BRENDAN HOWLIN TD NEWS UPDATE Autumn/Winter 2014 HOPE AND CONFIDENCE FOR THE FUTURE The recent turn around in the fortunes of the Irish economy has been nothing short of remarkable. From being the sick man of Europe under Fianna Fáil and requiring international assistance to pay our bills, our performance has been transformed by Labour in Government. Recent statistics suggest that our Gross National Product, the sum of all economic activity in the state grew by 9% year on year. These figures are the first real confirmation of what we have been seeing in relation to employment. The numbers employed in the last year increased by almost 32,000. There are now 75,000 more people at work than at the worst point in the economic crisis. Ireland, far from being the sick man in Europe, is the continents fastest growing economy. What does this mean for us all? Firstly, it doesn’t undo the damage done by the previous Government. We are coming out of the worst recession in our history and its impact will not be undone overnight. As a result of Fianna Fáil mismanagement over €20bn was taken out of the economy in spending cuts and tax hikes But the impact is real and immediate too. We were supposed to take a further €2bn out of the economy in the recent Budget. Thankfully that wasn’t necessary. Labour committed ourselves to resolving this problem if we were elected to Government. And hand on heart we are further down that road than I expected we might be at this stage. We have learned lessons too. Never again can we get ourselves into a mess like this. That will require prudence and caution. But at last, after six awful years, we can look forward to the future with some hope and optimism. Brendan welcomes Labour leader TD and colleagues to for the Parliamentary Party Meeting in September. N25 NEW ROSS BYPASS PPP SCHEME The Scheme will form a strategic component of the national primary route network providing high quality links within the south east region. It will improve safety by providing a safer road type and ease congestion by providing a bypass of New Ross town on the N25 and N30 where significant delays occur. The scheme will greatly benefit local communities by improving their environment. The N25 New Ross Bypass Scheme includes the construction of sections of both the N25 and N30 routes. It is envisaged that the PPP Project will comprise work of approximately 16km: 14.8km of dual carriageway (N25 and N30 routes) and 1.2km of single carriageway (New Ross N30 route).This long-awaited by pass of New Ross town will finally bring relief to thousands of commuters currently using the congested New Ross bridge Work will begin in the first half of 2015 adding a magnificent new bridge to Wexford’s skyline. www.labour.ie labour.ie/brendanhowlin GOREY TO €8M ST AIDAN’S BUILD STARTED Work has begun in earnest on the first phase of construction of the €8 million ENNISCORTHY extension at St. Aidan’s Parish School in Enniscorthy. GETS GO AHEAD The project, undertaken by Dublin based Ganson Building & Civil Engineering, has commenced under the command of Conroy Architects, led by local man Neville FOR JUNE 2015 Conroy. The M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy Motorway Older classes have been moved to an alternative campus on the Ross Road as the will run from the Southern end of the contractors take out a dozen pre-fabs. Gorey Bypass at Clogh to Scurlocksbush The plan is that they will be replaced by 26 new classrooms, a 400 square metre at Oilgate and will incorporate the P.E. hall and a state of the art library all due to be completed by December of Enniscorthy Bypass. This section of the next year. scheme will be 27 km and the scheme will also include a 4 km dual carriageway Phase two and three will involve refurbishment of existing buildings in time for connecting the new motorway to the the 2016/17 school year. existing N11 at Scarawalsh and a further Once complete, the radically revamped school will house 44 classrooms, 15 8 km single carriageway link from special education rooms, three play courtyards and four basketball courts. Scarawalsh to the N30 at Clohass. The Enniscorthy bypass will require 18 road bridges with 8 ‘underbridges’ along its 26 kilometres length. It is expected that all tenders from consortia keen to carry out the work will be submitted by the end of November and following the contracts being awarded, construction will get underway by the 2nd quarter of 2015. The budget for the long-awaited project is €341 million and the road should be open to motorists before the end of 2018. Caption GREAT DAY FOR THE LORETO The Loreto is one of six new school projects around the country that are to be delivered under what is called Bundle 5 of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) school building programme, announced by Wexford’s Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the Government’s Economic Stimulus Package. County Tipperary developer Darren Quinn of Fortissimo Holdings offered 10 acres to Loreto. The generous gesture was gladly accepted by the Board of Trustees of Loreto and subsequently approved by the Department of Education following a site evaluation. , which originally granted permission for housing development in the area, also signalled its support for the school project. Under the PPP model, the private sector bears the initial cost of building projects with the Government repaying the money over an extended period of time, usually 25 years. The State repays the private sector investment in the form of annual charges, thereby enabling it to distribute the financial burden over a prolonged period. The Loreto project will give a boost to the construction industry in Wexford during the two-year building phase, as well as to the local community. After years of delays and discussions, this project will now proceed to construction next year. It will provide a first rate school for the next generation of Wexford students. NEW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OFFICIALLY OPENED AT WEXFORD GENERAL HOSPITAL The new €7.5m Emergency Department at Wexford General Hospital was officially opened on 11th June by the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform Mr Brendan Howlin TD. The new Emergency Department (Ed) is providing a total of 17 treatment spaces and two resuscitation rooms for emergency patients. This significant expansion in capacity will lead to improved admission times for patients and will also provide a much enhanced environment for patients and the staff working there. The existing Emergency Department facilities will then be refurbished for Minister Brendan Howlin with Lily Burns, Manager of WGH, Colm Quigley Clinical Director, Fr. use as a temporary ward while other Jim Fegan and Paddy McKiernan of the Wexford Hospital Alliance and Liam Dwyer and Ciaran refurbishment/improvement work is Sheridan of the Friends of Wexford Hosptial at the official opening of the new A&E. ongoing in the Hospital. A second part of this overall €20 million project, which encompasses new Maternity Delivery Suits and third Operating Theatre, will be open for business in 2015.

WEXFORD GARDA GEORGE MAKES HISTORY Cllr. George Lawlor made history on the double earlier STATION this year when he left office as the last Mayor of the Town of Wexford and became the first Mayor of the newly February 2015 will see the commencement of construction for the formed Borough District of Wexford following the local long awaited new Garda Headquarters in Wexford Town. Originally elections in June. His packed Mayoral diary sees George planned for a site 3 miles outside the Town Centre the new building travel throughout Wexford in support of organisations in will now be constructed on what is universally regarded as a much the community. "As Mayor I am proud and honoured to more suitable location near 'The Rocks ' in the Town. represent the people of Wexford and continue the functions of this historic office which dates back over 700 The €25 million project will be built on 7 acres providing state of years" said Cllr. Lawlor following his election. the art facilities for the Gardaí and public alike. The new facility will also provide ample parking within the grounds. Minister Brendan Howlin said that the new station was "long overdue and that Wexford Gardaì had endured sub standard working conditions for far too long and the project will also provide a much needed boost to construction jobs."

Mayor of Wexford, Cllr. George Lawlor with Louisa O’Brien, Principal of Barntown National School at the sod turning event for the new school building. TOURISM BOOST FOR WEXFORD Johnstown Castle to become a feature tourist destination in Wexford and the South-East. Government has agreed to use Johnstown Castle Estate the a 19th Century castle and its gardens which extend to 120 acres to be used for heritage, tourism, amenity or recreational purposes. Teagasc has commissioned a preliminary report to explore the delivery of this project, and will now, in conjunction with the office of Public Works, scope the project. €2.5million has been provided in the 2014 Agriculture Estimates to meet capital costs arising. Minister Howlin warmly welcomes this plan to develop this unique 19th Century castle and grounds to become yet another reason to visit the many attractions of the South East Region. Photo by Lee Robinson Contact me: Brendan Howlin TD Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Minister Brendan Howlin’s Office SIPTU Building Coolcotts, Wexford

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Mayor George Lawlor Cllr Bobby Ireton 086 8164128 087 2531916 [email protected] [email protected]

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