Author Archives: John
O’Donovan welcomes viagogo’s plans to double workforce in Limerick
Added January 26th, 2015
Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan has this morning (Monday) welcomed the news that the viagogo Group, the world’s largest source of live event tickets, plans to double its workforce in Limerick over the next three years. The announcement was made at the opening of its new operations centre in Limerick today.
“This is a huge vote of confidence by an international company in Limerick and the Mid-West. The announcement will, I believe, provide fantastic opportunities for people from Limerick and the Mid-West region. The Group only set up in Limerick last year and now with the support from the IDA, it has established a new purpose built operations centre.”
“IDA investment is important in directly creating opportunities for our skilled workforce. However as every ten jobs generated by FDI create another seven in the wider economy; there is also a significant knock-on effect for local areas.”
“This Government is implementing a plan to grow the economy, create jobs and reduce unemployment to ensure that everyone feels the benefits of recovery and in order to create a better country. IDA investment is part of this plan but there is more to do and we remain focused on maintaining stability, creating more jobs and making work pay.”
My week in the Dáil – 25th January
Added January 26th, 2015
Please follow the below link to read my
The rest of my updates can be found on my website under the My week in the Dáil section
Croom to retain ATM Service – O’Donovan
Added January 23rd, 2015
Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the confirmation from Ulster bank that it will maintain an ATM service in town.
“I have received confirmation today from Ulster Bank that they will continue to maintain the ATM Service in the town of Croom”.
“I will continue to work with the local and business community to ensure that financial services are maintained in the town”.
“The presence of an ATM machine is a huge asset in any town and this confirmation from Ulster Bank is particularly welcome”.
O’Donovan: “Foynes Flood Relief Scheme on track”
Added January 20th, 2015
Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed clarification from Limerick County Council and the Office of Public Works that plans for the flood relief scheme in Foynes are on schedule and on time. Patrick O’Donovan was speaking after the public consultation in Foynes Community Centre where the OPW and the Council put plans for the scheme on public display.
“I’m glad that the Council and the OPW have clarified the situation for the local people who have been affected by flooding there. Their presentation comes after a recent visit by the Minister for the Office of Public Works Simon Harris to Foynes. He said that his Department are committed to the project and he communicated this to me after his visit. However some people decided to doubt the Minister’s commitment and tried to drum up doubt and negativity in the community, where this scheme is long overdue. I hope that they got the message from the OPW and the Council that this scheme is being progressed and is on track to be delivered.”
Patrick O’Donovan said he had discussed the issue with Simon Harris on several occasions since he visited Foynes and was using every opportunity to ensure that Foynes remained on the Minister’s priority list. “His predecessor in the Department Brian Hayes granted my request to have a special case made for Foynes to get a flood relief scheme based on the damage that had been caused to properties during the severe flooding last year and I’m pleased that the current Minister has continued that commitment to the community.”
“The next step for the project will be to go to planning for the scheme. This will be decided by the Council in the Spring and after that tenders will be sought. The original timeframe which the Minister gave when he was in Foynes is still on track, and that the timeframe for construction should begin in the late Summer and be completed in the Autumn of this year. “
My week in the Dáil – 18th January
Added January 19th, 2015
Please follow the below link to read my
The rest of my updates can be found on my website under the My week in the Dáil section
O’Donovan calls on Ulster Bank to explain closure of rural branches to Finance Committee
Added January 16th, 2015
“I have written to the Chair of the Oireachtas Finance Committee, Liam Twomey, to appeal to him to invite Ulster Bank to come before the Committee to explain the closure of rural branches including Croom in Co. Limerick”, says Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael TD for Limerick.
“The closure of Ulster Bank in Croom will mean that there will be no ATM in the town. Those living in the area or passing through will have no access to cash. This will mean that people will leave the area to spend money and this has the potential to be extremely damaging for local businesses.
“Ulster Bank has closed a number of rural branches in recent times. This will have a severe effect on rural living and on tourism in these areas.
“I hope that Ulster Bank do get the opportunity to come before the committee to explain why these closures are being implemented and to discuss the possibility of at least maintaining ATM services.”
IDA investment brings approx. 2,400 jobs to Limerick in last three years – O’Donovan
Added January 14th, 2015
“Foreign investment by IDA client companies directly created 1,408 high-skilled jobs in Limerick from 2011 to 2014 and based on a conservative calculation these jobs have resulted in approximately 990 additional indirect positions in the local economy through supply companies and support services. This brings to approximately 2,400 the number of new jobs in Limerick due to IDA Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)” says Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael TD for Limerick.
“IDA investment is important in directly creating opportunities for our skilled workforce. However as every ten jobs generated by FDI create another seven in the wider economy; there is also a significant knock-on effect for local areas.
“Limerick has a lot to offer investors and business owners; we have the skilled workforce, we have the infrastructure and local services are constantly improving to meet the needs of those doing business here. The news that the IDA has brought approximately 2,400 jobs to the area is very encouraging, especially considering the fact that the majority of FDI has traditionally been concentrated in the main population centres of Dublin and Cork.
“The IDA has targeted growing investment outside of these areas and as part of this strategy 37% of investments in 2014 were outside Dublin and Cork; this is up from 30% the previous year.
“This year the Action Plan for Jobs will launch the Regional Development Strategy; a pilot programme aiming to capitalise on the strengths of each region with the aim of increasing investment and job creation in all parts of the country. I am confident that this strategy will bring further jobs growth to Limerick in the coming year.
“The latest Live Register figures show that the unemployment rate nationally has dropped to 10.6% from a high of 15.1% in 2012. In Limerick the unemployment rate has fallen by 25.5%. Thanks to the sacrifices people have made it is now possible for the Government to cut taxes. Every household with somebody in full-time work will have more money in their pockets this month and we’re committed to reducing personal taxation further this year.
“This Government is implementing a plan to grow the economy, create jobs and reduce unemployment to ensure that everyone feels the benefits of recovery and in order to create a better country. IDA investment is part of this plan but there is more to do and we remain focused on maintaining stability, creating more jobs and making work pay.”
O’Donovan: “Contracts for €4.3million road projects signed”
Added January 9th, 2015
Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has said that the Minister for Transport Pascal Donohoe has accepted an invite from him to visit Co. Limerick to see the road projects on the N21 at Newcastle West and the N24 at Dromkeen which have received €4.3million from the Department of Transport. Patrick O’Donovan issued the invitation to the Minister this week as contracts for the two projects were signed.
“I spoke to the Minister and personally invited him to come to Limerick to see these two projects, both of which I have been working on for a number of years and I was delighted when he said he would come. He has a very particular interest in road safety and both of these projects have been funded because of the dangerous nature of both of them. I know for many people the funding of serious accident black spots is something very personal, and that is why I was glad when the Minister accepted my invite to come.
Patrick O’Donovan paid tribute to former Councillor, the late Mary Harty who he said had been “a champion for many years of the need to improve the N24.” He added “The Dromkeen traffic calming project had for a long time been a priority of Mary’s and before she died she would inquire from me as to the progress that was being made in getting funding for Dromkeen. I know many of the locals there deeply appreciate the work that Mary did in highlighting the condition of the N24 over many years. “
“The allocation of €3.8million from Minister Pascal Donohoe for the National Roads Authority to complete the work from the Killarney Pole to Barnagh was a huge boost for the locality before Christmas, and I am delighted now to see that the contracts have been signed so that the road can be finished. This is a substantial investment by the Government into West Limerick and I know that for many road users and residents of the area west of Newcastle West that this is good news.”
Patrick O’Donovan said that he would be finalising arrangements with the Minister’s office for his visit in the coming weeks, but he said that he would be using it to highlight areas of Transport and Tourism in Co. Limerick which he hoped to prioritise as a Government TD with the Minister.
O’Donovan welcomes Irish access to US beef market
Added January 6th, 2015
Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, that Ireland has secured full access for its beef in the US market.
“This announcement is a very welcome development for Irish Beef farmers and early indications are that it could be worth up to €100m a year to the Irish Beef Industry. Having a diverse export market is the key to the long-term sustainability of our beef sector.”
“The US market is only one of a number of markets that this government has successfully gained access to for the Irish agri-sector since coming to power in 2011. The real benefit of this announcement will be the potential for Irish access to other markets that use similar standards in safety and quality to the US such as China.”
“The fact that we are the only European country to have been given access to the US beef market since the BSE crisis speaks volumes for the quality and safety of Irish beef. There is significant international demand for high quality beef and we need ambitious production targets and rigorous adherence to quality standards to ensure that we can match this demand.”
“Last year was an extremely challenging one for the beef industry but with the establishment of the beef forum and the new beef pricing system coming into place this week combined with this announcement, 2015 has gotten off to a very good start. It is important that all the stakeholders in the beef forum must now continue to work together to ensure we can maximise potential benefits that new markets will offer.”
“I commend Minister Coveney for the manner in which he has overseen this crucial development for the Irish beef sector. Since becoming Minister for Agriculture he has worked tirelessly to gain access to markets in the Middle East and Asia for Irish Beef. This announcement further demonstrates his commitment to deliver for the Irish agri-sector.”
My week in the Dáil – 21st December
Added December 22nd, 2014
Please follow the below link to read my
The rest of my updates can be found on my website under the My week in the Dáil section