Our local Government TDs must step up to the plate and tackle the growing problem at Naas General Hospital. The latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, published this morning (Jan 6th, 2015), reveal there are more than 600 people on trolleys in hospital A&Es, the highest number recorded since “TrolleyWatch” began ten years ago, and 32 of those are in Naas General Hospital right now.
Category Archives: Policy
Kerdiffstown Planning Rejected: Update
Kerdiffstown landfill fire in 2010
The application for a NEW waste facility at Kerdiffstown has been REJECTED by Kildare County Council on the 17th November. The new application was at almost the same location as the last disastrous landfill there which was finally shut down by the courts after erupting in a toxic blaze only a few years ago. Over 800 people had objected to that new application, including myself, and the decision to refuse will now bring relief to the surrounding areas of Sallins, Naas and Johnstown.
Sallins & Naas Train Station Updates
As spokesperson for the Sallins & Naas train lobby group NASRUG, I meet regularly with Irish Rail to review performance of the commuter services and discuss any issues affecting the Kildare railway line. I most recently met with Irish rail on the Monday 1st December and discussed a range of issues as follows:
Irish Water Debates at Kildare County Council
At the Kildare County Council meeting on 26th November a number of motions on water charges were debated. These included two tabled by FF, one from SF and one Independent. I proposed a Fianna Fáil led motion to “cease charging for water and instead concentrate on network investment, conservation and infrastructure upgrades” whilst also “condemning bonus culture in Irish Water and seeking a commitment that Irish Water could not be privatised”. The motion was proposed in the names of Cllrs Lawless, O’Loughlin, Ward, Miley and Ó Cearúil. A second motion in the names of Cllrs S Power, R Power, O’Rourke, Callaghan, Doyle and Fitzpatrick was also passed calling on the council to withhold payment of levies to Irish Water until they agreed to come before the council.
Rejection of Contentious Waste Facility Application at Kerdiffstown Welcomed
Clean up work from 2011 at Kerdiffstown Landfill
Kildare County Council have rejected the application for a new waste facility adjacent to the contentious Kerdiffstown landfill site. Cllr. James Lawless has welcomed the decision which will come as relief for residents living nearby in Sallins, Naas and Johnstown. The application submitted by David Boylan Limited earlier in 2014 was met with unprecedented resistance with over 800 objections lodged.
The council have made the right decision this week as there were grave concerns over this proposed facility. The public had lost trust in future developments at this site given past environmental and safety abuses. Hundreds of objections were submitted, including my own. Hopefully the rejection of the waste permit now finally closes the curtain on any further plans for waste dumping at Kerdiffstown.