Senator Mary Moran Louth/East Meath Labour Senator : January 2016

Friday 29 January 2016

2016 General Election Campaign Officially Launched

I officially launched my 2016 General Election campaign in the Oriel Centre at Dundalk Gaol on Thursday, 28th January. Dr. Eibhlís Farrell, Head of Music and Creative Media in Dundalk Institute of Technology, was the guest speaker at the launch.

I would like to sincerely thank my friend, Dr. Eibhlís Farrell for agreeing to be the guest speaker at my campaign launch and for her ongoing support over the years.

I would also like to pay special thanks to Kay Webster and the staff in the Dundalk Gaol for their work in preparation for the launch and for the beautiful venue.

I am delighted to officially kick off my campaign for the 2016 General Election and thrilled with the support I received from local people on the night and in recent weeks.

The launch was a great opportunity to outline my work over the last five years and the areas and issues which I want to see progressed at a local and national level.

I have met and worked with and on behalf of many local groups and people over the last five years. I know the issues facing the people of Louth/East Meath including housing, health, education and employment.

Over the last five years I have worked hard for our community and at all times I have endeavoured to put the people of Louth/East Meath first ahead of any party or political gain. I have devoted myself to this job, to our community, to doing what is right and to ensuring people are presented with equal opportunities.

I feel I am only just getting started and I want to progress my local and national work into the next Dáil. I can make the assurance that I can be counted on to speak my mind and advocate on behalf of the people in this constituency in the strongest way possible.

I want to make Louth/East Meath a better place to live now and for future generations. I know that I have the commitment, experience and work ethic to deliver for our area.

Official Launch Of My 2016 General Election Campaign

Dr. Eibhlís Farrell, Head of Music and Creative Media in DkIT, officially launched my 2016 General Election Campaign in the Oriel Centre Dundalk Gaol on Thursday

Dr. Eibhlís Farrell officially launching my 2016 General Election Campaign

Speaking at the launch

With Dr. Eibhlís Farrell, special guest speaker at my campaign launch

Thursday 28 January 2016

Delighted To Welcome St. Oliver's N S Carlingford To Leinster House Today

Wednesday 27 January 2016

Delighted To Welcome Scoil Bhride N S Dunleer To Leinster House Today

Delighted To Support The Pearl of Wisdom Campaign As Part Of Cervical Cancer Awareness Week

Rape Crisis North East Coffee Morning on Tuesday, 9th February 10.30am-1pm Oriel Centre at Dundalk Gaol

Rape Crisis North East will host a coffee morning on Tuesday, 9th February from 10.30am to 1pm in the Oriel Centre Dundalk Gaol.

No Admission

Donations Welcome

Raffle & Spot Prizes!

For more information contact:

Rape Crisis North East

59A Anne Street

Dundalk

www.rcne.ie

Phone: 042 933 9491

Email: info@rcne.ie

Helpline: 1800 21 21 22

Delighted To Attend Launch Of Louth 1916/2016 Centenary Programme In Dundalk Library On Tuesday

Tuesday 26 January 2016

Cross Border Business Support Expo On Tomorrow In The Carrickdale Hotel From 9.30am To 12.30pm

Are you in business and want to know about the support you can obtain? What business grants you can apply for? Which funded programmes will help you grow your business? Do you need to secure finance? Thinking of entering new markets? Do you need help on how to survive? Are you looking to expand and/or recruit? Want to start your own business? Are you unsure of where to look for guidance, support and advice?

If the answer is ‘YES’ to any of these questions come to the Cross Border Business Support Expo taking place on Wednesday the 27th January 2016 in the Carrickdale Hotel between 9.30am until 12.30pm

All the Business Support Agencies catering for the needs of businesses located within the Newry Dundalk region will be exhibiting at this unique event. This event will provide an ideal opportunity for local businesses to speak to all relevant Business Support Agencies in one morning, on a one-to-one basis, under one roof!

This is event is joint hosted by Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade, Louth Local Enterprise Office and InterTradeIreland.

Confirmed exhibitors at the event include, InterTrade Ireland, Invest NI, Newry & Mourne District Council, Newry & Mourne Enterprise Agency, Southern Regional College, Regional Development Centre, Enterprise Ireland, EURES, Employability Louth, all of the main lending institutions, plus many more.

This event is open to all and entry is free of charge. It will operate on a ‘business drop-in clinic’ format; whereby you can call in to the event at any stage between the hours of 9.30am to 12.30pm on the 27th January 2016.

To register for the event click on https://www.dundalk.ie/event/cross-border-support-expo

You can also Brenda in Dundalk Chamber on Tel: 042 9336343 or email Brenda@dundalk.ie

Local Talent Displayed At Showcase 2016

I delighted to visit local exhibitors at the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland Showcase 2016 in the RDS this week. There were 12 Louth exhibitors including Sarah McKenna Ceramics located in Bridge Street Studios Dundalk; Orla Barry Art also located in Bridge Street Studios Dundalk; Charles Gallen Irish Linen Termonfeckin; Martina Scott Carlingford; Love Irish Crafts Dundalk; Branigan Weavers Drogheda; Helen Cui Jewellery Drogheda; Garrett Mallon located in Carlingford Design House; Finca Skin Organics Dundalk; Dúinn Designs Carlingford; Corona Silver Readypenny; and Arabella Jewellery Ravensdale.

I was delighted to once again attend the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland Showcase. I was very impressed with the local talent on display at this year's Showcase with work ranging from jewellery, linen, clothing, ceramics, skincare and more.

It is expected that this year's event will generate between €20m-€22m in sales over the four days. There were many exciting items exhibited that were brand new to the market and not yet available in stores.

Each of the local businesses at the Showcase are very important to our county in both their economic and community value. It takes determination and long hours to establish a new enterprise and to keep one running.

I would like to congratulate the local businesses on display this year and wish them well for the year ahead.

Dundalk Chamber Shop Local Gift Vouchers

Shop Local Gift Vouchers come in denominations of €10, €20 and €50 and are valid for two years.

Shop Local Gift Vouchers can be spent in over 160 local shops - a list of shops participating can be found here: https://www.dundalk.ie/vouchers

Since the initiative was started, Dundalk Chamber have sold €210,000 worth of vouchers to date.

Shop Local Gift Vouchers can be purchased online: https://www.dundalk.ie/vouchers#ert_pane1-5
Directly from the Dundalk Chamber Offices by phoning 042 933 6343 or by calling into Unit 4, Partnership Court from 9am-5pm Monday through Friday

Vouchers can also be purchased from Grants Newsagents Dublin Street, Cuchulainn Credit Union, Central News Clanbrassil Street, McCusker's Newsagents Earl Street, Centra Blackrock, Finnegan's in Louth, Sheelan's Riverstown, McCrystal's in Jenkinstown, Victory's Centra in Dunleer and Valentine's XL Carlingford.

Local Nursing Homes Boosted By Investment Package

I welcome the news this afternoon that St. Oliver Plunkett Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital Drogheda and St. Joseph's Hospital Ardee have been included in an investment package for public nursing homes. The funding has been confirmed by Minister for the Elderly, Kathleen Lynch, and the plan benefits 90 centres nationally which will either be refurbished or replaced.

I am pleased to confirm that St. Oliver Plunkett Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital Drogheda and St. Joseph's Hospital Ardee have been included in this investment package for public nursing homes today.

St. Oliver Plunkett Hospital - refurbishment to bring hospital up to standard is expected to be completed in 2016
St. Mary's Hospital Drogheda - 26 new beds and 90 total beds being made available; refurbishment expected to be completed in 2020
St. Joseph's Hospital Ardee - 30 new beds with 50 total beds being made available; refurbishment expected to be completed in 2021

I know that many local families and residents would attest to the excellence of the care received but many would also agree that the physical environment needs improvement.

This important investment in public nursing home facilities reflects the Government’s determination to maintain the current public nursing home bed stock.

Delighted To Attend Launch Of O'Fiaich Institute Of Further Education 5 Year Part-Time Adult Education Strategy

€7M Allocated To Purchase Vacant Units For Social Housing In Co. Louth

I welcome the announcement today that almost €7m has been provided to purchase vacant units for social housing in Co. Louth.

€1.7m will be provided for 12 vacant units in Drogheda and €3.1m has been provided to purchase 24 units in Dundalk.

Other projects include 1 unit in Moneymore Drogheda, 7 at Saltown Dundalk and 10 at Barrack St Dundalk

I have long been calling for additional funding to be provided for social housing units in Co. Louth and I welcome today's announcement which will provide homes to over 50 families in the county.

At present the waiting time for social housing is unacceptably long. The funding announced today is a sign that our economy is turning a corner and I will continue to advocate for additional funding for social housing in Co. Louth.