Minister fails to deliver the radical reform he himself promised.

Cllr Catherine Murphy has sharply criticised the announcement that the directly elected Dublin Mayor will exclude the cities  natural hinterland – which is ironically often referred to as Dublin’s  commuter belt.    One function the new Mayor will have is to  chair the Dublin Transportation Authority,   the geographic region of which   has already been set down in law,   in addition to Dublin it  includes counties Meath,  Kildare & Wicklow (Mid East Region).   For strategic land use planning again Dublin and the Mid East Region virtually operate as one unit.    The Minister’s announcement adds to the already complicated array of bodies that lack the necessary cohesion for Dublin and its hinterland to operate as an effective City region.  

Continue reading Directly Elected Mayor for Dublin short changes commuter belt counties May 16, 2009 02:38 PM |

Having witnessed  the numbers queuing at Kildare’s  Motor Tax Office at Aras Cill Dara Naas,  Cllr Catherine Murphy said she believes  it is valid to have concerns about health and safety.   Not only is it a terrible waste of time for citizens of this County to have to queue for hours to pay their motor tax,  the prospect of one or more members of the public fainting is very real.   

Continue reading LONG QUEUES IN MOTOR TAX OFFICS A HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUE May 10, 2009 03:44 PM |

New Mandate needed -

General Election should be called.

Its difficult to see where the green shoots of growth will come from following the recent emergency budget according to Cllr Catherine Murphy.   The pockets of all taxpayers were picked, with the low to middle income groups seeing much of their discretionary spending wiped out.    While the budget did include a plan, its main focus was to balance the books,  it lacked  vision and hope with an overriding  promise of more punishment to come in 2010 and 2011.   “Nowhere could I see in this budget a vision for the kind of society we should be aspiring to,  a future that would inspire hope and make the sacrifices palatable with the promise of  arriving at a better place.”  

So enormous are the tax increases and cuts it will take time for the public to fully digest them.  I have no doubt the anger will mount over the coming weeks and months.    While taxation has increased dramatically there will be no corresponding improvement in public services,   closure not only of hospital beds but of whole wards cannot be ruled out;   large class sizes, some of the biggest in Europe with Kildare being a particular black spot,  are set to rise further;  public transport services are set to contract and with Local Government starved of funds Council’s will struggle to provide front line services.   All of this will contribute towards  depressing the public mood in the months to come.

Continue reading "Green Shoots" and "Hope" missing from Budget April 10, 2009 11:24 AM |

Cllr Catherine Murphy has welcomed Hewlett Packard’s  major jobs announcement and describes it as a welcome change to the doom and gloom.

The new support service will deal with HP customers in 16 European languages and will add to their services unit which we are told by Managing Director of HP Ireland has been one of the best-performing at the firm with a growth of 15% annually.

The range of languages and nationalities employed at HP are particularly  in evidence at the bus stop outside the site according to Cllr Murphy.  While there was an expectation that many of our international residents would return home with the arrival of the recession,   the Hewlett Packard announcement demonstrates there can be real advantages to that diversity. 

Not only will additional people be employed on the Leixlip site,   they will create a need for support services which has a welcome knock on effect.   

Cllr. Catherine Murphy has been informed by the Council’s  Area Engineer,  that the problem leading to last August’s flooding in Elton Court has been identified and resolved. 

On foot of complaints from residents,  who identified where the problem was likely to be.  The Council staff surveyed the drains and located a significant blockage in land’s to the rear of the Estate,  not far from  the entrance to the Wonderful Barn.    Several days work by Council Staff,   using machinery has ensured the blockage was removed and the drain is now flowing freely again.

While this work was underway  material was found in the drain which should be discharged to the sewer and not storm-water drains, (likely to be  washing machine,  dishwasher detergents).     This indicates some households have made incorrect connections to the drain,  these will have to be  rectified.   Because the storm-water contained in the  drains ultimately  discharge to the River Liffey,  it is essential  the water is not contaminated in this way.  

The Council’s Environmental Section,  have been notified about this,  I expect they will conduct a   survey of  the estate in order to identify the offending households.  Once the origin of the problem is found,  the resident will be instructed to  change the connection within a specified timeframe, following which,  the Council will check to ensure the work has been carried out.  I would however appeal to residents to address the issue in advance of the Council’s visit in order that our waterways remain free from such pollutants.

Technical Group - Independents - 2006

Cllr Catherine Murphy in a statement said that although she knew Tony Gregory was gravely  ill,  his death still came as a shock.  “It will be hard to imagine the political landscape without him,  he was a man of principle who was capable of inspiring others.”

Many of the tributes so far have highlighted his great constituency work,  however that work was not isolated from his sense of social justice.   While he will be first and foremost remembered  as a Dubliner,   his sense of social justice extended way beyond his constituency,  his city and indeed his country.  

Tony backed my own successful bye-election campaign in March 2005 (Kildare North), indeed  he with me in Naas GAA Club,   the day I was elected.    “I both worked with him and observed him at close quarters, as a member of the 29th Dail’s Technical Group.  In addition to being direct,  he was also a very fair and generous politician. Despite a huge reputation,  earned over a long career,   Tony often underestimated himself.  He never pushed himself forward,  but instead used his position in the Dail to ensure the causes he felt closest to were to the forefront.” 

Those of us who had the pleasure of working closely with him,   will  miss him both  as a friend and political comrade.

According to Cllr Catherine Murphy,  Kildare Local Authorities have  received just €29m to run services,  for its 186,335 inhabitants,  in coming year.   This contrasts poorly with counties such as Mayo  and Donegal who received €41m and Donegal  €44m respectively;  Mayo has a population of 123,839 while  Donegal’s population is 147,264.

Inadequate funding  has a direct bearing on the extent and quality of public services,  such as,  street cleaning and maintenance of open spaces;   waste management including recycling;   road/footpath repair;   traffic management / traffic calming  etc.     “The minimum the citizens of Kildare should expect is a fair transfer of the national cake – even in hard times.”

“The €29m received by Kildare is significantly less than the county received in 2006,  it falls far short of what is needed,  and will impact on the ability of the Council to maintain services to the public.”  

The method of deciding what each County receives is deeply flawed according to Murphy, with a failure to provide for counties that have been to the forefront of population expansion.   Kildare led the charge over that past 25 years   with a whopping increase of 44% in its population;   the County now has the 4th largest population in the Republic, overtaking the combined Limerick City/County for the first time in 2006.

Even in the good times there was no real effort  to increase the local government fund in line with population increases.   That trend has continued in the most recent allocations,  which in the opinion of Cllr Murphy,  is simply cheating citizens of an equal share of the available resources.

Continue reading KILDARE CONTINUES TO BE CHEATED November 16, 2008 04:08 PM |

Garda Stations and Planning:
The normal planning application process is not used for new Garda Stations.  The Office of Public Works (OPW)  who have responsibility for sourcing sites,  designing,  planning and building new stations go  through a consultation process to which the public can make submissions;  unlike the normal planning process there is no right to appeal. Initially the communications mast was located at the rear of the building but was moved to the side of the building following submissions made  during that process.The size and prominence of the Mast has taken many by surprise.

Continue reading New Leixlip Garda Station & Mast! September 27, 2008 05:23 PM |

To vote you need to be included on the electoral register.   If you wish to check the register  you may wish to do so from  this site,  go to  the side panel select “Elections & Voter Reg”  and follow the instructions.   I have also included details about who is eligible to vote and in what type of elections.  

While it is possible to be included in a supplementary register up to 10 days before any election/referendum,  this option requires a visit to your local Garda Station.

16/05/07 No Multi-Storey Carpark for Leixlip's Riverdale

15/05/07 High Court Constitutional Challenge to be Heard Today

11/05/07 Medical Card Processing Must Become More Efficient

10/05/07 Constitutional Challenge To Be Heared in High Court on 15th

09/05/07 Kill School Planning Process Must Be Fast Tracked

08/05/07 Firm Commitment on Childcare Needed Now

07/05/07 Murphy Demands True Funding Commitment on Recycling

06/05/07 Time To Build Communities, Not Just Houses

05/05/07 Funding System Discriminates Against Growing Schools

04/05/07 Special Ed Investment Needed, Not Court Cases

03/05/07 Nursing Dispute Must Be Resolved Before Election

02/05/07 Murphy & McGrath in High Court Today

01/05/07 Murphy Highlights Housing As Major Election Issue

30/04/07 Murphy Highlights Election Issues to be Raised

29/04/07 The Race Is On - 24th May 2007 Announced as Election Day

April 2007 News Archive

09/04/07 Murphy & McGrath take Government to Court

March 2007 News Archive

29/03/07 Rural Roads Funding Causes Safety Concerns

21/03/07 Public Meeting called on Mangement Companies

13/03/07 General Election Campaign Launch

08/03/07 International Womens Day

05/03/07 KCC Planning Department Left High & Dry by Staff Shortage

01/03/07 Work Life Balance, Real Changes Needed

February 2007 News Archive

27/02/07 Sallins Train Services Must be Improved 

22/02/07 Weston's International Flight Ban Welcome

21/02/07 Care Charges on Disabled are Downright Mean

20/02/07 Parliamentary Question on Residential Care Charges

20/02/07 M50 Buyout Welcome, Continued Tolling Is Not

15/02/07 Is 650 sq ft Big Enough For A Family of 4?

14/02/07 HGVs Spill Onto M50 Due To City Ban

13/02/07 My Full Backing to INTO on Class Size Demands

08/02/07 Murphy Slams Government Failure on Energy Ratings

07/02/07 Train Users Fleeced with Station Parking Charges

06/02/07 Wonderful Barn Decision Delayed to 21 Feb 2007

05/02/07 Riverdale Decision Delayed to 23rd Feb 2007

02/02/07 Leixlip Garda Station Update - February 2007

01/02/07 Murphy Demands Transport Department Reform

January 2007 News Archive

31/01/07 Minister Abandons Domestic Violence Agency

30/01/07 Government Preventing New Buses Being Used

25/01/07 Funding Sought for Hazelhatch Footpath Upgrade

24/01/07 Government Feigns Interest In Property Management Problem

12/01/07 OECD Report Will Show Kildare's Need For Equal Funding

10/01/07 2nd Dublin Airport "The Mother of White Elephants"

09/01/07 New Kilcock Water Supply System Nearing Implementation

December 2006 News Archive

13/12/06 Rogue Developers Must Be Tracked & Stopped

12/12/06 Management Company Recommendations Welcome

06/12/06 Childcare's Exclusion From Budget Disappointing

05/12/06 State Purchase of Batty Langley Lodge Welcome

04/12/06 Minister sees €35 Per Week As Enough to Live On

29/11/06 Bus Services Becoming Unworkable for Commuters

28/11/06 Disabled Persons Forced to Live On Just €35 Per Week

23/11/06 2500 Social Houses Lying Vacant Scandalous

20/11/06 Action on Aerodrome Security "Within the Week"

16/11/06 Government Must Lift Toll Barriers & Pay Tolls

16/11/06 Nursing Homes = Hospital Overflow, Not Retirement Homes

09/11/06 Government’s Westlink Profit Doubled to €15m in 2005

09/11/06 €10 M Underspend In Disabled Persons Grants

07/11/06 Population Increase to Influence Deployment of Gardaí

03/11/06 Public Transport System Fiasco Could Have Been Prevented

02/11/06 Local Authorities Priced Out Of Housing Market

01/11/06 Commuters Need Better Facilities To Access Bus & Rail

Continue reading No Multi-Storey Carpark for Riverdale, Leixlip May 16, 2007 11:51 AM |

Continue reading Constitutional Challenge - High Court Proceedings to Start Today May 15, 2007 11:49 AM |

Continue reading Medical Card Processing Must Become More Efficient May 11, 2007 11:06 AM |

Continue reading Murphy & Mcgrath Constitutional Challenge Hearing To Take Place On Tuesday 15th May May 10, 2007 10:51 AM |

Continue reading Murphy Strongly Urges Council To Fast Track Planning Process For Proposed Kill School May 9, 2007 10:23 AM |

Continue reading Murphy Demands Firm Commitment on Childcare May 8, 2007 11:03 AM |

Continue reading Murphy Demands True Funding Commitment on Recycling By Government May 7, 2007 10:26 AM |

Continue reading Time To Build Communities, Not Just Houses May 6, 2007 06:18 PM |

Continue reading Education Systems Needs Overhaul; Funding System Punishing Schools in Growing Areas May 5, 2007 06:15 PM |

Continue reading Stop Fighting Against Parents And Start Funding Special Education May 4, 2007 06:13 PM |

Continue reading Nursing Dispute Must Be Resolved Before Election May 3, 2007 11:43 AM |

Continue reading Transport 21 Must Be Updated to Better Include Kildare Commuters May 2, 2007 01:41 PM |

Continue reading Murphy & McGrath in High Court Today on Constitutional Challenge May 2, 2007 12:37 PM |

Continue reading Murphy Highlights Housing As Major Issue With Kildare Voters May 1, 2007 03:46 PM |

Continue reading Murphy Details a Number of Election Issues She Intends to Pursue April 30, 2007 02:48 PM |

Continue reading 29th May 2007 Announced As Election Day April 29, 2007 09:42 AM |

Continue reading Murphy & McGrath Take Environment Minister & AG To Court On Constitutional Equality Issue April 8, 2007 10:30 AM |

Continue reading Kildare Now 4th Largest County In Ireland But Can't Afford Rural Road Repairs March 29, 2007 06:28 PM |

Press Release, 21st March 2007

Catherine Murphy, TD (Ind) and Joe Higgins, TD (SP) have called a public meeting in the Red Cow Moran's Hotel on the Naas Road, at 11am this Saturday 24th March 2007, to raise the issue of Management Companies and Unfinished Housing estates.  Deputies Murphy and Higgins will speak with residents groups and concerned parties at the public meeting on progress made to date on these issues, the way things stand at the moment and what needs to be done to ensure full resolution. 

“It’s essential that the pressure is kept on Local Authorities, the Government and developers alike to ensure that we see an end to the double taxation that is, charging management fees to house owners; the unregulated operation of management companies in apartment / duplex developments; and the failure of developers to finish estates to standard and of Local Authorities to take them in charge in a timely fashion.  People power is of huge importance on an issue such as this and public meetings are a vital way of mobilising that power.” – Murphy

Murphy went on to highlight that while the National Consumer Agency has committed to rattling cages, they must tackle the consumer issue of under funding Local Authorities.  “The people of Kildare, as the customers of Kildare County Council, paid out €35million in motor tax last year but received only €27million of that back from the Department of the Environment to fund essential services like estate maintenance and planning enforcement.  From a consumer perspective, we’re paying more money out to get a lesser service than our counterparts around the country and that’s something the National Consumer Agency should look at in their efforts to rattle cages.”

Continue reading Understaffing Leaves KCC Planning Department High & Dry March 13, 2007 02:51 PM |

Continue reading General Election 2007 Campaign Launch Held on 2 Year Anniversary of Election to Dáil March 13, 2007 11:28 AM |

International Womens Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on 8th March 2007 and is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. IWD celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future ... www.internationalwomensday.com, www.nwci.ie

Press Release, 1st March 2007 - Work Life Balance Day

Catherine Murphy, TD (Ind) has today harshly criticized the current Government for hypocritically instructing workers to consider changes they may want to make to ensure that their Work Life balance is a healthy one.  While supportive of any initiative that encourages a more equal work life balance Murphy has highlighted that Government should put it’s energy into facilitating such a balance instead of instructing people to consider changes most would make if they could.

“It’s a bit rich of the Government to be promoting a work life balance when they’re the ones who have consistently failed to introduce measures like statutory parental leave; real, accessible and affordable childcare options, including flexible working conditions; a proper public transport system and other measures to cut down on commuting times; and balanced and planned commercial and residential development.  We need more than a promotional day we need an accommodating culture if work life balance is truly to be achieved.”

Press Release, 27th February 2007

Catherine Murphy, TD has today announced her dismay at what she termed “a short-termist attitude to commuter services in Kildare”.  Murphy’s comments came following her receipt of a parliamentary reply from the Minister for Transport, Mr Martin Cullen, that while those taking the train to and from Sallins, would benefit from “improved journey times” as a result of the planned 4 tracking of the Kildare line, they will be served only by intercity and regional train services and not commuter services.  

“Kildare is designated as part of the Dublin commuter belt when it suits the Government to do so but when it comes to building infrastructure and providing services to this commuter belt, we’re forgotten.  It’s very short sighted not to include Sallins on the new commuter line to be established as part of the Kildare Route Project because of the significant housing development that has and continues to go on in and around Sallins and Naas and the huge numbers of people seeking to use rail services.  Naas, as the county town of Kildare and a very vibrant residential and commercial centre should be served by regular commuter services through Sallins so as to encourage industry to locate there.  For the sake of extending the 4 tracking of the Kildare line between Hazelhatch and Sallins the Department of transport would be helping a huge amount of people and providing much needed services to thousands of people.”

Murphy concluded in highlighting that Sallins and Naas must be looked as within the Dublin commuter belt where service provision is concerned, those living in these towns are the very ones keeping our Celtic Tiger afloat so the very least the transport Department could do is help them get to and from work.”

21st February 2007 Full parliamentary reply from Minister for Transport, Mr Martin Cullen

Press Release, 27th February 2007

Catherine Murphy, TD has today announced her dismay at what she termed “a short-termist attitude to commuter services in Kildare”.  Murphy’s comments came following her receipt of a parliamentary reply from the Minister for Transport, Mr Martin Cullen, that while those taking the train to and from Sallins, would benefit from “improved journey times” as a result of the planned 4 tracking of the Kildare line, they will be served only by intercity and regional train services and not commuter services.  

“Kildare is designated as part of the Dublin commuter belt when it suits the Government to do so but when it comes to building infrastructure and providing services to this commuter belt, we’re forgotten.  It’s very short sighted not to include Sallins on the new commuter line to be established as part of the Kildare Route Project because of the significant housing development that has and continues to go on in and around Sallins and Naas and the huge numbers of people seeking to use rail services.  Naas, as the county town of Kildare and a very vibrant residential and commercial centre should be served by regular commuter services through Sallins so as to encourage industry to locate there.  For the sake of extending the 4 tracking of the Kildare line between Hazelhatch and Sallins the Department of transport would be helping a huge amount of people and providing much needed services to thousands of people.”

Murphy concluded in highlighting that Sallins and Naas must be looked as within the Dublin commuter belt where service provision is concerned, those living in these towns are the very ones keeping our Celtic Tiger afloat so the very least the transport Department could do is help them get to and from work.”

Continue reading International Flight Ban on Weston Welcome February 22, 2007 11:46 AM |

Press Release, 21st February 2007

Catherine Murphy, TD (Ind) yesterday in the Dáil again heavily criticized the new practice of charging persons with intellectual and physical disabilities for their long term residential care, leaving most with little or no means to buy toiletries and clothes or fund any social life.  She requested that a review of the impact of the charge on such persons be carried out in order that the unique circumstances in which such people, and their families, find themselves.

“I call for an evaluation of the impact of the charges on people in institutions for whom small treats such as being able to choose their own clothes and shoes or going to the pictures are being put in jeopardy. The charges are also impacting on family members with limited means who may wish to take their relatives out of institutions. I do not think the charges are in the interest of patients.”

Murphy also went on to highlight that “many individuals living in residential institutions, who aspire to live in capital-assisted houses but have not had the opportunity, are doing the same sheltered work as those living in capital-assisted houses, yet there is a very significant difference in the income they are allowed to retain.”

She concluded in stating that “much fundraising is done by parents and friends to keep residential institutions functioning and many of these people are elderly.” However that she has “met pensioners who are making contributions from their pensions towards the cost of keeping their children in institutions.”

View the full debate at View Source , or

Dáil Statement, 21st February 2007

Ms C. Murphy: I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the decision to lift the toll barriers on the M50 by buying out National Toll Roads with taxpayer's money and substitute the physical barriers with a monthly or quarterly bill through the letter box. 

Daily commuters living and working in the catchment of the M50 are the target audience for what will amount to an additional tax in excess of €900 per year on what will become a wholly publicly owned distributor road.

View Source

Continue reading M50 Buyout Welcome, Continued Tolling Is Not February 20, 2007 07:00 PM |

Continue reading Is 650sq ft Enough Space for a Family of 4 To Live In for 20 Years? February 15, 2007 12:00 AM |

Continue reading HVGs Spill Onto M50 Due to City Ban February 14, 2007 09:00 AM |

Continue reading My Full Backing to the INTO on Class Size Demands February 13, 2007 03:13 PM |

Continue reading Murphy & Harkin Criticise Government's Delayed Introduction of Housing Energy Ratings February 8, 2007 04:44 PM |

Continue reading Train Users Fleeced Again! You Must Now Pay For Parking at Stations February 7, 2007 10:51 AM |

Continue reading Wonderful Barn Development Decision Put Back To 24th Feb February 6, 2007 04:58 PM |

Press Release, 5th February 2007

Catherine Murphy TD has today learned that due to “unforeseen circumstances” an Bord Pleanála’s decision on whether developer Bernie Cooke should be granted permission to develop a part of the public open space in Riverdale Estate, Leixlip will now be delayed again until 23rd February.

According to a letter received from the planning appeals board “the Board took specific measures to reduce the backlog of cases and the backlog has now been eliminated in terms of the number of appeals on hands but some appeals are still affected by the earlier delays. In view of the delay involved in bringing this case to determination, priority consideration is being given to the case.”

The letter went on to state “an Inspector's report has been received and the file is at Board level. Most cases are decided within a short period of their being formally considered for the first time at Board level. A target date of before 23rd February, 2007 has now been set within which to decide the case.”

Murphy has pledged to keep a close eye on the progress of the case with An Bord Pleanala who will make the final decision on this much disputed planning application.  She stated “it’s vital that this application is not granted as it will set a very dangerous precedent for developers who still have ownership of the public open spaces in long established housing estates.  The people of Riverdale must not have this valuable space taken away from them.”

Press Release, 1st February 2007

I was in contact with a representative of the Office of Public Works today (Thursday 1st February 2007) who informed me that the "contractor was placed" on Monday 29th of January, i.e. a letter of acceptance was issued by the OPW informing the contractor that their tender has been successful and that they have been awarded the job of constructing the new garda station in Leixlip. 

From the time of this placement, the contractor has 10 days to get on site and commence works, which to my calculations (taking 10 days as meaning 10 working days) means they should be on site between now and 12th February. 

The last update I received from the OPW was that the contractor would be on site by the end of January so today's news is slightly inconsistent with my previous update.  However, fingers crossed that we'll be seeing the commencement of works in the next week or two.

I'll keep you informed of any further updates I receive on this.

Press Release, 1st February 2007

Further to a statement issued by her office earlier this week Catherine Murphy, TD has today in the Dáil demanded that reform take place within the Department of Transport to ease “the restrictive practices” which have “forced” Dublin Bus to “postpone the use of 15 new buses that were purchased to serve towns such as Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and Kilcock.” 

Murphy highlighted in the Dáil:

“The need for the restrictive practices employed by the Department of Transport to be eased in light of the fact that Dublin Bus has been forced to postpone the use of 15 new buses that were purchased to serve towns such as Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and Kilcock.  These buses cannot be used until a licence granted to a private operator serving new routes along the Lucan Corridor has been taken up, despite the fact that funding was given to Dublin Bus for these buses long before the granting of the private licence.  Micro management has now become a new impediment to commuters who urgently need expanded bus services, and the practices of the Department of Transport must be changed to fix this.”

Press Release, 31st January 2007

Catherine Murphy, TD has today during the first Dáil session of 2007 question the commitment of Minister for Justice, Mr Michael McDowell to ensuring justice for the vulnerable and will call for a full Dáil debate on what she terms “appalling failures” on the part of the Minister.  Murphy’s comments relate to funding problems highlighted by the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency who may have to withdraw its services due to a lack of commitment to ongoing funding by the Minister.  She requested the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss:

“The questionable commitment of the Minister for Justice to justice for vulnerable members of Irish society in light of today’s near withdrawal of services by the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency. Minister McDowell set the precedent of abandoning vital services when funding for the Missing Persons Helpline was withdrawn in 2005 and he is repeating this injustice with his failure to commit to long term funding for the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency. A full debate regarding the current Minister’s ability to deliver justice to the vulnerable must take place in light of these appalling failures.”

Murphy, in highlighting the apparent unwillingness of Minister McDowell to fund vital services for victims and their families, has stated “The Missing Persons Helpline and the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency provided similar services to the vulnerable in that they offered confidential and non-partisan support for those in crisis and both are desperately needed by those who so often are forced to suffer in silence.  The fact that this keeps happening highlights a problem in the way we fund victim support services, why should one Minister with an apparent grudge against the vulnerable have the power to undermine vital services so readily?  We must put a framework in place so that the funding of victim support services is transparent, consistent and reasonable.”

Press Release, 30th January 2007

Catherine Murphy, TD has today slammed the Minister for Transport for preventing Dublin Bus from using 15 brand new buses bought to service the towns of Kilcock, Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip, Adamstown, Lucan and Palmerstown.  “It’s disgraceful that Dublin Bus can’t even make minor timetable changes for these routes at the moment, let alone use the 15 extra buses bought specifically because of the growing demand for bus services in these towns.”

“The fact that permission from the Licensing Section of the Department of Transport is compulsory for providers to make even small timetable changes shows the type of micro-management obstructing bus providers and the failure of the PD/Fianna Fáil Government to consider the practicalities of knitting private and public transport providers together.  The Government’s method of introducing competition here just defies logic; they seem to be the only ones holding up the show.” Despite applying for and receiving funding from the Department for 100 new buses early last year, Dublin Bus cannot introduce the 15 new buses earmarked for the Kilcock, Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip, Adamstown and Lucan routes because they must wait until at least the end of February before the Department of Transport will consider timetable changes.  This is when the 4 month lead in time expires for a private operator allocated a license for the area in October 2006. 

“Dublin Bus ordered these buses before this private licence was issued so why stop them from being used?  Its right that the private operator is given enough time to recruit and train drivers, and to buy extra buses but why are those buses already available being left idle in the meantime.  If the situation were reversed I’m sure the private operator would want a less restrictive system.”  According to Murphy this problem will arise most frequently in new commuter towns where Dublin Bus do not have established routes and were more people, despite the best efforts of the Department of Transport, are trying to leave their cars at home.”

100 New Buses Launched, Minister Must Release Next 100 Immediately As Promised

“The coming on stream of 85 new Dublin Buses today and the extension of bus lanes on Arran and Ellis Quays are welcome improvements to our much strained public transport network, but I again urge the Minister for Transport to provide the next 100 buses demanded by the Dublin Bus Network Review published last March.”

“Until our bus network receives adequate and continuous investment for existing and emerging routes huge traffic delays, like those seen between the Ballymount and Blanchardstown exits of the M50 will continue to worsen.   If we don’t have enough buses, new routes can’t be put in place to link towns such as Blanchardstown and Tallaght, or even Leixlip and Celbridge; and if we can’t offer public transport for people travelling between towns as well as in and out of Dublin City cars will continue to be the only option for many.“

Press Release, 24th January 2007

Catherine Murphy, TD (Ind) has welcomed today’s conference on Multi-Unit Development Law Reform hosted by the Law Reform Commission and Department of Justice terming it “a step in the right direction”.  However she is now demanding that Government, “stop hiding behind investigations, consultations, and reports and bite the bullet on legislating for property buyers and home owners”.  “This Government doesn’t hold back on rushing legislation when it’s in its interest, so the delaying tactics on property management laws are dubious to say the least.  Is this Government so smitten with Developers that it won’t protect home buyers from them?”

The North Kildare TD highlighted that “there have been a number of excellent reports by the LRC, National Consumer Agency, and Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement which could form the basis of an initial legislative proposal, but a bill hasn’t even been proposed on this, let alone drafted and presented to the Dáil and Seanad.  We need immediate action to protect those trapped by management companies at present and those falling into that trap daily upon making the biggest purchase of their lives.  At this stage though I wonder whether this Government wants to see the problem tackled or whether they’re feigning interest until this year’s Election is over.”

Murphy identified a sample of issues that could be addressed in the short-term prior to the completion of the LRCs report.  “We need a two pronged legislative approach here, several areas such as lack of accountability to homeowners, overcharging for and under-delivering on services, unfair share allocations that ensure developers retain control of management companies, and the banning such companies outright from traditional housing estates could be tackled by way of temporary legislation in the next three months.  We need to stop this problem in its tracks to begin with, and then craft a more comprehensive set of laws during the next Dáil term.”

Murphy concluded in stating “I have a litany of reports in my office that haven’t been addressed in legislation, and a good number of those are from the LRC.  What guarantee that this report will be treated differently than all the rest and not shelved? It’s time that the Government put consumers before developers and gave us some decent protections.”

Press Release, 25th January 2007

Catherine Murphy TD has welcomed news that Kildare County Council sought a grant from the Dublin Transportation Office for the upgrade and completion of the path along the Hazelhatch Road to the Train Station. 

Funding was initially provided by the DTO in the mid 1990s however due to a significant drainage problem upgrade works, including lighting, could not be completed at that time meaning that this path is no better than a muddy trench in some spots.  This drainage problem has since been overcome so hopefully the new project proposal will be able to make walking and cycling to and from Hazelhatch Train Station more attractive.

The Dublin Transportation Office provides grant assistance to Local Authorities for Traffic Management projects, and although the Hazelhatch project will have to compete for funding with other proposals there’s a strong argument to be made for its funding given that it compliments the work to be done on the Kildare Route Project, which will see a doubling of the train line.   The current capacity of the existing train service is 11,050 suburban passengers per day in each direction, which is set to increase steadily to a total potential capacity of 36,400.    It is essential that such a service is supported by good footpaths, cycle paths and feeder buses which will help to relieve the pressure on car parking facilities that are currently spilling over onto the existing footpath along the Hazelhatch Road.

I have asked the project team and the Minister for Transport if the car parking component of the Kildare Route Project could be done as an advance project, which I believe would give some interim relief to those who are willing to leave the car behind to use public transport.

Press Release, 12th January 2007

Commuter belt residents are missing out on basic services like adequate water, sewerage, and roads provision, not to mention playgrounds, swimming pools, sports and arts facilities because Government has again failed to provide enough funding to accommodate the ever growing populations in their counties.  According to Catherine Murphy, TD there is “a direct correlation between the funding allocated by the Department of the Environment in its annual Local Government Fund and access to services, and as the Department has consistently failed to take account of the significant population surges in counties such as Meath, Kildare, Dublin, and Wicklow it is the commuter belt population that is loosing out again.”

The population of Meath grew by 21% between 2002 and 2006 according to census figures but the funding allocated to the county last month in fact increased by only 6%, meaning that per capita spending is actually down by 13%.  Similarly Kildare, while experiencing a population surge of 13% over the same four year period again received a mere 6% rise in funding, leaving some Local Authorities with less funding to cater for a significantly increased population.  “It’s no coincidence that communities in Kildare don’t have access to playgrounds, swimming pools, and the various other facilities that improve quality of life for the thousands of people working to sustain our economy.  If Government want to make the public service more efficient they should start by providing equal access to service through applying the information available to them through the census for example.  Only then will people actually see an improvement in public services in line with the massive taxes they’re paying out.” – Murphy

The North Kildare TD went on to criticize Minister for the Environment, Dick Roches, “misleading assertions” that such counties receive lower levels of funding due to the higher revenues they receive from Development Levies and commercial rates.  “Even when you factor these other sources of funding in, Kildare is still at the bottom of the pile in terms of funding per capita.  On top of this, funding from  Development Levies and Commercial rates can only be spent on specific projects and cannot for example be used to upgrade existing roads, open spaces or to build playgrounds in established areas.

“If the Taoiseach really wants to make the public service more efficient he needs to make sure that his Ministers are actually using the information they have available to them.  The fact that the DOE has again failed to pay attention to the census of population when allocating funding to Local Authorities means that thousands of people will loose out on vital services.  When will he start tackling that?” – Murphy.

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Catherine Murphy, TD has today demanded that Government adopt a more consistent approach to their use of preliminary and main Census figures in the wake of the recently released preliminary census report. "I spoke with officials at the Department of the Environment who said they would refer to the preliminary census figures when allocating money to Local Authorities in the Local Government Fund next year, which is what I’d like to see happen. But the Minister for the Environment today stated that as the figures were preliminary he would not use them to assess whether the level of representation in the Dáil is within Constitutional limits. It’s an anomaly to say the least, either these figures are reliable enough for Government or they’re not." – Murphy

Continue reading Preliminary Census Figures Must Be Applied To Funding Of All Services As Promised October 31, 2006 12:24 PM |

4th April 2006, Press Release

Ads for Census 2006 might urge people to be part of the bigger picture however Deputy Catherine Murphy ( Ind ) has today criticised Government’s failure to plan development in line with previous census findings and has cited this as the fundamental flaw underpinning Irish Society today.  Her comments came on foot of complaints from constituents who, as a direct result of Government’s failure to plan the deployment of services in line with rapid housing development, are unable to find primary school places for their children.  One school in her constituency of North Kildare received 83 applications for 60 primary school places, a figure which is set to rise to over 100 for the September 2007 enrolment.  “This is completely unacceptable! Government on one hand is telling us to participate in the census so that they can allocate resources according to need, but on the other their record in doing so in relation to previous census findings suggests that no such attention will be paid to census 2006.  What makes this year different?” Murphy.

Continue reading Census Promises Bigger Picture But Government Fails To Plan For The Future October 31, 2006 11:12 AM |

8th February 2006, Dáil Speech on the Finance Bill, 2006

Ms C. Murphy:    Like other Deputies, I received three large volumes yesterday morning related to the review of tax schemes. Most of us expected these schemes to be discontinued well before now, but the Finance Bill states a number of times that July 2008 is the cut-off date for some. Where there is no contractual agreement, why can such schemes not be discontinued this summer rather than in two years’ time? Essentially they provide subsidies or supports for a sector which clearly does not need them. We need to divert those funds towards areas of genuine need.

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14th May 06, Press Release

Deputy Catherine Murphy has again sought clarity from the Minister for the Environment Heritage & Local Government on when a decision will be made to grant town council status to applicant towns.

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