BYE, BYE BY-PASS

Cork North West TD Michael Creed has criticised Fianna Fail for their abject failure to deliver the Macroom bypass project after a decade of promises and guarantees. Speaking after the publication of the new programme for Government which severely cuts Government expenditure on road projects, Deputy Creed said;

“The re-negotiated programme for government explicitly postpones any progress on the N22 bypass indefinitely. While it commits to completing the Major Urban Routes in 2010, the Programme states that “it will review the completion dates and appropriate road standard of the remaining 94 road projects at the design stage or earlier of development in light of the economic circumstances”. The Programme points to a shift of emphasis in favour of public transport with the ratio of spending on new Transport 21 projects between public transport and national roads programme will be 2:1 in favour of public transport. Therefore whatever limited resources the Government has it will be investing in public transport and not in projects such as the Macroom bypass”.

 “It is regrettable that our Fianna Fail Deputies in Cork North West have not mounted a stronger case for the project despite a decade of promises and assurances on the matter. It is frustrating to say the least that this is the hard cold reality we are presented with after almost fifteen years of Fianna Fail Government where resources have been squandered and progress has been minimal. The legacy of the Celtic Tiger era Government in this area will be traffic congestion, poor road surfaces and tragically, road deaths”.

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CREED WELCOMES RESOUNDING CORK NORTH WEST “YES” TO LISBON

Fine Gael, Cork North West T.D. Michael Creed has welcomed the strong Yes vote in last Friday’s Lisbon Treaty Referendum. Speaking after the people of Cork North West gave a resounding 69.5% endorsement to the YES campaign Deputy Creed said: “This is a very mature and informed decision. I am delighted that the vast majority of people voted on the issue at hand in spite of the efforts of some to distract them. I am also pleased that people have avoided the temptation to use this critical Referendum as a means of punishing the government for its incompetence and mismanagement”.

“Looking at a selection of tallies from around the Constituency it is clear that there was universal support for Lisbon from both rural and urban communities”.  Yes/No Rockchapel 85/25  Meelin 180/13  Freemount 123/48  Newmarket 103/72  Dromagh 67/17  Ballydesmond 197/33  Kilcorney 92/49  Kanturk 98/50

“While these tallies are a rough estimate it is clear that there is a significant Yes vote in all these communities”.

CREED WELCOMES PRESERVATION OF PODIATRY CARE.

Cork North West TD Michael Creed has welcomed the decision by the HSE to maintain Podiatry care in Macroom Health Centre.  Speaking after receiving assurances from the HSE that the service will be maintained, Deputy Creed said:

“There was widespread fear amongst elderly patients and diabetics in the Macroom area, that the current podiatrist who is due to go on maternity leave shortly would not be replaced.  This would have left hundreds of patients in need of treatment having to travel significant distances to see a podiatrist”.

“I made representations to the Minister for Health Mary Harney TD and directly to the HSE on the matter.  Thankfully the HSE have responded positively to the many requests both from the public and politicians”.

“I have received a letter from the HSE stating that; “arrangements are being made to cover the service when the current post holder goes on maternity leave”.  This is a very positive development for all users of the service”.

HIGHER EDUCATION GRANT APPLICATION FORMS

Application Forms for the Higher Education Grant 09/10 are available from my office now.

Please feel free to collect forms from my Constituency Office, 95 Railway View, Macroom.  Alternatively phone (026)41835, or email michael.creed@oireachtas.ie to have a form mailed to you directly.

CREED CALLS FOR SAFETY MEASURES ON N22

Cork North West T.D. Michael Creed has called on the NRA to implement speed calming measures on the N22, outside Baile Bhuirne, following another fatal accident in the area.  Speaking on the matter Deputy Creed said:

“The most recent tragedy on the N22, highlights the urgent need for some safety measures to be put in place immediately.  This is the second tragedy on the same stretch of road in recent years.  It is vital that action is now taken in order to prevent further fatalities in the future”.

“I have contacted the NRA about this area; specifically where the road narrows on entry to Baile Bhuirne.  I have received assurances that the NRA will investigate the possibility of speed calming measures, as the road narrows rapidly into a residential area”. 

   

CREED APPEALS TO HSE & HEALTH MINISTER NOT TO AXE PODIATRY CARE IN MACROOM.

 

Fine Gael TD Michael Creed has appealed to the HSE and the Minister for Health to review its decision not to replace the Podiatrist in Macroom Health Centre once she goes on maternity leave in the coming weeks.

“This decision not to replace the podiatrist who covers the Macroom Health Centre is cause for significant concern amongst the patients who attend the clinic. The majority of patients are elderly or suffer from chronic diabetes and are in severe need of continuous treatment. The withdrawal of this care is inhumane to say the least”.

“I have written to the HSE and Minister Harney and implored upon them to restore podiatry care to the health centre. Unfortunately the case as it stood was far from satisfactory with a 4 year waiting list for routine treatment and an incredible to year wait for urgent care”.

“Killarney is perhaps the nearest alternative for podiatry care and this quite simply is not an option for many of the patients who attend the Macroom clinic.