Gerald Nash TD EAST MEATH UPDATE Connolly Hall, Palace Street, Email: [email protected] Office: 041 9810811 Web: www.geraldnash.com

Follow me on Facebook @geraldnash

Drogheda/South Louth/East Meath RECOVERY UNDERWAY - Live Register Figures

8009 58,000 NEW JOBS CREATED 7990 8005 IN LAST 12 MONTHS 7570 11% DROP IN DROGHEDA LIVE REGISTER FIGURES 6703 58,000 new jobs have been created in the last 12 months, a sure sign that economic recovery is well underway. Over 90% of the 5048 new jobs are full time. We are now creating 5,000 new jobs per month compared to the last three years of the Fianna Fáil government which saw 7,000 people lose their jobs each month. Our next job is to make sure we can bring about full employment and a decent, living wage for everyone. There has been a drop of 11.5% in Live Register in Drogheda over the last year. Tackling joblessness is Labour’s number one Nov 2008 Nov 2009 Nov 2010 Nov 2011 Nov 2012 Nov 2013 priority through Pathways to Work and the Action Plan for Jobs. Fianna Fáil Labour

SOVEREIGNTY RESTORED FREE GP CARE FOR AS IRELAND EXITS CHILDREN UNDER-6 BAILOUT Budget 2014 was designed to give something back to those who pay for everything and qualify for little. In the Budget In 2010 Ireland reached a stage Labour secured funding of €37 million for the rollout of free where we could no longer GP care to children under 6 years of age. This is a borrow the money to fund our commitment we made to help hard-pressed families to day to day services. The troika meet the day to day costs of rearing children. 250,000 officials from the IMF, EU and children will benefit from this year’s Budget measure. This ECB landed in Ireland and the first phase of a plan to roll out free GP care to the entire effectively took over from a population. dysfunctional government. When we entered government, the country was on a cliff edge with five months of money left to keep our schools open and to make social welfare payments. Since then we have restored stability and transformed Ireland’s economic fortunes. On Dec 15th 2013 Ireland left the bailout. There will be no second loan or backup deal. Ireland’s international reputation has been restored. There is still much work to be done but this is an extremely important step on our road to recovery. TAXES ON WEALTH IN BUDGET 2014

Following €500m of Wealth Tax measures in Budget 2013, this year’s budget includes several key measures to tax wealth in Ireland and ensure the burden of adjustment is shared by those who can afford it most. Ireland now has the second most progressive taxation system in Europe. In other words, those who have the most are the taxed the most. I Levy on the Banks €150m levy on certain banks and financial institutions to seek the return of funds to the State I DIRT Tax – Rate Increase for Savings Standard rate of DIRT for savings increased to 41% for payments made at least once a year. I Life Assurance and Investment Funds ‘Exit Tax’ for leaving life assurance policies and investment funds increased to 41%. I Pensions Measures Stamp Duty ‘Pension Levy’ to fund the Jobs Initiative to increase to 0.75% for 2014 raising 135m Standard Fund Threshold (SFT) – a subsidy for high earners on large pensions – reduced further I ‘Top Slicing Relief’ Abolished Tax reduction on lump sum payments when leaving employment no longer available from 1 January 2014 for ‘ex gratia’ lump sum payments. HOME RENOVATION PROTECTING OUR INCENTIVE TO GET BUILDERS CHILDREN’S BACK TO WORK EDUCATION

Tax relief of Prior to the Budget I was contacted by many 13.5% is parents and teachers in the constituency, who available from were concerned about the impact of any further 25th October increase to class sizes. Education has always been 2013 for a priority for the Labour Party and this budget families who shows our commitment to protecting frontline invest in their education services. homes in 2014 and 2015 Budget 2014 following a brought in the proposal by following the Labour arrangements Party. The for education: Home Renovation Ged with Minister for Housing, Jan O’Sullivan TD I Class sizes Initiative is protected at designed to incentivise renovations and increase demand for small primary and construction jobs. The relief will be given as a tax credit over two years secondary level. on spending of €5,000 up to a max of €30,000 and must take place in your principal private residence. The scheme will only apply to registered I Book rental schemes for all builders with a tax clearance certificate, to help tackle the shadow primary schools economy. Covered work includes extensions, renovations, window I Parents to be consulted on school uniform fitting, plumbing, tiling and plastering. costs I 2,800 additional school staff, including classroom teachers and resource teachers to EXTRA FUNDING FOR HOME be hired between 2013/14 HEATING GRANTS I 390 extra SNAs to be appointed this year I Student grants have been kept at the same €57 million is available in grants for people to make their homes rate as 2013 warmer and help them reduce energy costs. If you want more I The reintroduction of the €70 million minor information about how to apply for the schemes please contact me by works and summer works programme for email at [email protected] or call me on 041 9810811 schools GERALD NASH TD - EAST MEATH UPDATE

BUILDING NEW SCHOOLS WORKING WITH MEATH COUNTY COUNCIL Since my election to the Dáil, Cllr Eoin Ruairi Quinn Holmes and I have worked closely with TD, the Meath County Coucil on many local issues. Minister for Education & Together we are particularly concerned Skills has with issues relating to good, community announced focused planning. Eoin is the father of four that the new young children and as such is very aware of school the need to plan and develop family building focused communities. We have delivered on Cllr Eoin Holmes projects at our promises to get proper playgrounds for both Scoil the area. We now have excellent playgrounds in , Duleek, Slane An Spioraid Naomh in Laytown and Whitecross and . We recently asked the council to carry out repairs and National School in will commence in maintenance on our playgrounds and I am pleased that they have 2014. This is excellent news for the area. agreed to do this and that the works will be carried out shortly. We are now working on a plan to get the council to develop a community facility and library in Bettystown to serve the entire area. PROMOTING TOURISM We used Eoin’s term as Chairman of the Meath County Council as an opportunity to get County Hall to focus more attention to this side of The world famous the county. Many of us feel that the coast area has been treated as an Giro d’Italia will be afterthought by Navan. This area has been affected by poor developer welcomed to the led planning which I have been pushing the council to rectify since I was area in May. elected. Keeping the VAT The Draft East Meath Local Area Plan 2014 - 2020, which covers rate in the Bettystown, Laytown, Mornington, Mornington East and is hospitality sector at on display this month. We have asked the planning department to find 9% is a welcome a suitable location locally and they have agreed to make the plan boost for jobs in available to the public in Coláiste na hInse in Bettystown, Co. Meath. the tourism industry in the East Meath area. I also look The plan can be viewed Monday to Friday between 9.00a.m. to forward to continuing to work with Minister of State 3.30p.m., during school term. Alan Kelly TD to extend the Boyneside Trail for locals and tourists alike. Submissions can be made until 5pm on Monday, 3rd February 2014. You can send your submission to [email protected] or to the Council’s planning section at Abbey Mall, Abbey Road, Navan, Co. Meath NORTHLANDS marked “East Meath Local Area Plan”. We strongly urge you to examine the draft plan and make comments or The recommendations suggestions. This is your chance to have a say on the future of your of the report into the area. flooding in the Northlands Estate must be implemented A PRO-ENTERPRISE AREA as quickly as possible. Approximately 150 Meath & Louth businesses have already signed up The report on the to JobsPlus, Minister Joan Burton’s scheme which provides direct cash flooding payments to companies who take on those who are long term commissioned by the Office of Public Works and unemployed. Labour is helping entrepreneurs to set up businesses by Meath County Council highlights a number of actions providing those who are unemployed and want to start a business with which need to be carried out, including regular clearing income tax exemptions for two years. East Meath’s unemployment rate of channels and installation of a concrete lining. has fallen by 11.5% in the last year.

HEALTH UPDATE

THE HSE has identified a suitable building in East Meath for the new primary healthcare centre. Negotiations with the vendor are progressing and fit out works will be required to be carried out. Originally, it was planned that the new facility would be delivered as a Public-Private Partnership. The HSE has confirmed to me that an alternative means of delivery for the badly needed centre is under way. The HSE now intends to purchase a building in a central and accessible location to house all local primary care services under one roof. I have worked hard for local women to deliver the extension to the Lourdes Hospital Redress Scheme. I am also working to ensure a just and fair outcome for the women who have been impacted by the barbaric practice of symphysiotomy. Judge Yvonne Murphy has been appointed by the government to work with the women concerned. SOCIAL PROTECTION – ALMOST €20 BILLION SPEND FOR 2014

I Over €1 billion to be spent supporting jobseekers to be job-ready - €85 million more than in 2013 I ALL weekly social welfare rates, including carers allowance, half-rate carers allowance, disability payments, invalidity payments protected by Labour I Child benefit maintained I Weekly State pension maintained IN FULL I Free travel, free tv licence & 6 month fuel allowance protected

€500 MILLION TO GERALD NASH TD IN SUPPORT BUSINESS & THE DÁIL CREATE JOBS As a member of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee, I am currently involved in a number of investigations, including the Jobs and growth are our top priority to get people scandalous top-up payments made by certain health agencies to back to work. A package of 25 measures was unveiled their senior staff. This practice will be brought to an end. on Budget Day along with increased investment in In the Dáil in recent months I have focused on areas as diverse as shovel-ready projects. These included: economic development, employment rights, climate change legislation and justice for ‘The Disappeared’. I Tax relief for home improvement & renovation As Chair of the Oireachtas Friends of Palestine, I am working I Two years tax free for long term unemployed who with members from all parties to ensure that Ireland's voice is start their own businesses. heard in seeking a just and lasting settlement to the Palestinian I €30 million for energy efficiency & retrofit question. schemes. I am also active on the issue of Immigration Reform in the US. I Reduction of Air Travel Tax to 0% - to encourage This issue affects hundreds of families in Louth & East Meath. new routes, deliver new visitors and create more You can keep up to date with my work in Dáil Eireann by jobs in tourism. As result of this Ryanair has already following me on Facebook or Twitter. announced 9 new routes and an additional 300 jobs. I Capital Gains Tax Relief for Entrepreneurs to encourage people to re-invest the proceeds from the sale of business assets into new companies and employment. I Increasing the threshold for the Credit Review Office from €500,000 to €3 Million to ensure that SMEs get the finance they need from the banks. I Supporting Cash-flow in Retail – the VAT cash receipts threshold is to be increased from €1.25 million to €2 million. I Protecting Honest & Compliant Businesses – My advice centre takes place at 6.30pm on the 2nd & 4th stronger VAT antifraud measures and increased Monday of each month at the Tara Guesthouse, Bettystown, Revenue powers on tobacco, fuel & alcohol or by arrangement by contacting me at 041 9810811. smuggling.

Dáil Office: House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Phone: 01 618 3576

Constituency Office: Connolly Hall, Senator Mary Moran Cllr Paul Bell Cllr Linda Bell Woods 042 9329052 087 1206736 087 9758136 Palace Street, Drogheda [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Phone: 041 981 0811

Email: [email protected] Fax: 01 618 4397 Web: www.geraldnash.com Cllr Pio Smith Cllr Eoin Holmes Cllr Leonard Hatrick 087 9460673 087 224 2765 086 851 9910 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Gerald Nash TD 0612