Official website of Trevor Sargent, Green Party
Thursday, 24 February, 2011 – day before the election
On the final day of the campaign for election 2011, Trevor Sargent and his Green team undertake a lighting tour of the constituency. The tour concludes with a stop at the site of the future maritime museum in Balbriggan, where Trevor took the opportunity to say thanks to his team. It’s been a hectic three weeks but spirits are high.
Thursday, 17 February, 2011
Another early rise to meet commuters in Skerries boarding trains going south and going north as well as those coming to school or to work in Skerries. Glad to be joined by helpers such as Zoe, Frank, Diarmuid and George when the numbers were large and everyone was in a hurry. Had a good few chats with those who had a little more time to talk.
Trevor Sargent pays a viisit to Donabate Community College
Then dropped in to Donabate Community College to meet Principal Ms Olive Laffoy, the Green Team Leaders., to congratulate two Young Scientist entries and the brains behind them, as well as speak with a CSPE class I had previously shown around Leinster House. The lovely coffee and biscuits was much appreciated too.
On to Swords then for a canvass during which I was in contact with the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills about securing recognition and a go-ahead for Coláiste Ghlór na Mara, an Irish medium secondary school to serve the Gaelscoileanna and other pupils with a love of Irish in the North County Dublin area.
A brief stop for a bowl of soup for canvassers in Adam’s Apple Cafe and Restaurant, a great place to meet in Applewood, Swords. On then for a meeting with Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce and then an evening canvass in Skerries. Fingers crossed for no more rain this evening.
Friday, 12 February, 2011
Hectic day, but very interesting. Began with Donabate Green volunteers, Jim, Rita, Roger at the Train Station meeting commuters from 7am onwards. The leaflet, Commuter flier Jan 2011 highlights my own efforts and successes in improving the transport infrastructure of Dublin North.
Headed to Balbriggan Farmers’ Market which is set up on George’s Square every Friday from 9am to 2pm. I like to provide free tea and coffee to stallholders so as to keep their spirits up while then serve the community in all weathers. The colour and vibrancy of the market brings people to the centre of the town and this benefits other shopkeepers and traders like the hotel and coffee shops in the town.
Did an interview then with Robin Kiely of the Fingal Independent in the Grand Hotel, Malahide before heading out to canvass a few doors locally along the Swords Road. Then headed for the RHA Gallery in Ely Place, Dublin 2, for the Green Party / Comhaontas Glas Manifesto. Straightforward enough with job creation and preparing the country to be free of oil dependency by 2030 being the short and long-term focuses.
Evening canvass was in Swords Manor area of Swords. Serious situations for many families with negative equity. Had many chats with people about experiences and challenges in establishing new business ideas. Difficult as the changes in tax were to encourage greater fuel efficiencies, many residents understand that leadership in a Green direction is needed to develop the new Greener economy. Given I am fighting for that last seat, I am asking voters to help me to help them by giving SARGENT No. 1 in two weeks time on Friday 25th, Polling Day.
Thursday, 10 February, 2011
Today was tragically overshadowed by the terrible plane crash at Cork Airport. I expressed sympathy to the families of those who died and good wishes to the injured, as did Green Party Leader, John Gormley, when interviewed by RTE News Outside the North County Leader offices in Swords before lunch. I made the point also that such a tragedy reminds us all of the vital role played by the emergency services and medical teams who answer such emergency calls, whether that be in Cork or here where the Swords Ambulance Service is threatened by a dispute between the HSE and Dublin City Council. I have spoken with John Tierney, the City Manager, and he granted more time to allow for discussions. Again I appeal to both sides to consider the many calls on this service, not to mention if a similar tragedy was to occur at Dublin Airport, which thankfully to date has an excellent safety record.
The walk about was I’d say 90% positive, with longstanding pledges of support and No. One votes. People I had helped, people who were pleased with how I had raised issues nationally and people who were proud of how I had handled situations such as the illegal leaking of Garda correspondence to the Evening Herald newspaper, felt I should be a TD in the 31st Dáil. On the other hand, I was accosted by a very angry man unhappy in the way the biscuit factory in Tallaght had closed in the face of cheaper overseas competition. Notwithstanding my representations to the Minister for Enterprise, Mary Coughlan TD at the time on the matter, this man was inconsolable. I certainly lost that battle but I am more determined than ever to continue supporting the manufacturers and other food producers as a former Minister of Food, who can adapt with the changing market. Some are doing well but some are sadly unable to cope against fierce competition.
Now on to Donabate to canvass and then a visit to a fundraising event at Ardgillan Community College in Balbriggan. Back to Donabate for 7am on Friday morning to meet train commuters and discuss work we have done to improve various transport services.
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Speaking from the canvass trail in Donabate, Trevor Sargent calls on all political parties to make a clear declaration of the source of their funds. Seemingly, Fine Gael haven’t had any donations for years yet they are spending a fortune on the elction campaign.
4 January 2011
“Another Fingal Greens objective realized”, says local TD Trevor Sargent, commenting on news from Iarnród Éireann. According to Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager at Iarnród Éireann:
“For the first time cyclists are now able to take bikes onboard DARTs and Commuter trains at off-peak periods. Bikes will be carried free of charge on DART and Commuter services between 10.00hrs and 15.30hrs, and after 19.00hrs, Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday (excluding times of major fixtures / concerts and similar events at Aviva / Croke Park etc).
Iarnród Éireann is delighted to be providing these additional services for cyclists and we hope that it promotes even more use of our services by cyclists. It will be a great opportunity for example for families at weekends to take their bicycles on our services, and visit areas that it would not have been practical to visit previously. As well as supporting national policy on developing cycling, it is also very much a business opportunity for Iarnród Éireann, with the numbers of people cycling on the rise.
Iarnród Éireann has also undertaken an audit of bicycle parking facilities at its 142 stations around the country. This will allow improvements in facilities to be targeted at areas under-served at present, and improve the accessibility of stations for cyclists, and further encourage the development of cycling.”
In welcoming the positive response by Iarnród Éireann to his calls for greater integration of bike and rail services, local TD and cyclist Sargent said “This development is a bonus to visitors to north County Dublin. Allowing cyclists take bikes on off-peak trains brings us into line with many European countries and will open up more possibilities for leisure cyclists as well as commuters working outside the traditional peak hours. I for one will be using the train more with my bike and leaving the car at home, reducing traffic congestion and pollution.”
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13 May 2010
The HSE has announced that Knockamann, the 10 residential bungalows and associated day resource centre built in the grounds of St. Ita’s, Portrane, will be in use by the end of the year will be very welcome in the Donabate and Portrane area. Not only will this mean vastly improved conditions and facilities for patients and staff, but as many as 40 new nursing jobs will be created.
The announcement was warmly welcomed by Trevor Sargent, who has for a long time been campaigning to have the currently dormant facility completed and put to use. After his latest meeting with John Moloney TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Sargent said “I’m very pleased that the issue of the dormant bungalows can now be put to rest. The news that additional staff are to be recruited is a great bonus for the area and the patients. All in all, this is one result where everyone gains.”
The recruitment of the new staff will begin immediately, as will a period of liaison with families in preparation for the moving of patients. The new facility will provide single room accommodation for as many as 60 clients. Up to now, most of these have been accommodated in wards of up to 20 in a vey old building.
The new buildings were handed over to the HSE in July 2009 and equipping and furnishing was completed in December 2009. Recruitment of the additional staff needed to operate the facility will now begin, with the hope that the facility will be fully operational by the end of this year.
Minister Sargent signs in with his message on the electronic message board on arriving at the Young Scientist Expo at the RDS.
11 December 2009
Minister Trevor Sargent, TD for Dublin North, has welcomed news from Dublin Bus that they are to provide additional buses on the 33X and 33D routes. The details are as follows:
Additional 33X services will operate Monday to Friday from Mourne View, Skerries via the M1 and the Port Tunnel to St. Stephen’s Green. Return journeys will depart from Custom House Quay.
From Mourne View (Skerries, via Rush & Lusk) to St. Stephen’s Green: 06:30(T), 06:45, 07:00, 07:15, 07:35, 08:00, 08:30. (T – terminates at Tara St. DART Station.)
From Custom House Quay to Skerries/Rush & Lusk: 16:30, 16:50, 17:10, 17:30, 17:45, 18:00.
The 33D service will operate Monday to Friday from Seaview Portrane via Donabate, the M1 and the Port Tunnel to Tara St. DART Station.
From Seaview Portrane Donabate to Tara St. DART Station: 07:30, 08:00.
From Custom House Quay: 17:15, 18:00.
The Minister said, ‘I’m delighted that Dublin Bus have taken into account the obvious customer demand on these routes. I will continue to lobby on behalf of local commuters and liaise with Dublin Bus regarding any further changes to the schedules.’
For more information see the Dublin Bus website www.DublinBus.ie
MINISTER SARGENT MEETS DONABATE/PORTRANE SENIOR CITIZENS
Minister for Food and Horticulture Trevor Sargent TD recently met up with some local senior citizens in Donabate who were selling Christmas raffle tickets.
They also told the Minister of the upcoming Donabate/Portrane Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner to be held in the 
nearby Waterside House Hotel on Sunday 13th December at 6pm. They are anxious to get the word out, as those interested need to inform the committee on or before Wednesday 2nd December.
Winners of the Christmas raffle will be announced on the night.
The Committee members are:
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