Following the publication of Action Plan for jobs to address the employment crisis by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Jobs Minister Richard Bruton, Deputy Noel Coonan is calling on North Tipperary County Council to step up to the mark and reduce development charges for small businesses.

Noel Coonan TD believes job creation in the country must be kick started and this requires Government and Local Authorities to work to achieve this aim. County and Town councils must play their part in removing barriers to creating employment. Noel said: “One of the biggest deterrents for businesses are development charges. These charges can cripple small businesses who are trying to establish themselves, expand or change the use of premises.

“Businesses are charged exorbitant rates by local authorities for parking spaces yet the Council is already charging for parking in towns and receiving a substantial income from this charge. There is a real need for local authorities to reduce this charge considerably; this will keep town centres vibrant and encourage footfall in town centres.

“Land prices are falling and local authorities are paying less to provide car parking facilities in Town centres and this should be reflected in reduced charges for small businesses who are struggling to compete with multinationals. Construction costs have also dropped and we have an opportunity here to encourage rather than inhibit development.

Noel contacted the Minister for Local Government Phil Hogan on this issue who said: “My Department is preparing updated guidance for local authorities on the issue of development contributions which will require local authorities, inter alia, to consider the impact of development contributions on businesses and competitiveness generally in the development of their schemes.

“Authorities whose Development Contribution Schemes have come up for renewal since the announcement of the Government’s Jobs Initiative have been advised to consider providing reductions/exemptions in development contribution rates where such reductions/exemptions would help progress the Jobs Initiative.”

The Action Plan illustrates the determination of this Government to tackle the jobs issue and assist

Noel Coonan TD has welcomed the news that the average waiting time for the Garda Vetting procedure has fallen from ten to five weeks. Justice Minister Alan Shatter has confirmed the reduction which was made possible by the appointment of 20 temporary staff to the Garda Vetting Unit.

“This is welcome news for people who are currently undergoing vetting. It can be a lengthy and delaying process for people who have applied for jobs and in some cases people have been unable to take up a position due to the delay. I have been raising this issue with Justice Minister Alan Shatter requesting the vetting time is shortened,” said Noel.

“In September of this year, Minister Shatter said in the chamber of Leinster House that he fully appreciated the importance of processing vetting applications within a reasonable time frame and he was determined to address this aspect of the process. The average processing time for applications at that time was approximately 10 weeks but it has now been lessened to five weeks. This is a significant improvement on the average processing time of 12 weeks at the end of last year.”

Garda Vetting is carried out by the Garda Central Vetting Unit which is based in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. The Unit processes requests from organisations that have been registered with it to vet prospective employees including people working with children or vulnerable people.

Deputy Noel Coonan has welcomed the news that grant assistance of €1.29 million has been approved for proposals to carry out extensive water mains rehabilitation works in the Thurles area under the Water Conservation Stage 3 contract.

The local Fine Gael TD welcomed the investment in the Thurles area saying “it is part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure in the area.” Deputy Coonan said the scheme can go to tender with the works advancing to construction as soon as possible.

Noel Coonan said North Tipperary County Council proposes to replace approximately 4km of existing cast iron watermains in Thurles town relating to watermains which have been chosen for replacement as they are old cast iron pipes laid between the 1900’s to 1940’s. 

These watermains have been the cause of substantial leakage and burst pipes in the area. Replacing these sections of poor quality trunk main will minimise the disruption to consumers that occurs, due to a high burst frequency on the existing trunk main.

Fine Gael Environment Minister Phil Hogan made the announcement last Thursday saying that ‘North Tipperary County Council have already made progress with Water Conservation in the County and have already established Stage 1 – Water Management Systems & Stage 2 – Active Leakage Control Operations’.

‘This allocation will allow North Tipperary County Council prepare Contract Documents and under devolved procedures the scheme can go to tender with the works advancing to construction as soon as possible’ the Minister concluded.

Fine Gael Deputy Noel Coonan said Health Minister James Reilly gave a strong commitment to improving matters at the Community Hospital of the Assumption at a private meeting last week. A delegation from the hospital also attended the same meeting which was arranged by Deputy Coonan.

Speaking after the discussion Deputy Coonan said: “The meeting was very positive from all sides. The deputation made a confident contribution and presentation and there is now a degree of hope that the situation will improve from January 2012 onwards.

“Minister Reilly said because of budget over-runs this year in the Hospital expenditure budget, there is nothing that can be done over the bed closures before Christmas. But with a new year comes a new budget, and the Minister has promised to look at this again in January.

“Savings of €1billion have to be made under the coming budget as there is a €70m overrun in hospital expenditure. Community Services are subsequently paying the price. However, the Minister is looking for greater flexibility with regard to the recruitment moratorium. He is reviewing how hospitals are run including work practices and he will also be looking at the skill mix in hospitals.

Deputy Coonan continued: “The Minister said that he is fully committed to providing adequate community services including nursing homes and community hospitals to keep patients in their own area for as long as possible. Minister Reilly also realises the wonderful work done by community services and staff at the Thurles hospital who provide an important backup service.

“The Minister said he wants to recify the situation and restore full service at community level. However, nothing can be done this year as the HSE must operate within budget but come January he hopes to be in a position to restore services to the Community Hospital,” concluded the local Fine Gael TD.