Jimmy Deenihan who lost his place at the cabinet table in the reshuffle on Friday.
THE Tralee Chamber Alliance has expressed disappointment at Jimmy Deenihan losing his seat at the cabinet table last Friday.
“Tralee Chamber Alliance is disappointed that Jimmy Deenihan has lost his seat at the Cabinet Table,” read a statement from the Alliance.
“However, we look forward to working with him in his new role in the Department of An Taoiseach. Jimmy did an excellent job in his role as Minister for the Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht since taking up the position in 2011, and his leaving statements are an indication of the man – dignified and bearing no resentment.”
“We know that Jimmy will continue to work hard for his constituents and we look forward to continuing our relationship with him,” read the statement.
THERE was bad news for North Kerry/ West Limerick Deputy Jimmy Deenihan this afternoon, when it was announced that has lost his position as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the cabinet reshuffle.
Instead he has been moved to Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach and Gaeltacht with special responsibility for the diaspora.
Fine Gael’s Heather Humphries is newly promoted to Arts and Heritage post.
A number of other changes were announced including Leo Varadkar replacing James O’Reilly for the Health portfolio with Reilly moving to the Department of Children.
Labour’s Alex White is the new Communications Minister with new Deputy leader of Labour Alan Kelly taking up Environment. Limerick Deputy Jan O’Sullivan moves on to Education.
Labour’s Pat Rabbitte loses his Cabinet position and Phil Hogan has been announced as Ireland’s next EU Commissioner.
Fine Gael’sPaschal Donohue moves up to Transport, Tourism and Sport, Charlie Flanagan is the new Foreign Affairs Minister and Simon Coveney takes Defence as well as Agriculture.
Paul Kehoe continues as Minister of State at the Department of Defence and Government Chief Whip.
The Killerisk Road where there are concerns about safety for residents due to the absence of a pedestrian crossing.
IT may be some time before a pedestrian crossing is introduced in the Killerisk area, councillors were told at the Tralee Municipal District meeting on Monday.
Cllr Norma Foley (FF) asked that a pedestrian crossing be provided on the Killerisk road Tralee as a matter of urgency as this is a busy residential and pedestrian area.
“This issue has been ongoing for some time and there are a lot of young and old residents in the area,” said Cllr Foley. “We were told some time ago that the issue would be looked at when the new bypass was in situ. Now that it is complete, can it be done as a matter of urgency?” she asked.
Senior Roads Engineer with Kerry County Council, Frank Hartnett, said that there are stringent regulations governing pedestrian crossings and the issue will be referred to the Road Design Office to undertake an analysis to determine if a crossing is warranted. “It’s not something that will happen in the next week or month,” he said.
Cllr Foley also raised the issue of cracked slabs and pavement in the town centre and asked for an audit of footpaths in the town centre be carried out with a view to repairing/replacing displaced slabs.
“This is causing difficulties in the town centre with some areas in very bad repair. A number of incidents have occurred and something needs to be done,” she said.
Cllr Terry O’Brien (Lab) agreed. “I know a woman who fell and hurt both her wrists in one spot,” he said, while Cllr Sam Locke (Ind) asked could pavement rather than slabs be put down in the Mall area.
Kerry County Council Engineer, Colm Lynch, told councillors that replacement slabs had been bought for The Mall area and work would begin soon to replace the broken ones.
As for an audit, councillors were told that the matter will be addressed through the upgrade / urban design of The Mall and town centre as per Tralee Transport Strategy.
Funding was recently allocated by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (€1.3 million plus €900,000 matching funds from Kerry County Council) to implement sections of the Tralee Transport Strategy over the next two years.
Therefore, it was deemed unnecessary at this stage to undertake an audit of town centre footpaths.
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Mayor of Tralee Muncipal District, Cllr Jim Finucane.
THE new Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Jim Finucane, will get an annual allowance of €12,000 it was agreed at the meeting of the Municipal District of Tralee meeting on Monday.
Councillors were asked to consider the payment of an allowance to the Mayor of the Municipal District which is capped at €12,000.
Sinn Fein Cllr Toireasa Ferris proposed that, in light of the current state of the country’s finances, a figure of €2,000 would be more appropriate.
“We’re no longer in the days no recompense to councillors who already get an allowance and other expenses. We need to lead by example. If we approve the full allowance of €12,000 it will leave a very sour taste in the mouths of many people,” she said.
Labour Cllr Terry O’Brien disagreed with Cllr Ferris and said the position is very tough and demanding.
“It’s a position that requires great commitment and is not taken lightly. When I was Mayor of Tralee I found it more demanding than when I was Mayor of Kerry,” said Cllr O’Brien who also said that the allowance is also taxed.
Cllr Pat McCarthy (Fine Gael) said that while Cllr Ferris’ proposal was laudable, the job requires that the person gives a lot of their time to the position, to the detriment of his or her’s business and the person should be compensated for that.
There was a vote to approve a figure of €12,000 where Sinn Fein Cllrs Toireasa Ferris and Pa Daly, along with Sam Locke (Ind) voted against while the rest of the councillors approved it.
Mayor of the new Tralee Municipal District of Kerry Couny Council, Jim Finucane.
FINE Gael councillor Jim Finucane said he was honoured to be the first Mayor of the Tralee Municipal District of Kerry County Council.
Cllr Finucane was elected Mayor at the first meeting of the District on Friday morning.
He was proposed for the position by Cllr Terry O’Brien (Lab) and seconded by Cllr Pat McCarthy (FG).
“It’s a great honour to be Mayor at a crucial time for the town. We need to harness what we have and to drive forward a growth agenda from the point of view of business and job creation. I hope to focus my 12 months on that particular agenda. Tralee is a great town and we need to believe in it and work for it,” Mayor Finucane told TraleeToday.ie after the meeting.
Mayor Finucane earlier addressed the meeting and outlined his objectives for the coming year.
These included the finalisation of the ITT’s purchase of the Technology Park and getting Technological Status for the ITT; to bring the Regional Rose of Tralee finals back to Tralee and the development of a permanent home for the Festival; the development of the Denny Factory site; resolving parking issues and enhancing the attractiveness of the town centre and focussing on job creation by meeting with the IDA, hosting the American Ireland Chamber of Commerce in the town and bringing the Shannon LNG matter to the Taoiseach.
Cllr Terry O’Brien is the Deputy Mayor after being proposed by Cllr Graham Spring (Lab) and seconded by Cllr Pat McCarthy.
