Recruitment for N11 Upgrade Gets Underway

Posted May 22nd, 2013

Wicklow Fine Gael TD, Simon Harris, has today (Wednesday) encouraged people from county Wicklow to apply for the positions on the N11 upgrade works.

Deputy Harris stated that ‘The N11 upgrade is a fantastic boost for the county and it would be a fantastic additional benefit for the county if local people would be given the opportunity to work on this project. The significant decline in the construction sector has left a large number of people seeking work. This is a major project and one which may provide an opportunity for many of those who have been involved in the construction sector.

‘There are a number of positions being advertised in relation to the project at the following link http://www.candidatemanager.net/cm/micro/joblist.aspx?mid=YUGTGT&sid=BEVCXB&a=uPz77yoH8jU%3D

‘I would encourage any person looking for work who might be eligible to apply for these positions.’

ENDS

Harris Welcomes New Community Improvement Scheme Allocation for Wicklow Roads

Posted May 20th, 2013

Wicklow Fine Gael TD, Simon Harris, has today (Monday) welcomed the announcement, by the Transport Minister Leo Varadkar, of an €80,000 allocation to the Community Improvement Scheme in County Wicklow.

Deputy Harris stated that ‘This announcement is a welcome boost to the Arklow area. Investment in the Community Involvement Scheme is a significant investment in the future of Wicklow but also one that provides for real additional community engagement.

‘As a new pilot scheme, the Community Improvement Scheme provides for the engagement of the community in the projects for which resources are allocated. This project will provide for the alteration of roads in Coolbawn Lower and the local community will be investing the labour and JCB plant in the project. This ensures that this project has a distinctly local value and feel to it.

‘I am pleased that this announcement has come today and that the Minister has approved all validly submitted Wicklow applications under this scheme. As this is a new scheme I would also like to welcome its introduction and implementation and I look forward to future rounds of this strategic investment being engaged with across County Wicklow.’

ENDS

Great news for Arklow Community College as they receive their Yellow Flag – Harris

Posted May 16th, 2013

Yellow flag awarded to school in recognition of intercultural work and respect for diversity. 3 Wicklow schools now involved in Yellow Flag programme

Wicklow Fine Gael TD, Simon Harris has today (Wednesday) congratulated Arklow Community College at the ceremony in the school to raise their Yellow Flag.

The Yellow Flag is an awarded for schools who undertake significant work to promote intercultural development and support and respect diversity in their school community.

Speaking about this achievement for Arklow Community College, Deputy Harris said, “I was delighted to be in Arklow Community College today as the school was awarded the Yellow Flag. This flag will now fly outside the school as a reminder of the great work that goes on in the school community to promote tolerance and respect diversity.”

“There are now 3 schools in County Wicklow actively involved in the Yellow School project- Arklow Community College, Colaiste Cill Mhantain, Wicklow Town and Newtownmountkennedy National School and I am sure more will follow,” stated Deputy Harris.

“I would like to sincerely congratulate all in Arklow Community College – the students, the teachers, the Principal and the wider community for their great work and effort in arriving at this point,” concluded Deputy Harris.

ENDS

First IDA visit to Arklow in years brings key stakeholders for job creation together – Harris

Posted May 3rd, 2013

Deputy Harris faciliates and chairs meeting between Arklow Chamber, a delegation from Arklow Town Council and the Head of Regional Business Development of the IDA

Wicklow Fine Gael TD, Simon Harris chaired and faciliated a meeting yesterday (Thursday) in the Arklow Business Centre between the Arklow Chamber of Commerce, a delegation of local Arklow Councillors and the Head of Regional Business Development in the IDA, Ms Breda O’Toole.

Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Harris said, “Since my election as a TD for County Wicklow, I have been determined to dismiss the notion that Wicklow is simply a commuter county. We have a skilled labour force, great towns and good infrastructure. For far too long all this was overlooked, as previous Government’s bypassed Wicklow. In recent weeks, I have met with IDA Chief Executive in Bray to discuss opportunities in the town and I have also met with the IDA delegation to discuss the lands they own in Greystones for the purpose of enterprise and job creation. We have seen progress in both these towns from the IDA in recent months but much more remains to be done. Yesterday, as part of my ongoing efforts to promote Wicklow for investment, I brought the Head of Regional Business Development with the IDA to Arklow so she could see the town and its possibilities first hand and so she could meet with the key stakeholders in both local government and local business in Arklow.”

“Many locals in Arklow informed me that this was the first time in years that an IDA official had visited the town and engaged with them and probably the most senior IDA person to have come to the town in many years. The meeting was about bringing people together involved in job creation, getting them in the same room and having an honest and frank discussion about what needs to be done to promote Arklow. This meeting was particularly timely owing to the fact that the N11 upgrade will commence at the end of this month, further improving the attractiveness of Arklow for investment,” stated Deputy Harris.

“It was great to see such positivity in the room and the message from the IDA was clear – they will promote Arklow as part of their Eastern Region strategy to investors but it is vital that stakeholders locally work with them to decide what specific industry they want to attract to Arklow, how they want to market the town, ensuring a good online presence of the benefits of working and living in Arklow and crucially linking in with existing IDA supported businesses in the area to see if further expansion opportunities are available,” continued Deputy Harris.

“Arising from the meeting, the IDA will now explore the possibility of putting in place a mentoring programme to help the Arklow community advance this and local stakeholders also have a body of work to do. For my part, I will continue to work closely with anyone and everyone willing to help promote Arklow and all of County Wicklow for investment and job creation. This meeting was a good, constructive start on this journey,” concluded Deputy Harris.

Deputy Harris to host meeting today between Arklow Chamber of Commerce, Arklow Town Council & the Head of Regional Business Development in the IDA

Posted May 2nd, 2013

Wicklow Fine Gael TD, Simon Harris will today (Thursday) facilitate a meeting between Arklow business and political representatives with a senior representative of the IDA to discuss what strategy is in place and what measures need to be put in place to promote Arklow as a location for investment and job creation.
Deputy Harris has arranged for the IDA Head of Regional Business Development to visit Arklow today. The Wicklow TD’s efforts follow on from a recent meeting he had with the IDA Chief in Bray and a meeting with IDA representatives about the IDA lands in Greystones.

Speaking on this issue, Deputy Harris said, “ I am determined to do everything I can to promote County Wicklow as a location for business investment and job creation. We are much more than just a commuter county. We have a skilled labour force, good infrastructure and soon we will have a very significant upgrade to the N11 road. We need to make sure that the IDA as the State agency charged with bringing investment to our country is actively marketing County Wicklow.”

“I will be doing all I can to promote all our towns for investment and have recently met with the IDA in relation to both Bray and Greystones. We have seen progress in both towns in terms of IDA activity and job creation in recent months. There is a lot more to do. Specifically in relation to Arklow, there is an excellent Chamber of Commerce in place and active public representatives in the town determined to do all they can to promote Arklow. We need the IDA to step up to the plate, hear from local stakeholders on their views and for the IDA to show their plan for promoting Arklow as a location for investment which will help bring jobs to the town,” stated Deputy Harris.

“I hope and expect that today’s meeting will be a positive step in these efforts,” concluded Deputy Harris.

Government provides grant aid for safety improvements and maintenance at Arklow Harbour – Harris

Posted April 17th, 2013

Maintenance works for Channel Gate, drainage works at Dock Tongue and provision of lifebuoy holders along the Riverside included in Government grant for Arklow

Wicklow Fine Gael TD, Simon Harris has announced that the Government, through the Minister for Agriculture and the Marine has written to the local authority offering to grant aid a number of improvement safety and maintenance works at Arklow Harbour.

The Government grant for Arklow is for the following works:
· Maintenance repairs at the Channel gate at the North East corner of the dock. This gate is located at the entrance to the dock where the fishing trawlers are moored.
· Drainage works are planned on the concrete slab forming the Dock Tongue.
· The provision of 10 Lifebuoy holders along the Riverside and dock area.

Speaking about this news, Deputy Harris said, “This grant aid will be a very welcome further investment in Arklow Harbour which will benefit harbour users, the town of Arklow in general and improve safety and maintenance around the harbour.”

“I hope and trust the Council will draw down this grant as quickly as possible so these works can proceed in Arklow,” concluded Deputy Harris.

ENDS

Important Update on N11 Flooding – Harris

Posted April 16th, 2013

Deputy Harris secures update in Dail on actions being taken to resolve flooding problems on the N11.

Wicklow Fine Gael TD, Simon Harris has today (Tuesday) secured a Dail debate on the on-going flooding issues on the N11/M11.

After the recent spate of flooding Deputy Harris undertook to raise this matter on the floor of the Dail to finally seek answers for Wicklow commuters as to why this major roadway has been flooded twice already this year.

Speaking in the Dail this evening Deputy Harris said, ‘We are only in the fourth month of 2013 and already Wicklow commuters have had to endure traffic chaos and road closures on the N11/M11. They and I have had enough and are extremely frustrated by the lack of answers and indeed the buck passing form one agency and indeed local authority to another.

‘This is a major road leading to our capital city. It is an essential route on an almost daily basis for thousands upon thousands of people commuting to work and going about their business. Equally in terms of encouraging investment into county Wicklow, we cannot afford to have these flooding issues remain without solution.

‘Legitimate questions are now being asked by commuters and residents in terms of whether there is an engineering problem with this road or is there simply a lack of proper maintenance and to be quite frank whether this is a problem with Wicklow County Council or Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council or the National Roads Authority or all three. We need leadership and coordination. We need heads banged together and a workable solution.

‘This evening in the Dail the Minister for Transport has informed me that a CCTV survey of the motorway drainage is being undertaken and a series of site surveys are underway to assess the condition of the motorway drainage and to investigate the performance of the local road and land drainage network to the west of the M11.

‘I welcome this news that action is being taken and will be vigorously pursuing this.’

ENDS

Harris tables special Dáil debate on N11/M11 flooding debacle

Posted April 5th, 2013

Major aerial road shut for second time this year due to flooding – Wicklow TD to seek answers and accountability in Dáil debate

Wicklow Fine Gael TD, Simon Harris has written to the Ceann Comhairle tabling a special Topical Debate in the Dáil arising from the closure of the N11/M11 twice so far in 2013 due to flooding.

Speaking on this issue, Deputy Harris said, “It is utterly unacceptable that this major road route is closed in parts and that commuters from right throughout Wicklow are left in chaotic traffic for hours and hours on end when their is heavy rain. Surely in the 21st Century we can engineer and maintain roads to withstand heavy rain. This is not a small road, it is one of our country’s most major roadways and to see it unable to cope with rain and to be flooded twice in three months is ridiculous.”

“Since the latest flooding incident resulting in the closure of the road around the Bray exits, there has been significant “buck passing” going on. The NRA have implied that local authorities failed to maintain it adequately. Others have commented on the fact that there may be an engineering problem in and around the part of the road in question. Wicklow residents dont want buck-passing. They want answers and they want action,” stated Deputy Harris.

“I have now tabled a Dáil debate on the issue and have written to the Ceann Comhairle seeking time to consider the matter on the floor of the Dáil so that the Minister for Transport can bring together all the relevant agencies – the NRA and the local authorities – and secure answers, updates and assurances on this important issue. I will continue to pursue this until progress is made,” concluded Deputy Harris.

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Harris welcomes Mayor of Arklow to Fine Gael

Posted March 14th, 2013

Thursday, March 14^th 2013

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow, Simon Harris, has today (Thursday) warmly welcomed the decision of the Mayor of Arklow, Cllr Peter Dempsey, to join the Fine Gael Party.

 “I am delighted that Cllr Peter Dempsey has decided to join Fine Gael. I have worked with Peter on many issues affecting the people of Arklow. I know him to be dedicated, energetic, hard-working

and he has a very strong sense of community service and civic pride. He is a great addition to our ranks and I look forward to working with him in an even closer capacity now.

 “Peter’s decision to join Fine Gael is an endorsement of the efforts of this Government to turn the country around and undo the damage inflicted on our economy and society by Fianna Fáíl. Peter has been a champion of many important issues and, as a former fisherman, he also has a great understanding of this important industry.

“As a member of the largest Party in Government, Peter will be best placed to help deliver on many important projects for the people of Arklow. I look forward to working with him on many issues, including continued investment in youth facilities in the town, campaigning on the bus service, the purchase of the Alps site in the centre of the town and tackling the scourge of drugs in the area. Arklow is a great town with huge potential and I will work with Peter and the Fine Gael team in Arklow, as well as all of its Councillors, to deliver for the community.”

ENDS

€3.5 million delivered for Arklow Harbour -Harris

Posted February 22nd, 2013

 Wicklow Fine Gael TD, Simon Harris, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Transport of €3.5 million of investment for Arklow Harbour

Speaking about the news, Deputy Harris said, “I am delighted that €3.5 million has been announced for the development of Arklow Harbour by the Minister for Transport. This funding will make a real difference to the harbour and I believe the licence for works is now in place so I hope and expect that the drawdown of these funds will commence promptly.”

“The works to be undertaken include dredging, sheet piling to the North Pier, wave mitigation works and a slipway in the dock,” stated Deputy Harris.

“This latest announcement of Government funding for Arklow will be of great benefit to the harbour but also to the wider town of Arklow,” concluded Deputy Harris.

ENDS