Thank You

I would like to thank the people of the Swords Ward who voted for me in the recent local elections, I received over 500 first preference votes. Considering the anti Green voting patern and low turn out that figure is quite high, so again thank you all very much for putting your trust in me, and remember keep the faith.

-The World Is What You Make It

27/05/09

Great song, great lyrics, the world really is what you make it, in your private life or in the outside world, the words still apply. I have posted a link to a short video which I believe expresses the words and meaning of the song, I hope you enjoy.

http://europeangreens.ning.com/video/video/show?id=2886857%3AVideo%3A1724

-The Ballymun Style of Development

24/05/09

The Ballymun style of development is alive and well and living in the  Swords Ward. Sprawling estates with little or no amenities and severely under-serviced have been allowed to spring up on the fringes of most towns throughout Fingal. Did we learn nothing from the Ballymun experience, were the developers levies worth the long term price that will eventually have to be paid. These developments were going ahead while in Ballymun a fortune was being spent demolishing and rebuilding an earlier major development mistake. We have allowed the same mistake to happen again, we have learnt nothing, this time I believe the development mistakes are on a much grander scale, the long term effects have yet to be realised.

-Helping in Your Community

There are many ways of contributing to your community by the volunteering of your time.

The most satisfying way for me to contribute to my community is through the Swords Tidy Towns, its not just the pleasure of working in the open air its also the great people I have met during my involvement.

Over the last few years Swords Tidy Towns has teamed up with other organisations for river clean ups and estuary clean ups, as you can see there is plenty of variety. Since Swords was deignated a litter black spot five years ago trojan work has been put in by the Tidy Towns members. It is through their hard work  that Swords is now clean to european norms, a great achievement in anyones book. Volunteers are needed in many different organisations, I just wanted to give you a flavour of my experience in the hope it will spur you into action to play your part in your community.

-30 Million EU FUND

Thurs 14/05/09

I would encourage Irish businesses to apply for an EU fund worth €30 million, aimed at helping small businesses involved in green technologies and services to bring their products to the market. The €30 million fund is part of the Eco-innovation initiative, to support organisations that have developed an environmental product, service, management practice or process which has a proven track record, yet is not fully marketed due to residual risks. I am particularly delighted that priority will be given to Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) as they have had to endure a lot in this current climate. Innovative and environmental friendly projects such as recycling, sustainable building and waste reduction would be among the most appropriate Green businesses to benefit. The Swords Ward area of north Dublin badly needs this sort of funding and indeed jobs, in these difficult times.’The Eco-innovation initiative is intended to overcome those barriers to further market penetration and turn these products and processes into Europe’s future eco-innovation successes. Small and medium enterprises who wish to make an application for Eco-innovation funds should go to the relevant part of the European Commission website: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/call_en.htm

- Swords and Ken Duffy on RTE’s Capital D

Recently, RTE’s Capital D program featured Swords. And who did they turn to for local knowledge?

Watch the clip here

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Duffy encourages residents to sign up for insulation grants

26 March 2009

Home energy saving scheme now open for business

Ken Duffy, the Green Party Candidate for the Swords Ward, has called on local residents to sign up for the Government’s insulation scheme which has just begun processing applications. Installing better insulation and heating systems can save homeowners up to €700 annually on their electricity bills.

Mr Duffy said, “There has been an unprecedented level of interest in insulation grants, and the scheme has the potential to create thousands of jobs and halve electricity bills. Already nearly 100,000 people have registered their interest in the scheme with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), the agency that will administer the grants. I am encouraging both local homeowners and local builders who may be short of work at the moment to get involved.”

He continued, “Insulation is the single best way of saving money on energy. The home energy saving scheme will see homeowners save up to €700 annually on their electricity bills. This, coupled with recent reductions in electricity prices is great news for consumers in these difficult times. We also need more qualified contractors to come on board in order to carry out all of the additional work. I would urge contractors in the Swords Ward to register with SEI and secure a major business boost for them in the process. The level of public interest is such that contractors can be assured of work for themselves and maybe even expand their businesses.”

“It’s good news for our pockets, for the economy and for the environment,” Mr Duffy concluded.

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More information on the scheme can be found at: http://www.sei.ie/Grants/Home_Energy_Saving_Scheme/, or telephone 1890 927 000.

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Ken Duffy calls for a united Swords with improved amenities

10 June 2009

 

Ken Duffy, local representative within the larger Swords Ward Electoral Area, spoke recently at the launch of the Fingal Green Party candidates at the Carnegie Court Hotel.

Ken Duffy speaking at the launch of the Fingal Green candidates

He said, ” We have been witness to massive growth and change in Swords over the last decade – most of it good, some of it bad. The biggest change I have noticed is how fragmented the town of Swords has become, with disjointed estates scattered around the fringes, having no sense of heart. The town of Swords has a rich built and natural history, most of which unfortunately has been swallowed up or forgotten in the stampede of the Celtic Tiger.”

He continued, “Swords is the Fingal capital, soon to become a city with a population of over 100,000, and yet I have never felt it has been given that prominence. It is very important that people feel a sense of belonging; a connection with their town and its community. Achieving this interaction is vital to its success. The provision of a Public Swimming Pool, a Cultural Centre, a Community and Sports Centre are just some of the amenities that Swords needs and are long overdue. Phase 3 of the Pavillion Shopping Centre now has full planning permission, which will create 3,000 jobs during its construction. It is estimated it will employ 4,000 people when fully operational, making it Ireland’s largest shopping centre. The vital ingredient that will eventually determine the success of this project, and other future Fingal developments, is the arrival of the Metro to Swords.”

Seeking these amenities and making sure the Metro project is not derailed, the protection of our built and natural heritage are issues which I hope are high on the councils list over the next five years.

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Duffy welcomes news of falling energy prices

5th June 2009

 

 

Green Party Minster for Energy predicts “double-digit” cut in energy price.

Ken Duffy, a local Swords Ward representative, has welcomed the news by Green Party Energy Minister Eamon Ryan that energy prices are to fall by at least 10% over the coming year.

Speaking in a Dáil debate on the issue, Minister Ryan said he has asked the Commission for Energy Regulation to undertake an immediate review of options to reduce energy prices and said he expected a double-digit decrease in electricity and gas costs to be implemented this year.

Mr. Duffy said: “I’m delighted that energy prices are to come down in what is set to be a very difficult economic year. I know I, like many of my neighbours, have come to dread the electricity or gas bill dropping through the door. In a country where we are 90% dependent on the import of fossil fuels, we have been at the mercy of oil prices that have skyrocketed over the past year.”

He continued, “I’m glad, that these prices will now fall back, in line with the drop in the price of oil. Of course, the only way to maintain low energy costs is to produce our own and I’m hopeful that the investment currently being put into renewable energy, will not only create jobs, but secure reliable and cheap energy sources, right on our own door steps.”

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