Local Senator James Carroll has welcomed the news from John Curran T.D., the Minister of State for Community Affairs and Drugs Strategy who announced funding of €1.85million for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for 2009. This represents an increase of €500,000 on the Department’s allocation of €1.35million to the Society this year.
Senator Carroll added “This funding is granted in respect of activities for the alleviation of poverty undertaken by the Society during 2009 and is channelled to provide support and assistance to those most in need.”
“In particular, the Society provided – and continues to provide – support to those individuals and especially older people who required urgent and immediate assistance as a result of the recent flooding throughout the country. This funding is disbursed by the Society so that a geographic spread of supports is achieved and beneficiaries are representative of all sectors of the community.”
Announcing the funding, Minister Curran said “The Government is keenly aware of the affects of any economic downturn on the poorest in our community and is appreciative of the good work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, particularly at this time of year.”
Senator Carroll said that this “demonstrates the Government’s on-going commitment to targeting resources to areas of greatest need and reflects on the recent work of the Society during the flooding.”
He concluded by adding: “We must continue to support those in our communities who are less well off and work with them, on this occasion, through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, to bring some hope and support to those most in need. The Louth and Meath St Vincent de Paul groups do phenomenal work locally and I wish them continued success in their great work.”
ENDS
Can I take this opportunity to wish all the people of Louth and east Meath and farther afield a very Happy Christmas and I hope that you have a relaxing and peaceful time and you get a chance to meet up with family and friends.
Senator James Carroll has welcomed the news that Louth animal welfare groups are to receive €48,000 of funding for 2010 announced by the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith.
“The funding is to go to the groups involved in the direct delivery of animal care and welfare services to assist with their work during 2010,” Senator Carroll said.
“In the current economic climate, to provide funding to these largely voluntary bodies towards their work in the provision of animal welfare services is great news locally here in Louth.”
These organisations often do very tough work especially when dealing with difficult animal welfare cases”.
“When I studied law at college, I realise the need to revise legislation in this area and I am pleased to announce that the Minister confirmed to me that new animal health and welfare legislation will be introduced to update existing laws to ensure that the welfare of all animals, including non-farm animals, is properly protected and penalties for offenders are increased significantly.”
Most staff work throughout county Louth for welfare organisations on a purely voluntary basis.
“Coming up to Christmas, there is an onus on parents to research and realise the big responsibility required when taking ownership of animals. This can often be forgotten at Christmas when animals are given as presents without due consideration to the level of commitment required in owning an animal,” Senator Carroll concluded.
The groups to receive funding in County Louth are:
- Collon Animal Sanctuary €9,000
- Drogheda Animal Rescue €18,000
- Dundalk Dog Rescue, Castlebellingham €3,000
- Louth SPCA €18,000
ENDS
Senator James Carroll has welcomed that €20 million is coming for an energy efficiency retrofitting programme for social housing in 2010.
Carroll added “there is approximately 145,000 social housing units in Ireland today. However, there is a serious variance of energy efficiency within the current stock of housing. We must deliver very significant energy efficiency improvements in this area. Over the past 12 years in Government, Fianna Fáil has been to the forefront of delivering remedial works and regeneration programmes.”
“I am delighted to hear Minister for Housing Michael Finneran TD announced in the new Carbon Budget will have €20 million within the 2009 Social Housing Investment Programme to commence work on an energy efficiency retrofitting programme for the local authority housing stock seeking to achieve C1 Building Energy Rating,” Senator Carroll said.
“Retrofitting and energy efficiency activity is the future for the construction industry in the short and medium term. The Department of Environment is developing a ten-year strategy with the objective of achieving the full retrofitting of the entire social housing stock.”
“This strategy is to be completed in the first half of next year and will provide a road map for the delivery of the programme over the next decade.”
“This coupled with last week’s announcement in the Budget of €130 million for 2010 to retrofit homes around the country is sending out a strong message that this Government is serious about tackling energy poverty and making this country more energy efficient. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan will launch in 2010 a national retrofit programme with a budget of €90 million of which €36 million will be ring-fenced for retrofitting households in energy poverty. This represents more than double what was allocated for the same measures in 2009 and a seven-fold increase on 2008 allocations”, Senator Carroll concluded.
ENDS
New south Louth Senator James Carroll has welcomed €111,702 worth of funding for the Drogheda Volunteer Bureau.
Senator Carroll said “This funding stream was announced by Minister of State John Curran TD as part of a package of €3.4 million in 2010 to promote volunteering. The majority of the funding is to support a network of 22 Volunteer Centres across the country. The role of these centres is to match members of the public interested in volunteering with local community organisations seeking volunteers”.
“In 2009, we seen that the number of volunteers registering at the nationwide network of different Volunteer Centres increased by over 100%”.
“This emphatically underlines the key role being played by Volunteer Centres nationwide. In these challenging times it is important that dynamic individuals are given the opportunity to make a difference within their communities. The giving of time for others strengthens the fabric of our societies and defines the communities in which we live”.
The 2010 budget for volunteering will be just 4.5% lower than in 2009, reflecting the Government’s continuing priority to support ‘active citizenship’, something which I believe passionately in. Funding is also provided under this measure to organisations such as Board Match and Young Social Innovators, which encourage volunteering amongst professionals and students.
“Drogheda Volunteer Bureau is a strong, vibrant body and I look forward to working with them in 2010 in my new role”, Senator Carroll concluded.
ENDS
Fianna Fáil Senator James Carroll, has confirmed the allocation of almost €7,000 funding for two local projects tackling social and economic disadvantage in the Drogheda RAPID area.
The funding, sanctioned by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from the Dormant Accounts Fund, will go towards those who are economically or socially disadvantaged, educationally disadvantaged and persons with a disability.
Welcoming the funding, Senator Carroll said, “I am delighted that St. Ita’s Special School will receive €4,079 for the purchase of sensory equipment for the school and Louth Leader Partnership will receive €2,688 for supports to children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.”
“It is important that these local projects are supported despite budgetary constraints. I am delighted that local children have been prioritised,” concluded Senator Carroll.
ENDS
Louth Fianna Fáil Senator, James Carroll has welcomed the distribution of a Road Safety DVD to local schools.
“This DVD targets young drivers with advice from a professional world rally driver Shaun Gallagher.”
“This is very fitting as car crashes are the number one killer of young men in Ireland, particularly men under the age of 25.”
“In the DVD Shaun Gallagher shows the differences between a road and rally cars, including the tyres, breaking distance, the difference in suspension and how that affects road handling and the safety features on rally cars.”
“The point is to show young men in particular that regular cars are not designed for the speeds that they often drive.”
“I am hopeful that this DVD and the advice from such a high profile rally driver will cause young men to think twice about their speed and drive more safely. The DVD will be distributed in primary and secondary schools and is available at Gulf petrol stations across Ireland. Those interested in obtaining a copy can log onto www.gulfoil.ie for further details,” concluded Senator Carroll.
ENDS
“Leas-Chathoirleach,
I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh to the House as this is my first time here when he has been present. I look forward to his reply.
Yesterday’s budget was tough, but necessary. It would certainly not be fair to weigh down the generation in my age group in their 20s or the next generation with excess debt. By the end of this year, the national debt will be approximately €76 billion, double the level at end of 2007. Delaying action accelerates the increase in the national debt and, consequently, the cost of funding will rise substantially. Every extra €1 billion in interest on the national debt would be the equivalent of the annual salaries of 21,500 new teachers or a 6% reduction in general social welfare rates, none of which we want to see. Postponing action would result in additional cuts of this nature in the years ahead, leaving future generations with the bill. This is what was done previously and it can never be allowed happen again.
There were positive elements in yesterday’s budget. The car scrappage scheme is a win-win situation from an environmental and an economic perspective. At least €1 billion has been lost in tax revenue following the collapse of the new car market which resulted in the loss of up to 10,000 jobs. At least that number of jobs again is under serious threat in the sector. A scrappage scheme will have the dual purpose of increasing the number of more environmentally-friendly cars on the road and help to stimulate the industry protecting jobs, and bringing much needed taxes into the Government coffers. The scheme will run from 1 January until 31 December next year. Those participating will be able to avail of VRT relief of up to €1,500 per new car purchased when trading in cars ten years old or older. The Government will also focus on environmentally-friendly cars and the development of new technology in this field. The Government needed to provide a strong stimulus package in conjunction with the necessary cuts introduced yesterday, and we need to provide every encouragement possible to get people spending again. A car scrappage scheme has the potential to go a long way in this regard. It has worked in both Germany and the UK and I am confident that it can work here also.
The provision of €130 million for energy efficiency measures, including a national retrofit programme in the 2010 budge will help create and maintain jobs in County Louth and east Meath, which I represent. Some €130 million is being provided in next year’s budget for energy efficiency programmes, including a new national retrofit programme, which I mentioned earlier in my speech on climate change. This is the future, at least in the short term, for the construction industry.
Boosting energy efficiency is good for the environment and for the economy and it has significant benefits at both local and national levels. It is a practical and forward-looking move because it will help create and maintain jobs, and also lower energy bills in the future. It is hoped up to 5,000 jobs will be created across the country next year alone in this sector. This significant fund will help build on the good work done already. I have personal experience of the warmer homes scheme and the home energy savings scheme which have been an overwhelming success.
Obviously, no
The provision of €130 million for energy efficiency measures, including a National Retrofit Programme, in the 2010 Budget will help create and maintain jobs in County Louth, according to local Fianna Fáil Senator James Carroll.
“Some €130 million is being provided in next year’s Budget for energy efficiency measures, including a new National Retrofit Programme.”
“Boosting energy efficiency is good for the environment and for the economy and it has huge employment potential.”
“I believe that this is a very practical and forward looking move I believe because it will help create and maintain jobs in Louth and east Meath, while also contributing to lower energy bills in the future.”
“It is thought that it has the potential to create up to 5,000 jobs across the country next year alone.”
“This significant fund will help build on the good work already done around the country under existing schemes delivered through Sustainable Energy Ireland,” concluded Senator Carroll.
ENDS
Louth Senator James Carroll has welcomed the news that the Department of Education want to fast-track a new primary school on the Ballymakenny Road for the big numbers of children of schoolgoing age who might not have a school place in September 2010.
“An 11-acre site on the Ballymakenny Road which was bought by the Borough Council a number of years ago has been signalled as the potential site.”
“The Department will start negotiations with Drogheda Borough Council in the coming weeks and months about identifying and securing a specific site,” James Carroll added.
Drogheda is one of 40 sites around the country which has been identified through a study as needing significant additional school provision over the coming years.
“The north side of Drogheda needs a new primary school and I will be in contact directly with the Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe in the coming days in relation to advancing this”, Senator Carroll concluded.
ENDS
Contact Senator James Carroll, Seanad Eireann, Leinster House, Dublin 2
Tel: 01-6184374
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