Over the last year I’ve had the opportunity to change Irish Government policy and to review other aspects of policy. As a result I’ve changed my mind on the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 and I believe that Ireland should not issue new oil exploration licences in our territorial waters. My view has …
Cash grants for schools, playgrounds and community wellbeing
I’m encouraging local community groups to work with both Roscommon & Galway County Council’s on proposals for grants that support projects in rural areas. CLÁR programme has just been launched and it provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have suffered significant levels of population decline. The kind of projects being funded under the 2019 CLÁR programme …
Check your broadband colour code!
Check your broadband colour code! Through the National Broadband Plan (NBP), the Government is committed to ensuring that every household and business in Ireland has access to high quality, high speed broadband of at least 30Mbps. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State Intervention in those areas where the …
Roscommon walks – Let’s get walking……..
Get out & get active by trying one of our local walks. see them here: Roscommon Walks 16.01.19 final copy
Alternative expansion location for Dublin employers
With 2,500 jobs announced in Dublin this week, which will put pressure on housing & office accommodation, other employers looking to expand should look to Irelands Heartlands, which is becoming a more attractive place to live & work. And where employment costs are cheaper. This is something that I’m now taking up directly with the IDA. Dublin employers can cut …
Community Energy Grants for Sports Clubs
As Minister for Energy, I worked closely with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to help focus energy supports for sporting clubs. These supports can complement other investment by Government and local communities. Click on the link to find out more EnergySupportsClubsFinal SEAI Community Grants: https://www.seai.ie/grants/community-grants/
What are the jobs of the future?
As Leaving Certificate students return to school many of them are beginning to ask this question. The fact is that both Brexit and technology will have a direct impact on the future career paths for many of this years Leaving Certificate students. Recent studies have shown that half of Leaving Certificate students feel unprepared for the CAO form and that …
Plastic ban
I’m very pleased to see that my initiative on banning single use plastics has been progressed by Government today. Plastic is destroying our waters, our oceans, our climate and ultimately our health. This ban by Government is a significant step forward in banning single use plastics, outright. Government is now banning single use plastics in all public buildings, including schools. …
Reimagining St. Brigid’s report
The report on potential uses for the future of the St. Brigid’s campus in Ballinasloe highlights a very clear consensus around the vision for St. Brigid’s . The report follows Minister Denis Naughten’s discussion-based workshop as part of his project ‘Reimagining St. Brigid’s’ and highlights that those who attended – State agencies as well as businesses and community representatives …
Politics rather than solving plastic problems were a bigger priority for Environment Committee
I was disappointed this week that some members of the Environment Committee decided to put politics and the next general election before a genuine attempt to deal with the problem of plastics in our environment. I have been working with the members of the Committee to try to progress the Waste Reduction Bill to the next stage of the legislative …