Poll-topping Councillor Francis Timmons is the Labour Party Candidate in the Dublin Mid-West constituency.

Speaking about his decision, Cllr. Timmons said, ‘’In the recent local elections I was very proud and honoured to have been elected for a third time as an independent councillor. Over the past 10 years I have a proven track record of effecting positive change in our county and now I want to take that tenacity and record of delivery for people to a national level. 

“I was recently asked to put my name forward to be the General Election candidate for the Labour Party in Dublin Mid-West and after much consideration and consultation with my supporters I have decided to put myself forward.

‘’I considered my options about how best to represent our community and to address the many needs we have as a society going forward.  I feel the Labour agenda most closely aligns with my own goals and policies. I have decided that being a candidate for the Labour Party will help achieve progress on the crucial issues facing our community such as building affordable homes, upgrading our schools and ensuring there is a place for every child, providing proper facilities and resources for our communities and tackling anti-social behaviour. There are many other issues that if elected I can work hard on at a national level’’

Cllr Timmons says, “The history and values of the Labour Party as a progressive centre-Left party are ones I share.  I have also admired Labour’s determination in driving social change in Ireland for decades, having led the way in divorce, marriage equality and many other social reforms.”

 Cllr Timmons continued, “I welcome the opportunity to contest this election as a Labour candidate, and I want to thank local party members, especially Cllr Joanna Tuffy and former TD, Robert Dowds, for the guidance and welcome they have given me in recent weeks.  My values are constant.I will continue to uphold the values of truth, justice, honesty and integrity in serving our community.  They are the values I have held all my political life and they will continue to inform my work for my community.

“My commitment to those less well-off is proven through my foundation of Clondalkin Helping Homeless and our weekly foodbank.  I have also established Clondalkin Festival and Parade, while I promote and encourage creativity through the Creative Clondalkin initiative.

 Cllr Timmons concluded ‘’Now more than ever, we need a strong voice so we can come together to shape policies that makes Ireland a fairer, kinder, better place.”

Labour Party Leader, Ivana Bacik, TD, said, “I am delighted that Francis will be joining the Labour team and seeking the nomination in Dublin Mid-West.  Francis is a tireless worker for his community and has campaigned for a more tolerant, equal and fair society.  It’s really positive to see experienced, dedicated public representatives like Francis joining the party as we seek to build a better Ireland.”

ENDS.

For more information contact Cllr. Francis Timmons at 087-3869315

or Labour Party Press Office at 01-6184302

            •           Labour launches Cost of Living Plan

Labour’s Councillor Francis Timmons in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas has announced the launch of Labour’s Cost of Living action plan, aimed squarely at combating price gouging and easing the immense strain of high living costs on families.

Cllr. Timmons said,

“With bills skyrocketing and the cost of essential goods constantly on the rise, Labour has stepped in with a bold plan to make wages go further and tackle profiteering. For too long, under Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, families in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas  and beyond have faced steep and permanent increases in costs. Labour’s action plan offers hope to hard-pressed families across Ireland.

“Under Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, we’ve seen living costs surge and wages struggle to keep up. In Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas , ordinary people are forced to pay more than they should, whether it’s on electricity, insurance, or basic services. Government has been too slow to address blatant price gouging, and its families here in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas  that are suffering the consequences. With the introduction of our Cost of Living plan, Labour is taking decisive action to protect incomes from inflation, increase low pay, and bring down the cost of essentials.”

Labour’s comprehensive Cost of Living plan includes:

Protecting incomes from inflation

Raising low pay rates

Reducing electricity prices to the European average

Tackling high insurance costs

Ending the penalty on instalment payments

Making lower prices available by eliminating the loyalty penalty

Banning automatic annual price increases in service contracts

“Our action plan isn’t just a list of promises – it’s a call for urgent change. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have left consumers vulnerable by failing to stand up to price-gouging companies or tackle the high costs of services. Labour is prepared to hold powerful corporations accountable and bring relief to consumers.

Labour has also expressed outrage over the runaway costs of major projects under government watch, such as the excessive spending on the National Children’s Hospital and the Oireachtas bike shelter. Cllr. Timmons emphasised the frustration in Local Area Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas , where people see wasted public funds on these projects while essential services remain underfunded. “These funds should be allocated to vital services that truly benefit the people. Instead, we get Government mismanagement. Every euro lost to mismanaged projects is a euro not spent on schools, healthcare, or roads that are crying out for attention in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas .”

“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil may claim they’re acting responsibly with the public’s money, but those claims don’t hold up to scrutiny. Labour’s action plan is about taking immediate, meaningful steps to protect consumers and address Ireland’s soaring costs. It’s time to trim the fat, reign in mismanaged spending, and protect the interests of the people of Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas  and beyond.”

ENDS

Link to the full Cost of Living document: https://labour.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Labour-Cost-of-Living-Manifesto-2024-1.pdf

Affordable childcare

Public investment

Labour’s Cllr Timmons in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas  was speaking following Labour’s launch of a comprehensive plan to introduce a publicly provided childcare system. Across the country, parents are struggling to access affordable, reliable childcare.

Cllr Timmons said:

”Under the current Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government, parents in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas  and beyond are often paying between €700-€800 monthly per child—this is simply unsustainable for many parents. Labour is leading the charge to make high-quality childcare a right, not a privilege, and to move away from the profit-driven model that dominates the sector.

“That’s why two years ago, Labour proposed a monthly cap on childcare costs of €200 per child, the equivalent of €50 per week or €10 per day. We are glad to see other parties finally catching up with us and the crisis in the childcare sector.

“In Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas  and nationwide, parents are crying out for a childcare system that works for them, not against them. We have seen funding for childcare reach nearly €1.4 billion by 2025, yet most of it is channelled into private, for-profit childcare services. Families are paying dearly for what should be a public service. This must change. It’s time we recognised that childcare is a basic service, and we should be investing in it as such.

“Parents in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas  shouldn’t be struggling to find a place for their child. Labour’s vision is to offer 6,000 new public childcare places each year, supported by 100 new services annually and employing around 11 staff members per service. That’s a total of 30,000 new places over five years. For the parents of Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas , this would mean relief from the costly and often stressful hunt for quality care. Labour will invest approximately €53 million per year, with operational costs projected to rise to €300 million over five years to make this vision a reality.

“Childcare staff are the backbone of this sector. We need to support the dedicated, skilled professionals who are caring for our children and fostering their early development. A well-funded public system will allow us to keep talented educators in the field, ensuring stability for children and families. Labour’s plan seeks to address this by providing fair pay and resources.

Labour is proposing a transformative approach that also includes a long-term vision for an agency dedicated to early years education and school-age care. Cllr. XX added, “Labour’s public childcare plan will eventually shift responsibility to a new national agency, ensuring continuous development and investment in public childcare facilities. With a minimum of €70 million annually earmarked for a capital building programme, we’ll work to co-locate these new services with existing schools wherever possible, creating a robust system that meets families’ needs in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas  and across Ireland.

Labour believes in a society that values care, and this includes ensuring every child has access to early years education on par with our European counterparts.

As Cllr. Timmons concluded, “It’s time we treated childcare as an essential public service. Labour’s plan will provide families in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas  with the stability, quality, and affordability they deserve. This must be a key mission for the next government. Labour is committed to making it a reality.”

ENDS

ftimmons@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie

0872869315

Link to full document: https://labour.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Labour-Early-Childhood-Education-and-Care-Manifesto-2024.pdf

Cllt Timmons says ‘’This year we mark 10 years of Clondalkin Helping Homeless, we started at a meeting upstairs in the waterside and the very first night was outside TUS NUA, eventually we did a table offering sandwiches , soup and a hot drink etc at Finches and later added a table to outside Molloy’s in the village, added over time was food cloud from Tesco’s and others. Over the years its evolved into a weekly foodbank and we still give out tents sleeping bags and supplies as needed. We have also helped people over the years with starter packs when they get a home, clothes and general items. At Christmas we provide toys and gifts where we can to help those in need.’’

Cllt Timmons says ‘’ During Covid we continues throughout the pandemic and we where the only available service in the area and our volunteers delivered weekly to people who couldn’t leave there home with over 200 families and individuals on our books , and we remain one of the few services that is available when needed especially at weekends and evenings.  The service offered has changed over time to meet the needs that arise.’’

Cllt Timmons says ‘’I want to thank every person that been involved over the 10 years, The fact that Clondalkin Helping Homeless is still needed is not a reason to celebrate but the fact that so many have been wiling to help us over the years is a great reflection on Clondalkin and wider a field. To every individual that volunteered we are extremely grateful. To every group or business that has donated over the years we could not of provided a service without you. To the school, local businesses , churches , creshes , locals and others who have donated we would be lost without you all! I wont name them as there was so many I would leave someone out. ‘’

Cllt Timmons says ‘’ we wanted to pay a small thanks to some of the groups and businesses that have been our biggest and regular supporters. The fact we need a service like Clondalkin helping homeless and those in need is a dreadful reflection on the cost of living crisis we are in and lack of supports for those in most need. I also wanted to acknowledge all those who have come looking for help and allowed us help and support them , some sadly no longer around. It is a honour to help where we can! ‘’

Government failing on housing as homelessness continues to soar

Labour’s Councillor Francis Timmons in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas has responded with deep concern to the latest September housing figures, which reveal that 14,760 people are now in emergency accommodation nationwide, including a devastating 4,561 children.

Cllr. Timmons said,

“Here in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas, like everywhere in Ireland, we are hearing about the same heartbreaking stories: families forced into emergency accommodation, parents unable to find affordable housing, and children growing up without a stable home. Ireland is a wealthy nation, and the fact that 4,561 children are living in such precarious conditions is simply unforgivable. This government, led by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, has failed families across Ireland.

This on the heels of two damning reports released this week: the Simon Community’s “Locked out of the Market” report and Threshold’s impact report on renters. Both reports have underscored the severity of Ireland’s housing crisis and highlighted the government’s continued failure to deliver on its promises.

“We’ve had report after report laying bare the devastation caused by this government’s policies. Government’s ‘Housing for All’ plan has failed by any metric. Homelessness figures are up, evictions are up, and house prices are up. And as I speak to people in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas , housing is the issue that dominates conversations. Whether its young people priced out of the market or families being evicted, it all comes back to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s failure.

“On the ground in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas , Labour canvassers have been inundated with concerns about housing. The message is clear: people need affordable housing now. Labour’s housing plan focuses on public investment, not just in housing but in people’s futures.”

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have failed, plain and simple. We in Labour have a clear vision for housing. That means stronger protections for renters and significant investment in public housing. We believe in building better, together for all in Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas  and across Ireland.”

ENDS

ftimmons@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie

0872869315

This year marks 75 years since the landmark of its time scheme for Mothers and Child scheme led by Dr Noel Browne , It proposed to introduce Healthcare free to under 16 and deal with the alarming mortality rate of the time, The scheme was blasted at the time as being to Liberal and Browne was even summons to the Archbishop’s House. It was unthinkable in Mc Quaid’s Ireland who saw it as an upfront to Catholic moral teaching, It was seen as interference in the family Unit.  

Browne was with Clann na Poblachta at the time.  Browns party leader Sean MacBride demanded Browne’s resignation as a minister and Browne resigned to the than  Taoiseach John A. Costello for submission to President O’Kelly. Soon after a General Election was called. Fianna Fail eventually introduced some of the scheme all be it watered down in 1951 following the General Election of that year. Brown Left Clann na Poblachta and over the years was in Fianna Fáil , the National Progressive Democrats , the Labour Party and the Socialist Labour Party 

I am convinced that if the TDs of the time had fully accepted and stood up for the for Mother and Child scheme that so many wouldn’t of suffered so much and many lives could have been saved. Perhaps the institutions wouldn’t of had so much control over so many and the church wouldn’t have had so much control over so many.

It wasn’t until 1973 that an Unmarried Mother’s Allowance was introduced but society continued to stigmatize single parents upto the 1990s when the last of the old institutions shut.

Even in 2024 the Catholic Church still retain much control through the ownership of some hospitals and a large number of schools, 

South Dublin installed a Memorial Stone outside Peamount Hospital in memory of the Socialist who fought the battle against TB and Peamount was one of many places that helped in the fight.

, Dr Browne was the most forward radical of his time and his Legacy still lives on!

Cllr Timmons says ” I welcome the Haul and commend the work of the Guards , i get a huge amount of calls over Scrambler/Motorbikes And Quad Bikes in particular. This is some progress”

A search operation took place by Gardaí targeting individuals involved in crime in the Clondalkin and Ballyfermot area.

The focus of the operation surrounded the unlawful use of e-bikes, scramblers and e-scooters which causes potential harm and disruption to members of the local communities.

The following was seized:

• 2 Electric Scooters

• 10 Electric Bikes

• 2 Stolen High Powered Motorbikes

• 5 Scrambler/Motorbikes

• 1 Quad Bike

• €8,800 Cash believed to be the proceeds of crime

• €36,000 Cannabis Herb

• €4800 Alprazolam Tablets

A man in his 20s was arrested and detained at a Garda station in West Dublin.

#KeepingPeopleSafe

Cllr Timmons says “Following my agreed motion at the County Development plan for a traffic management plan for Rathcoole , Newcastle and Saggart , the council are undertaking traffic counts and have contacted the NTA to get funding for a traffic plan to be drawn up and works coming out of such plans! Its hoped this will progress very soon! Still a way to go but its progress!’ 

Cllr Timmons says “I am not supportive of the proposal as part of the Local Area Plan to just allow buses around all Clondalkin village while cars would only be able to access car parks etc! Its only proposals but at this stage i dont see this as a viable plan – looking forward to productive ideas moving forward!” 

Cllr Timmons says ” i need to clarify that the overall plan is not done up yet! – councillors will have input when the plan is done up! But a vote wont take place to June 2025 as theres a lot of work to be done on it! – the Local area plan covers many other issues as well as traffic! – at this stage its important to gather as many ideas as possible – everything is an idea at this stage! – I would ask as many as possible to fill the survey in at https://buff.ly/3wII8CG#“

Cllr Timmons says ” I worked with a group of people to draw up a vision for Clondalkin document that has manu suggestions for Clondalkin , im happy to email this document that was generally supported by the 7 local councillors to any resident, the local area plan offers a chance to discuss many issues around Clondalkin Village! I am also offering to meet any resident and discuss idea”  

Cllr Timmons says ”I Spoke to planning in SDCC and was informed Following the concerns expressed at last Wednesday’s workshop in particular, SDCC will go out again to the public with more options for consideration before we publish a draft plan.  The timelines for that next (3rd) round of pre-draft public consultation will have to be decided and will depend in part on the feedback they get from the surveys and the amount of work required to prepare.”