Deputy Noel Coonan has welcomed the news that €500,000 has been allocated to Clare County Council to allow the Shannon Crossing Project to go to An Bord Pleanála stage. This announcement was made by Fine Gael Transport Minister Leo Varadkar yesterday.

“I am delighted Minister Varadkar has responded positively to intense lobbying that Cllr. Phyll Bugler and I have been making for advancement of this important project. This vital piece of infrastructure will link the West to the South and the Midlands and it will have a very positive impact on development on Ballina and Killaloe,” said Deputy Coonan.

“Our focus now is to advance the scheme and continue to lobby Minister Varadkar to ensure it will remain part of the national development plan and not become a victim of the austerity measures being implemented at present,” concluded the local Fine Gael TD.

Deputy Noel Coonan has welcomed the news that several North Tipperary road safety projects and upgrades are to benefit under the National Road Authority’s programme of works for 2012.

“Despite the strained state of our economy, the Government continues to invest in worthwhile North Tipperary projects and I will continue to lobby for additional investment in our area to improve road safety and upgrade local road projects.

“I am, along with local Cllr. Ger Darcy, particularly delighted that the N52 Congar/Ballylusky realignment project is included on the NRA’s programme of works as we had been putting considerable pressure on the Transport Minister and also the NRA to advance this project.

“North Tipperary bridge rehabilitation projects that are included in the programme of works are Turtulla Bridge, Killough Bridge, River Nore Bridge, Balyeiragh Bridge, Drish River Bridge and the River Suir Bridge.

Local Authorities will be advised by the NRA during the course of this week the exact amount of each individual allocation and I very much welcome this news,” said Deputy Coonan.

“The Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar announced €100 million worth of funding for new road safety and upgrading projects at locations across the country in 2012 and the works are set to support work levels equivalent to around 1,200 jobs,” concluded Noel.

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.

Noel Coonan TD has welcomed the news that the Government will extend for a further six months the contractual arrangements of staff that were to lose their jobs in the Garda Vetting Unit.

“Minister Alan Shatter has informed me that there were ongoing contacts throughout the week between the Department of Justice and the Department of Public Expenditure Reform and as a result the Government will extend employment for a further 6 months and the appropriate contractual arrangements are to be finalised in the coming days,” said Deputy Noel Coonan.

“Last week I spoke to the Minister for Justice of difficulties concerning temporary workers contracts in the Garda Vetting Unit and as a result his officials raised the matter immediately with Minister Howlins officials as the Minister for Justice believed there was a need to retain the temporary workers for a further period.

Speaking in the Dáil last Wednesday, Minister Shatter said he “accepted the case” that Noel had made “in private” with him in relation to employment issues at the Garda Vetting Unit and he had noted the points raised.

“The Minister outlined to me early last week that he was in contact with Brendan Howlin TD, Minister for Public Expenditure in relation to the Vetting Unit staffing issue,” said Deputy Coonan, “and he would revert to me upon conclusions of discussions with Minister Howlin.”

“I am pleased that the Minister has honoured his commitment to me and acknowledged the huge amount of work completed throughout the year by the Vetting Unit which has resulted in the average time for vetting of an individual being reduced from 12 weeks when the Minister took up office to now less than 5 weeks,” 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