Fine Gael TD for Dublin West, has slammed the government’s decision to refuse recognition to the Carpenterstown Educate Together School Group.  The group is made up of parents who want to establish an Educate Together National School in the Carpenterstown/Porterstown area.  On the same day, Minister Hannifin granted recognition to 22 new schools all of which will now open for business in September 2008.  None of these are in the Dublin 15 area.  The parents group has received the full support of the Educate Together organisation at national level and is currently considering an appeal or judicial review.

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RTE News carried a piece yesterday evening, highlighting the cut-backs which are going to see;

- Closure of a surgical ward for one month in the summer;
- Closure of a medical ward for one month in the summer;
- Closure of the out-patient clinics* for two full weeks in the summer and two weeks in December; and a
- Ban on repair of non-essential equipment.bed closures, surgery cancellations, and a freeze on employing student nurses.

As I highlighted last week, I am very concerned by these cut-backs which highlight the crazy system in operation. The Government has spent tens of millions of Euros building new wards in the Connolly Hospital and has spent millions more hiring seven new consultants. Now, in order to save a few hundred thousand Euros, these wards will be closed and consultants will not be able to see new patients.

Image via WikipediaDempsey confirms Luas Docklands extension won’t serve Docklands train station

Ten years ago Fianna Fáil made a huge mistake by not linking up the Luas lines in the city centre. Now the Government is about to make the same mistake by not linking the Luas Docklands extension to the existing Docklands train station, Fine Gael Dublin West TD and Enterprise, Trade & Employment Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD has said.

“Commuters are still scratching their heads about the Government’s decision not to link the red and green Luas lines. This mistake is now being rectified at the cost of millions of euros. But Fianna Fáil is about to make the same mistake in the Docklands. The new Luas Docklands extension will not link up with the existing Iarnród Éireann Docklands train station. Once again Fianna Fáil is showing that it cannot learn from its mistakes.

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Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar has condemned the shabby treatment of the local NAC Swim Club at the hands of management of the National Aquatic Centre in Blanchardstown.  The NAC swim club has over sixty young members most of whom live in the Dublin 15 area.  The club was established in 2004 but now faces an uncertain future after the management of the National Aquatic Centre increased their annual fee from €35,000 to €115,000.
 
‘I have been in contact with the management of the National Aquatic Centre to express my disappointment at the shabby treatment that the club is getting from the centre’s management.  The National Aquatic Centre is not just a national resource, it is also a local amenity and local clubs that use the centre should be supported and facilitated.  While I understand that the Centre operates at a loss, I think this increase is totally unjustified.’