Ireland has the potential to produce enough renewable electricity to power 64.4m homes across the EU if the Government developed the offshore energy sector in a strategic manner, Denis Naughten told the Dáil today. “The present approach of Government is to develop these opportunities in a piecemeal manner, which is positive for ports such as Ros a Mhíl with a …
Galway-Athlone rail service must get new carriages – Naughten
Local TD Denis Naughten is calling on the Minister for Transport to ensure new rail carriages are allocated to the Athlone-Galway rail line to enhance services from Athlone, Ballinasloe, Woodlawn, Attymon, Athenry and Oranmore into and out of Galway City. He has called on the Minister to ensure that some of the 41 new rail carriages to be delivered to …
Work starts on channel to get water to Meelick quicker – Naughten
Work will improve flow of Shannon to help address local flooding Local TD Denis Naughten has been informed that work by Waterways Ireland is about to commence on the old channel to improve the flow of the River Shannon to Meelick Weir. “These works, which will involve the cleaning of this channel that had closed up due …
Students need clarity on Leaving Certificate format
In the Dáil earlier tonight I spoke on the need to review the format of this years Leaving Certificate exam. We cannot have a traditional Leaving Certificate because students have gone through two very difficult years during their senior cycle. While I accept that there were problems with last year’s format it is not beyond our imagination to come up …
45,000 empty premises in West & North West enough to meet over a year’s housing need – Naughten
The Dáil heard from Denis Naughten TD this week that 44,905 residential and commercial properties are currently empty in the five Connacht counties and the three border counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan with many of those being vacant family homes close to schools and services, including having 1,000mbps broadband outside the door. Denis Naughten told the Taoiseach that the …
Leaving Certificate Update
Below is a copy of a reply that I received from Minister Foley in the Dáil yesterday and a reply on foot of the Ministers reply, from the State Examinations Commission. In the Dáil yesterday, An Taoiseach stated that discussions were ongoing and that he was as anxious as anybody to bring clarity to the issue for students. …
People with a disability effectively marooned due to lack of mobility supports – Naughten
Denis Naughten TD has said the blanket resignation of the appeals board for primary medical certificates for disabled drivers and passengers effectively means the vast majority of people with a disability are now marooned in their own homes. At the end of last year, the members of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal tendered their resignation to the Minister …
€1.5m plan to create town centre for Monksland – Naughten
Over €1.5m is to be spent on plans to create a town centre focus for Monksland by Roscommon County Council in conjunction with the Department of Rural & Community Development, says local TD Denis Naughten. The project will complete plans for the creation of a town centre focus for Monksland with a new community hub, linear park and increased …
Despite huge opposition families set to be paid to sell electricity back to the grid
Today, after a long & winding journey, the Government approved a micro-generation scheme to pay the public for excess electricity that they produce and export onto the electricity grid. This new scheme will allow families, farmers and businesses to install solar panels and small turbines to meet their own needs and to receive a payment for any excess that …
End of year broadband target missed by another 25,000 homes – Naughten
The National Broadband Plan is set to miss its revised target of 60,000 homes by the end of the year and instead will pass 35,000 homes by 1st January, says Denis Naughten TD. Responding to a Dáil question tabled by Denis Naughten, the Government admitted that just 35,000 homes will be passed by the end of the year and that …