Minister to establish National Play and Recreation Network

Minister for Children & Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald TD has announced details of National Recreation Week 2011, which runs this year from tomorrow Friday 28th October to Thursday 3rd November. This is a nationwide celebration of recreational activities for young people run in partnership with various local authorities across the state.

Minister Fitzgerald has also announced her plans to establish a new National Play and Recreation Network to bring together local authority play and recreation officers and their expertise for the purposes of advising on further developments and innovations in the provision of play and recreation facilities and to help promote the wider benefits of participation in sporting and cultural activities among local communities. The inaugural meeting of the Network will be held shortly.

Fitzgerald Welcomes Announcement of Clondalkin Jigsaw Project

 Local T.D., Minister Frances Fitzgerald, was on hand this week to help Headstrong officially announce news of two new Jigsaw centres for the locality. Both Tallaght and Clondalkin have been chosen as sites for Headstrong’s successful Jigsaw projects, which will serve young people from Palmerstown, Lucan, Clondalkin and Tallaght.

“I was delighted to be asked by Headstrong to join them as they announced two new sites in South Dublin for the expansion of their ‘Jigsaw’ Projects. These centres will help strengthen mental health support for young people in the communities of Lucan, Clondalkin, Tallaght and Palmerstown. I have long been committed to mental health issues and am delighted with this great local news. Headstrong does fantastic work with young people throughout the country and it will be a huge plus for our community to have Headstrong bases in Clondalkin and Tallaght,” said Frances Fitzgerald at the launch.

Minister Delivers for Saggart Residents

Minister Launches HSE Child Protection & Welfare Practice Handbook in Stewarts Hospital

Frances Fitzgerald T.D., Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, officially launched the new HSE Child Protection & Welfare Practice Handbook in Stewarts Hospital, this week.

The event was hosted by Gordon Jeyes the National Director of Children and Family Services and took place in Palmerstown.

The handbook is based on the protocols set out in the Children First Guidelines which Minister Fitzgerald launched during the summer.

“I am delighted to be here today to launch this new handbook for practitioners. I know you already passionately employ best practice in child protection and understand your duties fully, but I think this handbook will make clearer the protocols and procedures which we must all adhere to in order to ensure children across Ireland are kept safe,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald backs Gay Mitchell for President!

I was honoured to have been asked by Gay Mitchell to give the key nomination speech proposing him as Fine Gael's Presidential Candidate at our Party's Special Convention. I proposed Gay because he is straight-talking and determined, he has a phenomenal work ethic and a grounded sense of service to the people. As our MEP, Gay has been a fantastic ambassador for Dublin on the international stage.

Gay Mitchell will make an excellent President for Ireland. To get involved in Gay's campaign, call my office on 457 7712

€99,500 allocated to grit roads in South Dublin County Council this winter

Local Fine Gael Minister Frances Fitzgerald has welcomed news that the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, has allocated an additional €11,061 to South Dublin County Council in respect of their Winter Maintenance Grant. This additional funding means a total of €99,549 has been allocated to help keep roads clear across South County Dublin.

Fitzgerald Congratulates Students on Leaving Cert Results

Local Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald T.D, has congratulated students on their Leaving Cert results and paid tribute to local schools, teachers and families on all the effort that goes into preparing students for the exams.
“I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all our local students on their Leaving Cert results. From the feedback I have received, it seems there has been some very good results in our community this year but I would encourage all students regardless of their results to look at their options. There is something out there for everybody and there are many ways of achieving your goals and getting to where you want to,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald Welcomes Real- Time Bus Signs for Clondalkin and Lucan

Local Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, has welcomed the announcement of real-time bus signs across Lucan and Clondalkin as part of the Government’s real time bus signage scheme.


‘This is great news for local commuters. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting for a bus and wondering when it will come. These signs will offer a clearer indication of what bus is on its way and how long it will take to reach you’ said Fitzgerald.

The plans announced by Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport will see 500 real-time bus signs in operation by the end of the year subject to ESB connections to the location.

Frances Sends Adoption Authority to Vietnam in the hope of making progress for families

Minister asks Adoption Authority to visit Vietnam to give clarity to Irish families hoping to adopt from Vietnam

Local Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD, has asked the Chairman of the Adoption Authority to visit Vietnam. Many Irish families wishing to adopt have chosen Vietnam as their country of origin but adoptions from Vietnam have been suspended since May 2009.

Minister Frances Fitzgerald and the Authority agreed that, in view of the fact that Vietnam hopes to ratify the Hague Convention in June, it would be appropriate for the Authority to visit Vietnam.

“I have met many people throughout Lucan, Clondalkin and Palmerstown who are anxiously awaiting progress with Vietnamese authorities so adoptions can begin again,” said Frances Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald welcomes long awaited lease for Palmerstown Rangers

Local general election candidate Frances Fitzgerald has welcomed South Dublin County Council’s decision to grant a permanent lease on grounds at Mill Lane to Palmerstown Rangers.

“I have always been supportive of Palmerstown Rangers and have been working on this issue for a number of years. I attended the last two AGMs of Palmerstown Rangers with my colleague Cllr. William Lavelle where this issue was very much top of the agenda,” said Frances Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald secures mammogram service extension in FG Policy

FG propose extension of mammogram service to women aged 65-70

Local Fine Gael General Election candidate Frances Fitzgerald welcomed her Party’s decision to include the extension of the mammogram service to women aged 65-70 in their health care policy launched this week.

Frances, a long term breast cancer awareness advocate ran a high profile breast cancer awareness community campaign throughout the consistency during October.

“The aim of the community based campaign was to make women more breast health aware. During the series of events one of the issues that kept coming up from women was the need for the mammogram scheme to be extended to cater to women over the age of 65,” explained Frances.

Lucan & Palmerstown Bus Campaign Goes Online

Website and facebook campaign launched for bus commuters affected by Dublin Bus changes

Lucan and Palmerstown commuters are experiencing delays, chronic overcrowding and much confusion due to Dublin Bus’ schedule changes concerning routes 25, 25 a/b/x and 66x. Local senator, Frances Fitzgerald, has been inundated with calls from constituents on the issue and has launched an online campaign.

Senator Fitzgerald has begun an online campaign to highlight the concerns of many people in Lucan and Palmerstown. A website www.reversedublinbuschanges.com and a Facebook page ‘Get the 25 Back on Track’ are inviting constituents to submit their complaints and solutions online. Senator Fitzgerald will be reading all submissions and forwarding on concerns to Dublin Bus.

“This is providing unnecessary stress for a lot of people. It is hard to believe that urban commuters in 2010 are not being provided with an effective transport system” claimed Senator Fitzgerald.

Message to women – Cancer Won’t Wait, Everything Else Can

Women invited to fun filled coffee morning of massage, pampering and health awareness

Clondalkin, Lucan, Palmerstown and Newcastle/Rathcoole women are being invited to pamper themselves in the name of Breast Cancer Awareness. This unusual form of coffee morning is being organised by the Marie Keating Foundation and local Fine Gael Senator Frances Fitzgerald who have oraganised a line up of lifestyle experts to inform, advise and pamper local women. The events which take place throughout Lucan, Clondalkin, Palmerstown and Newcastle/Rathcoole are being held to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October). Each event will hear from a breast health care nurse, RTE nutritionist Aveen Bannon and Life Coach Brian Colbert.

“The focus of the event is health awareness,” explained Senator Frances Fitzgerald who is using her profile as a local politician to increase awareness of breast cancer, early detection and the importance of attending your mammogram appointments.

“Breast cancer affects one in eight women. It is a startling statistic and this month we are asking women to stand together and show solidarity as we create awareness of this dreadful disease that has affected so many women in our community. The events we have put together promise to be fun as well as educational and the Marie Keating Foundation have even organised taster massages for women who attend. We will also hear from lifestyle experts including Aveen Bannon and Brian Colbert as well as a breast health nurse. The emphasis of these events is on the importance women taking charge of their own health as much as possible,” said Senator Frances Fitzgerald.

Government Stands By While Ireland suffers 'Brain Drain' - Fitzgerald

Last month a publicity stunt organised by the Union of Students of Ireland was a poignant reminder of the lasting effects of a ‘brain drain’. The body which represents third level students nationwide chose the replica famine ship The Jeanie Johnston as the location for their photo shoot which depicted doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers and office staff board the ship in what people are now acknowledging as a ‘brain drain’.

Commenting on the campaign local Senator for Frances Fitzgerald said their stunt ‘certainly captured the public mood and grave reality for families in Lucan, Clondalkin, Palmerstown and further afield’.

“I meet parents in Lucan and Clondalkin every week who tell me their son or daughter has left Ireland in search of work elsewhere. Over 68,000 graduates are unemployed and month on month we are seeing a growth in the number of young people unemployed. It is estimated that 200,000 people will emigrate from Ireland in the next five years. Highly skilled, highly trained graduates are being forced to put their talents to use in other countries. Australia, New Zealand and Canada are benefiting from our home-grown talents. There they will be joining young apprentices and tradesmen wounded by the toppling of the developer’s house of cards,” said Senator Frances Fitzgerald.

“Parents are watching, powerlessly, as their son or daughter - some of our brightest and our best board planes. This Government is failing them. It is failing to provide them with opportunities and it is failing to provide them with a rescue plan for our economy,” continued Frances Fitzgerald.

“Fine Gael has detailed how we can create jobs and how we can get things back on track but so long as this Government continues in power, in spite of the will of the people, we won’t have the chance to enact that plan. It’s time the Government showed us theirs or stepped aside and let the people decide who is best to lead them out of this mess,” concluded Frances Fitzgerald.

Gormley’s latest crazy plan is unworkable, unenforceable & hits struggling tradespeople - Fitzgerald

'Green Party ministers simply out of touch with how real world operates’

Local Fine Gael Senator Frances Fitzgerald has called on John Gormley to recognise reality and reverse his daft new policy to prevent tradespeople from using commercial vehicles for occasional personal use.

“Tradesmen, sales people and delivery drivers throughout Lucan and Clondalkin were shocked to hear Minister Gormley's latest plan for commercial vehicles. It is an example, if one were needed, of how the Green Party has totally lost touch with the reality of how most people live. John Gormley should take his head out of the sand and realise what he is doing. His plan seems to suggest that Gardaí will be asked to police church car parks, school yards, shopping centres and sports clubs to find commercial vehicles being used outside the workplace - hardly realistic," said Senator Frances Fitzgerald.

“Nightmare for local residents” – Fitzgerald on Council’s Bin Service

Local Fine Gael Senator Frances Fitzgerald has dubbed the Council’s bin collection service a ‘nightmare for local residents reliant on it’.

Her comments came at a time when bins throughout Lucan, Clondalkin and Palmerstown remained uncollected for another Monday in a row.

“There is a lot of anger and confusion among people affected by the breakdown in the Council’s refuse collection service. I have been speaking to people who haven’t had their grey bins collected in over a month now, for them this is a nightmare. We are getting to a stage where it’s becoming a real health and safety concern,” said Frances Fitzgerald.

Savage disability cuts hurting the most vulnerable in our locality – Fitzgerald

Dublin Mid-West Senator & Spokesperson on Health marches with disability protest and speaks out in the Senate against cuts in disability services

Lucan and Clondalkin Senator Frances Fitzgerald joined a disability protest march at the Dail this week and spoke out against cuts in disability services in the Senate.

Speaking in the Senate, Senator Fitzgerald said, “This week the Taoiseach stood up in the Dail and said that there would not be and in fact have not been any cuts to disability services. Only hours after the Taoiseach’s assertion, thousands of parents, families and carers took to the streets outside this House and in other locations around the country to protest at the direct cuts they have seen in services for their loved ones with intellectual disabilities.”

Dublin Mid West Fine Gael selects Fitzgerald and Keating for General Election

Enda Kenny addresses massive Fine Gael meeting in Clondalkin as Senator Frances Fitzgerald and Cllr Derek Keating are selected to contest the next General Election for Fine Gael in Dublin Mid West

The Dublin Mid West Fine Gael organisation held its General Election Selection Convention last night (Monday) in the Green Isle Hotel, Clondalkin. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Phil Hogan, Environment Spokesperson and the special guest speaker was Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny.

The Fine Gael Party instructed the convention to select two candidates and after a speech by Cllr Willam Lavelle, the convention unanimously chose Senator Frances Fitzgerald, the Fine Gael Senate Leader and Spokesperson on Health and Councillor Derek Keating as their candidates.

Speaking at the Convention, Senator Fitzgerald paid warm tributes to all the Fine Gael members in the constituency who had stuck with the party through thick and thin and also to the four Councillors in the constituency - Cllr Therese Ridge, Tony Delaney, William Lavelle and Derek Keating.

Addressing the meeting, Senator Fitzgerald said, "Times were very different when I stood at an equivalent hotly contested convention in the Spa Hotel for the 2007 General Election. We had one Councillor in the entire constituency – the tireless, energetic, determined Therese Ridge. We had no Oireachtas member. We faced a General Election Campaign starting with just 31 out of the 166 seats in the Dail. How times have changed! We are now the most popular party in the State, going by 20 consecutive Red C Polls. We’re the largest party in local government by far. We have 20 more Dail seats then we had then. In this constituency we’ve gone from 1 Council seat to 4 and from no Oireachtas Member to me being elected to the Senate, appointed by Enda Kenny to lead our party in the Senate and to sit on the Fine Gael Front Bench."

"It is my honour to be part of that and to be representing our community at a national level in the Oireachtas. I have worked intensively on ever local issue that affects this constituency, opposing incineration in Rathcoole, demanding proper primary school facilities in Palmerstown, Newcastle and Clondalkin, working towards an end to pre-feb classrooms, campaigning for a new second level school in Lucan, demanding proper planning across the constituency and quality transport for all, as well as helping the many individuals facing unemployment, dealing health issues and personal concerns. I am relishing the challenge of working for the interests of our community.

" Everybody I meet across this constituency from Lucan to Clondalkin, from Palmerstown to Rathcoole, from Saggart to Newcastle is united by the same desire – a desire for change, for leadership, for decency in politics and in public life, for a health service that delivers care based on need not ability to pay, for a Government that creates jobs for people, not bailouts for their cronies.

"I look forward to working with Derek to deliver two seats in Dublin Mid West in the next election. I will bring my 13 years experience at the highest levels in Fine Gael, my background as a social worker, my experiences as a mother and my commitment to equality and fairness to ensure a new Government with a fresh mandate is in palce to address the needs and concerns of people right across this constituency," concluded Senator Fitzgerald.

3 Tonne Limit on Kennelsfort Road

The local Superintendents have given a commitment to carry out an enforcement blitz on the Kennelsfort Road for the purpose of assessing the situation in relation to the 3 tonne limit. HGVs are not permitted to use Kennelsfort Road as a through road but they are permitted to use the road as access to industrial premises along this route. This makes policing of the limit quite difficult. CCTV cameras are not able to differentiate between the two instances. More policing and better enforcement of the limit is the only answer.

Antisocial problems of Glenaulin Park must be tackled– change happens together

As a member of the Joint Policing Committee I am well aware of the antisocial problems certain areas in Palmerstown are facing, particularly the recurring problems in Glenaulin Park. I have requested the Council put together a proposal on how best to tackle these problems as it’s simply unfair to have families afraid in their own homes and in our park.

At a recent public meeting organised by the Palmerstown Community Council a number of ideas were floated in relation to how best deal with the anti-social behaviour in Glenaulin Park. These included the possibility of permanently closing off the park entrance at the eastern end of the rear laneway behind Culmore road which would mean closing the pedestrian link to Californian Hills, closing some of its ten entrances at night time only, increasing the height of the boundary walls to the park, improving the Park Ranger service in the area and installing additional CCTV cameras to monitor and discourage anti social behaviour. Please let me know your views on the best way to tackle the situation – 457 7712.

Until the situation is resolved we need to continue to report these problems as if they are not logged then it’s very hard to monitor them. The number for the local Ronanstown Garda Station is 666 7700 and the Ballyfermot Garda Station is 666 4400. Gardai are also encouraging estates to establish community watch programmes and be vigilant as burglaries are on the rise. If you would like information on how to go about setting one up a neighbourhood watch organisation contact me on 457 7712.

Fitzgerald calls for Minister to address issues surrounding SNAs

Local FG Senator leads the charge in calling for answers in Seanad Éireann

Raising the issue of the number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to be withdrawn from schools, local Fine Gael Seanad Leader, Senator Frances Fitzgerald called for Minister O’Keeffe to address the Seanad immediately outlining the current situation.

“There is widespread confusion surrounding this matter and parents are understandably concerned about what is going on. I raised this crucial matter in the Seanad and lead the charge in calling for the Minister to come into the chamber to outline what exactly is happening in relation to SNAs.

“If we are following a policy of inclusion the removal of hundreds of SNA is certainly not the way to go. How are children with special needs and their schools expected to cope if this policy is implemented?

“We need to properly assess the needs of all of our children, identify their educational needs and then set about meeting and fulfilling those needs – anything less is an absolutely dereliction of duty. The Minister must immediately address the situation and not leave parent, and their children, hanging on one minute more.”