Events Calendar
January 2010
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Blank cheque for Banks means a bleak future for children with special education needs
Independent Councillors Padraig McEvoy and Catherine Murphy have challenged the notion that education has been exempted from recent budgetary cutbacks as was claimed by the Green Party in the review of the programme for government. The imminent removal of some Special Needs Assistants (SNA) from Kildare classrooms in the coming weeks is evidence of this. It is clear that the blank cheque the government have written for the banks is having a direct consequence on the life chances of vulnerable children and will have a long term consequence for their future.
Meadowbrook Estate - Final Snag List
According to Cllr Catherine Murphy, planning permission for Meadowbrook Estate in Maynooth, which consists of 240 houses, was originally sought in 1889. Despite the fact that all houses in the estate have been completed for more than 15 years, the estate is not yet in council charge.
Continue reading "Meadowbrook Estate - Final Snag List" »
ALLOTMENTS PLAN DUE MID FEBRUARY
According to Cllr Catherine Murphy there has been considerable interest in the Council’s plan to develop allotments in North Kildare. While the decision has been made in principle, details are currently being worked through. Issues such as access, availability of water and disposal of waste are all currently being considered.
Continue reading "ALLOTMENTS PLAN DUE MID FEBRUARY" »
Murphy slates Minister Brady for welcoming funding cuts to Kildare
Cllr Catherine Murphy has severely criticised Minister Aine Brady, who issued a statement welcoming the allocation from the Local Government Fund of €25,532,785 to Kildare County Council. This allocation, according to Cllr Murphy, in fact represents a significant reduction for the second year in a row and compares very unfavourably with other Council’s. The Local Government fund is primarily made up from motor tax; Kildare is one of the few Counties that pay more into the fund than we get back, with the balance of our motor tax being allocated to other counties.
Cllr Murphy has stated that Minister Brady either doesn’t know what she is talking about or it’s a bare faced attempt, by her, to deflect the bad news of reduced services by blaming Kildare County Council for miss management of resources. In her statement she says “the people of Kildare can be confident that local government will have the resources available to provide the range and quality of services that they expect and demand” .
Continue reading "Murphy slates Minister Brady for welcoming funding cuts to Kildare" »
Independents welcome changes to conference regime
Kildare County Council’s Independent Group, (Cllrs. Padraig McEvoy, Paddy Kennedy, Seamie Moore and Catherine Murphy) have welcomed the significant changes to Council Policy in relation to attendance by members at Conferences. At the September meeting of Kildare County Council they acknowledged the need for training, particularly in specialist areas and also for new members, however, they raised serious concerns about the extent of the money being spent and the return to the Council for that spend. On foot of this a meeting was arranged between the Council’s 4 Group Leaders (Cllr Senan Griffin FG, Cllr John McGinley Lab, Cllr Paul Kelly FF and Cllr Catherine Murphy Ind), the end result of which was that new rules were adopted at the Council meeting 29th November 2009.The new regime will have the effect of saving significant money; achieve a more targeted approach to training and ensure the system is more equitable.
Continue reading "Independents welcome changes to conference regime" »
Oral hearing continues against Donaghcumper Decision
The three day An Bord Pleanala oral hearing scheduled for 11th 12th and 13th was extended to Wednesday 25th November due to the sheer volume of evidence given to the hearing. In total there were 8 third party appeals against the decision, which included Celbridge Action Alliance; Celbridge Community Council; Liffey Valley Park Alliance; Celbridge Historical Society; The Castletown Foundation; Cllr Catherine Murphy; Cecilia & Patrick Kehoe and Fionnuala Walker.
In addition the applicant has appealed against conditions imposed by the Council, included in their decision to grant permission for a suburban housing scheme within the protected Donaghcumper Demesne.
Those who are listed as observers, some of whom have contributed to the oral hearing, all speaking in opposition to the proposal were: Castletown Residents Association; Desmond Guinness; Cllr Padraig McEvoy and former Councillor Tony McEvoy (who together with Mary Glennon and Cllr Catherine Murphy opposed the original rezoning of the land); an Taisce; Sen. David Norris and Dr Patrick Walsh.
Continue reading "Oral hearing continues against Donaghcumper Decision" »
Weston lodges appeal against Council refusal of runway extension
In response to Weston Aerodrome's decision to appeal against the decision by Kildare County Council to refuse permission to relocate and lengthen the runway, Cllr Catherine Murphy lodged an observation seeking that An Bord Pleanala confirms that decision.
Reference Number: 08-2018 in the name of Weston Limited sought: “to relocate the existing runways 07&25 to midway between the airport boundaries, incorporating the existing stopway to include the provision of Precision Approach Path Indicators(PAPS's). This will also include runway end safety areas of 130 meters etc”
Continue reading "Weston lodges appeal against Council refusal of runway extension" »
Private pay parking causing confusion and distress to unsuspecting public
Independent Councillors Pádraig McEvoy, Catherine Murphy and Seamie Moore have highlighted the proliferation of clamping controls in privately operated parking areas, and have slammed the aggressive enforcement by some operators as totally unacceptable saying it is causing confusion, distress and widespread public resentment.
Continue reading " Private pay parking causing confusion and distress to unsuspecting public" »
€200,000 to be provided by Council to develop pitches at Loughnamona
Cllr Catherine Murphy has welcomed news that Kildare County Council is to provide €200,000 towards the cost of developing amenity lands at Loughnamona, Leixlip. The land in question was originally zoned amenity in the mid 90’s to compliment residential rezoning that occurred at the same time. This amenity land was to provide for the recreational needs of new residents in the Easton Road. In the years since then more than 1,300 houses/apartments have been constructed and occupied in housing estates such as Rinawade, Glen Easton, Easton Mews, Loughnamona etc. however, the amenity land had to date remained undeveloped.
Continue reading "€200,000 to be provided by Council to develop pitches at Loughnamona" »
Council Staff Trained to Change light bulbs!
Following a reply from Kildare County Council stating did not have the funds to change a light bulb in the traffic signals on Main Street Leixlip “because it was not a priority” I tabled a motion seeking to find out just what was the criteria the Council applied to such events. I got a detailed reply which can be seen by clicking the link below. In the debate that ensued I was told the 2009 budget for such maintenance had reduced from €400,000 in 2008 to €200,000 in 2009. As a response the Council had now trained some of their own staff to change defective bulbs which had produced considerable savings.
Continue reading "Council Staff Trained to Change light bulbs!" »
Reinstatement works in Maynooth following major sewage upgrade works
According to Cllr Catherine Murphy, the appointment of a contractor to carry out reinstatement works in Maynooth following the completion of works associated with the upgrade of the lower Liffey Regional Waste Water works, is imminent. This work will include the removal of the bandstand and the restoration of Pound Park.
Continue reading "Reinstatement works in Maynooth following major sewage upgrade works" »
New Ramps at Easton Road will improve road safety
Cllr Catherine Murphy who funded the new ramps on Easton Road from her discretionary fund stated that she is happy with the finished product. Each Councillor has a discretionary fund of €40,000. The scheme was designed by the Council’s Road design Department and the work was carried out by private contractors, the ramps and work done reducing the central median opposite Easton Mews, cost in the region of €20,000. There are in excess of 1200 houses on Easton Road and a large young population.
Continue reading "New Ramps at Easton Road will improve road safety" »
Strong case for deferring Local Area Plans
Cllr Catherine Murphy has strongly argued that Local Area Plans currently proceeding through the planning process should be deferred. Plans for Celbridge/Leixlip/Collinstown together seek to rezone land to accommodate more than 2500 new houses/apartments over the next six years. This would allow for an increased population of in excess of 5,500. Little or no account has been taken of the changed economic environment or the fact that emigration and not immigration is taking place.
Continue reading "Strong case for deferring Local Area Plans" »
Objection to most recent Donaghcumper planning application
Cllr Catherine Murphy has lodged an objection to the third Donaghcumper Planning Application (09/665). Permission has been sought for road infrastructure, however, the bridge close to Castletown Gates is not included. Permission could not be sought because Devondale, the planning applicant, does not have the consent of the landowner. The time scale for development of the road network would be 2 years.
Continue reading "Objection to most recent Donaghcumper planning application" »
Information gap on return of “College Fees” leaves students with change of mind dilemma
Cllr Catherine Murphy has strongly criticised the position many students are now finding themselves in, in relation to the re-introduction of college fees. While the Government has confirmed that college fees will return they have not given any indication of changes to the higher education grant scheme, or the potential level of fees. This is creating a serious dilemma for many students in advance of the July 1 deadline for changing their mind on the chosen course.
Sports strategic review must include swimming pools
NEW NAAS POOL
Current Pool programme deeply unfair
Kerry – 4 pools – 47,000 less people than Kildare
Offaly – 4 pools – 116,000 less people than Kildare
Kildare – 2 pools
While announcing there will be no sports lottery funding in 2009 Minister Martin Cullen stated it was his intention to do a strategic review of facilities nationally. Cllr Catherine Murphy has written to the Minister and urged him to include swimming pools in that review. Currently there is a public swimming pool for every 50,000 people nationally, unfortunately that figure in Kildare is one pool for every 93,000.
Continue reading "Sports strategic review must include swimming pools" »
Kildare still has 19,000 houses in Estates not in charge
The Compliance section of Kildare County Council, who deal with taking estates in charge, have warned that progress in the coming years may be slower than they would otherwise like, the reason being the Council may have to call in bonds of developers who have ceased trading in order to complete outstanding works in those estates. According to Cllr Catherine Murphy despite the fact that 53 estates (with almost 5000 houses between them) have been taken in charge since 2006 there are still in excess of 19,000 houses in housing estates that are completed or still under construction that the compliance section are still dealing with.
Continue reading "Kildare still has 19,000 houses in Estates not in charge" »
Environment Minister urged to Change law in Home-owners Interest
Cllr Catherine Murphy has written to Environment Minister seeking a change in the law as it relates to “Taking Housing Estates in Charge”. The taking in charge process includes the assumption of responsibility for Roads/Paths; Sewers/Drains; Public Lighting etc. within housing estates. It also requires developers to transfer ownership of open spaces to the Council, ensuring these spaces are protected from future development. “ The current law (Section 180(2)(a) of the Planning & Development act, 2000) leaves house purchasers powerless for up to 12 years while the Council and Developer “act” on their behalf.” She believes the time frame is much too generous to the developer and not in the interest of house purchasers. It particularly plays into the hands of rogue developers and frustrates Residents Association Committees according to Cllr Murphy.
Continue reading "Environment Minister urged to Change law in Home-owners Interest" »
€5.7m needed to fund applications on hand for Government/Council disabled schemes in Kildare
At a recent meeting of Kildare County Council Cllr Catherine Murphy was informed that the 500 plus applicants for Housing Adaptation-Mobility Aids and Essential Repair Grants for 2009 totals more than €5.7m. The scheme which is co-funded by Government and the County Council, with four fifths coming from Government.
Handbook on Management Companies
The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, has recently published a detailed Company Law Handbook on Residential Property Owner’s Management Companies.
For those who live in apartment’s and will require a means of managing the common areas, this self help guide is a valuable resource. It can be found at http://www.odce.ie/
A booklet can also be downloaded from the National Consumer Agency on the subject, which is also a valuable resource to those already living in apartments or those contemplating renting/purchasing one. The link is http://www.consumerproperty.ie/index.html
The Law Reform Commission published their report in June 2008. This is intended to inform promised new legislation. http://www.lawreform.ie/publications/Report%20NEWS%20RELEASE%20june%2008.pdf
Kildare County Council's policy in relation to the long term arrangments for apartments can be viewd by clicking "your home and you", this is located above to the left.
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