Archives: Issues

It is imperative that the voice of young adults in Tipperary are heard at a national level. Your concerns have been highlighted to me and need to be brought to a national forum where legislation and resources can be allocated. You are the future of Tipperary and the country and your creativity, energy and innovation must be allowed to thrive if Ireland is to continue to grow. The main areas I am addressing are:

• Car Insurance: Young adults under 25 are being unfairly treated by the insurance industry
  with the highest car insurance premiums in Europe. I will challenge the insurance industry
  directly in the Dáil and campaign government for reform
• Affordable Accommodation: Every citizen of Ireland deserves a place to live which is both
  affordable and of a high standard. I will work locally with my team of county councillors and
  the government to build new affordable houses and apartments in Tipperary. This can be
  achieved through sustainable house building programs and property acquisitions
• Climate Change: It is essential that every citizen and industry adopt a more climate efficient
  approach if we are to provide a healthy planet for future generations to inherit. I will raise
  awareness at government level and support developing new energy efficient technology for
  industry to leave a positive carbon footprint.

Raising a family in Ireland can be very expensive and as technology is now a fact of everyday life, it is imperative that we provide the security and education needed to safeguard our children. We all want to protect our children, live in an affordable home and have a good quality of life. This is no more than you deserve. You have brought your concerns to my attention and I will be focusing on these key issues.

• Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying is one of the great dangers of our age which has caused untold damage to the lives of young people. Many of us have not grown up with social media and so find it very difficult to understand and protect our children from the dangers of the internet. I have raised this issue in the Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil and have requested the Department of Education work with a reputable technological company specialising in protecting and educating children in primary schools. It is essential our children grow up protected and learn what is appropriate online behaviour.
• Affordable Childcare Facilities: The availability and provision of affordable childcare facilities is a problem facing many young families in Tipperary and across Ireland. Many of you have told me of the financial burden of one whole salary being spent on childcare alone or the need to get a grandparent to look after your children because there is no suitable facility nearby. This cannot continue and I am working with my team of county councillors to address this issue locally while I raise the issue at a national level with the Department of Children and Youth Affaires.
• Brexit: The likelihood of a No Deal Brexit is looming closer every day and its impact will be broad ranging, not just on Tipperary but on Ireland as a whole. The farming community and businesses who trade with the UK will be most at risk and this will have a ripple effect in many different sectors. I have been working closely with the Department of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs to seek clarification on what this will mean on a practical level. I am petitioning the government to provide financial assistance to those most affected to find alternative new markets for their products and services.
• Cancer Screening: Cancer is an issue close to my heart and there is scarcely a home which has not had this terrible disease come to a family member or loved one. I’m committed to ensuring funding for more cancer screening units in Tipperary to provide early detection to save lives. I am also campaigning government to provide more cancer research facilities to identify the causes of cancer and petition for the availability of additional cancer treatment clinics for those affected.

The senior citizens of Tipperary and Ireland built this great country we have today and deserve our respect and support in every way possible. You have all worked hard over your life, raised families and contributed to your parishes, towns and county in ways that have often gone unrecognised. Like me, you have seen good times and bad times but always got on with the job at hand. It is not too much to expect that your lifetime of tax contributions to the State should allow you first class access to medical care, nursing home provision and protection for your hard earned pensions. I am addressing these key issues on your behalf:

• Nursing Home Provision: I am in support of the new innovative healthcare fund, which aims to provide state of the art residential care across the country so that our senior citizens, parents and family be looked after as they so deserve. This will involve the redevelopment of existing nursing homes and development of new nursing homes which will provide first class care to the elderly. I will be pushing that the provision of nursing homes in Tipperary be a priority. In particular, it is essential to retain and enhance the Dean Maxwell Community Nursing Unit in Roscrea.
• Pension Protection: I am petitioning the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to ensure that adequate safeguard measures are enforced to protect the hard earned pensions of the people who built this country. State pensions must also be in line with the rate of inflation so that the pension allowance allows a sustainable living.
• Hospitals: The lack of hospital beds especially in emergency units are at an epidemic level where patients are sustaining long waiting times to secure a bed, often for serious medical attention. I have campaigned all my life for an adequate health service which facilitates the demands of a modern society and will continue to do so. I am working diligently with local authorities and on a national level petitioning the government and Department of Health to provide adequate resources to alleviate the bed waiting list. I’ve been instrumental in attaining government investment for South Tipperary General Hospital, UL Nenagh Hospital and the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles.

As we all know, many of our towns in Tipperary are in dire need of redevelopment. If we are to encourage businesses to establish themselves in Tipperary then a modern, up to date infrastructure must be put in place and enterprise grants be made available.

This will encourage local people to set up new businesses and increase local employment. I assure you that I and my team of county councillors will address these issues as a matter of priority, while I fight for national resources to be
directed to Tipperary for major enterprise and infrastructural deployment. The Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Southern Region will soon be adopted. As a result Tipperary County Council are required to implement a new County Development Plan. My team of County Councillors and myself have a thorough knowledge of current and future planning legislation to ensure that the new plan delivers:

• Regeneration and renewal of our towns and villages
• Fair planning rules which serve your best interests
• Sustainable planning to support communities
• Ensure the Council supports the farming and agri-food sectors
• Encourage entrepreneurship and job creation while promoting Tipperary as a tourism destination