LABOUR IS WORKING FOR Gerald Nash TD working with Cllr Eoin Holmes BOYNESIDE TRAIL OPENS - NEXT STOP MORNINGTON

Deputy Ged Nash, Cllr Eoin Holmes, Cllr. Pio Smith, Dominic Hannigan TD and Minister for Public Transport, TD opening the first phase of the Boyneside Trail. We want to see the next phase linking Mornington with . We secured over €500,000 in funding to develop the 'Boyneside Trail' greenway from Drogheda to Oldbridge. This was officially opened earlier this month with Public Transport Minister, Alan Kelly. We are currently working with the local Boyneside Trail initiative and the Minister to build the next leg of this scheme, from Mornington to Drogheda. Ultimately, we have a plan to link the coast with the Bru na Boinne centre. This is one of the most exciting tourism and job creation initiatives in the country and Cllr Holmes and I are determined to see this project completed. LABOUR BUILDS SCHOOLS FOR , &

Minister for Education & Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD has embarked on the largest school building programme in a generation. East Meath has suffered more than most areas from the scourge of developer-led planning. Weare working hard to ensure that the area is 'retrofitted' with the social infrastructure - the schools, health centres, football pitches, youth clubs and roads & pavements the area needs. The new school at Realt na Mara, Doncarney is well on its way to completion and Minister Quinn has allocated money this year for the new Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh National School project at Laytown and Whitecross NS in Julianstown. Labour believes in building permanent, safe and warm new schools - not wasting taxpayers money on prefabs year in and year out. STEP CLOSER TO ENDING TRAFFIC CHAOS AT SCHOOLS WITH “LOOP ROAD”.

The traffic problem at Coláiste na hInse & Scoil Oilibhéir Naofa is well known to all. Deputy Nash and Cllr. Holmes have been working hard to address the issue. They said, "We, and many others, believe that the provision of the proposed “Loop Road” - a short road that will continue from the existing entrance road, go around the back of Scoil Oilibhéir Naofa and exit onto the Cllr Eoin Holmes at the site of the loop road at the Laytown/ road - is the simplest and most achievable solution, in schools campus the short term. Deputy Nash said, "The positive effect of this road being completed will be to remove the need for drivers to turn in front of the schools and to go out the same way that they came in. This will greatly enhance the safety of students and make life easier for time-pressed parents. Cllr. Holmes explained, "I have been pressing for this essential road. The council has recently completed a design and budget for the project. The next stage is to get planning permission for the route. I have been pushing the council to go to “Part Eight” (the process by which the Council, in effect, applies for planning permission from itself). I am delighted to report that the Area Manager has written to me, stating: “I agree that we should go to ‘Part Eight” as soon as possible. I have sent a request to the transport department to proceed with this.” Deputy Nash concluded, "Once planning permission is in place, the next step will be to secure funding from the National Transport Authority. This is much more achievable for a 'Shovel Ready' project with planning permission in place. We will continue to fight for this essential piece of infrastructure for the area." FREE GP CARE FOR CHILDREN OPEN SPACE ZONING UNDER 6 AT BETTYSTOWN

Soon, all children under 6 will get free access to their family doctor. The County Manager and the Council’s Planning This is an important first step to achieving free access for all citizens Department has accepted a proposal by Cllr. Eoin to their GP. The evidence is clear that people delay or even avoid Holmes that the lands adjacent to the visiting their GP where a fee is required. Bettystown Court Hotel be rezoned Open Space Removing this all too real barrier to GP care for so many families will as part of the current Local Area Plan process. lead to much better health outcomes for young children. It will also The local representatives said, "The evidence of provide significant financial relief for hard-pressed families. this can be seen in the revised Manager’s report, currently on display on www.meathcoco.ie. The effect of my proposal is to make the lands available for sporting and or recreational use, rather than for commercial or housing development - in other words it is amenity lands. "We are aware that the receiver, acting on behalf of NAMA, in relation to these lands is planning to submit a proposal to the Council requesting that this community orientated zoning be reversed in order to get a higher price for the land. The effect of this will be to price this badly needed amenity land out of the range of local sporting organizations. “We are asking anyone who feels, like we do, that this area has been poorly served in the past by the lack of properly zoned, community orientated and amenity land, to use any and all influence they may have to help me keep the land zoned Open Space. "We are firmly of the view that this land has not been 'Rezoned', in fact, it’s been 'Right-Zoned.'" NEW PRIMARY CARE NEW COUNCIL HOMES FOR CENTRE ON THE WAY BETTYSTOWN will build 18 new homes at Narroways for local FOR BETTYSTOWN people who are in need of social housing. The Bettystown This is the first time in many years that the Department of the town centre area Environment has provided money to local Councils to build homes. will welcome the We are looking at new ways to resource the building of Council new, multi- homes for local families. This is a major priority for Cllr. Holmes and I. disciplinary primary care centre later this SEABURY LAWNS 'TAKING IN year. This development has CHARGE' PROCESS been delivered by Minister of State, Local residents at Seabury Lawns have been very active in seeking to . have the estate 'taken in charge' by the Council. We have worked Money is available through the developers bond lodged with the hard together to Council to carry out any remaining works. deliver this much needed facility to the area. We are We can confirm that the Council will carry out a 'snag list' in the next hopeful that this important piece of social few weeks to determine the outstanding work that needs to be done infrastructure will help to regenerate the heart of to get the estate to the point where the council can take over Bettystown. responsibility for roads, paths and other key pieces of infrastructure. 20% DROP IN LIVE REGISTER UNDER LABOUR

Labour is the party of work. Getting people back to work is our No. 1 objective and we are succeeding. There has been a fall of almost 20% in the Live Register in this area since March 2011. Under Fianna Fáil, the country was losing 8,000 jobs a month. Now, this government is creating 5,000 a month - that's an average of 1,250 new jobs each week. CSO figures show that over 90% of all new jobs created last year were full-time. Many thousands of people now have the confidence to set up their own businesses too. LOCAL PLAYGROUNDS A HUGE SUCCESS

Local TD Gerald Nash has said the two local playgrounds in the Narroways and in Laytown have been a huge success. He said, “Huge credit is due to Cllr. Eoin Holmes for delivering these much needed projects for local families. Cllr. Eoin Holmes said, “I developed the Narroways playground as a priority during my terms as of Meath County Council. Labour will continue to work to develop more amenities for children and indeed young Ged Nash TD works with Cllr Eoin Holmes, pictured at the Bettystown adults in the area.” playground NEW FOOTPATHS AND CYCLEWAYS PLANNED

During the developer led building frenzy, one of the many neglected pieces of infrastructure in this area was Footpaths and Cycleways. This is an issue that affects us to this day. Meath County Council recently commissioned the consultants Arup to carry out a study of the Footpath and Cycleway needs of the area. This study has now been completed and presented to the local Councillors. You can read the report at: www.meath.ie/CountyCouncil/Publications/RoadsPublications/ This is possibly the best study of its kind that we have seen. The study clearly identifies a "Priority Phase One”. This is a route from Donacarney to Bettystown Cross Roundabout; Bettystown Cross Roundabout to Bettystown Court Roundabout; Bettystown Court Roundabout to Bettystown Square and from the Bettystown Schools Campus to Laytown Train Station. The funding for this proposal will have to come, in the main, from the National Transport Authority. However, the Council must leave no stone unturned in preparing the way for these badly needed, and long overdue, footpaths and cycleways. It is crucial that the Council does everything in it power to make this happen. Deputy Nash confirmed that Cllr. Holmes has received written confirmation that the Council's Area Manager “fully agrees” with his recommendation to seek planning permission for this scheme. The Manager further confirms that; “We (the Council) will go to 'Part 8' as soon as possible. I have discussed this with our infrastructure department and they will progress it”. We will continue to work to deliver these footpaths and cycle ways. A HOME FOR LAYTOWN UNITED FC

Ged Nash & Cllr. Eoin Holmes have been working closely with Laytown United School Boys & Girls Soccer Club in an effort to find them a proper and permanent home. They stated, "We are great admirers of this club and the great strides the committee has taken recently to provide such an important and valuable outlet for young children. Eoin said, "I am happy to report that I was able to arrange a meeting with a senior council official who agrees that it is completely unacceptable that Laytown FC continues to train on the beach and on green areas of estates in the absence of a proper home." Ged concluded, "I suggested a number of sites to the official that may be in the ownership of the Council. I have also referred these sites to the Council’s planning department for evaluation. I am confident that if a suitable site is in the ownership of the Council, a permanent home will be made available to the club as soon as possible."

CLINIC TIMES Deputy Gerald Nash is available at his clinic at the Tara Guesthouse, Laytown on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 6.30pm. He can also arrange to meet you at your home by appointment or you can contact his full time office in Drogheda on 041 9810811. WORKING WITH YOUR LOCAL LABOUR TEAM

Dáil Office: House, 2 Phone: 01 618 3576 Senator Lorraine Higgins 01 618 3186 Constituency Office: Connolly Hall, [email protected] Palace Street, Drogheda Phone: 041 981 0811

Email: [email protected] Fax: 01 618 4397 Web: www.geraldnash.com Cllr Eoin Holmes 087 224 2765 [email protected] Gerald Nash TD 0612