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Election 2007 - Whats in it for Athenry?

I asked all candidates for East Galway what their mandate for Athenry is in the coming election. These are their replies (unedited). Anyone not on this page has not replied or could not be contacted.

Ciaran Cannon - Progressive Democrats | Senator Ulick Burke - Fine Gael | Máiréad Ní Chróinín - Green Party | Noel Treacy TD - Fianna Fáil

Tom McHugh - Fine Gael

Ciaran Cannon - Progressive Democrats I am adamant that Athenry needs a local TD who is aware of the issues that need to be addressed and is prepared to work hard to address them. I am a native of Attymon and a former pupil of Presentation College Athenry. I now live in Carrabane, Athenry and have represented this area as a councillor for three years. The following are, in my opinion, the most pressing issues in Athenry and its hinterland at the moment: The immediate upgrade of the sewage treatment plant. This was supposed to happen in 2003 and is now not predicted to happen until at least 2009. The responsibility for this delay rests with Minister Dick Roche and I cannot understand why he has not been taken to task on this issue by his ministerial colleague who runs an office in Athenry town. The need for longer opening hours of our Garda station and an increased Garda presence within the town. It is envisaged that this will happen in conjunction with the opening of the new Garda station in Oranmore but pressure for positive developments needs to be maintained. The need for an immediate provision of more classroom space at both second level and primary level. I believe that we must at least explore the option of moving second level education out of Athenry town centre and locate the two schools on a shared campus somewhere close to our new ring roads. Newcastle NS is also under immense pressure for space and despite promises from national politicians nothing has happened. We need a proper well resourced rail commuter service from Athenry to Galway city. I was most disappointed when Iarnrod Eireann decided to give priority to the reopening of the Ennis to Athenry service. I cannot comprehend why anyone believes there will be a demand for this service when passengers arriving into Athenry from Ennis, Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell will not be able to avail of a regular commuter service to Galway. The provision of a proper commuter service from Athenry to Galway should have happened first. The issue of a very patchy broadband service is coming up on the doorsteps in the Athenry area over and over again. The work being done by Tomas Thompson and his colleagues in the community broadband scheme is most welcome but much more support is needed from central government. We must act now on this issue. A proper broadband service will soon be as vital to us as electricity was to our grandparents when it first arrived. Our water supply needs to be clean and reliable. The immediate upgrade of the the sewage treatment plant is central to this issue. Another pollution incident on the Clarin river cannot be allowed to happen. The safety of pedestrians on our railway bridges is paramount and following pressure from your local councillors this issue is about to be resolved on the Tuam and Monivea roads. The building of a ring road aorund the town will also help to take a large amount of traffic out of the town centre. With the unique heritage that Athenry possesses I believe that we should look seriously at the pedestrianisation of the town centre and the provision of a network of safe walkways around the town. These are the priniciple local issues that need addressing. I am aksing the people of Athenry to place their trust in me for the next five years. If I am fortunate to be elected to represent the people of my area I will not be clinging on to my seat for years to come, I will ask to be judged on my performance as a local TD at every election. If at the end of my five year term people are not happy with my work rate and none of the issues above have been addressed then they should feel free to voice their disappointment ay the ballot box. Mediocrity has no place in political representation and it should not be tolerated. Ciaran Cannon Website

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Senator Ulick Burke - Fine Gael The provision of a new link road to serve the N66 More frequent train commuter services between Ballinasloe and Galway stopping in Athenry. Pedestrian Bridge: In the interest of public safety I have asked both Galway County Council and Iarnrod Eireann to put in place a new bridge for pedestrian use. A top priority for both Galway County Council and the Department of Environment is a new Sewerage Scheme to take cognisance of the new developments planned for Athenry due to the proximity of the town of Athenry to Galway City. I have requested that the Department of Agriculture offices in Galway City be relocated to Mellows College in Athenry. This would not only facilitate the farming community of Co. Galway and the problems they have encountered when trying to park in the City. The relocation of these offices would ensure a further boost to the commercial life of the town. Funding for the newly established 2nd level Gael Scoil(Colaiste an Eachraidh) which is currently located in a prefab on the VEC site Representations to the Minister for Communications Marine and Natural Resources for funding for the extension of broadband services for Athenry and Craughwell. As far back as November 2005 I made representations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform for more Gardai to be allocated to Athenry. I have campaigned vigorously over the withdrawal of the Schools Home Liaison Home Officer by the Minister for Education & Science. Subsequently this was conceded by the Minister and the Home Liaison Officer has been retained in the local schools. Senator Ulick Burke Website

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Máiréad Ní Chróinín – Green Party Athenry is a vibrant and growing town, yet it has been badly served by the present FF/PD government, who have not brought the necessary infrastructure and services to the town in line with its current and projected growth. I will work to retain and enhance the quality of life of Athenry’s citizens, and to secure the investment in services and infrastructure that the town requires. In my opinion, the following are key priorities for Athenry town and the surrounding area: Secure funding for a community park in Athenry. Immediate upgrade of the sewage plant, increasing capacity to take account of current and projected growth. Also measures to deal with the bad odour from the plant. Upgrade of educational facilities in the area, the provision of permanent classrooms in place of prefabs, and an area-wide assessment by the Deparment of Education of the future education needs of the area. Provision of hourly commuter trains on the Galway – Ballinasloe line, and continued pressure to open the Western Rail Corridor on schedule. Fast-track the provision of inexpensive broadband in the area. Support the weekly farmers market in Athenry as an outlet for local food producers. Máiréad Ní Chróinín Website

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Noel Treacy TD - Fianna Fáil Treacy confirms €13 million Athenry sewerage scheme for 2007 (word doc 20K) Treacy confirms €183,000 conservation grants for Galway (word doc 20K) Accessibilty to Athenry station to be greatly improved by 2007 (word doc 20K) Treacy welcomes funding for school flashing safety lights (word doc 20K) Treacy confirm €100,000 childcare grant (word doc 20K) Treacy confirms new timetable for Athenry to Galway bus service (word doc 20K) Treacy confirms major school building investment programme (word doc 20K) Treacy welcomes security grants for older people (word doc 20K) Treacy confrims grants for Athenry youth organisations (word doc 20K) Treacy secures Government Sanction for the construction of a new Fire Station in Athenry town. (word doc 20K) ADDRESS BY: Mr. Noel Treacy, T.D. Minister for European Affairs at launch of Phase 1 of Western Rail Corridor Athenry (word doc 20K) Treacy confirms €350,000 funding to improve safety on Athenry roads (word doc 20K) Address by MR. NOEL Treacy, T.D. at Official launch of phase 4 of Athenry/Craughwell Community Broadband Scheme (word doc 20K) Address by MR. NOEL Treacy, T.D. at Presentation of Computer Skills Certificates at Athenry Area Development Company ADC (word doc 20K) Treacy confirms further investment in post-primary education in Athenry (word doc 20K) Treacy confirms 50 new houses for Athenry (word doc 20K) Treacy welcomes €54,000 family support agency counselling grants IN East Galway (word doc 20K) Treacy welcomes heritage grants (word doc 20K) Treacy welcomes Athenry's inclusion in €1.5 million housing refurbishment initiative (word doc 20K) Treacy confirms natural gas supply to be extended to Athenry (word doc 20K) Noel Treacy TD Website Back to top of page

Tom McHugh I do have considerable contact with quite a number of people in Athenry and many reasons to be in Athenry on quite a regular basis. First of all let me say that Athenry is a very historic town, it is a town that has seen considerable development over the last number of years, all be it mainly residential development. By in large the quality of the developments that has taken place in Athenry is first class. There are a lot of very attractive housing developments and residential areas within the Athenry town area. As the town of Athenry is on the railway line and has a direct link with Galway City and having participated in the review of the Athenry Area Plan, I firmly believe that Athenry will see considerable expansion over the next number of years. It has already had a considerable increase in population from what it was seven or eight years ago and over the next seven or eight years will see a considerable increase in that population again. To cater for increased population, I am of the belief that forward planning needs to take place in terms of providing towns like Athenry with the necessary infrastructure and the necessary services that are going to be required to service an increased population. I am talking about facilities for children i.e. additional playgrounds, school facilities and other recreational and amenities facilities. As you are aware, public authorities have in the past failed miserably to provide the requirements to accommodate increased population. I am of the opinion that these have to be built into the planning process and there has to be conditions of planning for us to ensure that they will be there when they are required. I am also of the belief that in relation to future schools, this also has to be built into the planning process, in terms of providing suitable sites, thereafter it will be within the remit of the Dept of Education to provide devolved grants to insure that new schools are provided. As you are also aware, there are plans for quite a sizeable Industrial Park to be located on the Galway Road, out of Athenry on the grounds of the current Agricultural College. This in its self is going to ensure that you are going to have quite a large population increase. I do believe that Athenry needs to be looked at this point in terms of forward planning and the facilities it requires now and is going to require into the future. I certainly do not want to see towns like Athenry ending up like the towns that are in the commuter belt of Dublin City, where it has been all residential development, everything else has been forgotten about and now the whole thing is a mess. Tom McHugh Website

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