1. Anthony Lawlor’s
Newsletter ony
A message from Anth year since I
a
that it has been over
It is hard to believe a busy time it has been! Personally
at
was elected, and wh ning curve and I will continue
it has be en a steep lear past
every day. Over the
to encoun ter new challenges make myself as acce
ssible
eighteen m onths I have tried to constituency office in
ible. I have a
to the public as poss you to drop
ily, and I encourage
Na as which is open da issue with me. From September
an
in if you wish to raise g in Kilcock on a regular basis so
I will also be canv assin g when
your home indicatin
please look out for letters to also be more than happy
. I would
I will be in your area il Éireann for individuals, groups
Dá
to organise tours to is your parliament! Please do not
it
or schools. After all e a tour.
hesitate to contact me to arrang
ting with you.
I look forward to mee
New centralised system for Third
Level Maintenance Grant applications
The Department of Education recently completed the centralisation of all
third-level grant awarding bodies. This process saw a reduction from 66
grant awarding bodies to one new body, SUSI (Student Universal Support
Ireland), which operates under the City of Dublin VEC. New applicants
for the 2012/13 academic year or those changing courses need to apply
online for a grant through the SUSI link on www.studentfinance.ie.
Current recipients do not need to take action as Kildare County Council
will continue to deal with your grant. If you have any questions with
regard to your application or the process in general you can contact their
helpline on 0761 08 7874 (available Monday – Friday 9am to 10pm) or
email support@susi.cdvec.ie.
GPs charging medical card patients
Plans for new Primary Care Centre in
Several of my constituents have recently brought to my attention that
GPs have been charging medical card holders anywhere between €20
Kilcock and €45 for blood tests. This is despite the fact card holders are eligible
for free services under the General Medical Service (GMS) scheme. I
I warmly welcome the recent announcement that a new Primary Care Centre
is planned for Kilcock. This forms part of a €2.25 billion stimulus package undertook some research and found that GPs charge this fee to cover
unveiled by the Government, which also includes significant investment in the costs of transporting the blood samples to hospital laboratories. I
two new schools for Celbridge. Thirty five locations nationwide have been raised this issue in the Dáil with the Minister of State in the Department
earmarked for Primary Care Centres. Twenty will initially be commissioned of Health, Roisin Shorthall and she confirmed that under their GMS
for development under the Public Private Partnership Programme whilst contracts GPs should not charge medical card holders for any services,
the remaining will be progressed during later stages of the Programme. As including blood tests but GPs and the IMO (Irish Medical Organisation)
well as treating illness, the centre in Kilcock would help people to care for state to the contrary. Clearly the terms of the GMS contracts are
themselves, such as those with a long-term illness, and would also help to questionable and as a result patients are suffering. It is imperative
prevent serious illness from occurring in the first place by providing easily that the matter is clarified and that the HSE and GPs are ‘singing off
accessible health services in the community. I will urge the Minister to the same hymn sheet’. If you are a medical card holder and have been
consider Kilcock for the first phase of the PPP Programme, to ensure that unfairly charged by a GP for a blood test, or any other GMS service,
the needs of the community are addressed without delay. please contact my constituency office so we can right this wrong and put
an end to all unfair GP fees.
Anthony Lawlor TD - Working for the people of Kildare North

2. Make sure your passport
is valid before travelling in ess
It is the time of year that many people are Dáil Bus s on
nister for
I raised with the Mi and Sport
booking flights and organising trips for ve ral timerd to Transport, Tourism,
poken se ega land
the summer I have sance Bill with rose who the possibility of Ire gby
holidays. I th e Fin relief for th between hosting the 20 23 Ru
e
appeal to you mortgagtheir first homeing my to increase
World Cup in a bid se Ireland
b w
ought d 2008. Follo Michael owca
tourism and sh
to make sure 2004 anion to Minister s included to the world.
your passport st wa
sugge a provision o may have
is in date before Noonan llows those whhose payments
your flights which a in 2008 but w to be
bought tart until 2009 ed mortgage
are booked. didn’t s to the increas
I am also entitledf 30%. I published an Oireachtas
encouraging relief o
Committee on Jobs, Enterprise
parents whose and Innovation report on casual
children are ed in the Dáil on labour. I cited the need to change
named on their I have debat y of legislation part-time jobseeker’s benefits from
a wide variet couple of the number of days worked to the
passport to check with the embassy of their during the past al
as the Person number of hours worked per week.
destination to ensure that they can enter months such l, Microenterprise This will bring the Irish system in
the country using their parent’s passport. Insolven cy Bil ent
cal Governm line with modern day work patterns,
Unfortunately I know of too many people Loan Fund, Lo scal Compact
Bill and th e Fi benefitting both workers and
who discover a day or two before they travel employers.
Treaty.
that their passport has expired and it is
virtually impossible that the passport office,
despite their best efforts, can accommodate
applicants at such late notice. Furthermore
some European countries, which were still Progress being made for grieving families
permitting a child’s entry on their parent’s After a two year long stalemate, I welcome the confirmation by An Taoiseach, Enda
passport, have recently changed the rules Kenny that the current system of registering the deaths of Irish citizens who die abroad
and now insist on travel documents for every is to be reviewed. He recently assured me in the Dáil that the Heads of a Bill to review
the Civil Registration Act 2004 has been approved at Cabinet and is being sent to the
person traveling; therefore an individual
Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection. The legislation currently states that an Irish
passport may be required. The passport office
citizen who dies outside of the State is not eligible to have their death registered in
offers a number of options for applicants,
Ireland, or receive an Irish death certificate. This sensitive issue is relevant considering
the quickest route being the Passport the number of Irish people who travel overseas, especially taking into account the high
Express service (available through the local numbers of our young people and students who travel abroad. A reversal of this anomaly
post office) which assures a 10 working day will eliminate unnecessary burdens on grieving families by ensuring the passing of
turnaround. A Public Counter Urgent route is their loved one will be recognised by the State and that they do not disappear from
available when proof of travel arrangements genealogical records. This is a positive step forward for bereaved families who have had
are presented at the passport office however little or no success despite their arduous campaign efforts over for the past two years.
the turnaround is normally five working days I am delighted that the Bill is finally going under review and hope that, in the end,
for such applications. common sense will prevail.
The Gathering
The Gathering has been announced by the Minister for Tourism, Leo
Varadkar. It is proposed that a year-long programme of events will
be planned for 2013 aimed at showcasing the best that Ireland has
to offer. While major festivals will play a huge role, there will also
be a focus on gatherings organised by local community groups and
organisations. And that’s why I’m calling on people in Kildare North
to get involved.
Now is the time to start coming up with ideas and for local individuals,
clubs and groups to put their thinking hats on. An event could be
anything from a family reunion to a sporting event or a local festival.
It’s aimed at getting the Irish abroad and anyone with an interest in Ireland to come to these shores in 2013. So I am
encouraging local people in Kildare North to talk to neighbours, family, colleagues and club mates and get on board for
The Gathering. You can register your interest by submitting an email address to www.gatheringireland.com.
Anthony Lawlor TD • Tel: 045 888488 • Email: anthony.law

3. National Transport High level of Interest in Sports Capital
Authority €2.5 million Programme
funding allocation for In response to a recent Dáil Question, Minister for Sport and Tourism Michael Ring
Co. Kildare outlined how his Department received over 2,150 applications for funding under the
2012 Sports Capital Programme. There were 77 applications made by clubs throughout
Co. Kildare. Departmental officials have started processing all applications received.
This process will take some time, due to the volume of applications and the detailed
information contained in each one. The Minister does not expect to be in a position to
announce the list of successful applicants before the late autumn or early winter 2012.
Unfortunately it is not possible at this stage to estimate the number of applications
expected to be successful. The Department website www.dttas.ie will announce the
successful recipients of grant allocations and individual applicants will also be written
to confirming the outcome of their application.
Kilcock’s famous resident
Patch, the most famous Jack Russell terrier in Ireland made national and international
headlines recently after his tumultuous train ride from Kilcock to Dublin. It wasn’t until
passengers alerted the rail staff of Patch’s presence on the train that he became an
international sensation, when his picture was re-tweeted on Twitter over 500 times in
just 30 minutes. Luckily, Patch’s owner saw the Tweet and discovered his whereabouts.
In addition to the story being picked up by the Associated Press, Washington Post, and
India Times, Patch got his own Twitter page, @patchtraveldog.
Laraghbryan Monastery
There has been pressure on both the national government, as well as local authorities
over the past few years regarding funding for the restoration of the 600-year old
monastery site, Laraghbryan. There has recently been ongoing discussions regarding
I was delighted to learn that the National the matter, and it looks as if the discussions are moving towards a positive outcome. I
Transport Authority allocated €2.5 million will continue to put pressure on the local councillors to successfully resolve this matter.
to County Kildare. This funding is included in
the Second Round of the National Transport
Authority’s Sustainable Transport Programme
Update on Kilcock Railway Station
and is for public transport related and Last July, it was announced that Kilcock Railway Station was to receive a grant of €35,000
sustainable travel projects. This funding will for an upgrade. The project has commenced and is due to be completed shortly. The
target 34 specific projects throughout the current delay is with regard to works required by the ESB and once this is undertaken,
county which benefit many areas within Kildare Iarnroid Éireann will complete the project. I will push for this upgrade to be finalised
North. These projects will increase safety on our without delay.
roads for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists
and includes cycle parking facilities in Kilcock.
Future plans for Kilcock
The Integrated Services Program (ISP)
is an initiative under the Kildare County
Development Board that identifies
development needs, and objectives for
towns around Kildare County. Included
among the initiatives for Kilcock from 2012-
2016 are:
• Health Services: Increase access
to primary health care, and install a
community health program
• Infrastructure/Transport: Increase
access to public transportation, making
commutes to Dublin easier. Build more
bicycle lanes and footpaths. Monitor
ghost estates.
• Tourism: Increase accommodations for
tourists to stay. Emphasize beauty of the
town, especially Royal Canal and festivals
celebrations.
ny.lawlor@oireachtas.ie • www.anthonylawlor.ie

4. Useful Numbers
Kildare County Council (045 980200) Competition Time!
– www.kildarecoco.ie For the opportunity to win a tour to Dáil Éireann
Local Health Centre: (01 628 7139) followed by a meal in the Dáil Restaurant for two
- Kilcock Medical Centre people, email me the answer to the
following question:
Garda Station (non-24 hour): (01 628 7202)
Q.Who is the
- Church Street
Garda Station (24 hour): (01 666 7800
- Leixlip current Government
Fire Station (Leixlip): (01 624 4455) Chief Whip?
- Mill Lane All correct answers to
Social Welfare Branch Office: (01 610 6000) anthony.lawlor@oir.ie.
- Town Hall, Maynooth Deadline for receipt of
entries 31st August 20112
Kilcock Community Library: (01 628 4403)
- Main Street
Citizens Information: (1890 777 121)
Clane Hospital: (04 586 8004)
Naas General Hospital: (045 897221)
Register to Vote
The Government has announced its intention to hold a referendum in the autumn
on Children’s Rights. Be sure to check that you are eligible to vote at this very
important referendum. You can do so by accessing www.checktheregister.ie or
contacting Kildare County Council on (045) 980 200.
Your local Fine Gael Team:
Councillor Seamus Langan Councillor Brendan Weld
Email: ejl8789@hotmail.com Email: bweldmcc@eircom.net
Address: Clonkeeran, Carbury Address: Painstown, Donadea, Naas
Contact Numbers: 046-9553058 (h) 087-2871347 Contact Numbers: 045-869340/087-7828649
Anthony Lawlor TD
0612
Email: anthony.lawlor@oireachtas.ie
Website: www.anthonylawlor.ie
to keep up to date with my work
Constituency Office: 56 South Main Street, Naas, Co. Kildare
Contact Number: 045 888488
Opening Hours: 9am -12am & 3pm – 5pm
Celbridge Clinic: Every Thursday 7pm – 8pm