MACROOM FIRE STATION TO GO TO TENDER NEXT YEAR

Cork North West TD and Dáil candidate Michael Creed has this morning welcomed confirmation that the tender for the construction of the new Macroom Fire Station is to be issued next year. Commenting on the provision of funding for the project in the Fire Stations Capital project 2016-2020 Deputy Creed said:

“This is a most welcome development for the provision of emergency fire services in the Macroom area. The present fire station in Macroom is antiquated and a new station has been mooted with many years. I am pleased that this is now a reality and that the construction of a new building on an already procured site will be put to tender next year.

“The site which has been purchased for the station is the same site where the new Garda Station which is due to be constructed during the period of the Justice department’s Capital Investment plan 2016-2021.

“This outgoing Government has put in place an unprecedented package of investment for the Macroom area. The upgrade of Macroom hospital, the new Fire & Garda Stations as well as the commencement of the Macroom bypass programme will see this area transformed over the next number of years”.

CREED WELCOMES €42,295 FOR COLAISTE NA MUMHAIN BEAL ATHA AN GHAORTHAIDH

Aire na Gaeltachta Joe McHugh TD & Michael Creed

Cork North West TD Michael Creed has welcomed the announcement that €42,295 is to be made available to Colaiste na Mumhain Beal Atha an Ghaorthaidh. Commenting on the announcement Deputy Creed said:

“I warmly welcome this supplementary funding that has been made available to Colaiste na Mumhain, to help fund structural works carried out in the facility. Colaiste na Mumhain previously received €38,229 in order to upgrade the facility and enhance safety on the premises.

“Colaiste na Mumhain is a historic nursery of the Irish language and I am pleased that Minister of State Joe McHugh and Roinn na Gaeltacht have provided this much needed funding to preserve Colaiste na Mumhain and to ensure it continues to function as a landmark facility for the teaching of the language”

CREED CONFIRMS NEW GARDA STATION FOR MACROOM

Cork North West TD Michael Creed has this morning welcomed confirmation that construction of the new Macroom Garda Station is to proceed as part of An Garda Síochána Building & Refurbishment Programme 2016 – 2021. Commenting on the inclusion of the new Garda Station building in the programme Deputy Creed said:

“I am extremely pleased that Gardaí in Macroom are finally going to receive a new state of the art Garda Station after many years pursuing this matter. For too long Gardaí have been working in sub-standard conditions. This work will help ensure that our Garda station will be modern and fit for purpose. We need to support the Gardaí in carrying out their work to protect the community”.

“Last year I brought the Minister for Justice to Macroom to visit the existing Garda Station to inspect first-hand the urgency of the situation there. I am pleased that these efforts have now borne fruit and that Macroom tops the list of new stations earmarked for construction under the new building programme.

“Today is a great day for the tremendous staff of Macroom Garda Station and the wider district, who use the Macroom Station. I am keen to see this project which will be funded through a PPP proceed to construction as soon as possible. A site has been procured adjoining the site of the new Macroom Fire Station. I have already been in contact with authorities regarding planning permission and the next stage of progress will be to finalise design and proceed to planning.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald on a visit to Macroom Garda Station last year.

OVER €110,000 IN FUNDING FOR CNW CHILDCARE FACILITIES A CLEAR SIGNAL OF GOVTS INTENT

Cork North West TD Michael Creed has welcomed the allocation of over €110,000 in funding to Childcare facilities throughout Cork North West by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Commenting on the allocations Deputy Creed said:

“This investment in the Childcare sector in Cork North West is a clear signal of the Government’s commitment to delivering the best possible childcare system in this Constituency and throughout the Country. This funding will go towards the both largescale and minor works in Childcare facilities throughout Cork North West.

“Recently the Government has published a major new childcare report detailing proposals for strategic investment to improve affordability, quality and accessibility of Childcare. As the economy improves, we now have opportunities for strategic investment that will help achieve better outcomes for children, offer greater supports to parents, improve quality, and upskill the sector.

“Childcare providers in Cork North West do tremendous work and have built a network of services in the most rural of areas to the most populated. I am confident that the funding provided will help enhance these facilities and ensure that this network is sufficiently prepared for further development”

CREED WELCOMES WATER INFRASTRUCUTRE DEVELOPMENTS IN COACHFORD & RYLANE

Cork North West TD Michael Creed has welcomed confirmation that Irish Water is to carry out water mains upgrades in Coachford & Rylane. Commenting on these developments Deputy Creed said:

“I am pleased that the proposed replacement of 1.2km of existing water mains on the R618 Macroom Road from Coachford is being progressed. The construction contract is due to go to tender in the next four weeks, with contract award and the commencement of construction estimated to take place towards the end of 2015.

“In Rylane, operational measures have been introduced to the network recently to reduce the amount of breaks and leakage. An Asset Needs Brief for the replacement of 4.6km water mains in Rylane was received from Cork County Council and was approved by Irish Water. Construction is likely to begin by mid-2016”

CREED WELCOMES SIGNIFICANT JOBS BOOST FOR BALLINCOLLIG

Cork North West TD Michael Creed has this morning welcomed the announcement that eSentire Inc., a leader in continuous advanced threat protection cybersecurity solutions and managed security services, based in Ontario, Canada plans to create close to 100 jobs over the next five years in a European HQ and Security Operations Centre in Ballincollig. Commenting on this announcement Deputy Creed said;
“The creation of more high-spec jobs in the IT sector here in Cork North West is welcome news indeed. Credit is due to my colleague Minister Bruton and the IDA for attracting a company of the calibre of eSentire Inc. This is a vote of confidence in the talent pool available in the wider Ballincollig and Cork area.
“Those interested in applying for a job with eSentire in Ballincollig should visit: http://www.esentire.com/careers. This hub will be the Company’s European Headquarters ensuring that Ballincollig will be the centre of eSentire’s activities within the EU

UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN 12% IN MACROOM & 14% IN NEWMARKET SINCE APRIL 2014

Cork North West TD, Michael Creed has this morning welcomed recent CSO figures showing a reduction of the live register figures for the Macroom & Newmarket areas since April last year. Commenting on the figures Deputy Creed said:

“There continues to be a consistent reduction in the employment figures in Cork North West which is clearly illustrated by the most recent figures. The Macroom office has reported a year on year reduction of 12% from 1433 people signing on to 1236 while the Newmarket office has a reduction of 14% from 1163 to 1328. Significantly the numbers unemployed in Macroom has reduced by 28% and in Newmarket by 38% since this Government took office in 2011.

“This is good news for the area and reflects growth trends in Agriculture, the food industry, tourism and construction in the area. We are finally beginning to see the recovery spread to the Regions beyond Dublin and it is hoped that through the Action Plan for Jobs regional emphasis that this growth can be accelerated.

“The job of fixing the economy and restoring full employment is far from complete. We need stability and focus to continue the drive towards these goals over the coming year and beyond the next General Election”.

MACROOM RE-SURFACING WORKS TO COMMENCE FROM MARCH 23RD – CREED

Cork North West TD Michael Creed has confirmed that the resurfacing of the N22 through Macroom town is due to commence on the week beginning March 23rd. Commenting on the proposed works Deputy Creed said;

“I welcome the commencement of the much needed resurfacing of the N22 in Macroom town. The road surface has been in a very poor condition for some time now and is badly in need of repair. Road users, pedestrians, residents and traders have all suffered the adverse effects of the damaged surface.

“However it is important to point out to all frequent users of the road, residents and business people in the town that we are in for a difficult number of weeks in terms of congestion and delays while the works are being carried out. Sadly these delays are unavoidable. I’ve appealed to the authorities responsible for the project to make every effort to engage positively to minimise disruption for all”.

CREED WELCOMES FRESH START FOR CARRIGRUA RESIDENTS

Cork North West TD Michael Creed has welcomed the commencement of works in Carrigrua Estate, Ballinagree, Macroom, Co. Cork on Monday next February 16th. Commenting on the works Deputy Creed said:

“I am delighted for all the residents of Carrigrua in Ballinagree that there is finally an end in sight to their difficulties with having their estate and its infrastructure brought to a safe and acceptable condition. I have been informed that contractors will be on site from next week for an eight week period.

“There is great credit due to the residents in how they engaged with all stakeholders to ensure that this matter was dealt with. It is important to acknowledge also the contributions of Cork County Council, the receivers Ernst & Young and the The Department of the Environment who provided funding to progress the required works.

“However the real heroes in this story are the residents of Carrigrua for their resilience patience and positivity in facing up to, and dealing with a very difficult situation. I was delighted to have been able to work with them to ensure their houses could indeed become their homes”.

FACTS BETRAY MYTH IN RURAL IRELAND DEBATE

SCHOOL CLOSURES, POST OFFICE CLOSURES AND JOB LOSSES HIGHER UNDER FIANNA FÁIL

Cork North West TD Michael Creed has hit back at accusations that this Government has had an anti-rural bias. Commenting on the matter Deputy Creed said:

“There has been much rhetoric of late suggesting that this Government has been bad for Rural Ireland which has been based more on fiction than fact. The truth of the matter is that Fianna Fáil in Government, even during the Celtic Tiger era, did far more to erode services in Rural Ireland than this Government has done in the midst of an economic crisis.

“Figures provided to me from the Minister for Education reveal that Fianna Fáil in Government oversaw the closure of 10 schools in County Cork between 2006 and 2010 while only three have closed since this Government has taken office. The fact is that this Government made it clear from the outside that any decisions on school closures would be left with schools own boards of management and not forced by the Department. These figures betray suggestions by some that this Government have been closing schools in every village while the opposite is the case.

“Post Office closures have also been pointed to as an area where this Government has been hard handed. Figures provided by An Post show that between 2005 and the end of 2010, during Fianna Fail’s reign in Government 31 Cork Post Offices shut their doors while only three have been closed since this Government took office and 2014.

“On the jobs front the figures are also revealing. From the time the 2007 Fianna Fáil Government took office to the time it left in 2011 the numbers on the Live Register increased by 264% in Newmarket and 277% in Macroom. Since Fine Gael took office in 2011 the numbers on the live register have tumbled by 27% in both Newmarket and Macroom.

“I believe that is important that the public are made aware of the facts behind some of inane and inaccurate sound-bites that have been doing the rounds in recent times. There is still much work to be done by this Government to right the wrongs of its predecessor. It is important that Governments be judged on their record”.