welcomed.

This Govt faces extremely difficult economic challenges, while the programme of Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012 – 2016, announced today puts some projects on the back-burner, the success that Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has had in ensuring that the pressing need to provide decent schools for our children has been prioritised, must be noted.

Thanks to Ministers Howlin and Quinn, we will now see the construction of 40 new schools at primary and second level and major extensions or new buildings to over 180 existing schools in developing areas.

This is a clear indication that Labour Ministers are having a significant impact in this Govt and that the Labour message of investment in education and the creation of jobs, is getting through.

Coming from a teaching background, and representing a disadvantaged area, I have no doubt that this announcement will be a welcome boost for the education sector and for families whose children stand to benefit from this in the years to come.

Council tenants still waiting too long for new windows

Speaking in response to a Dublin City Council question, I have expressed concern for tenants who have to wait at least 12 months for old windows and doors to be replaced.

There are currently 324 Dublin City Council households waiting for doors, windows and entrance screens to be replaced by the Council. At the moment, these households can expect to wait at least 12 months for necessary improvements to be made.

I am very concerned that many families who applied for double-glazed windows after last year's severe winter will still be waiting until the new year for them to be installed. This means many households will have to endure another winter without the winter protection they need.

Given the very cold winters we have experienced in the last 2 years, it is hugely important that all Council tenants can live in properly-heated homes with up-to-standard windows, doors and wall insulation.

I acknowledge of course the efforts the City Council has made in recent years to improve the waiting period by a third and I commend the local maintenance officers for working in very difficult circumstances to deal with the backlog.

I still believe that further improvements in waiting times are needed to ensure all council homes are brought up to standard. I will be raising the matter directly with the Dublin City Manager at a meeting on November 25th and I will explore all avenues to improve waiting times for Council tenants.

Dublin Bus Route Changes to Finglas South and Finglas West

Dublin Bus will be introducing service revisions for the Finglas South, Finglas West on Sunday 13th November.


Routes 40, 40a, 78 and 78a will be amalgamated and will operate as a revised Route 40. It will link Liffey Valley, Ballyfermot, Inchicore, St. James’ Hospital, Dame Street, O’Connell Street, The Mater Hospital, Temple Street Hospital, the soon to be completed National Children’s Hospital, Drumcondra, Phibsboro and Finglas. It will no longer operate via Mountjoy Square when travelling toward Finglas.

Route 40d will operate from Tyrrelstown to Parnell Street via Ballycoolin, Mellowes Road, Finglas Village, Hart’s Corner, Whitworth Road, Dorset Street, Drumcondra, Whitworth Road, Phibsboro and Finglas. It will operate via Parnell Square when operating towards Tyrrelstown

Route 40b will continue to connect Toberburr with Finglas and the City Centre.


Full details are available on http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/News-Centre/Travel-News/Routes-40a-40b-40d-51-and-78a-Timetable-Changes/


If you have any questions or queries on this matter, do not hesitate to contact me on john.lyons@oir.ie or 01 6183280

Lanesborough Park Clean Up Day

Open publication - Free publishing - More bottle banks

Lyons calls for clarification for parents on the role of the SNA

Following a recent meeting with officials from the Department of Education and Skills, I have asked that parents be invited to their child's school to discuss the role of the SNA.

At present, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have a booklet to provide parents/guardians of children with special educational needs information in helping parents make informed decisions concerning the education of their child.

It's not easy for any parent to make decisions regarding the educational needs for their children. For parents with children that have special educational needs, it is vital that they are aware of the resources that are available in the particular school their child is attending.

It is thus vital that these parents are given the opportunity to discuss with the school resources that are available and what their child can be provided with. From this, parents would have a clearer understanding of the role of the SNA and how their child might progress while in the particular school.

This increased communication between parents and the school would serve to increase awareness of the educational needs of the child and lead to a clearer understanding between parents and teachers, thus benefiting the progress of the child.

If you would like to discuss this matter with me, do not hesitate to call my office on 01-6183280 or john.lyons@oir.ie