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Entries matching the category "rural%20transport%20scheme"
Hopping on the Rural Transport Scheme Bus
Posted on November 27, 2009 by Alan Kelly
On Thursday last, I took the Rural Transport Scheme’s bus from Lorrha to Roscrea along with regular users of the scheme. Locals have recently become fearful of cuts to this scheme, which would leave them isolated and without access to even the most basic of services. The rural transport scheme was set up in response to inadequate transport in rural areas and has become a lifeline to many without access to a car.
Permanent link | Categories: Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs • Transport • Rural Transport Scheme
Nenagh-Dublin Direct Train
Posted on March 05, 2012 by Alan Kelly
I have recently announced an overhaul of rail services on the Ballybrophy railway line, including additional early morning train services to Dublin under the new Iarnród Éireann Spring/Summer schedule. This is a fantastic development for those living and commuting in the areas of Nenagh and Roscrea. As the local Minister in the Department of Transport, providing this vital service has been a priority for me.
These new trains mean you'll be in Dublin in 2 hours 20 minutes from Nenagh and there will be no change at Ballybrophy on this service. What this effectively means is that for the first time people from Nenagh have the ability to get to Dublin, on one train, for work or college before 9am.
Permanent link | Categories: Transport
Inspirational 'Visit Nenagh' Cycle Team
Posted on February 13, 2012 by Alan Kelly
This team are an inspiration. They came to me last November looking for my support and of course it was forthcoming. Nenagh has always had a strong interest in cycling and the lads have been participating in cycling competitions in some cases for over a decade. It is a fantastic achievement to have our own team in Nenagh that will promote the town and the area in general. Nenagh has a unique selling point now with the N7 cycleway to Limerick that will be able to attract in events and competitions in the future. Working with the team and their supporters I want to make Nenagh, a town placed in the centre of the country as the centre piece of Irish cycling'.
Permanent link | Categories: Arts Sport & Tourism • Transport
Integrated Ticketing
Posted on November 30, 2011 by Alan Kelly
I was delighted to unveil the new Leap Card, the long-promised integrated ticketing for Dublin. After 12 years of promises, it’s great to see this project final get off the ground, a positive move for integrated travel. I have worked extremely hard to get this project moving as I felt it was important to commuters. We have 500 customers testing the system for us at the moment and we’ll take their feedback so that the final launch is as smooth as possible.
Permanent link | Categories: Transport • Leap card • Alan Kelly •
€600,000 for South Tipp Smarter Travel Projects
Posted on November 27, 2011 by Alan Kelly
I’m thrilled to note that since my time in office over €600,000 has been allocated to projects in South Tipperary as part of the Smarter Travel Initiative. This funding provides a small boost for the local economy and encourages cycling and walking and more sustainable transport.
Tipperary is one of the counties that has benefited greatly from the jobs initiative.
The funding forms part of a €2 million national package for smarter travel measures.
Permanent link | Categories: Environment • Transport • Smarter travel • Alan Kelly •
IRELAND MUST FOLLOW FINLAND AND MAKE DIGITAL HISTORY
Posted on July 02, 2010 by Alan Kelly
Following the news that Finland has made broadband access a legal right for every citizen, I believe Ireland must follow their example and make broadband available to every Irish home and business.
Finland made digital history when it became the first country in the world to make broadband a legal right for every citizen.
From 1 July every Finn will have the right to access to a 1Mbps (megabit per second) broadband connection.
What we need now is an urgent review of Ireland’s broadband strategy. Ireland lags way behind the rest of Europe when it comes to broadband and the problem is worst in rural areas.
Permanent link | Categories: Communications • Foreign & European Affairs • Alan Kelly MEP • Labour • Tipperary • North Tipperary • Broadband • Finland • access • rural infrastructure • communications • Broadband roll out • strategy
FARMERS VULNERABLE TO MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA
Posted on June 21, 2010 by Alan Kelly
I am calling for a greater support system to be made available to farmers after a new study found that 57% of Irish farmers surveyed would not want others to know if they had a mental health problem
The results were found in the ‘Public Attitudes Towards Mental Health Problems’ survey, commissioned for the new mental health stigma and discrimination reduction campaign, See Change.
These figures indicate there is a still a very real stigma attached to mental health issues among Irish males and in particular those working in the agriculture sector.
For too long, Irish men have been afraid to discuss mental health, choosing to keep it behind closed doors.
Permanent link | Categories: Agriculture • Health • Alan Kelly • Labour • MEP • Farmers • mental health • stigma • See Change • survey • rural • agriculture
Time to Investigate M7 Workers Employment Conditions
Posted on February 03, 2010 by Alan Kelly
I am calling for a full investigation into the working conditions of workers on the new M7. This arises following receipt of a number of complaints from former skilled workers who were paid the hourly rate of a general operative in breach of The Wages Act 1991. This in particular relates to hundreds of workers who have been let go off the site in the last six months.
The complaints come from former employees of Coffey Construction and relate not only to rates of pay but to a number of issues which include payment of a flat rate for overtime hours worked and incomplete contracts of employment. These are in breach of Labour laws and practices.
Permanent link | Categories: Transport • M7 workers • alan kelly • Limerick • Tipperary
Bringing it All Back Home
Posted on May 28, 2009 by Alan Kelly
It was amazing to round off a party leader’s tour with a trip to my own home village of Portroe. For those who don’t know, it represents the heart of the Labour party in North Tipperary and the village itself and the people I grew up with helped form my own political philosophy.
It goes back to the days when the slate quarry was the main employer locally, back over seventy years ago. The local Labour party formed around the unions of workers employed in the factory and that togetherness has held firm in the community ever since.
Permanent link | Categories: Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs
Morale of Public Service is a Major Worry
Posted on May 24, 2009 by Alan Kelly
Running across the country trying to meet as many people and shake as many hands as possible at the moment. Many of the conversations involved light-hearted banter, but when you get into the serious nitty-gritty with people, you come across some disturbing trends.
Right now, public service morale is at a disturbingly low level. Whether it is teachers, nurses, administrators, engineers, every public servant you meet has plenty of valid reasons to angry. The worry is if will this start affecting performance, as it is bound to and will the vulnerable people who need the public service the most, suffer the most?
Permanent link | Categories: Communications • Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs • Defence • Education • Finance
