Transport
I would like to thank Martha Schuhart for her feedback (April 24th in response to ‘Welcome to my Blog’). I’m sure members of the Platform 11 group will be interested in the progress being made on Transport 21 and I attach an update that was presented by the various transport agencies at a Regional Seminar held in Dublin on 17th April 2007. You will see that the people of Kildare are already benefiting from the huge investment being made in transport infrastructure and there is a lot more in the planning pipeline.
Aine Brady
Transport 21 update
In further response to Martha Schuhart (April 27th), I would like to point out that because of my focus on improving the transport infrastructure for the people of North Kildare, one of my campaign team attended the Regional Seminar on Transport 21 held in Dublin on 17th April and all attendees were subsequently provided with a copy of the presentations made by the various transport agencies. You are therefore quite incorrect in your presumption that the presentation was supplied via the FF Party! I would be interested to know whether any members of the Platform 11 group attended the Seminar. It provided a comprehensive but succinct update on the status of Transport 21 and the various elements of the plan including the Interconnector. My mission is to get elected to Dail Eireann so that I can influence how this plan will be implemented for the benefit of the people of Kildare North. I welcome constructive input from Platform 11 and other interested groups.
Aine Brady
I would like to deal with the latest comments from Martha Schuhart (April 30th and May 2nd). It is not a step too far for me to acknowledge that my statement regarding the Clonsilla-Docklands rail link contained a certain amount of ‘poetic license’ as regards the short-term upside for Kildare North. However, I make no apologies for the fact that the Clonsilla-Docklands development is further evidence that Transport 21 is delivering real benefits to local communities and that North Kildare also stands to gain as the Plan, including the pivotal Interconnector, is implemented on a phased basis under the management of professional executives in the various transport agencies and guidance from the Department of Transport. I am generally aware of the views of Platform 11 as far as rail transport is concerned and I have no immediate plans to meet them. Right now, I am busy engaging with hundreds of people every week on the doorsteps who are interested in all aspects of transport and not just rail. For example, many people in Kildare North are very happy to see the progress being made on the free-flow interchanges and barrier-free tolling on the M50.
One last point. My Blog Moderator informs me that you posted an inaccurate statement at www.irishelection.com regarding my alleged use of material supplied by FF head office relating to Transport 21. This is very disappointing behaviour on your part given that I had clarified in an earlier posting above that the material in question was issued by the various transport agencies at a Regional Seminar. May I suggest that you put your talents to more positive use by joining a political party that gets things done - I would be delighted if you would join my election team and help me achieve the improvements in rail and other transport infrastructure that are badly needed in Kildare North and elsewhere.
Aine Brady
I must apologise to Vincent McCann for the delay in responding to his comments of April 28th. I am aware of the dispute in the Educate Together school in Celbridge that is denying autistic children access to early intervention and education. This is a highly regrettable situation and I have contacted Minister Mary Hanafin in the strongest possible terms with a view to resolving the matter. The new school in Celbridge will start out on a temporary site but I would hope that this would include an integrated special needs facility in the medium term. I do appreciate the difficulties faced by your daughter and I will do what I can to improve the situation in Celbridge.
Aine Brady
April 27th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Thanks for the response, but while I hate to seem discourteous I think your response just highlights what Platform 11 (and others) are saying about you. You’ve really just slapped up a lengthy release that has presumably been supplied to all candidates in the Dublin/Mid East region. There’s no real digestion of points you think we should be interested in. For the sake of argument, the Interconnector is probably the most significant proposal that would revolutionise commuter rail for the whole Greater Dublin area. But it seems to trail in towards the end of Transport 21 for no obvious reason.
I might also point out that this material doesn’t really address the point highlighted by Platform 11 that the new Clonsilla – Docklands service doesn’t actually link North Kildare to anywhere, which is what your release said. Your response seems to be just a blast of ‘here’s a whole load of positive spin that head office gave me about transport’. I’d honestly prefer a more focussed response along the lines of ‘yes, my comments about the new Docklands service were inaccurate, but hopefully people will see that any increase in capacity along the route is a good thing. When the Interconnector comes on stream (in 2015?) further development of Kildare commuter services will also be possible’. What would be better still would be a definite commitment by FF to deliver the Interconnector earlier.
April 28th, 2007 at 3:19 am
Hi Aine,
I noticed that children and schools is one of your main policies. I read with interest the report of the new school in Celbridge. I am a resident in Celbridge, and father of a 6 year old autictic child. Unfortunately, we were told by two schools in celbridge that she would not be acceptable, despite them refusing to look at her medical report, and the third school, which has 2 purpose built autistic classes, could only put her on the long waiting list, because the school managment is in dispute with the dept of education as to the level of services that need to be provided. This charade is now years old. Is there a possability that the new school, with forward planning, will be developed with an integrated special needs facility in place? or is there any movement on the resolution of the argument that is denying autistc children their right to early intervention and education in the educate together school in celbridge? Our daughter currently has to go to school in Leixlip, which takes her away from her natural circle of peers, who now see her as a stranger who does not go to their school, rather then their neighbour who just needs a little bit of patience and understanding, something which you will understand is important for an autistic child.
April 30th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Apologies on conducting this discussion via blog comments, but I suppose that’s the tool at our disposal. Just to clarify, I’m not a member of Platform 11. Like many, I just read their site because the material is good. I don’t know if they attended the particular Conference that you refer to, but its certainly the kind of gig that they do go to. According to the thread I linked in my first comment, one of their committee members has already sent you an email.
I suppose I’m still unconvinced if you are still in a situation of trying to feel around to decide what you think is important in Transport 21 either generally or just taking a ‘North Kildare’ perspective. I’m not claiming any particular expertise, but the significance of the Interconnector does sort of stand out if any effort is made to make sense of what needs to be done. Other candidates (and I’m not naming names because I don’t want this to seem party political) have actually commented on its significance. A statement to the effect of ‘I’ll campaign for whatever’s good for North Kildare once I’m elected’ frankly seems too bland. Do you not feel that you should have been researching what’s important before now?
Its only a footnote, but you don’t seem to have explicitly acknowledged that your statement that the Clonsilla - Docklands service linked ‘North Kildare’ to the centre city was just plain inaccurate. Is that a step too far?
May 1st, 2007 at 9:15 pm
[…] Brady (FF - Kildare North) has begun a blog and her first main post is about transport and trains and seeking constructive debate with the Platform 11 lobby group. […]
May 2nd, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Fine, but have you actually attempted to contact Platform 11?
May 6th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Thanks again for your reply. I take it the ‘inaccurate’ comment you refer to is what I posted on this page http://www.irishelection.com/05/rounding-up-day-3-of-the-campaign-on-the-blogs .
The comment at stake would seem to be: “She has responded with the standard FF head office handout on Transport 21.” I don’t see what is substantially incorrect in this comment – you are lumping an undigested handout on Transport 21 up on the site and the only thing that might cause a quibble over describing this as a FF head office handout is to draw a fine distinction between that and calling it a Government head office handout. That strikes me as very little difference, and (from my perspective) not a lot to be ‘disappointed’ about.
Also, judging from your last post, other my remark on that site “I’m not sure there’s much to the promise to engage positively with Platform 11 other than a vague response to the comments made on her blog” seems to have caught the position precisely.
As to joining your campaign, that would depend on me actually wanting to see you elected. I haven’t really seen you pushing any of the right buttons yet without prompting. I don’t, for the sake of argument, see a sense of outrage that the Dublin and Mid-East region is allowed to run into a wall before it gets any public investment, while the West is paved with largely unused airports (yes, I do have a point to make if you respond with a claim this has something to do with promoting regional development).
I’d frankly worry that you’d see your role as selling us the party line rather than actually advocating necessary change.
May 9th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Martha,
I cannot contain myself while reading this continuous dribble.
You are not a member of platform 11 or a member of a political party yet you have the answers to Ireland transport problems, can you do everyone a favour and join an organisation and effect some positive change from within.
If you get involved in the practical implementation of the transport solution you will quickly realise that sarcastic comments on other peoples efforts are little use.
Lead, follow or get out of the way.
Aine keep up the good work on a positive agenda for Kildare and Ireland
May 10th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Hi Lilly
I’ve a feeling you mean ‘continuous drivel’ and not ‘continuous dribble.’.
I think you rather miss the point both about what the internet does for communication and on the nature of a democracy. I’m a voter. I’m posting on a site run by someone seeking election. I’m a voter and, so far as I’m aware, that’s the only membership I need to have status in this situation. Or are you suggesting that a Dail election is only a formality?
Blogs and discussion boards allow a degree of interaction that means we can have this discussion. If any specific point is made that is groundless, the beauty of the internet is this is very quickly revealed.
Your ‘lead, follow or get out of the way’ comment looks to be rhetoric aimed at sidestepping the very obvious lack of any real thought or appreciation of transport behind the posts provided here in Aine’s
name. I’m not claiming any special expertise in transport matters. I simply know what any average person with an interest who follows news in the area will know. The fact that is enough to stop a candidate in her tracks should surely be grounds for pause.
I’ve looked back over my comments here for signs of sarcasm. I can’t find much. I’ve just stated what I have to say, read the relevant replies and stated why I find them unconvincing. I’ve also stated clearly why I don’t see much to be ‘disappointed’ about in my posts elsewhere. I’ve looked for some signs of thought that might suggest the Dublin/Mid East infrastructure deficit is something appreciated as more that just an
opportunity for sloganeering. I haven’t found that.
As an aside, I’ve actually posted a comment about this blog on [url=http://www.politics.ie/viewtopic.php?t=19205]politics.ie[/url], as I think it illustrates a less than competent use of the relevant technology. If you want to contribute to positive discussion there, feel free (I’m assuming you are not the ‘Lilly Matilda’ who started a thread there telling us that Aine Brady had a ‘genuine blog’ going; if you are the same, clearly you’re already participating). There’s no need to join any organisation to take part – we’re just interested in what you have to say for yourself.
May 10th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Hear, hear. I couldn’t agree more. There are too many hurlers on the ditch in Ireland today. Its very bad form to knock someone who is doing their level best to improve things. Aine Brady is new and in my view carries no baggage. She works hard, has loads of commitment and energy and I think that if she was elected, she would bring a lot of added value to the people of Kildare North. Even though she is FF I think that she would shake up some of the complacency the present government have. FF have had a good track record in government on most things but the people of North kildare have lost out since Charlie McCreevy moved on. Its time to bring some fresh change into the constituency and she is the only candidate from Clane - thats why I’m giving her my number 1 vote.
May 11th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Aine,
as a yet undecided voter, what do you offer as a candidate for Kildare, whats your track record?
Are you a member of the county council or local town council within Kildare?
How have you helped Kildare communities in the past/present?
What experience do you have to bring to the job in Dail Eireann?
Thanks,
Brian
May 11th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Kildareman
I find it rather incredible to hear a voter describe himself as a ‘hurler in the ditch’. We’re choosing our representatives, in case you hadn’t noticed. If you see yourself as a supplicant in this process, then all I can say is I don’t share that perspective. Neither do I see questioning a candidate as necessarily knocking some trying to do their best. I see it as exploring if their best is good enough.
If the only thing on your mind is lottery grants for Clane, with the hope that a candidate from Clane will have a bias in favour of that particular town, can I suggest your view is incredibly limited. A start in broadening that outlook might be to wonder how anyone not from Clane is supposed to react to that.
Although, tbh, even if you do have that mindset, surely both FF candidates have a Clane base?
May 15th, 2007 at 12:27 am
Its you I was referring to as the ‘hurler on the ditch’. You speak at length about commuter issues, referring to organisations dedicated to this issue but have indicated that you aren’t a member of this organisation. If commuting issues are of such concern to you, why don’t you do something about it, e.g. join up with an organisation dedicated to the issue and seek to effect positive change. I live in Clane and, for what its worth, Aine Brady is the only candidate based in Clane. All the rest live elsewhere including Michael Fitzpatrick, who lives in Allenwood. Of course I want more from a North Kildare candidate than simply the delivery of lottery funding to Clane. I am merely pointing out that when you don’t have local representation at a national level, you can very easily be left out of the loop and I cite the position re lottery funding as an example. I could go on at length about our explosive growth rate, particularly our youth population and the complete lack of government support for youth activities, no youth workers, etc. despite submissions being made for the last number of years. Of course, any candidate seeking election must be able to meet the needs of the electorate from their constituency, but whether you choose to ignore it or not , all politics are local. Very often people who are undecided or not died in the wool FF, FG, Lab, etc. vote for a person who they believe will make a difference to their own area. So, pardon me for focussing on Clane, but we do have one of the fastest growing towns in the country (36% increase in 4 years) and our needs are growing equally as fast. Other towns, e.g. Leixlip, Maynooth, Celbridge, etc. have their own national politicians and good luck to them. I think that Aine Brady is as good a politician as any of the rest and her quality of life policies are the very ones that mean the most to the ordinary people who live in these towns. She will definitely be getting my number one vote.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Just in relation to comments on the Interconnector and the Docklands station. The Interconnector is probably the most important piece of Transport21 as it joins up all the pieces and provides full connectivity across intercity and commuter routes. The reason for it coming last is an engineering one, electrification of all feeder routes is required to enable trains travel on the Interconnector, that dependency is why the Interconnector is the last piece of the puzzle to be slotted into place.
Also in relation to the Docklands station or Spencer Dock as it also known. Firstly this is the first new city centre station for over a century, I think that is a welcome development for starters. Maynooth Line commuters can travel to this station by means of an interchange and the total time taken is no more or less than had they travelled to Connolly but they are further into the IFSC on their disembarkment. Am not fully up to speed on all Docklands benefits but another plus is that scheduling should be easier than in Connolly as less contention for platform slots. Longer term when the Interconnector and the other services come onstream Docklands will be part of the ‘circle line’ around the city linking all routes.
James, Sallins
May 15th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
It seems to me that Martha has made a number of relevant points, and in response has been told that she doesn’t have any ground to comment unless she’s a member of some organisation. That’s… well just silly I guess, of course she’s entitled to a viewpoint, and to express it.
It strikes me as odd that you criticise her for not making a difference about the issue when in fact by posting in blogs like this, she is making a difference, by drawing attention to the issue. So what if she’s not in some organisation, what does it matter? Why not try to attack the issues raised instead of just the speaker?
As for the clane thing, whatever… everyone has their own motivations for voting, but I’d just like to point out that if everyone voted in that fashion it’d simply mean that people would be elected based on the size of the population in the area they reside, which seems a rather foolish way to elect politicians.