HILDEGARDE NAUGHTON TD Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee for Communications, Climate Action & Environment Member of the Oireachtas Committee for the Future of Healthcare Pat Lam, Connacht Rugby and Hildegarde Deputy Hildegarde Naughton T.D officially opening the Oranmore Naughton TD at the launch of Pieta House, Enterprise Town Event with Bank of Ireland, Regional Manager Darkness into Light walk. Brian Carey, and Oranmore Branch Manager, Donal Kennedy. Brexit • Brexit is the biggest challenge since the bailout of our country. Our priorities are clear: minimising the impact on trade and the economy, protecting the Northern Ireland peace process and maintaining the Common Travel Area • We are constantly engaging with our EU partners. Every Minister is tasked with finding solutions to best position Ireland as the UK leaves the EU • We are committed to growing markets for Irish exports. In 2017, we will Hildegarde Naughton TD hosted a public meeting on Brexit chaired by Dr. James J. Browne, President undertake the largest ever programme of of NUI Galway. Keynote speakers included Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, international trade missions to expand our Prof. Alan Ahearne, Economist & Director of the Whitaker Institute, IFA County Chairman Pat Murphy target markets and Executive Director Kevin Sherry, Enterprise Ireland. New Acute Hospital and New A&E Galway 2040 • The Minister for Health gives the green light for the Saolta Hospital The 2040 National Planning Framework is a great opportunity for Group at UHG, to set out a vision and strategy for the Future of Health Galway as a key economic driver, to emerge as a counter balance to Care in Galway. An options appraisal is now underway. Dublin. This strategic action plan will help Galway secure long overdue investment, in infrastructural developments on a sustained basis. • A new acute Hospital in Merlin Park • A Sustainable Transport Solution for Galway including Parkmore • The development of Galway Port • A Conference / Convention Centre • A Performance / Arts Hub • Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture will raise Galway City and County’s visibility and profile on an international scale with considerable cultural, social and economic benefits Prof. of Surgery Michael Kerin, UHG & NUI Galway, Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, Hildegarde Naughton TD, Maurice Power, CEO Saolta University Health Care Group, Consultant Dr. Pat Nash Saolta Group Clinical Director, West / North West Hospital Group. • Senior Clinicians and Hospital Management have supported my proposals to develop a New Acute Hospital at Merlin Park. A Master Plan now needs to be completed without delay • The Minister for Health confirms funding for the design stage of the A&E Department at UHG • Hildegarde is the only Memberr of the Oireachtas Committee for the Hildegarde was delighted to welcome the €250,000 investment in the Future of Healthcare from Connacht, examining future models of health foothpaths and drainage on the Old Dublin Road, Oranmore. care and policy, integrated primary and community care, and a funding model with the objective of a universal single-tier health service • Hildegarde’s Maiden Speech in Dáil Éireann highlighted the need for UHG’s properly funded and phased relocation to Merlin Park ensuring Eircode & Broadband continuity of service • The Committee on the Future of Healthcare has published its • Eircode ensures that it’s faster for medical and emergency Sláintecare Report outlining a 10 year plan for the Irish Health System. services to locate addesses. Find your Eircode: www.eircode.ie To view the report, visit: http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/ oireachtasbusiness/committees_list/future-of-healthcare/ • All homes and businesses including 750,000 new individual • A National Taskforce on Youth Mental Health has been established. premises, will be connected to broadband through the rollout of the Visit http://health.gov.ie/national-taskforce-on-youth-mental-health/ National Broadband Plan. Check you are covered: www.dccae.gov.ie Sports Capital Grants Farming & Rural Development • We introduced The Action Plan for Rural Development. Visit: www.ahrrga.gov.ie • We introduced a new Cash Flow Loan Support Scheme to provide low cost, flexible loans to farmers • 500 extra places have been added to the Rural Social Scheme, to support low income farmers and fishermen. This is the first increase since 2006 • A package of measures have been introduced to strengthen the agri- food sector to meet the challenges of Brexit, including a dedicated Brexit Unit in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine • We are maintaining frequent contact with representative farming Hildegarde Naughton TD officially opening the re-vamped Galway Bay organisations and agri-companies Sailing Club (GBSC), changing rooms, boat storage and workshop facilities, • Significant additional resources were allocated to Bord Bia and after securing €42,000 funding for the upgrade. With former Commodore Bord Iascaigh Mhara in Budget 2017 Gary Allen (Chair of GBSC Building Group), Vice Commodore John Murphy, Hildegarde Naughton TD, and former Commodore Pierce Purcell. Economy, Jobs & Self Employed • Unemployment has more than • By next year we will have halved since we entered office in eliminated the deficit ensuring 2011 from 15.2% to 6.2% stability for public services • Over 2 million people are now • Ireland now has the fastest at work growing economy in the EU • In February, we launched the • Income tax and USC have reduced 2017 Action Plan for Jobs, to • For the first time the Treatment Martin Gibbons, Galway IFA Vice-Chairperson, Pat Murphy, County Galway help create jobs for all who Benefit Scheme is extended to IFA Chairperson, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton T.D. seek one self-employed people and their • Within 3 years, the National dependent spouses. More social Deficit was cut by three- insurance benefits extended quarters and economic to the self-employed and Traffic & Transportation sovereignty was restored entrepreneurs by 2018 Parkmore Business & Technology Park • In 2015, I secured funding of €100,000 for design and planning measures to alleviate congestion in Parkmore • As a result of a meeting organised by Deputy Hildegarde Naughton with Minister Simon Coveney and Business Leaders in Parkmore, 3 Government Departments are now working with Galway City and County Councils to put in place short and long term measures to address traffic congestion in Parkmore • Deputy Naughton’s work on these issues has resulted in the establishment of a “Galway Delivery Team” to progress infrastructure developments including Parkmore, the City Docks Adrian Furey MD Zimmer Oranmore, Hildegarde Naughton T.D, Michael Regeneration Area and the Ardaun Corridor Connolly Cathaoirleach of County Galway, Mairead Mc Guinness MEP and General Manager John Lynch, VP Zimmer. More positive news for Galway • 175 new jobs Chanelle • 500 new jobs KPMG Pharma Group Galway, Dublin, Cork • 100 new jobs Harvey Nash • 200 new jobs Zimmer Biomet Technology Recruitment Manufacturing • 160 new jobs Wayfair Inc. • 300 new jobs Apple • 100 new jobs Surmodics • 150 new jobs SAP Galway, Dublin Medical Devices • And many more • 200 new jobs MetLife • 100 new jobs Australian Deputy Hildegarde Naughton T.D viewing the positive progress on the € Tech Firm Siteminder 7 million Claregalway Flood Relief Scheme with Minister Sean Canney. Meeting Housing Needs Communications, Climate Action & Environment COPE Galway € • A new facility for a Domestic Violence Refuge received 1.1 million Chairperson Oireachtas Committee for restoration and now has full planning permission to progress to construction phase The Dáil Committee oversees: Rebuilding Galway • Communications: RTÉ, TG4, An Post, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, the Digital Hub Development Agency, and the • Last year we launched Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s action plan for housing and homelessness Commission for Communication Regulation • 150 new social housing units across Galway • Energy: ESB, EirGrid, the Commission for Energy regulation, Bord • Refurbishment of vacant homes across Galway na Móna, the National Oil Reserves Agency, Sustainable Energy • Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Authority of Ireland, and the Irish National Petroleum Corporation • We introduced the Help-to-Buy scheme, a 5% tax rebate to help first time • Natural Resources: The Environmental Protection Agency, buyers of new builds Inland Fisheries Ireland, Loughs Agency and the Mining Board • Renters will benefit from the Strategy for the Rental Sector which will provide for long term tenure of choice for families • We are committed to delivering 47,000 new social housing units Supporting Families, Young & Old • The Early Years Health and Wellbeing Plan 2016 – 2020 is a critical intervention to give children the best start in life which aims to provide a framework to enhance and support the health and wellbeing of children across the city and county up to the age of 3 years • Following the achievement of free GP Care for under 6s, we are continuing to support healthcare for families • We are investing in childcare in order to make it more affordable for working families • Parents of a child between 6 and 36 months in full time formal child care will now receive support to the value of €960 per year • Two weeks’ paid paternity leave and the second free pre-school year were introduced last September. The latter saves parents, on average, €4,000 per child • This year will see Home Help hours increase by 170,000 and 1,300 more Gael Scoil De hÍde people in receipt of a Home Care Package • From March 2017 the State Pension has increased by €5 per week • Medical screening for bowel cancer, diabetic eye diseases and new born deafness is free for the first time • The Breast Check service is now extended to 65-69 year olds Deputy Hildegarde Naughton T.D 0612 presenting an award to the Girls U8 FC Team, at the Maree Oranmore Soccer Tournament. Hildegarde was delighted to attend the opening of the new €4.2 million Gael Scoil de hÍde in Oranmore.