Cost of subsidy jumps by 140% but less renewable electricity generated Denis Naughten has described the fact that electricity bills will jump by €54 a year from Thursday to subsidise renewable electricity as “completely unjustifiable”. He has highlighted that despite the jump in cost there will be 44,000 less homes supplied with green energy. Under a decision taken during …
Business must apply for €4k+ grant
The Restart Grant Plus is set to close to many local businesses soon. The grant provides direct grant aid to businesses with up to 250 employees to help them with the costs associated with reopening and reemploying workers following COVID-19 closures. The minimum grant is €4,000 and the maximum grant is €25,000. Top-ups are available for eligible pubs, bars and nightclubs that …
Post Offices must be the Government’s off-line gateway
While Government policy is to offer Government services online particularly now as a result of Covid 19, there will always be a segment of the population that are not comfortable or proficient accessing online tools or services. Due to its nationwide network and existing strong relationship with offline citizens, the Government took a decision in 2017 to develop the post …
National Competitiveness Council Report supports Regional TDs’ plan to get people out of cities – Naughten
Denis Naughten TD has welcomed the publication of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) Report 2020, which dovetails in its recommendation with those put forward by the Regional Group of Independent TDs in their Pre-Budget Submission. “The core objective behind our Pre-Budget Plan is to get families, workers and students out of our cities, where housing and services are in huge …
Budget proposals to get people out of our cities – Naughten
Budget 2021 should be about getting families, workers and students out of our cities, where housing and services are in huge demand, and instead supporting people to bring life back into remote rural communities, says Denis Naughten TD. As part of the Budget process the Regional Independent TDs have put forward a set of proposals including: The introduction of …
New suckler cow scheme must pay €200 – Naughten
Sheep welfare payment should be doubled Budget 2021 must deliver for suckler farmers by introducing a new Suckler Cow Environmental Scheme paying €200 for the first 20 cows as well as doubling the payment to farmers under the Sheep Welfare Scheme, according to Denis Naughten TD. “The agriculture proposals which as Regional Independent TDs we have put forward in …
Approval given to fast track reform of forestry appeals system – Naughten
Denis Naughten TD has confirmed that the Dáil Business Committee this morning approved the fast tracking of the Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2020 to deal with the horrendous backlog in appeals of forestry applications. “On average 24 forestry appeal applications are submitted each month, with just seven being decided upon. This means it is taking over two years to decide on appeal applications, which is …
Enterprise Committee ignored Tánaiste request to consider Aptar jobs – Naughten
Local TD Denis Naughten has said he is “deeply disappointed” that the Western Region Enterprise Committee failed to specifically consider the pending job losses at Aptar in Ballinasloe, despite a specific request to do so by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. “In June I asked the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD to bring together all the State …
Communities asked to support Greenway through ‘hidden’ East Galway
Local Independent representatives Sean Canney TD, Denis Naughten TD, Cllr Tim Broderick, Cllr Gabe Connolly & Cllr Evelyn Parsons are calling on local communities to make a submission on the new Athlone to Galway greenway, seeking a route from Athlone and Ballinasloe through to Athenry and on to Galway City. The advantage of taking such a route is the substantial …
Tánaiste must chair emergency enterprise meeting following Aptar announcement – Naughten
Local TD Denis Naughten has asked the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar TD, to convene and personally chair an emergency meeting of the Western Region Enterprise Committee following Aptar’s announcement that it will cease operations in the town by the end of the year. Speaking in Ballinasloe this morning Denis Naughten said “It is deeply disappointing that the engagement between Government and …