IntroductionThis newsletter outlines some of the achievements of the government and a number of the policy areas on which I have been working over the last few months. As your local TD I continue to work on issues of local and national importance. As chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children I have been working closely with the Minster for Health and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on a number of issues including the upcoming Children First Bill.

If you would like further information on any issue in this newsletter please feel free to get in touch with my office. At the back of this newsletter you will find details of my office and weekly clinics.

Regards,

Jerry

Jerry Buttimer TD - Working for you in Cork South Central

JERRY BUTTIMER TD

TheButtimer UpdateSUMMER 2012

GOVERNMENT SECURES MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH ON BANK DEBTThe outcome of the European Council meeting on 28/29 June is a major step forward for Ireland. There were two very significant outcomes, an agreement to break the link between bank debt and public finances and an agreement on a €120 billion stimulus package.

It is now agreed that Europe will invest directly in troubled banks, breaking the link between bank debt and public finances. Critically, Ireland has secured agreement that there will be a look back at our position, and we will be able to get a better deal than the crippling arrangement which saddled the Irish taxpayer with the huge cost of bailing out the banks. This is a major shift in our favour. We now face into several more months of detailed work to get the details right for Ireland.

A significant growth stimulus package was also agreed, worth €120 billion. We now have an opportunity to use some of these funds for jobs and investment here. The plan includes significant additional money for the European Investment Bank (EIB), which Ireland wants to use for a range of shovel-ready projects.

There is still a lot of work to do, but we have made a major step in the right direction. A focus on growth coupled with a fairer deal on our bank debt will help Ireland to get back on the road to recovery and put the bad decisions of the previous Fianna Fáil Government well and truly behind us.

I am delighted that a successful resolution was reached in the dispute between management and workers at Vita Cortex

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Minster of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, TD, has opened a round of the sports capital programme for 2012. This is the first time since 2008 that this programme has been open to applications.

In the current round of funding €30 million is available for distribution among approved programmes. It

should be noted that the programme is significantly oversubscribed. When the 2012 Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on Friday June 1st, over 2,150 sports clubs and organisations had applied for funding. These organisations are seeking more than €224m in funding for projects with a total value of almost €370 million.

In Cork alone there has been 217 applications requesting funding of more than €21 million for projects with a total value of almost €34 million. Unfortunately, given the over subscription, it will not be possible for the government to accommodate each one of the very many worthy applications.

UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND FOR SPORTS CAPITAL PROGRAMME FUNDING

RESTRUCTURING OF AIRPORTS TO BENEFIT CORK AIRPORTMinister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, TD, and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, TD, have recently commenced the process of restructuring the three State airports.

I have consistently said that it is important that Cork Airport has increased autonomy and is given the ability to develop its own business without being constrained by Dublin Airport. In keeping with the recommendations of the recent report Options on Future Ownership of Cork and Shannon Airports the Government has decided that for the present Cork Airport will remain in state ownership in a restructured DAA. The proposed model involves one holding company for both Cork and Dublin airports with each having separate boards to facilitate “governance and management arrangements that allow for greater autonomy and a stronger operating position”.

For almost a decade indecision has plagued Cork Airport, hampering its expansion and development. Now the Ministers are putting in place a clear plan for the future of the airport, a plan which will enable it to grow and benefit Cork and the wider region it serves.

CARRIGALINE AREA COMMUNITY FUND ALLOCATIONSCork County Council has recently announced details of its Community Fund Allocations. The Council financed these grants through Non-Principal Private Residence revenues.

Unfortunately there were far more applications received than it was possible to fund. However this is an innovative approach from the Council to help local communities.

Organisation Description Recommended Amount

Foróige - in partnership with Ógra Chorcai

Youth Cafes in Douglas, Carrigaline, Passage West

€35,000

Matt Talbot Services Peer mentoring €15,000

Crosshaven Dev. Committee

Community Contract €10,000

Togher Community Association Ltd.

Exercise Circuit €20,000

Carrigaline Family support initiative

Expansion of service and training

€5,000

Carrigaline Tidy Towns (sub committee of Carrigaline Community Association)

Possible Community Contract

€10,000

South and East Cork Area Development

Mens Shed Project €5,000

DOUGLAS & TOGHER FLOODING: FULL EXPLANATION OF EVENTS NEEDEDIn the Dáil I raised the recent flooding in Douglas and Togher with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, calling for a full and honest explanation of the sequence of events which led to the devastation of homes and businesses.

Having met with local residents and business people I was concerned that the issue of the culvert was central to the flooding and there are a lot of questions which need to be answered. Last year, the County Council spent hundreds of thousands of euros on a culvert and grate for Ballybrack Stream; we need to know if both functioned as planned. Locally, there are fears that the proximity of the grate to the culvert and the infrequent clearing of the stream contributed to the flooding. These concerns need to be addressed.

The Environment Minister confirmed that he would specifically ask to have the issue of the culvert investigated as part of the report which he has requested from Cork County and City Councils.

The fears and nervousness of residents and business people must be allayed. They need an explanation and reassurance that steps will be taken to prevent a repeat of the recent flooding.

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NAMA MUST CHANGE ITS GUIDELINES ON SALE OF LANDIn reply to a parliamentary question asking the Minister for Finance to instruct NAMA to ensure that the sale of any of its properties is done in an open and transparent way the Minister confirmed to me that NAMA has issued guidelines to be followed when disposing of assets. As part of these guidelines it is required that, wherever feasible, their sale should be on the open market and should be publicly advertised.

Under legislation NAMA has a duty to obtain the best achievable financial return for the State. When the sale of land is not done in an open and transparent manner it gives rise to suspicions that the maximum financial return may not have been achieved.

Under the current guidelines, sale on the open market and public advertisement of sale is only required where it is feasible. As NAMA’s duty is to act in the interest of the State there should be an obligation that the sale of all land is publicly advertised on the open market. The NAMA Board must reconsider its guidelines.

The recent sale of land in Douglas, which was not publicly advertised, may well have achieved a fair market price but the practices involved give rise to suspicion and anger.

REPLACEMENT OF PREFABS IN SCHOOLSThe Minister for Education and Skills recently announced a €35 million initiative to reduce the use of prefabs in primary schools. 189 schools were invited to participate in the programme. The schools in Cork South Central which were awarded funding to replace prefabs under the scheme were:

Scoil Mhuire Lourdes, CarrigalineScoil Mhuire Gan Smal, GlasheenSt. John’s Girls National School, Carrigaline

INCREASED BUS FREQUENCYRoute 205: CIT/St. Patrick Street/Kent StationThere are now 61 services operating daily with a 15 minute frequency between Kent Station and CIT.

Route 208: Bishopstown (Marymount Hospice)/St. Patrick Street/Lotabeg/MayfieldThere are now 83 services operating daily with a 10 minute frequency between Lotabeg/Mayfield via St. Patrick Street to Bishopstown/Marymount Hospice.

QUAY WALLS FINALLY REPAIREDMore than two and a half years after the devastating 2009 floods repair works to the quay wall at Grenville Place have finally been completed. The quay wall at Grenville Place was just one element of wider repairs which were required along the river. Work has also been carried out on the quay walls at Bachelor’s Quay, Fr Matthew Quay, Pope’s Quay, Sullivan’s Quay and Sunday’s Well.

DEVELOPMENTS AT CUHCardiology Assessment UnitA new cardiology assessment unit opened at CUH on 6 June 2012. The new unit operates between 7:30am and 5pm each day; a senior cardiology nurse assesses patients in the emergency department with the Cardiology Registrar and ED Staff and arranges for the transfer to assessment beds at 7.30am every morning.

The increased numbers of cardiology admissions at CUH have required changed work practices by frontline staff. Much of the change has been led by nurses who provide excellent care for patients at CUH. The commitment and dedication of nurses must be acknowledged, it is their professionalism which is leading the improved delivery of services for patients.

PET ScannerA PET Scanner at CUH which required an investment of €3.8 million is finally available to be used by both public and private patients. The scanner had been sitting there unused for three years. Management at CUH followed an alternative service delivery model, engaging a third party provider, to make this service available to public patients. Health insurers have recently confirmed that they will also cover the facility. As a result of these developments there is now one referral pathway for all patients in Cork who need to access the PET scanner.

SAORVIEWIn October SAORVIEW and SAORSAT will be activated. This means that virtually every home and property in the State will be able to access free-to-air digital television. In order to make sure that every home can use this new service, certain upgrades will have to be made to the existing televisions. This change can be as simple as installing a SAORVIEW approved Set-Top-Box, or if changing the TV installing a SAORVIEW approved iDTV. This change will have to be made before 24 October. The technology needed to properly receive the new SAORVIEW signal is available at most electrical goods stores and supermarkets. In order to ensure that the equipment purchased will work properly and the signal will not be disrupted be sure to look for the SAORVIEW approved seal on the packaging of the equipment.

0612JERRY BUTTIMER TD

Office: 4a, Glasheen Road, Cork. Tel: 021 4840652 Mobile: 086 2356892 www.jerrybuttimer.ieEmail: jerry.buttimer@oireachtas.ie

Twitter.com/jerrybuttimer Facebook.com/jerrybuttimer

CLINIC DETAILS:Monday: 6pm Ballyphehane Community Centre, Tory Top Road, Ballyphehane.

Friday: 12:30pm Mahon Community Centre, Avenue de Rennes, Mahon. 6pm Togher Community Centre, Togher Road, Togher.

I am also available to meet you by appointment at my office.

OIREACHTAS MEMBERSSimon Coveney TD

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine

Sen. Deirdre Clune

SOUTH WEST WARDCllr. John Buttimer

Mobile: 087 6384381 | Email: buttimerjohn@gmail.comCllr. Brian Bermingham

Mobile: 086 8121122 | Email: bbermingham@eircom.net

SOUTH EAST WARDCllr. Des Cahill

Mobile: 087 2801490 | Email: info@descahill.ieCllr. Jim Corr

Mobile: 087 9488678 | Email: jcorr@corkcity.ie Cllr. Laura McGonigle

Mobile: 086 0829371 | Email: lauramcgonigle@gmail.com

SOUTH CENTRAL WARDCllr. Emmet O’Halloran

Mobile: 087 7855241 | Email: ohalloran.emmet@gmail.com

CARRIGALINE ELECTORAL AREACllr. John Collins

Mobile: 086 2386692 | Email: jacwps@eircom.netCllr. Deirdre Forde

Mobile: 087 9161952 | Email: info@deirdreforde.ieCllr. Tim Lombard

Mobile: 086 8329119 | Email: timothylombard@eircom.net

PASSAGE WEST TOWN COUNCILCllr. Jerry Cronin

Mobile: 087 2260808 | Email: lawcork@indigo.ieCllr. John Daly

Mobile: 087 2575466 | Email: johndaly04@eircom.net

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, TD, referred the Heads of the Children First Bill to the Joint Committee on Health and Children. The purpose of the Bill is to put Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children on a statutory basis, which is a key commitment in the Programme for Government.

The Children First Bill is about aligning the law with what is right, it is about bringing an end to any remaining attitudes that may choose to ignore child abuse and neglect. It will no longer be an option to have child protection as a priority; compliance with Children First will be mandatory, not voluntary. As part of our consultation process we held a series of public hearings with key stakeholders including advocacy and representative groups, government departments and voluntary organisations working in sports and youth activities. We also met with key lead personnel in child protection, child law and children and family services.

By giving these groups the opportunity to contribute it has enabled their practical day-to-day experience to inform the legislative process.The committee has submitted its report and recommendations to the Minister who will now proceed to finalise the detailed legislation before presenting it to the Dáil.

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IN RENTED ACCOMMODATIONI raised the issue of anti-social behaviour in rented properties with the Minister for Social Protection in the Dáil. There are currently about 95,000 people receiving rent supplement, it is expected to cost €437 million this year. Where the State is contributing towards the renting of a property, it should have some power to ensure that the law of the land is respected. In addition, it should have the ability to ensure that landlords and tenants respect those who live in neighbouring properties.

We must take action in respect of those landlords who are only interested in obtaining access to rent allowance, who do not care about the state of their properties and who believe the feelings of those who own neighbouring properties to be irrelevant.

The Minister confirmed that the Government is taking two specific avenues to deal with this issue. The first is to transfer long-term rent supplement to local authorities. They have the powers to deal with tenants who are misbehaving and causing significant distress to people living nearby. The Government is also committed to introducing arrangements whereby people on rent supplement would be subject to the same conditions as people who are direct tenants of local authorities. This would allow local authorities to refuse, suspend or terminate payment of a rent supplement to people in private rented accommodation who engage in anti-social behaviour.

These reforms are required to reduce the instances of anti-social behaviour in rented properties.

HEALTH & CHILDREN COMMITTEE REPORTS ON CHILDREN FIRST BILL

YOUR LOCAL FINE GAEL TEAM:

I visited the medical card processing unit to investigate the reasons for delays in processing applications