The consultation process on the content and scope of a new GP contract for the provision of GP care, free at the point of use, for all children aged under six years of age began today.
This is the first phase in the provision of a universal GP service for the entire population as set out in the Programme for Government and in Future Health.
On a personal level and as a local TD I was sad to hear the news that Mount Carmel is to be placed in liquidation.
This is a difficult time for all of the hard working and committed staff at the hospital. Mount Carmel is a Churchtown landmark and an important local employer.
Minister Alex White, Labour TD for Dublin South is urging local sports clubs and organisations in South Dublin to consider applying to the 2014 Sports Capital Programme.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council was awarded over €3.4 million in government grants this week. This money will be spent to develop sustainable transport projects.
“I warmly welcome this public investment in sustainable transport projects in South Dublin. Over 32 projects will receive funding across South Dublin including €250,000 which has been committed to completing the Luas (Windy Arbour) to UCD cycle connection. Also €100,000 has been allocated in 2014 for the completion of works on Overend Avenue to improve pedestrian access from the Ballaly Luas Stop, and to commence the design of the Phase 2 connection to Dundrum Town Centre. I’m also delighted to see that €75,000 has been designated to progress the design of a public bike hire scheme in Dun Laoghaire.
“Many more of us are walking or cycling to work and school. This not only has incredible health benefits, but also helps ease traffic congestion and pollution. Reducing traffic, and improving infrastructure so people can walk, cycle or take public transport means healthier societies and nicer environments for us to live and work in.
“As Minister of State at the Department of Health, I’m a keen advocate of the ‘Healthy Ireland’ national framework to improve the health and wellbeing of our country over the coming generation. These new sustainable transport projects in Dublin South are part of the effort of making our local communities easier places to lead a healthy lifestyle.”
St Luke’s Hospital Rathgar Campus became a tobacco free zone on Monday (January 6th) of this week. From now on, smoking will not be permitted anywhere on the hospital grounds including the car parks and gardens of St Luke’s.
Minister of State at the Department of Health and Labour TD for Dublin South, Alex White officially launched the new tobacco free policy.
“The tobacco free zone, which will apply to all staff, patients, visitors and contractors at St. Luke’s, will ensure a healthier, safer and cleaner environment for all and better health outcomes for patients.
“We cannot allow a situation where people and, in particular children, are involuntarily exposed to tobacco smoke. The main objective of a tobacco-free environment is to better protect our citizens against exposure to tobacco smoke and to act as an incentive to smokers to quit the addiction.
“Tobacco-free legislation is improving the health of workers and the public and in addition it is sending a strong message to our children that smoking is socially unacceptable.”
Labour TD for Dublin South, Minister Alex White has warmly welcomed this week’s announcement by the Sandyford based company, Sláinte Healthcare that it will create 80 new jobs.
“The 80 new roles are in addition to the 40 jobs Sláinte Healthcare has already created in Ireland this year. The jobs will be created in software engineering, testing, business analysis, client administration, finance and marketing.
“Headquartered in the Beacon South Quarter in Sandyford, Sláinte Healthcare develops new technology for the healthcare sector resulting in better care for patients.
“Sláinte Healthcare has been working with the Health Innovation Hub as part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs. The Health Innovation Hub allows for collaboration between businesses and the health system, resulting in improvements in healthcare and job creation.
“Advances in technology will help us keep people healthy, and keep patients where they want to be, in a primary care setting, in their community and with family.
“Last week, Ireland’s eHealth Strategy was published which seeks to modernise the way we treat patients locally. It’s fantastic to see a local company like Sláinte Healthcare paving the way for the development of eHealth in Ireland resulting in more jobs and an improved health service. I’d like to wish Sláinte Healthcare continued success in their work.”
The government approved the General Scheme of the required legislation at its meeting on Tuesday of this week.
“This decision firms up the budget announcement made in October 2013 to introduce free GP access to all children aged five and under, benefiting approximately 240,000 children.
“Free GP services for children aged five and under is the first step in meeting the government’s commitment to securing universal access to GP services without fees for all our citizens.
“Today’s decision is a significant advance for families with young children. It is also a vital public health initiative, beginning our progress towards universal access to primary care.
“The future viability of our healthcare system requires a radical adjustment of resources towards primary care - care and treatment in the community. This is where we can best implement preventative healthcare strategies, ensuring that our system is not there just to treat people when they are ill, but that it also works to keep people healthy.
“We need to invest now in order to curtail costs in the future.The Labour Party has long championed the principle of universal access to GP care and now, along with our Coalition partners, we are progressing this significant and historic initiative.”
Labour TD for Dublin South, Minister Alex White has warmly welcomed the awarding of €1.074 million to Southside Partnership DLR in 2014.
“The awarding of over €1 million in 2014 to the Southside Partnership DLR means that they can continue to deliver essential interventions that benefit those who most need it in our community as they to re-enter the workforce.
“The Southside Partnership DLR provides personal advice, guidance, training and education to help people return to employment. The funding will support schemes including labour market training, education and reskilling, career guidance and projects that link jobseekers with local employers.
“Those who can avail of the supports provided by the Southside Partnership DLR include people who have been unemployed for over six months, dependent spouses of the unemployed, lone parents, early school leavers and those with disabilities.
“A key priority for this Government is getting people back to work and I am pleased that the vital work of the Southside Partnership DLR continues to be supported financially.”
Alex White T.D., Labour Deputy for Dublin South warmly welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., that there will be 390 extra special needs assistant (SNAs) posts in 2014.
“This is excellent news. I’m acutely aware from constituents’ representations of the increasing number of children who have an assessed need for an SNA. It’s vital that these pupils get the support they need.
“170 SNA posts will be made available immediately, with a further 220 posts available in 2014.
“With the 390 new SNA posts, there will be almost 11,000 SNAs working in primary and secondary schools across Ireland. The National Council for Special Education will allocate the new SNA posts on the basis of assessed need.
“The role of SNAs in our schools is essential. They ensure that every student with an assessed need has the support available to reach their full potential. It is the Government’s policy to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support.
“The previous Government capped the number of SNA posts. With both the number of pupils in schools and the demand for SNAs increasing – the decision was made at Cabinet level to end this cap.
“I’d like to comment Minister Quinn for all of his hard work in securing these 390 new SNA posts.”
Microsoft today announced plans to further expand its EMEA mega datacentre in South County Business Park in Leopardstown, Dublin. Speaking at the site, Labour TD for Dublin South, Alex White, warmly welcomed the announcement:
“I’m delighted by today’s announcement that Microsoft is expanding its data centre in South Dublin. This confirms and strengthens Ireland’s reputation as a leading global centre for cloud services.
“This Government has directly targeted big data as a sector which offers great opportunity for job growth in Ireland.
“Microsoft investing €126 million, creating 380 temporary construction jobs and 20 permanent jobs, sends a message globally that Ireland is an excellent environment to invest in.
“I am particularly pleased that the new Microsoft facility has a strong focus on sustainability. Ireland’s temperate climate will allow the new data centre to keep appropriately cool, meaning greater power efficiency and cost savings. Also, 99 percent of all waste at the facility is recycled.
“The expansion, due for completion in spring 2014, represents a new investment of €126 million. Construction of the facility, which has already commenced, will create 380 building-related jobs. Once the new datacentre is operational next year, an additional 20 people will join the team of approximately 80 already based at the company’s existing facility.
“This second expansion brings the total level of investment at the company’s Dublin facility to €594 million, increasing the datacentre campus’ computing capacity by 15,700 m2 bringing the total footprint up to 54,255 m2. The datacentre was officially opened in 2009, with the first expansion announced in February 2012. This continued programme of investment is driven by the growth in demand from consumers and businesses for Microsoft’s cloud services.
