KEEPING IN TOUCH TRAMORE CIARA CONWAY TD HIGGINS REPORT: REGIONAL HOSPITAL UPDATE After months of campaigning with the local Labour team, Minister Reilly has confirmed that Waterford Regional Hospital will continue to be a National Cancer Control Programme. Waterford will keep its current population referral base for cancer patients . Joint consultant appointments (such as general surgery shared with Wexford) across the groups will continue to support the specialist cancer services it provides. The hospital will retain its current suite of invasive cardiology as well as trauma and oncology services.

DEVELOPMENTS IN WATERFORD REGIONAL HOSPITAL IN 2013 Waterford is set to gain a considerable number of new and replacement consultant posts in areas such as emergency medicine, dermatology and acute medicine.

New Emergency Department The new Emergency Department is a significant improvement on what was there previously. It has almost double the number of spaces and will now have the capacity to treat up to 26 patients at one time.

New Regional Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit The existing 18 bed unit is being replaced by a 25 bed state of the art neonatal unit which will serve all Obstetric Units across the South East, offering the best possible care for babies.

HOSPITAL GROUPS In future, staff will be recruited to the hospital groups rather than to an individual hospital. This ensures that Waterford Regional Hospital will have HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE access to world class medical staff. The increased flexibility of staff will enable a reduction in the hours that junior doctors work. This will improve FUTURE OF TRAMORE patient safety at Waterford Regional Hospital. Patients will not be restricted in their choice of hospital group. GPs remain free to refer patients to the is working on the preparing Local Area hospital of their choice outside of their local area. The hospital group will be Plan for the Towns of Tramore, Lismore & 2013- 2019. reviewed before they become permanent hospital trusts. Revision of hospital group composition may be considered at this stage. A copy of the Draft Local Area Plans for Tramore, Lismore & Portlaw including the Environmental Report and AA Screening Report will be available for public inspection each day from Monday to Friday exclusive of Bank Holidays during office opening hours up until TRAMORE WINS BLUE FLAG Monday, 22nd July, 2013 at the following locations: …AGAIN! I Planning Department, Waterford County Council, Civic Offices, We’re delighted that the strand in , Co. Waterford; Tramore is holding on to its Blue I Waterford County Council Civic Offices, Tramore, Lismore & Flag. ; I Public Library - Tramore, Lismore & Portlaw (during normal Newtown Cove has also been given a prestigious Green Coast Award. opening hours). It brings the number of Green Coast Awards held in for to five. To view the Drafts on line log onto www.waterfordcoco.ie “Our two Blue Flag beaches in Clonea and Tramore have satisfied the strict new EU bathing water criteria that proved the downfall of many Submissions should be emailed to [email protected] other strands,” said Ciara Conway. by midnight Monday 22nd July 2013. “Under the new rules only beaches where the water quality is deemed ‘excellent’ qualify for a flag. We’re lucky to have so many award winning Submissions can also be made in writing and should be addressed to stretches of coastline here in Waterford including at the Guillamenes , Administrative Officer, Planning Department, Waterford County at Newtown Cove all the way along the coast to Ballyquin, Curragh and Council, Dungarvan by 5pm on Monday 22nd July 2013. Submissions Goat Island near Ardmore.” should state the name and address of the person, group or public body from whom same is received.

Constituency Office: Phone: 058 245 14 CONTACT CIARA: 36 Mary Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford Email: [email protected] COULD TRAMORE BE A SMARTER TRAVEL TOWN? Labour TD for Waterford, Ciara Conway, says Tramore would be a perfect ‘Smarter Travel Town’ and she’ll be urging Minister Alan Kelly to consider closely plans presented by the Council.

“I’ve been meeting with Ken Walsh , Tramore Area Engineer, and I’m very impressed by the plans being presented here by Tramore Town Council,” said Ciara Conway.

“Smarter Travel is already proving hugely successful in Dungarvan, where the cycle lanes an walkways are proliferating and locals and tourists are making the most of them.

Tramore has population of more than 10,000 and its Blue Flag beach and other amenities mean that it’s well established on the Tourist map.

However, if it were to receive Smarter Travel Funding, it would be to the benefit of locals and tourists alike.

The purpose of Smarter Travel Areas is to encourage people to leave their cars at home and to walk, cycle or use other more sustainable forms of transport, where possible. The Team in Tramore lead by Director of Transport and Infrastructure Michael Quinn and Engineer Ken Walsh have put together a very impressive proposal and I’d like to commend Morris Conway , Alex Dean and Michael Flynn for the work they’ve put into the Active Travel Towns Funding application.

TRAMORE TOWN PARK Tramore Town Park is a wonderful addition to the town. Congratulations all involved especially those on the Tramore Tidy Towns for all their work so far.

Plans are progressing for the Inclusion Play Parks by the Boating Lake. These parks will cater to able bodied and disabled children. One park will be aimed at children of up to 8 years of age while it’s hoped that there will also be an adventure play park/obstacle course for older children.

COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SCHEMES NEEDED IN TRAMORE I am currently working with the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton and local community activists to examine potential projects that would be suitable to operate as Community Employment Schemes in Tramore.

There are a number of very interesting projects being proposed and I certainly believe these have great potential- they would have benefits for participants themselves as well as being of huge benefit to the local community and the town of Tramore in general.”

“I will impress upon my colleague Minister Joan Burton the value of such proposals and I will be working on this issue with all the relevant stakeholders in the coming weeks.”

The Community Employment (CE) programme is designed to help people who are long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged people to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities.

Participants can take up other part-time work during their placement.

After the placement, participants are encouraged to seek permanent part-time and full-time jobs elsewhere based on the experience and new skills they have gained while in a Community Employment scheme. CIARA CONWAY TD Working with Cllr. Paddy O’Callaghan Constituency Office: 36 Mary Street, 087 205 7365 [email protected] Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

Phone: 058 245 14 Email: [email protected] Web: labour.ie/ciaraconway 0612