Cllr Catherine Murphy is Back.

Catherine Murphy was co-opted to Kildare County Council on the 28th July 2008.  The vacancy  occurred following the resignation of  fellow Independent Cllr Gerry McDonagh.      

picresized_th_1217803096_IMG_2631.jpg Cllr Catherine Murphy is Back. August 12, 2008 05:41 PM |

Personal Profile



Personal Details

I have lived in Leixlip since 1978 and, together with my husband Derek, have raised two children (Alan and Yvonne) who are both adults now. The second eldest of the family with 5 brothers & 1 sister, we moved to Palmerstown in West Dublin with my parents Colm & Eileen when I was 10 years old where I remained until married. Prior to that we had lived in Artane and Clontarf. Of my brothers & sisters, three have settled in Canada, the UK and New Zealand with their families, having emigrated in the 1970 and 1980's.

I have been a full-time public representative since 1991, and have been actively involved in politics since 1983.

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My Policies

I have consistently campaigned on issues of concern to the communities of North Kildare, however I have also been involved in campaigning for and implementing policies at national and EU level, I was for example an alternate member of the EU Committee on the Regions. My main political and community involvements are listed below along with some of the issues that are of concern to me. They are;

•Planning: Truly integrated and sustainable national, regional and local planning.

•Building Successful Communities: It's not just about building houses but about providing sufficient sports, leisure, and social facilities to meet the needs of new and growing communities.

•Infrastructure: Improved public transport, IT, and road facilities are essential to our continued growth as an economy and a society.

•Education: We urgently need an injection of funding to improve both the built environment and pupil teacher ratio's in our schools. We also need to ensure that adequate funding is provided for special needs education and facilities.

•Open Local Government: Council meetings must be held in public for true accountability.

•Accountability in Government: There must be proper accounting and spending of the taxpayers money at both local and national level. Funds must also be allocated to Local Authorities in a more equitable manner than is currently in operation

•Environment: Responsible waste disposal, and recycling must be encouraged through the provision of adequate recycling facilities countrywide.

•Housing: Local Authority and Affordable Housing together with estate management issues must be tackled in order that those in need of housing are not kept waiting for years on end. Equally, estate management must be addressed through legislation which acknowledges and regulates the existence of estate and property management companies.

•Other Issues: There are many other areas local and national government that are of interest to me, however my overall aim is to do all I can to promote social justice, sustainable and responsible development, and achieve a society that is proud of it's health, education and transport services. 

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How & Why I Got Involved in Politics

My initial involvement in politics was with local campaigns aimed at improving local services, these included seeking a permanent school building for Scoil Uí Dhálaigh, Leixlip. However the campaign against Local Service Charges introduced in 1983, was the earliest example of largescale active campaigning that spread right accross Kildare.

In 1983 the Coalition Government introduced a system of additional charges for local authority services to which there was much resentment. The sense of injustice that was felt by many in the PAYE sector, who at that time where shouldering more than 85% of the income tax burden, was so strong that a large number people in Kildare banded together to found The Leixlip and Kildare Residents Against Local Charges. A group that I was a founding member of.

We saw the service charges as a form of double taxation, and my own sense of grievance was heightened by the manner in which members of the golden circles at the top of the income ladder were, in many cases, sidestepping their tax obligations. The campaign was therefore very hands-on and indeed of great personal importance to many of us, and it proved to be a true baptism of fire. We continually faced water disconnections, there were court actions against us, and the threat of prosecution under the Offences Against the State Act (1939) loomed overhead.

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Campaigning for Better Transport Services

In 1987 I co-ordinated a survey on the public transport requirements of Leixlip residents in conjunction with CIE and on behalf of the Combined Residents Association. Some 1700 households were surveyed and the results were published on 1st May 1987 and some ten major improvements were identified in the course of the study. These included

 

  •  the doubling of the Maynooth Rail Line from Clonsilla to Maynooth
  • a bus service for the Captains Hill, Leixlip (66A)
  • a bus service for the Celbridge Road, Leixlip (66B)
  • City Speed services
  • Nitelink services

All of these improvements have since been introduced.


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Kildare County Councillor 1991-2005

Elected to Kildare County Council on my first attempt in 1991, I represented the Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and Ardclough area. I was re-elected in 1999 in the redrawn electoral area of Leixlip and Maynooth, and ran as an Independent Candidate in the Local Elections of June 2004 where I topped the poll with 21% of the vote.

 

Chairperson of the following between 1991 & 2005

  • Leixlip Area Committee
  • Transportation Strategic Policy Committee (SPC)
  • Planning & Economic Development SPC
  • County Development Board
  • Finance Committee

 

Committee Member Between 1991 & 2005

  • Corporate Policy Group
  • Protocol Committee
  • Housing & Social Inclusion Strategic Policy Committee
  • Vocational Education Committee (nominee of Kildare County Council)
  • The board of The Leixlip Amenities Center (Kildare County Council representative)

 

Major Issues Since 1991

Among the major issues which I have been to the forefront on since 1991 are

  • planning in the interests of the community
  • proper accounting for funds such as development levies, which are key to providing facilities and open local government
  • demanding that meetings are held in public
  • campaigning for improved facilities and services

 

Kildare County Council - Link

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Leixlip Town Councillor 1988-2004

 

First Step Into Public Representation

As a member of The Leixlip Combined Residents Association I was involved in the sub-committee which was dedicated to campaigning for Town Status, a goal that was achieved in 1988 when Leixlip was awarded the grade of Town Commission.

 

Establishment of Leixlip Town Council

Leixlip Town Commission was established in 1988 and under the new Local Government Act (2001) was reclassified as a Town Council. Leixlip is one of just four towns that have been awarded Town Status in the history of the state. Elections were held in 1988, 1994, 1999 and 2004 for the nine seat Town Council and on all four occasions I was fortunate to have been elected comfortably, topping the poll in the 2004 elections with two quotas.

 

Cathaoirleach

I served as Cathaoirleach of the Town Council following the most recent election and up until my election to Dáil Éireann in 2005. I have been honoured to hold that position on three previous occasions.

 

Increase in Scope & Power

While the name changed under recent legislation there is a strong demand for increased powers to be afforded to Town Councils, these include the power to make devise a development plan for the town concerned. .

 

Meetings

Leixlip Town Council meets once a month and has a number of sub-committees that report to the monthly meeting.

 

Committees

In my previous capacity as a Leixlip Town Councillor I represented the Council on

  • the County Development Bord
  • was the Honorary President of the Leixlip Twinning Association
  • acted as Convenor of the Traffic & Transport Committee
  • acted as Convenor of the Leisure & Social Affairs Committee

 

Upgrade Maynooth Train Line Committee

As convenor of Leixlip Town Council traffic & transport committee I contacted and worked with representatives from Maynooth, Kilcock, Dublin 15, Dublin 7 Community Councils towards upgrading the Maynooth Rail line to a double track. We co-wrote a document used to lobby the Minister for Transport and the 14 TD's in the Constituencies surrounding this train line and, when the third Luas line was dropped, our demands were finally met. The work has concluded, and the service is a victim of its own success with a high level of demand for increased frequency of services.

Leixlip Town Council - Link

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Kildare Community Network

 

Chairperson 2004 - 2005

I was the chairperson of the Kildare Community Network until my election to Dáil Éireann in March 2005. It is a non-profit company set up to manage and develop the www.kildare.ie website for the benefit of communities in County Kildare. It promotes ICT among members of the community and among community & voluntary organisations in County Kildare, encouraging them to participate fully in the information society.

The County Kildare Community Network is the product of a partnership of various agencies, the main ones being Action South Kildare (ASK), Kildare County Council, and FÁS.

Kildare Community Network - Link

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EU Committee Of The Regions
Alternate Member 2002-2005

The CoR is a consultative assembly of the European Union charged with the task of issuing opinions on proposals for Community legislation and it is composed of representatives of local and regional authorities.

The decision to establish this assembly was prompted by the need to consult the public authorities closest to the citizen on European Union (EU) proposals of direct interest to them. Given that they are responsible for implementing programmes or applying new legislation membership of the committee is comprised, for example, of mayors, town, city & county councillors, and regional presidents —

CoR members are responsible both for providing other European institutions with the local and regional point of view on Union proposals and for informing their citizens about the Community policies adopted and managed by the European Union.

EU Committee of the Regions - Link
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Leixlip & County Kildare Centres For The Unemployed
Chairperson 2004 - 2005

I acted as chairperson of the Leixlip Resource Centre for the Unemployed until my election to Dáil Éireann in March 2005. This centre is one of three that make up the County Kildare Centres for the Unemployed and I am currently a member of their County Board of Directors.

The Centres are, in the main, run by participants on Community Employment Schemes assisted by FÁS. In the past the main focus of the centres was on unemployment and they enjoy an excellent progression rate to employment for participants. However, these organisations are a major source of information on a broad range of issues for the community with, for example, the Leixlip Centre catering for in excess of 5000 queries each year.

The centres are associated with the Irish Congress of Trades Unions.
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Dublin Transportation Office
Member 1994-1998

The DTO was set up to implement the Dublin Transportation Initiative, and while only part of County Kildare was included in the original study, its remit was broadened to include transport planning for all of County Kildare. The DTO administers European and National funding for it’s catchment area.

I am a former vice-chairperson of the Consultative Panel and was one of two members of that panel selected to sit on the Dublin Taxi Forum where my remit was to represent consumer interests.

Dublin Transportation Office - Link
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Commission On The Family
Member 1996-1998

This Commission was established following the last divorce referendum and it’s final report to Government in 1998 "Strengthening Families for Life" contains a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the issues affecting families and wide-ranging recommendations across several different policy areas. The report also contains some original and significant research work which the Commission has undertaken, including;

  • a national survey on the childcare arrangements which families make
  • sociological research on fathers and their role in family life
  • and, an overview of family policy in Ireland.

The Commission's main findings and recommendations are presented in terms of desirable outcomes for families.

The Commission on the Family - Link
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Personal Profile October 19, 2006 05:03 PM |