Fine Gael TD for Tipperary/South Offaly Noel Coonan has welcomed a good news story to kickstart 2012 with the announcement that four animal welfare organisation in Tipperary have been allocated funding. Deputy Coonan said the organisations are more than deserving of these monies for the charitable and loving work they do in the area of animal care and welfare services.

“I am pleased to see that Roscrea SPCA has been allocated €11,000 and PAWS Animal Rescue has been awarded €18,000 in funding. Alongside this, Tipperary SPCA will receive €10,000, Tipp Friends of Animals SPCA will benefit from €4,000 and €10,000 will be allocated to Cottage Rescue,” said Deputy Coonan.

“This is a good news story for the local groups who carry out very commendable and largely voluntary work in caring for animals. These local allocations are a portion of the €1.235 million that was granted nationwide,” continued Noel.

As part of the allocation of funds, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney is recommending a new code of practice for welfare organisations which aims to promote sound welfare and management practices to assist organisations achieve high standards of animal welfare. The code outlines the Five Freedoms which provide an overall concept of animal welfare and aims to underpin animal welfare best practice at all organisations.

The code will be issued to all recipients of ex-gratia funding and will be available on the Department’s website.

Deputy Coonan also welcomed the news that, as well as announcing details of the new code of practice to be observed by welfare organisations, Minister Coveney said his Department is enhancing the procedures currently in place for reporting of suspected cases of animal cruelty/distress. A dedicated e-mail address is now operating and a help-line will be set up in January for members of the public to report incidents of animal cruelty. The code will be part of the Animal Health and Welfare legislation which will be published early in the New Year.

Fine Gael TD Noel Coonan for Tipperary/South Offaly has welcomed the announcement by the Department of Education of a national school building and refurbishment programme which includes six schools in the constituency.

“Scoil Mhuire Presentation Secondary School in Ballingarry has been included as one of 11 post primary schools that have been approved to go to construction in 2012 for their extension and refurbishment works,” said Noel. “This is very good news for staff, parents and pupils in Ballingarry and I am glad the Government has found the resources to progress this project even in difficult economic times.”

“Also included under the programme of works is a new school at Silvermines NS and refurbishment extension works at Ursuline Convent Thurles, Borrisokane Community College, Nenagh Vocational School and Scoil Ruain, Killenaule. These projects will advance into 2012,” continued Deputy Coonan.

“Meanwhile, SN Cronain Naofa at Dromakeenan was one extension project that was completed this year.

“This announcement will improve facilities for everyone at the schools and I want to compliment all those who campaigned vigorously for the works,” continued Deputy Coonan.

In all, €430m will be spent on educational infrastructure next year, representing the first phase of a €2 billion five-year plan for major school building projects.

Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by around 70,000 over the next six years.

Deputy Noel Coonan has welcomed the news that €20,000 in funding has been allocated to Tipperary Regional Youth Services towards the provision of a Youth Cafe in Templemore. The local Fine Gael TD said he is delighted the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald has responded positively to his strong lobbying for additional amenities in the town.

“We have been looking for a Youth Cafe for Templemore for some time. It is vital that we continue to provide services to the youth of our country and the young people living in Templemore and its environs are very deserving of this provision of funding and all the support we can give them,” said Noel.

This funding is part of the Youth Café Initiative and Deputy Coonan said the café will provide a safe and fun place for young people to meet. “It is exciting news that a modern facility will be provided in Templemore and I look forward to the project coming to fruition,” concluded Deputy Coonan.

Noel Coonan TD has welcomed today’s announcement that €105,415 has been allocated to North Tipperary County Council to assist the authority in meeting the costs associated with the operation of their bring banks and civic amenity facilities.

“It is important to promote recycling now and into the future especially as most landfills have closed or are about to close.

“This money will encourage our local authorities to continue to provide necessary waste management infrastructure. We can see that civic amenity facilities are hugely successful as is the case in Roscrea where a large number of people use the facility at weekends and this funding is an incentive to increase opening hours and facilities throughout the constituency,” said Deputy Coonan.

Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, today (1 December 2011) announced the provision of €5 million in funding to assist local authorities in meeting the costs associated with the operation of their bring banks and civic amenity facilities for the period January to June 2011.

The funding is provided from the Environment Fund, through which the proceeds of the plastic bag and landfill levies are utilised to provide assistance and support in respect of a range of waste management, litter and other environmental initiatives.

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