The Labour Party Summer 2014

SENATOR LORRAINE HIGGINSworking with Dessie O’Brien

TAKING GORTFORWARD

BOOSTING LOCAL TOURISM

We need to capitalise on what we have in this town and have a vision forwhat we can deliver. With the strong links to Yeats and Lady Gregory weneed to further tap into this ready made market and work with FailteIreland to develop this further. This is essential to ensure we retain ourlocal jobs and create some more.

Businesses in this town are paying business rates to Galway County Counciland are getting very little for them. We believe a percentage of these ratesshould be used for the purposes of marketing Gort both nationally andinternationally. Money should be spent on branding and strategy toencourage more visitors. We need to have a new vision as to how we canencourage people here so as to help businesses and create jobs. Amarketing strategy and a marketing fund is key to delivering on this.

CREATING JOBS LOCALLY

The IDA have not announced any new investment from multi-national companies in Gort for some number of years . Thedelivery of a multi-national company to this area is critical to the future of this town and creating jobs. We will work to putpressure on IDA Ireland to ensure Gort gets it's fair share of foreign direct investment coming into the country. We will alsowork to ensure any red tape with regard to planning, bureaucracy etc is overcome so as to ensure the earliest possible deliveryof jobs to the Gort area.

PROVIDING PROPER FOOTPATHACCESS

Despite the number of estates constructed in Gortover the past ten years and the possible millionsacquired in development contributions it seems noeffort was made to ensure that money was spent inGort for the betterment of the area. We need andexpect more and fight to deliver our fair share offunding from Galway County Council so we canenhance this town.

NEED FOR COMMUTER TRAIN TICKET PRICES

If we lived in commuter areas in Dublin we would benefit fromreduced fares. So why not for people travelling to Galway each day onour trains? This would suit commuters, tourists and travellers alike andhelp us build on the numbers visiting Gort. We are working to deliverprice savings for commuters in Gort.

TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES

Despite speed limits on the outskirts of Gort there still remains anissue with cars speeding in this area. With a number of elderly, infirmand young residents here this presents a significant danger to all. Thisneeds to be addressed and you have our commitment to working hardto alleviate this risk.

Seanad Éireann:Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2Tel: 01 618 3186Email: lorraine.higgins@oir.ie

Constituency Offices:Piggott Street, LoughreaMcDonald’s Lane, AthenryTel: 091 842200

SENATOR LORRAINE HIGGINS

Working with your local Labour Team

Web: www.lorrainehiggins.com

Follow Lorraine on:

0612

Madge Dean087 9107231madgedean1@gmail.com

Dessie O’Brien087 8346441dessiebriensbar@gmail.com

Cllr Johnny Walsh087 9973008

Clement Shevlin086 0758565clementshevlin@gmail.com

3 YEARS March 2011

JOBS14.7%

-64,500

-7,000

-2.5%

11.9%

+70,000

+5,000

+1.7%

Today

OF WORKING TOGETHER...

...FROM CHAOS TO STABILITYNOW FOR REAL RECOVERY

CONSUMERCONFIDENCE

50.3 85.5

OVERSEAS VISITSTO IRELAND

+1.9% +11.3%

Live Register

At work (Annual change)

Jobs per month

ECONOMIC GROWTH

€7.65ph €8.65phMINIMUM WAGE

Junk Status 3.1%IRISH 10yr BONDS

FREE CAR PARKING FACILITIES

Galway County Council are supposed to be providingservices to us. Let's make them. Gort needs a site tobe earmarked for a car park so it will have a positiveknock on effect for families and tourists visiting not tomention town centre businesses who urgently requirefree spaces. It is imperative that new car parking plansare put forward.

DEALING WITH ANTI-SOCIALBEHAVIOUR

We will use the Joint Policing Committees to increasemeasures in troublesome black-spots and will increasecooperation between Local Authorities, estatemanagement forum, and Gardai so as the deal withthis issue so people can live happily and safely, freefrom fear in their homes.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL!

We are proposing an increase in the number of dogand litter wardens; the continued maintenance ofpublic parks and development of playgrounds; and willtackle the growing problem of illegal dumping in ourtowns.