Over €50,000 for Limerick County childcare facilities – O’Donovan

Added July 15th, 2014

Fine Gael TD for Limerick Patrick O’Donovan, has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly TD, that over €50,000 will be awarded to Limerick County childcare facilities through the 2014 Early Years Capital programme.

“In Limerick, €50,415 has been awarded to community and not-for-profit childcare services that applied for funding under the Early Years Capital programme. This funding will be used for repair and maintenance works, and to upgrade current facilities.

“Rathkeale Community Childcare and Broadford Community Childcare have benefited from the funding announced today. €39,465 will go to Rathkeale Community Childcare and €10,950 will go to Broadford Community Childcare. This money will prove hugely beneficial to local families whose children have been using these facilities.

“The grants awarded today will be used for essential repairs, refurbishment and improving energy ratings. Priority was given to areas of economic disadvantage; places most in need of assistance. This is very good news for parents and childcare providers in Limerick.

“High quality childcare facilities are hugely important to parents. It makes a massive difference to know that when you are at work, your children are being cared for in an environment that is safe, clean and fit-for-purpose. Children in Limerick will benefit from funding awarded to facilities that have been in existence for some years and are now in need for a make-over.

“Nationally, €2.5 million in capital funding has been allocated to 163 childcare providers. This highlights the Government’s commitment to supporting sustainable community services across the country.

“One of the Government’s top priorities for the remainder of the current Dáil term is to introduce measures to assist low income families by improving the system of child income supports. Only last week changes to the Community Employment Childcare (CEC) programme were announced to assist people trying to get back to work and those in training programmes.

“This programme of works will take place alongside the very significant work currently being undertaken to deliver on the Early Years Quality Agenda, and in addition this funding, a further €5 million has been made available under the Infrastructure Stimulus. The Minister for Children is currently assessing and planning on how best to spend this money.”

O’Donovan “Political antics of Sinn Féin is damaging Ireland in Europe”

Added July 15th, 2014

Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has criticized what he called the “Political antics of Sinn Féin” in their attempts to undermine Ireland’s chances of getting the important Agricultural Position within the EU Commission. Patrick O’Donovan was reacting to what he called a “Spate of criticism from Sinn Féin’s three MEP’s” which he said could damage Irish agriculture and for Irish farmers.

“Agriculture is one of Ireland’s most important assets and it would be hugely beneficial to our economy and to farming families across the State if we are able to secure the Agriculture position from EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker who comes from the same political grouping as Fine Gael in Europe, the European People’s Party. However to have the attacks launched in Strasbourg by Irish MEP’s against the Irish Government’s nominee for the job, Phil Hogan, is not in the best interests of Ireland or of Irish farmers.”

“Traditionally all Irish Parties have worked together in the interest of the country within the European Parliament, on matters of national importance. To obtain this position would be hugely important for people across Ireland, regardless of which political party they vote for, and that’s why it is vital that all of our MEP’s and Oireachtas members unite behind the Irish nominee to ensure that he is appointed as the next EU Agriculture Commissioner.”

Patrick O’Donovan said that he believed that the tactics being used by Sinn Féin are endangering Ireland’s potential to develop its agri-food sector further and added that the politicking by that party could have a major impact on Irish farming families.

“The Minister for Agriculture, the leaders of the farming organisations together with commentators from across the agri-food sectors have all said that it is vital for Ireland that we secure the Agriculture portfolio. This attempt by Sinn Féin to attract publicity and gain political advantage is damaging those efforts and does nothing to promote Ireland’s interest in Europe.”

My week in the Dáil – 13th July

Added July 14th, 2014

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Dublin City Council, Aiken Promotions and GAA to be called before Transport Committee – O’Donovan

Added July 9th, 2014

Special meeting of Transport and Communications Committee to discuss cancellation of Garth Brooks concerts

Fine Gael Limerick TD and Member of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, Patrick O’Donovan, has today (Wednesday), requested that a special meeting of the committee be convened, in light of yesterday’s decision to cancel all five Garth Brooks concerts scheduled to take place in Croke Park.

“Dublin City Council Manager, Owen Keegan, and representatives from Aiken Promotions and from the GAA, are to be invited before the committee and I hope that they will appear later this week or at the latest before the Dáil recess next week.

“Four hundred thousand people have been inconvenienced and thousands, who had booked flights or hotels, will be out of pocket, due to this decision.

“It is clear that this whole episode has been badly dealt with. We must get to the bottom of how this happened to ensure it will never happen again.

“Fingers have been pointing in every direction over the past few days, people are angry and they are bitterly disappointed.

“The Transport and Communications Committee will put forward the questions the public has been asking; how were 400,000 tickets sold for concerts that were not liceced, why was this decision taken so late and how can we prevent this from happening in the future?”

My week in the Dáil – 6th July

Added July 8th, 2014

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O’Donovan receives assurances from Minister on roll out of rural broadband

Added July 3rd, 2014

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan, has said that assurances from the Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte TD, on the roll out of rural broadband are very welcome. Patrick O’Donovan was speaking yesterday during a meeting of the Oireachtas Communications Committee, where the Government’s plan for broadband was discussed.

“Rural areas are at a major disadvantage in comparison to urban areas when it comes to accessing high speed broadband. As a result job opportunities are being missed. Many of my constituents have encountered numerous difficulties accessing quality broadband, and I hope that this initiative will put an end to the bad service which rural dwellers and business people have had to put up with for far too long.

“I asked the Minister if the list of locations for broadband access could be extended if other black spots are identified. The Minister said the existing list was not exhaustive and that other communities could be considered.

“The Minister said that the total investment being committed to is in the region of €520 million. He said that the roll out of high speed broadband to all second level schools would be completed, as planned, by the start of the new school year in September and added that this was something that the Government had committed to as part of improvements to schools across the State.

“It is vital that the broadband roll out is done as quickly as possible. The delivery of broadband for isolated areas was neglected by the previous Fianna Fáil Government and as a result rural communities and businesses are suffering. The Government’s commitment to invest in this area is an important step to increase the competitiveness of rural areas as places in which to live and do business.”

My week in the Dáil – 29th June

Added July 1st, 2014

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€262,350 for payments to Limerick suckler farmers under the Beef Data Programme – O’Donovan

Added June 26th, 2014

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan, has welcomed the announcement of €10 million in payments to suckler farmers by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD.

“The Minister today announced the commencement of payment to almost 26,000 suckler farmers under the 2013 Beef Data Programme. Payments will start this week to farmers taking part in the programme.

“In Limerick, approximately 730 herds and 13,760 individual animals will benefit from €262,350 worth of investment. In total €10 million has been provided from Single Farm Payment Scheme (SPS) unused funds for the Beef Data Programme (BDP). Money will be allocated to animals born during 2013 and 2014.

“The Beef Data Programme helps farmers to improve the genetic quality of livestock, while maintaining a flow of crucial data to Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF).

“Beef farming is extremely important in Limerick and the beef suckler cow herd is our best asset. I am delighted that this support has been provided as I know that it has been a challenging start to the year for suckler farmers in the area. This announcement is definitely welcome at this time.

“More than 100,000 farm families are involved in suckler farming in Ireland, almost 8,000 people are employed in processing, sales and marketing, and exports are valued at approximately €1.8 billion per annum.

“The Beef Data Programme is supporting suckler farmers in improving the quality of livestock, in harnessing technology to make this type of farming more efficient and ultimately more profitable at farm level.

“Beef farming is a major contributor to the agriculture sector and indeed to the Irish economy. New markets are opening up all the time for this industry and it is very positive to see supports such as the suckler farmer payment in place to make the sector robust and ready for growth.”

O’Donovan welcomes Shannon Airport Bill

Added June 25th, 2014

Fine Gael TD for Limerick Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the introduction of the Bill dealing with Shannon Airport to the Dáil saying it was a “Historic milestone for Shannon and the entire Mid West Region.”

Patrick O’Donovan who is a member of the Oireachtas Transport Committee said that the Bill, which gives Shannon Airport independence from the other State Airports is one of the most important pieces of transport legislation for some years and will he said, have huge implications for the Mid west. The Bill establishes Shannon Airport as an independent company and transfers the lands which were owned by Shannon Development to a new company called Shannon Group.

The Limerick Deputy said that the establishment of the Shannon Group means that the new company will have the job of promoting the use of lands that were owned by Shannon Development for job creation. He told the Dáil that Shannon Development owned large amounts of land across Co. Limerick and he would be seeking assurances from the Minister that regular reports would be published on the progress being made to have the lands used for job creation.

The Government decision to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport came as passenger numbers had fallen by 60% during the period of the last Government. Patrick O’Donovan told Deputies that while the numbers of people using Shannon fell from 3.6million to 1.4 million, the previous Government made no effort to give Shannon independence, something he said which severely impacted on the economy of Limerick and the Mid West. However when Fine Gael entered Government the decision was made early to move towards giving Shannon its independence and since then passenger numbers are on the way back up.

Patrick O’Donovan paid tribute to the Board, Management and Staff of Shannon Airport and said that they had now an even greater challenge with an industrial development role. He also said that the political leadership in the region being provided by the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan had been key to arriving at the day when Shannon would be given its independence and he said that this and similar initiatives aimed at promoting the Mid West, and in particular Limerick City and County were down to Michael Noonan. The VAT reduction for the hospitality industry and the abolition of the travel tax had all been introduced by Minister Noonan and Patrick O’Donovan said he was confident that similar measures aimed at promoting the region would follow in the near future.

Sinn Féin proposed wealth tax to hit farmers – O’Donovan

Added June 23rd, 2014

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan has, today (Monday), highlighted how Sinn Féin’s proposed wealth tax would hit vulnerable farmers.

“Last year Sinn Féin decided to drop their ever popular wealth tax from their pre-budget submission as even they admitted that it could not be properly costed. Despite this, numerous Sinn Féin representatives have been pontificating again about the benefits of introducing a wealth tax.

“Apart from the fact that a wealth tax would not generate the type of revenue necessary if Sinn Féin were to follow through on their other budgetary proposals, there are major questions around how unfarmed land would be taxed under this harsh regime.

“The Sinn Féin Wealth Tax Proposal 2013 stipulates that a tax 1% tax would be applied to net wealth over €1 million, excluding working farmland, business assets, 20% of the family home and pension pots. This tax, therefore, would presumably be applied to unfarmed land.

“Many farmers would be affected by this tax. For any number of reasons farmland can be unworked, farmers are elderly and unfit to farm or sometimes no suitable person can be found to lease the land. It is all well and good saying someone is sitting on a farm worth a large sum of money but anyone with any sense will know that an unworked farm is worth very little.

“It is highly likely that the authors of this creative document, along with the Sinn Féin representatives spouting its contents, have not even considered this small but significant number of famers who would potentially be affected by this, and who would be subject to a fine of up to 100% of a taxable units’ liability where full or part liability is being evaded or avoided.

“This is yet another example of a poorly thought out policy, lacking depth and detail, from a populist party who are consistently show boating with no real substance to back up what they are promising.