Archive for the ‘Nenagh’ Category

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13 North Tipperary Schools to Benefit under Summer Works Scheme

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

Deputy Noel Coonan has welcomes the good news that 13 North Tipperary schools will have works carried out under the Summer Works Scheme 2011. The local Fine Gael TD said the funding will provide for long-awaited extensive roof, toilet and window repairs.

“Thirteen North Tipperary schools have been successful in their applications and will see major improvements this Summer and I’m pleased to see my representations in this regard have helped many of these the projects come to fruition. This is an increase on the number of successful applications in 2010. Schools such as Scoil Mhuire, Thurles, St.Sheelan’s Templemore and St. Joseph’s CBS, Nenagh will now be able to carry out essential improvement and maintenance works over the Summer period.

“Not only will this funding give great relief to staff and students at the 13 schools; it will also create much-needed employment in the same breath. However, I will be making further representations on behalf of those schools that were not successful and also those who have contacted me regarding their application under the Emergency Works Scheme because there are still schools throughout the constituency in need of repair works and they too must be prioritised,” concluded Deputy Coonan.

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Posted in Nenagh, North Tipperary, Roscrea, Templemore, Thurles | No Comments »

Good News for Borrisokane Day Care Centre – Deputy Coonan receives assurances that construction will commence in September

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Deputy Noel Coonan has warmly welcomed the good news that construction is to start this September on Borrisokane’s Day Care Centre. The local Fine Gael TD has been relentlessly pressing the Minister for Health for this project to commence as a matter of priority and is “thankful that the persistence has finally paid off”.

“Mr. Brian Gilroy, Director of Estates in the HSE informed me that the project will go to tender by end of July 2011 with construction to start in approximately September 2011 and an anticipated completion date before end of June 2012,” said Deputy Coonan.

“The procurement process for the design team has been completed and contract documents have been issued to the design team for formal appointment. The first project meeting with the design team took place at the end of January and the expectation is that a planning permission application will be lodged before the end of March 2011. Following that, the project will go to tender by end of July 2011,” continued the local Fine Gael TD.

“I wish to again acknowledge the vital role played by the Borrisokane action committee in continuously pushing for the progression of this important facility and for displaying patience during the many dark days after the false dawn. As the only local Opposition TD, I was happy to work with the committee to keep the project alive.”
Deputy Coonan concluded by saying: “This day care centre will thankfully take pressure off the Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles and the Dean Maxwell Home, Roscrea where there is a large demand for residency.”

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Posted in Nenagh, North Tipperary, Roscrea, Templemore, Thurles | No Comments »

Deputy Coonan Receives Assurances Regarding Templemore’s River Mall Drainage Scheme

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Deputy Noel Coonan has received fresh assurances from the Office of Public Works (OPW) that funding for the Templemore’s River Mall Drainage Scheme has been provided in their financial plan with work to commence during the latter part of the year. Currently, documents for the main site investigation contract are at a final review stage.

The local TD said: “Before the Dáil resolved, I raised this issue with Minister Martin Mansergh who confirmed to me in the Dáil chamber that funding has been provided in the OPW 2011 budget for the Templemore scheme to commence this year. However, the Minister has now confirmed this in writing to me.”

“Over the years the area around the Mall River has flooded extensively with many properties badly affected and I’ve been lobbying hard for preventative measures. This scheme will protect the area minimizing flood risk into the future and all the local people and I are understandably eager for the scheme to be implemented as a matter of priority,” said Deputy Coonan.

Minister Mansergh has informed me that documents for the main site investigation are at a final review stage with the OPW engineering design section. The main Site Investigation contract tender process will commence once this review is complete. It is hoped to have the Site Investigations completed during the second quarter of 2011, after which a Detailed Design for the scheme will be drawn up. Once the final decision regarding the choice of route for the main culvert has been made, the aim is to commence work on the Flood Relief Scheme during the latter part of the year.

The Templemore proposal involves the building of embankments and walls, regrading and widening parts of the channel, construction of road ramps, and the construction of a bypass culvert through the town.

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Posted in Nenagh, North Tipperary, Roscrea, Templemore, Thurles | No Comments »

NRA Acknowledges Problems with the Roscrea and Moneygall junctions on the M7

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Deputy Noel Coonan has received correspondence from the National Roads Authority (NRA) where the semi-state body has acknowledged there are problems with the Roscrea and Moneygall junctions on the M7. Following numerous representations made by the local Fine Gael TD, the CEO of the NRA has told Deputy Coonan that there is a disagreement as to whether the Northbound access ramp at Roscrea meets standards but he is working in tandem with the local authority to correct the ramp.

“There have been a number of accidents on the new M7 motorway in particular at the junctions in Moneygall, signposted as turn off for Moneygall & Toomevara, and also at the Derrymore Junction which is the turn off for Roscrea & Templemore. I urgently contacted Mr Fred Barry, CEO of the NRA, asking if he was aware of these safety issues and what emergency action was being carried out before a serious accident occured. There is also an issue with road alignment and signage where the N62 accesses the M7 at Derrymore,” said Deputy Coonan.

“In response, Mr Barry told me there are a number of completion items which are now being carried out by the contractor and these are to be finished shortly. These mainly relate to lining, bollards and other safety measures and this process is leading to the closure of one lane at this time.

“Mr Barry also told me that there is additionally a problem with the Northbound access ramp at Roscrea where there is disagreement as to whether or not it meets standard. The NRA has agreed with the local authority that it should be corrected in any event and I greatly welcome this move,” continued the Tipperary North/South Offaly TD.

“Both junctions lack the adequate lengthy slip lane motorists have come to expect from every other junction on the M7. Suddenly, as is the case with the Roscrea/Templemore exit when travelling from Moneygall, the bonnet of your vehicle is up in the air and you are sitting on the N62. This is due to a tighter curvature which is misleading for motorists who think that they can approach at same speed as other junctions.

The design of these junctions is not in keeping with other junctions and is of a lesser standard. The safety of motorists at junctions on the new M7 Nenagh/Castletown motorway is my primary concern. I will continue to lobby the NRA and local authorities to ensure safety issues are resolved without delay before there is a fatal accident,” concluded Deputy Coonan.

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Posted in Nenagh, North Tipperary, Roscrea, Templemore, Thurles | No Comments »

Seven Month Waiting Time for Redundancy Payment is ‘Shameful’

Monday, January 31st, 2011

Deputy Noel Coonan said this Government is ‘punishing’ people who have lost their jobs by making them wait more than half a year for their redundancy payment. Redundancy claims dating from June 2010 are currently being processed and the local Opposition TD said it is shameful that this Government has consistently failed to tackle the excessive backlog.

The Fine Gael TD is calling on the Government to redeploy staff to the redundancy section to reduce the burden; for example the plethora of inspectors based in the Department of Agriculture would be better placed speeding up the time it takes to issue redundancy payments.

Speaking on Friday, Deputy Coonan said: “At the end of 2010, there was a shocking 25,167 claims waiting to be processed nationally. Claims dating from June 2010 are currently being processed and this backlog is hugely unacceptable at a time when people who have lost their jobs are struggling to get by on a weekly basis. People are suffering unduly because this inefficient Government, and those who support it in North Tipperary, continue to run our country into the ground.

“I’m aware that in some instances the processing of claims can be delayed until necessary supporting documentation is provided but these extensive waiting times have been an ongoing problem over the last year, if not longer, and this defunct Government has yet to resolve the issue despite promises to do so,” continued the North Tipperary/ South Offaly Fine Gael TD.

“This backlog is also unacceptable bearing in mind the Universal Social Charge which was introduced in last month’s Budget. This flat-rate tax replaces the old health and income levies and is designed to bring more lower-income earners into the tax net. Most taxpayers pay 2pc USC on the first €10,036 of income, 4pc on the next €5,980 and 7pc on everything over that. This new universal charge is hitting people on the minimum wage, even if they’re outside the tax net.”

The information was released to Deputy Coonan following a parliamentary question posed to the Minister for Social Protection Eamon O’Cúiv TD.

In 2011, the Department of Social Protection is to undertake a review of the current redundancy claims processing procedures as part of the development of a new computer system which will be integrated into the Department’s service delivery modernisation programme. Deputy Coonan said this is a welcome move and if necessary staff must also be re-allocated to lessen waiting times.

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Posted in Nenagh, North Tipperary, Roscrea, Templemore, Thurles | 1 Comment »

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