Blog

The Government is considering introducing a minimum price for each unit of alcohol.  This will mean that the price of alcohol will increase in line with the level of alcohol in a drink and retailers that are involved in the below cost selling of alcohol will no longer be able to use alcoholic drinks as a lost leader.
 
This proposal has the support of many organisations, including the Vintners Federation of Ireland who have cited the closure of many pubs and the lost of thousands of jobs in the industry as cheap drink is easily available.
 
Will this proposal reduce the consumption of alcohol, cut down on the number of people availing of the health service for drink related injuries, tackle violence brought on by excessive drinking or address the amount of late night anti- social behaviour and crime?

Bray Town Council recently adopted a new policy to promote Bray as a destination for foreign students to come and learn English. 



Presently over €2,000,000 is spent every year in the local economy by students who visit Bray and Bray’s host families provide over 40,000 bed nights per annum for visiting students.



Bray has become synonymous with foreign students coming here to improve their language skills, especially during the summer months but it is a year round activity for Bray’s language schools.



This is something that Bray can build on, encourage more language schools to locate in the town, attract students to spend their school terms here learning English and develop our reputation as Ireland’s premier

destination to learn English.



How do you feel that Bray can develop in this area?

The Labour Party and its Minister Ruairí Quinn must come clean about the burden he is putting on students. 
 
Over the past two years Ruairí Quinn targeted student votes with a pledge to reverse student charges.  Four days before polling he signed a formal pledge to this effect at a specially convened press event.  Less than three months later he has abandoned it and speculation grows that he is set to actually introduce new fees.
 
Ruairí Quinn said that that fee levels would have to be looked at and that fees for 2011 would be raised to €2,000.
 
Have your say here!

Next month Bray will mark the 100th birthday of former Irish President, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, who was born at 85 Main Street.

Bray has an association with many other historical figures.  How do you feel the town's connection with these should be highlighted?

Bray Town Council is set to adopt its annual budget in January 2011.  The Council's annual budget last year was just over €17,000,000.

Full details of the 2010 budget can be obtained here.

With ever tightening economic conditions and greater demands for public services, what changes, increases, reductions or otherwise would you like to propose having regard to both the positive and negative impact of your decision.

Progress on the Dargle Flood Protection scheme has been moving along nicely since it was approved by An Bord Pleanala in August 2008. The extent of the scheme is approximately 3 km along the river,  from the N11 to Bray Harbour.  The works proposed include the widening and deepening of the river channels, the construction of walls and embankments and the construction of a culvert at Bray bridge.

Expressions of interest have been sought from suitably qualified contractors, the submissions will be short listed and the short listed companies will be invited to submit tenders in the coming months. Subject to funding, it is envisaged that works will commence in or before May 2011.

Once construction of the scheme commences, a Project Liaison Officer will be appointed to keep the public informed of developments and to liaise with residents who may be affected by any elements of the construction works.

Full details of the plans can be obtained by clicking here.

Wicklow County Council’s public consultation period on the proposal by the National Roads Authority to put traffic lights up at the Killarney Road/Southern Cross Road Interchange is coming to an end.  Closing date for submissions is Friday, 13th August 2010.  Full details of what is being proposed is available here or at http://www.wicklow.ie/apps/wicklowbeta/News/Part8_M11.aspx
 
In summary, the roundabout at the garage will be replaced by a set of traffic lights.  This will undoubtedly cause major problems at peak times, especially in the morning when the schools are back.  It will also increase traffic on the Herbert Road making Herbert Road/Kilbride Lane/Killarney Lane a ‘rat run.’
 
Please let me have your comments below and I will submit them to the Council before the deadline.

Welcome to my Blog!

I will be updating this page regularly with information and news about my activities, issues that are happening in Bray and some other major news events.

I have just published my Spring 2010 Newsletter, which you can access here. In this you will find news about local matters that I have been pursuing.

Your views are important, so if there are topics that you will like to see covered in future blogs, newsletters or on my new interactive website, just click here to send me an email.