CLONDALKIN UPDATE Robert Dowds TD Summer 2015 A BETTER FUTURE FOR CLONDALKIN 1. USC CUTS FOR 2. SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN There is nothing more important for our future WORKING FAMILIES than our children's health and education. In Now that the Government's finances are Clondalkin, the Government has built several getting in reasonable shape, the debate is major extensions for our schools, and has beginning on where the extra money built over 300 new schools or schools should be spent for the future. I am extensions across Ireland. By investing in arguing for further cuts to the USC for our future, the Government has prioritised working families, which will increase their the needs of children, which will help them take home pay and help to ease the burden on in their lives ahead and provide a better future those who have borne it the most. I will be pushing the Government to for everybody. cut the USC in the forthcoming Budget for low and middle income earners, while maintaining it or increasing it for higher earners. 4. TACKLING THE 3. JOBS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED HOUSING CRISIS Last year, 29,100 extra jobs were The current housing and homelessness crisis created in Ireland, of which is a major problem in Clondalkin, and the 13,100 were construction jobs. Government is trying to tackle what is a very The numbers signing on the dole difficult issue. in Clondalkin and Lucan continues to fall, and is now down to 6,832 The Government is spending €2.2 billion on social in April from 9,686 in August housing, and this will include several hundred new social 2011. The trend is set to continue, housing units for Clondalkin. These houses will be homes for young giving jobs, income and families who need them and will help them to build a better future for opportunities for the future. themselves. 5. TACKLING 6. BETTER PAY AND CONDITIONS CLIMATE CHANGE FOR WORKERS The Government is for the first time The pay and conditions of workers has always been passing a Bill on Climate Change, to at the heart of the Labour Party. The Government ensure that Ireland lives up to our has published proposals giving the right of collective obligations to cut our carbon bargaining to trade unions, which will help workers emissions. Taking care of our when negotiating with employers on pay and environment is vital for the future of conditions. When put into law later this year, these our children, and Labour is tackling proposals will help create better, fairer working the challenge head on by supporting energy efficiency and renewable conditions for workers now and into the future. energy projects. 8. BRINGING 7. LÍONRA GAEILGE LE HAGHAIDH TOURISTS TO CHLUAIN DOLCÁIN CLONDALKIN Tá pobal láidir Ghaeilge i gCluain Dolcáin, le dhá bhunscoil, meánscoil agus ionad South Dublin County Council have recently cultúrtha sa cheantair. Tá súil agam go n- published a tourist marketing strategy for éiríonn le Cluain Dolcáin stádas Líonra the county, and Clondalkin Village is right at Ghaeilge a bhaint amach sa todhchaí, rud a the heart of it. The new Round Tower Visitor cabhróidh go mór len teanga sa ceantair Centre and Monastic Garden will be the centre agus a cabhróidh go mór le turasóirí a piece of the strategy, which is hoped will attract tourists to the Village, mhealladh chuig Cluain Dolcáin. helping create jobs and opportunities for the future of Clondalkin. Constituency Office: Mobile: 087 652 0360 Main Street, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 E-mail: [email protected] Robert Dowds @robert_dowdsTD CONTACT ROBERT: Tel: 618 3446 Website: www.robertdowds.ie FREE GP CARE A CHOICE FOR A BETTER, HEALTHIER THE FUTURE FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN LABOUR VS. SINN FÉIN Labour want to cut the USC for Sinn Féin Oppose Cuts to the USC those on Low and Middle Incomes “I would like to see cuts to the USC for low and middle income workers in the next Budget. However, I am happy to see high levels of USC for those on higher incomes." Article written by Sinn Robert Dowds TD Féin's Eoin Ó Broin Speech to the Dáil, 11 June opposing tax cuts, Sunday Business Post May 3rd Labour cut the USC in October Sinn Féin Voted Against Cutting the USC in November The rollout of free GP care for children aged under 6 is good news for Should the USC on low and local families. Many people worry about the cost of bringing their child middle income workers be cut? to the doctor and parents often have to bring young children to the Sinn Féin voted: doctor a couple of times a year. So free GP care for children under 6 will make a real difference to a family's household budget. Labour in 2% 1.5% 4% 3.5% Yes government has also ensured that adults aged over 70 will benefit from No free GP care. This means that from this summer, up to 300,000 children 2014 2015 2014 2015 Finance Bill, 26 Novemberx and older people who currently have to pay to see their GP will no longer have to. Labour Increased the USC Sinn Féin Voted Against Increasing But free GP care is about more than reducing the day-to-day cost of on Higher Earners the USC on Higher Earners living for families and pensioners. The enhanced primary care services Should the USC on higher being rolled out mean that the Under 6s will benefit from a new, earners be increased? landmark asthma cycle of care programme and preventative wellness 7% 8% 7% 11% Sinn Féin voted: checks. Adults of all ages will benefit from the new diabetes care programme. Yes 2014 2015 2014 2015 This is the first step in the phased introduction of a universal, free GP Over €70k Self Employed Over €100k No x service. It marks a shift towards promoting health and wellbeing that Finance Bill, 26 November will benefit our health system as a whole. It is also an important Sinn Féin Minister for Education milestone in achieving Labour’s priority of enhancing primary care and Labour has hired an extra 3,500 John O'Dowd is about to sack keeping people well in their own community. teachers since 2012 1,700 teachers in Northern Ireland SIGN UP NOW! Registration is now open through the easy-to-use online system: 3500 1700 www.gpvisitcard.ie EXTRA TEACHERS HIRED teachers sacked A LOOK TO THE FUTURE The Irish people have been through a traumatic experience over the last 8 years, and finally things are starting to improve. It is important that the most amount of people possible feel the benefit from the recovery. It is also absolutely vital that the recovery is not put at risk by poor economic management. The Irish people have been through too much for the recovery to all go up in smoke. We must think of the future of the country and make the decisions that will help Ireland to continue its recovery, and to spread the benefits as widely as possible. If you wish to raise any issue with me, whether personal, local or national, please contact me. Robert Dowds TD Working with your local Labour team Constituency Office: Main Street, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 Joanna Tuffy TD Cllr. Breeda Bonner Cllr. Martina Genockey 01 6183822 087 413 2627 086 373 5657 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 618 3446 Mobile: 087 652 0360 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.robertdowds.ie If you wish to set up an appointment with Robert Dowds Robert, please call his office on 01-6183446. @robert_dowdsTD 0612.