Dental Services in South Meath have all but ceased for the towns of Dunshaughlin, Ratoath and Ashbourne in recent weeks and quite frankly its not acceptable. The HSE through Brendan Drumm and Health Minister Mary Harney have made empty promises about frontline services not being affected by any future cuts. Well our frontline services have definitely been cut
We currently have no Dental services in this district and if I am to be honest Occupational Therapy services and Speech & Language Services have an average of a 2.5 years waiting list. This is not a service that this government could be proud of.
I am calling on the Minister to immediately lift the ban on recruitment for the dental positions needed to restore Dental services to South Meath.
I find it so disconcerting that his government is far more concerned about mortgaging our children’s future to the tune of €54 billion to bail out their developer and banking buddies rather then offer our children the frontline Health Services they not only deserve but require.
This is not the end of this matter and I will ne raising this at our Council Meeting on Monday to seek further action.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Monday, October 05, 2009
Doherty calls for Road Safety Audit for Ratoath
Cllr. Regina Doherty has asked Meath County Council for a road safety audit to be carried out on the new major roundabouts in Ratoath and the new junction between the new Inner Relief Road and the Fairyhouse Road.
Since these new developments were brought into action residents have experienced some very near mishaps. Most recently, a lady with her child in a buggy was very near run over at the roundabout at Tescos due to a large truck turning on the roundabout which quite frankly is too small for the truck to be using. The wheels of her buggy got caught in grass kerb which has been damaged due to the trucks and lorries coming up on to the verge due to lack of “swing” to get around the roundabout.
We have no traffic weight restrictions in Ratoath, therefore all size of trucks and lorries travel through Ratoath every day using roundabouts which could not have been designed for them as they are far too small.
The junction at Fairyhouse Road and the new Inner Relief Road needs to be realigned. The turn right only lane onto Fairyhouse Road from the Inner Relief Road is to close to the junction and needs to be pulled back in order for large trucks and busses to be able to take that turn safely. I see children standing at the traffic lights in their way to school having to stand right back at the wall in order to remain safe.
The safety of pedestrians and road users must be central to any road improvement or realignments plans and we needs these revisited.
Since these new developments were brought into action residents have experienced some very near mishaps. Most recently, a lady with her child in a buggy was very near run over at the roundabout at Tescos due to a large truck turning on the roundabout which quite frankly is too small for the truck to be using. The wheels of her buggy got caught in grass kerb which has been damaged due to the trucks and lorries coming up on to the verge due to lack of “swing” to get around the roundabout.
We have no traffic weight restrictions in Ratoath, therefore all size of trucks and lorries travel through Ratoath every day using roundabouts which could not have been designed for them as they are far too small.
The junction at Fairyhouse Road and the new Inner Relief Road needs to be realigned. The turn right only lane onto Fairyhouse Road from the Inner Relief Road is to close to the junction and needs to be pulled back in order for large trucks and busses to be able to take that turn safely. I see children standing at the traffic lights in their way to school having to stand right back at the wall in order to remain safe.
The safety of pedestrians and road users must be central to any road improvement or realignments plans and we needs these revisited.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Ashbourne Technology Campus
To all of the people who contacted me in the past few days regarding lands on the Ballybin Road due for rezoning to E2 status I would like to thank you for your representations and to let you know that after taking into account your views I changed my opinion on the zoning and voted accordingly today.
When we try to make decisions on behalf of the "common good" of the public it helps if we take your opinions into account. As there were no opinions expressed by the residents of the Ballybin area during my initial deliberations I had to assume that there were no real objections and therefore acting in the common good of Ashbourne - Ratoath was to bring high end employment to our area.
I consider your opinion extremely valuable and would encourage you to regularly view the Meath Co. Council website (www.Meath.ie ) to keep informed of things in our area. If at any stage you wish me to act on your behalf please do not hesitate to contact me.
I, have to my end, made representation to council officials to ask them to consider using other newspapers (possibly MeathEcho) as well as the Meath Chronicle to advertise changes and amendments to zoning and planning applications that could potentially have a serious effect on residents homes & lives. I will keep you informed of any progress that I make on this issue.
When we try to make decisions on behalf of the "common good" of the public it helps if we take your opinions into account. As there were no opinions expressed by the residents of the Ballybin area during my initial deliberations I had to assume that there were no real objections and therefore acting in the common good of Ashbourne - Ratoath was to bring high end employment to our area.
I consider your opinion extremely valuable and would encourage you to regularly view the Meath Co. Council website (www.Meath.ie ) to keep informed of things in our area. If at any stage you wish me to act on your behalf please do not hesitate to contact me.
I, have to my end, made representation to council officials to ask them to consider using other newspapers (possibly MeathEcho) as well as the Meath Chronicle to advertise changes and amendments to zoning and planning applications that could potentially have a serious effect on residents homes & lives. I will keep you informed of any progress that I make on this issue.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Doherty calls for suspension of ALL non essential conference attendance by County & City Councillors
Fine Gael Cllr. Regina Doherty, has called for the immediate suspension of attendance to all non essential conferences by County & City Councillors across the country.
“The attendance of conferences is designed to equip Councillors with knowledge that would assist them carry out their duties as a Councillor. However, in the current economic climate we all must take responsibility for every penny of taxpayer’s money we spend and be guaranteed that firstly, the spend is essential and secondly that we get value for the money we spend.”
“To that end I do not believe that attending conferences (at a considerable cost to the taxpayer) is critical to the effectiveness of my role as a County Councillor and believe that the practice should be suspended with immediate effect.”
“As a nation we are being told that we all need to “share the pain”, but in real terms this is not happening. Pensioners up and down the country, having worked hard all their lives are having their pensions taxed, while the practice of spending taxpayers money without consideration carries on as normal.”
“If Minister Brian Lenihan needs to know where to look to save money in order to avoid taxing pensioners, or taxing children’s allowances then a good start would be in his own back yard. Its no wonder this government has difficulty in bringing the mass population “along” with its recovery plans; the endless talk of reducing salaries, expenses, government committees, the talk of removing the practice of TDs receiving pensions while still holding down a very well paid full time jobs; Lots of talk but the only action we have seen since they woke up to the fact that the country is in dire straits is increased levies on the ordinary tax payer.”
“An immediate motion should be passed that all non essential expenditure by every TD, Councillor, Senator, every government department, every County Council must stop with immediate effect, As public leaders, if we can at least lead by example, then we truly might be all sharing the pain together.”
Did you know
Each Meath County Councilor has an annual fund of €4000 to provide for travel, accommodation and subsistence for attendance at conferences. This varies from council to council with some in receipt of more.
Some of the conferences available are as follow: Judge for yourself how essential some of them are.
Conference Details Conference Cost
The 8th Benedict Kiely Literary Weekend – 10/09/09 – 13/09/09 €80 (Omagh)
From the Canvass to the Council Chamber – 18/09/09 – 20/09/09 €245 (Clifton)
Remembrance & Conference Weekend – 25/09/09- 27/09/09 €180 (Tipperary)
Councillors Co-operation North & South – The Challenges 09/10/09 – 10/10-/09 €95 (Castlebellingham)
Health & Safety Issues in Local Government 30/10/09 – 01/11/09 €245 (Carrick-on-Suir)
“The attendance of conferences is designed to equip Councillors with knowledge that would assist them carry out their duties as a Councillor. However, in the current economic climate we all must take responsibility for every penny of taxpayer’s money we spend and be guaranteed that firstly, the spend is essential and secondly that we get value for the money we spend.”
“To that end I do not believe that attending conferences (at a considerable cost to the taxpayer) is critical to the effectiveness of my role as a County Councillor and believe that the practice should be suspended with immediate effect.”
“As a nation we are being told that we all need to “share the pain”, but in real terms this is not happening. Pensioners up and down the country, having worked hard all their lives are having their pensions taxed, while the practice of spending taxpayers money without consideration carries on as normal.”
“If Minister Brian Lenihan needs to know where to look to save money in order to avoid taxing pensioners, or taxing children’s allowances then a good start would be in his own back yard. Its no wonder this government has difficulty in bringing the mass population “along” with its recovery plans; the endless talk of reducing salaries, expenses, government committees, the talk of removing the practice of TDs receiving pensions while still holding down a very well paid full time jobs; Lots of talk but the only action we have seen since they woke up to the fact that the country is in dire straits is increased levies on the ordinary tax payer.”
“An immediate motion should be passed that all non essential expenditure by every TD, Councillor, Senator, every government department, every County Council must stop with immediate effect, As public leaders, if we can at least lead by example, then we truly might be all sharing the pain together.”
Did you know
Each Meath County Councilor has an annual fund of €4000 to provide for travel, accommodation and subsistence for attendance at conferences. This varies from council to council with some in receipt of more.
Some of the conferences available are as follow: Judge for yourself how essential some of them are.
Conference Details Conference Cost
The 8th Benedict Kiely Literary Weekend – 10/09/09 – 13/09/09 €80 (Omagh)
From the Canvass to the Council Chamber – 18/09/09 – 20/09/09 €245 (Clifton)
Remembrance & Conference Weekend – 25/09/09- 27/09/09 €180 (Tipperary)
Councillors Co-operation North & South – The Challenges 09/10/09 – 10/10-/09 €95 (Castlebellingham)
Health & Safety Issues in Local Government 30/10/09 – 01/11/09 €245 (Carrick-on-Suir)
Friday, January 23, 2009
Irresponsible Employers Adding to the Hardship of the Unemployed - Fine
January 23, 2009 - Employers who don't follow redundancy procedures are
causing additional hardship for unemployed people across south Meath,
according to Fine Gael local area representative Regina Doherty.
"I've dealt with cases where people have waited more than four weeks for
their P45 document from their former employer," said Doherty. "The
authorities need to come down hard on these employers who are causing
hardship to former employees and delaying the process of re-training and
job-seeking."
"People are determined to work and often aren't aware of their entitlements
to subsistence, rent and retraining payments as they seek new employment,"
said Doherty. "From what I've seen in recent months, the young and
non-national residents suffer most from this shoddy treatment."
People who have specific queries about their social welfare entitlements
should visit their social welfare office, or call 1890662244.
The delays from non-compliant employers are compounded by the figures from
the Department of Social and Family Affairs which show that people are
waiting nearly 12 weeks for Jobseekers Allowance in Trim and Navan. The
Finglas office - where many Meath people have to sign on - has a waiting
time of more than 3 weeks for Jobseekers Allowance.
causing additional hardship for unemployed people across south Meath,
according to Fine Gael local area representative Regina Doherty.
"I've dealt with cases where people have waited more than four weeks for
their P45 document from their former employer," said Doherty. "The
authorities need to come down hard on these employers who are causing
hardship to former employees and delaying the process of re-training and
job-seeking."
"People are determined to work and often aren't aware of their entitlements
to subsistence, rent and retraining payments as they seek new employment,"
said Doherty. "From what I've seen in recent months, the young and
non-national residents suffer most from this shoddy treatment."
People who have specific queries about their social welfare entitlements
should visit their social welfare office, or call 1890662244.
The delays from non-compliant employers are compounded by the figures from
the Department of Social and Family Affairs which show that people are
waiting nearly 12 weeks for Jobseekers Allowance in Trim and Navan. The
Finglas office - where many Meath people have to sign on - has a waiting
time of more than 3 weeks for Jobseekers Allowance.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Government policy on extending broadband to rural areas a disgrace- Doherty
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael East Meath Candidate today (Monday) pledged that she will champion total broadband coverage in Meath during the first five years of a Fine Gael/ Labour Government. "The Fianna Fail\ PD Government has had ten years to extend coverage nationally instead Broadband access is at a pathetic 10.5% of the population. We rank 25th out of 30 OECD countries. Meath is standing at the sideline of the Information Revolution. "Broadband access is not a luxury at this stage it should be a basic utility. People outside the big cities are not second-class citizens. Post offices and banks are shutting down around the country and people are being told to turn to the Internet for these transactions. This is hardly an option if they have to rely on a dial up connection. "If we are really trying to increase investment away from the capital we should have basic infrastructure in place to support business. "The Minister of Communications Noel Dempsey and Comreg, have allowed the Internet providers to hold the rural consumer over a barrel. They are allowed to cherry-pick the customers they want and leave the provision. Eircom has been more interested developing its market share. "Action has to be taken now. How can Norway and Northern Ireland have 100% coverage while we are lagging so far behind?" |
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Kenney opens Constituency office in Duleek
5th July 2006, Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny officially opened the constituency office of Shane McEntee TD in Duleek. At the launch deputy Kenney promised a new school for Laytown/Bettystown as promised by the government but not delivered.
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