” SMARTER TRAVEL” for Donegal

I have been informed by Junior Transport Minister Alan Kelly that €4million is being made available  for local authorities, . Works envisaged include cycle paths and cycle parking, pedestrian routes, improving pedestrian/cycling accessibility to key destinations including town centres, public transport locations and education centres/schools, low-cost traffic management and signage schemes and low-cost safety measures to enhance the attractiveness of walking and cycling. Projects that have a fit with tourism development will be looked at favourably as well. A  letter is currently being drafted by the Department for sending to local authorities.

“ I welcome this initiative and the  potential for tourism and the local economy.  I will be monitoring the application from Donegal County Council and will speak with Minister Kelly on the matter  shortly, this initiative shows that even in difficult economic times funding is being made available to assist these projects,”

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New Rural Broadband Scheme – Apply Now

The government has announced they are taking applications from now until the end of July 2011 from people interested in getting broadband in rural areas. This is important for a great many people in County Donegal we have several areas where broadband is difficult or impossible to get. So make sure you get your application in.
follow the attached link

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Communications/Communications+Development/Rural+Broadband+Scheme

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Few pics from election debate in Scoil Colmcille, Letterkenny

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Some pics from Ruairi Quinn’s visit to Donegal NE yesterday

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Pics from today’s canvass in Moville & Carndonagh

Here are some pictures from my visit to Moville and Carndonagh today. Myself and Cllr Martin Farren, the local Labour councillor, visited Moville Clothing Ltd, an impressive family-run business which has been providing vital employment in the local community for many years now. We also stopped in to Bonners Windows next door, where I spoke to employees about Labour plans for boosting the SME sector in Donegal NE. Without companies like Moville Clothing and Bonnars Windows, we simply would not have functioning communities. Later in the morning we visited to Carndonagh Mart which was busy with local farmers, many of whom I spoke with about the issues facing the farming sector in Donegal at present.

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Pics from today’s canvass in Carndonagh

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This week’s e-letter

Dear Voter,

Welcome to this week’s e-letter. There are now just 14 days left to change Ireland and I am more confident than ever that people want change and a clean break with the past. We are receiving an overwhelmingly positive response on the doorsteps but I need as many number one votes as possible and once again am asking for your support on February 25. Together, we can put an end to the politics of the past and build a better future.

Regards,
Jimmy

Love Labour – Vote Harte

We are holding a fundraising night on Valentine’s Night and would love you to come. The event is taking place in my campaign office on 7 Castle Street, and kicks off at 8pm. Expect plenty of Labour red roses and Harte paraphernalia, in keeping with the romantic spirit of the day! Tickets are 20 euro and the cost will cover nibbles, some wine, music and great chat. For more info contact 0863719607.

Research and Innovation the way forward for graduates in Donegal

As a father of four children, I am all too familiar with the fear that many parents are currently experiencing in terms of worrying about whether their children will have to move abroad in search of work. These educated young adults are now beginning to feel disconnected from the country from which they were educated. Unless we create environment which taps into their creative and intellectual potential, they will go. This week I propose that the Labour Party’s planned €500 million Jobs Fund could be used to establish research and innovation hubs in 3rd level institutions like LYIT. The fund would be used to provide infrastructure which would bridge the gap between research in universities and its subsequent development into commercially viable propositions. The hubs would in turn harness expertise of graduates and could assist those who have ideas to bring to the table.

1,000 sign petition for sub-post offices in Letterkenny

Around 1,000 Letterkenny people have signed my petition supporting the establishment of sub-post offices in the Gortlee and Glencar areas of the town.
The petition has been running for the past month and signatures have been collected at doorsteps, while several business premises in those areas have also been running the petitions. It is completely unacceptable that people are being forced to queue for long periods outside the Main Street facility and I have long mooted the idea of establishing sub-post offices in outlying areas which could enhance the Main Street service. Another option is to boost existing services in the Main Street. The level of support for sub-post offices is indicative of demand for increased services among local people. I intend to present the signatures to An Post over the coming weeks and continue to pressurise them into making a decision on the issue.

Get involved

You can help make history in Donegal North-East by electing a Labour TD for the first time, and stopping Fianna Fail in their tracks. I am campaigning day and night to transform Irish politics and get our economy back on track, but I need your help.
Our grassroots campaign depends on volunteers like you. Whether it’s talking to your friends, family & neighbours or delivering leaflets in your local area, every little effort helps. People like you can make a real difference to the future of our country.

Labour’s Plan for Stability and Growth

Last week I attended the launch of the Labour Party’s ‘Plan for Stability and Growth’ in Dublin. I accompanied Eamon Gilmore, Ruairi Quinn, Joan Burton and Senator Alex White at the event, and a major media contingent greeted the five of us. There are three main planks to the plan – forward thinking, saving public money and fairer taxes. A key aspect is that Labour wants to safeguard Ireland’s future economic and employment growth, and this means renegotiating the EU/IMF deal (by extending its terms by a year to 2016), making savings in public spending and eliminating waste, and introducing a fair tax system. The plan works from the premise that amid the serious problems facing Ireland, the country also has real economic advantages. With the right pro-jobs policies, the Irish economy can create jobs and return to prosperity.

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Few more pics from Ramelton canvass

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Some pics from last weekend’s canvass

Here are some pics from our canvass of the Ramelton area at the weekend. We had a large team on board for the day and managed to pay a visit to the country market in the morning. The response from locals was overwhelmingly positive.

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Joan Burton’s visit to Donegal NE

See attached a selection of pictures from Joan Burton’s visit to Donegal North-East on Friday. As Labour’s deputy leader and highly-respected finance spokesperson,Deputy Burton was delighted to be in the constituency and her visit is indicative of the amount of energy the party are putting into winning a seat here.

In the morning she officially opened my campaign office on Castle Street, where a large gathering of supporters met with her over tea and coffee. She then visited Cara House on the market square, a family resource centre, where manager Susan McAuley explained to her difficulties they are facing in terms of funding at present, Following this, we went to LYIT and met with Director Paul Hannigan and several other members of staff and some students too. Paul was good enough to give her a walkabout of the college and into the college library.

From one educational facility to another, and we then moved onto Illistrin National School, where principal Tom Feeny and vice principal Doreen Sheridan Kennedy set out their stall as regards the issues the school faces at present. Finally, Deputy Burton called into the offices of the Donegal People’s Press and the Donegal News, and met with the editorial staff there.

Overall, I was delighted to have someone of the calibre of Joan Burton visit the constituency, and am heartened by the warm response both she and I received from constituents.

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