I have been nominated by the party membership to contest the next general election. The selection convention held in the Westrgrove, Clane selected two Fianna Fáil candidates to run in the next general election. It is a tremendous honour for me to be nominated by the members in Kildare North to contest the next election on behalf of the party. I would especially like to thank those cumainn that nominated me including Kill, Sallins, Naas, Prosperous, Carbury, Kilshanroe, Kilcock and the Old Carton cumann, Maynooth as well as all the individual party members who placed their faith in me again. Continue Reading →
Category Archives: Killeenmore
Progress on Lower Morrell Flood Relief Scheme
The Lower Morrell area, comprising the rural townlands of Kileenmore, Alasty, Painestown, Daars and Turnings between Sallins, Straffan and Clane, has been hit repeatedly by flooding over the past several years as the Morrell and Painestown rivers burst their banks any time of high rainfall which floods houses and property all throughout those areas. Despite this being an issue for the past several years, it has taken a very long time to have attention focused on it in terms of securing the necessary relief to carry out prevention works.
I have been seeking flood relief efforts there for some time (see previous posts here) having advanced this issue through to design stage with Kildare County Council whilst serving as a Councillor and has recently been lobbying the Office of Public Works for the funding necessary for that scheme to proceed.
Update on Flood Relief Plans of Morell and Painstown Rivers Sought
At the recent meeting of Naas Municipal District council, I asked for updates on the flood relief plans at Killeenmore. This follows from flooding of the Morell and Painstown rivers several times over the previous months and on a regular basis for the past several winters. This is a matter I’ve been raising for years now. We need a comprehensive flood relief plan for Killeenmore and indeed all effected areas along the Morell river. Repeated flooding has gone on far too long now and residents are continuously distressed.
The council responded to the matter saying it has submitted its report to the Office of Public Works. The report addresses the feasibility design and costs of such a flood relief plan for the area. The council confirmed that a meeting is planned with the OPW in the next 3 weeks to progress the matter. I asked the council to update local members at the February council meeting of Naas Municipal District.
Morrell Flood Relief Plans
Everyone remembers when Sallins flooded in 2009 but whilst most people will recall the urban flooding at “The Waterways” in Sallins village, it gathered less media attention that rural townlands were flooding at the same time just a mile or two out the road. The areas of Killeenmore and Turnings were especially hit but also Castlewarden and unfortunately surface flooding on the N7 around there remains a familiar sight after a heavy rainfall. I was onsite with the residents during those floods back in 2009 and 2010 (see here) and have continued to liaise with the local committee since as a solution has evolved. Thankfully we are nearing the end of that journey and plans for a new flood relief scheme to mitigate all along the Morrell river basin were unveiled in the council offices last month. You can view the detailed designs at this link here and the council are accepting submissions until the end of November.
Access Concerns on New Childrens’ Hospital
Fianna Fáil’s Naas Area Representative, James Lawless, has expressed concern over the government’s choice of site for the childrens’ hospital and has expressed reservations on the city centre location chosen in Dublin 8.
“A great many people from the Naas Area and across North Kildare will have had occasion to visit Tallaght hospital with their children and most will have found it accessible, clean, efficient and convenient” said James.