Two Straight Years of Economic Growth - Recent Economic Figures

Two straight years of economic growth

The Irish economy grew in 2012 for the second year in a row, according to CSO figures published yesterday. When Labour came into office in 2011 this economy was in freefall. 250,000 people had lost their jobs in the previous three years, the international markets wouldn’t touch us with a barge pole and the country was gripped by chaos and crisis.

Our priority then was to bring stability to a country that was in crisis, so that we could lay the foundations for recovery. We have done that and the plan is working.

Ireland’s export-led growth is continuing, but in addition to that, the domestic economy stabilised in the second half of last year. Private consumption grew for two quarters in a row, and there are more people at work now than at any time in the last five years.

I will be continuing to work, in my capacity as Vice Chair of the Oireachtas Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Committee, on policy responses such as a Youth Guarantee, a Youth Entrepreneurship Fund, and Social Clauses to tackle the problem of unemployment in particular over the coming months - policies which can support economic recovery in several of most effected sections of our society.



CSO Facts & Figures on Q4 GDP

- Full-year economic growth in 2012 of 0.9 per cent
- GNP grew by 3.4 per cent (but admittedly still variable)
- Export-led growth is continuing
- Employment grew for two succesive quarters at the end of 2012

BRL Ultimatum to NAMA on Ballymun Shopping Centre Welcomed

One of the most common issues fellow residents in Ballymun mention to me is getting a new shopping centre for the area. A successful regeneration project requires a commercial heart to complement the residential and social aspects under way.

Current Ballymun Shopping Centre 

It is clear that following years of delays, action 
needs to be taken to develop the Ballymun Shopping Centre and I welcome the ultimatum letter this week from Ballymun Regeneration to NAMA to this effect. 

A new shopping centre on Ballymun Main Street is a key objective of the regeneration project. This centre is to be the commercial heart of the town, serving residents’ needs and creating much needed jobs.

Unfortunately, the plans for the site have stalled and the shopping centre site is now in NAMA. Since being elected, I have been in constant contact with NAMA and BRL in relation to this site and had met with the previous owners, Treasury Holdings, to get the ball rolling again on this project.

Ballymun Regeneration Limited (BRL), the body tasked with the regeneration project, have now asked NAMA to act as quickly and decisively as possible in developing a clear development strategy for the lands’. BRL also said that if detailed proposals are not announced in the next 30 days, they will look at their own options for town centre development on alternative sites on the Main Street.

Original Plan for new Ballymun Shopping Centre

BRL have said any alternative development would be in line with the regeneration Masterplan and the Main Street Strategy – which were developed in consultation with the local community.

As a resident of Ballymun myself, I know how much local people want to see the shopping centre developed. With this letter, BRL have upped the ante and it reflects the urgent need to take action to give Ballymun the town centre it needs. I look forward to seeing the response from NAMA to this letter and speedy action on foot of it.

Please contact me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie if I can discuss any aspects of this post

Post Office Vital to the Future of Finglas Village

Below is the statement I released yesterday from myself and local Finglas Councillor John Redmond about suggestions that the Post Office in Finglas Village would be closed and moved to another location.

UPDATE: Cllr John Redmond has also created an online petition that you can fill out here. It will be sent to An Post so that local residents' concerns are heard on this issue.

Cllr John Redmond and John Lyons TD in Finglas Village

"Deputy John Lyons and Cllr John Redmond have responded to suggestions that the Post Office in Finglas Village could move by saying a Post Office is vital to the Village and should stay in its centre.

Given the importance of the Post Office to the Village, once we heard this story, we immediately contacted An Post to establish what the situation is. 

We have been told by An Post that they are looking at the Post Office contract for Finglas but no decisions have been made about a location. They said their preference is to remain in the village but it is too early to say what will happen.

While An Post will make this decision independently, our position is clear; Finglas Village needs a Post Office to serve its customers in the area and to draw business into the Village. 

Business people we have talked to have said the Post Office is a huge draw that their shops benefit from and depend on.”

The Village already has Charlestown and Clearwater shopping centres on its doorstep - but it has the Post Office to help it compete. 

If this is lost, it would be a huge blow to the village and the businesses and jobs in it. We will be making this point to An Post again to ensure they know the strength of feeling about the location of the Post Office in the area.

As well as this, we have been working on ideas that could really benefit Finglas Village – like adjusting the commercial rates system to relieve the burden on businesses – and have strongly opposed inappropriate developments like the proposed amusement arcade.”

We will continue to work with local residents and others to protect and improve the Village to ensure services like the Post Office remain at its core."

For more information or to find out how to pass on your concerns to An Post about this please contact:

Deputy John Lyons on 01 618 3280 and john.lyons@oir.ie or 

Cllr John Redmond on 0879485559 or johnjredmond@eircom.net