O’Donovan welcomes announcement that 305 new Garda vehicles to be delivered before year end

Added November 4th, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Limerick Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD that 305 new Garda vehicles will be delivered before the end of 2013. The vehicles will be provided at a cost of €9m and are in addition to 133 new Garda vehicles already made available in 2013.

“This most recent investment brings to €18m the total amount spent on the Garda fleet for the three years 2012 to 2014 compared with just €5 million spent by Fianna Fáil in the previous three years and represents a very considerable financial investment in Garda transport, particularly at a time when the level of funding available across the public sector is severely limited.

“This Government is focussed on reducing crime and protecting our communities. The hard work and dedication of the members of An Garda Síochána, through difficult economic circumstances in recent years must be highly commended. I am hopeful that we will continue to see a reduction in crime rates in the year ahead as we continue to modernise and invest in our Garda force.”

O’Donovan welcomes decision by EtQ to establish its EMEA Headquarters in Limerick

Added October 30th, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Limerick Patrick O’Donovan, has welcomed the announcement by EtQ, a leading Quality, Compliance, and Environmental Health and Safety Management Software provider that it is to establish its EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) Headquarters in Limerick with the creation of 30 new jobs.

“The decision by EtQ to establish its EMEA headquarters further enhances Limerick’s excellent position to attract further investments like this one as we continue to get the economy back on track. This is also a vote of confidence in Limerick, its people and the high quality graduates produced by third level colleges in the County.”

“In addition to those who will directly benefit from these new jobs, the local economy will also get a boost from this announcement.  Each time a new company sets up in Limerick; there are significant spin-off benefits for other local businesses.”

EtQ provides industry-focused software solutions to specifically address various compliance initiatives such as ISO 9000, ISO 14001, GMP, 21 CFR Part 11, ISO 22000 and ISO 13485. The company incorporates a best-practices approach to automating key business processes to help organisations achieve compliance, identify and mitigate risks, and manage and measure data to impact change and achieve operational excellence.

Home Renovation Incentive Scheme available from today

Added October 25th, 2013

Limerick Fine Gael TD, Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the announcement that homeowners can avail of the special tax relief on renovations, under the Home Renovation Incentive Scheme as announced in the Budget, from today (Friday 25^th October).

“This is a really positive measure that will not only provide a welcome boost to the construction sector, it will also provide homeowners who want to carry out renovations with some welcome relief. I am very pleased that Minister Noonan has decided to bring forward this measure from the original start of January 1^st 2014.

“Under the Scheme homeowners who carry out renovations on their home between now and 2015 will be provided with an income tax credit. It will be payable over the following two years, and will be calculated at a rate of 13.5% on all qualifying expenditure over €5,000 up to a maximum of €30,000.”

“In a bid to eliminate the black market, the scheme will only be open to fully tax compliant builders. This should act as a boost to legitimate contractors and sole traders who have been so badly affected by the crash in the construction sector. This intervention in the sector is a positive move by Government to help address the huge challenges which have faced the industry in recent years. “

“This scheme will make it much more affordable to build an extension or carry out a range of works on your home, such as getting new windows fitted, or putting in a new bathroom or kitchen. By only making the scheme open to legitimate contractors, we can ensure that works carried out are of a high standard. I am confident that a considerable number of homeowners will choose to avail of the scheme, and that it will provide a much needed stimulus to the building sector.”

O’Donovan: “Scrapping travel tax delivers to Mid West”

Added October 24th, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the announcement by Ryanair to provide eight new routes from Shannon Airport which will carry up to 300,000 passengers a year and said that the announcement comes as a direct result of the decision of the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan to scrap the travel tax.

“In his budget speech Michael Noonan provided the incentive for airlines to bring more passengers into Ireland and this decision together with the fact that the Government has given Shannon Airport an independent board and management will help turn around the fortunes of the Mid West’s international airport.”

Patrick O’Donovan added that the credit for the initiative went to Michael Noonan who has already delivered in a very significant to the Mid West since he was appointed as Minister for Finance.

“There is no doubt about the fact that initiatives like these in Shannon have come about as a result of Michael Noonan’s determination to help drive the local economy here in the Mid West. The increase in passenger numbers at Shannon Airport which will come from this announcement together with the retention of the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality business will have a major impact on the tourism industry in the region and the Minister for Finance’s absolute commitment to ensuring tourism plays its role in the economic recovery of the country will be a key factor in this.

Patrick O’Donovan said that he looked forward to further developments in the Mid West and in particular in Limerick which are aimed at specific targets of the economy, and he said that he had no doubt about the importance of having Michael Noonan sitting at the cabinet table, in terms of the overall economic recovery in the region.

€23,899,685 paid to 4,472 in Limerick under advanced 2013 Single Farm Payments – O’Donovan

Added October 17th, 2013

Fine Gael TD, for Limerick has welcomed €23,899,685 in funding which has been paid to 4,472 of farmers in Limerick as part of advanced payments under the 2013 Single Payments Scheme, as approved by the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney TD.

“A total of €540 million is being paid to 108,000 farmers across the country, as part of the Single Payments Scheme. I am very pleased that Minister Coveney has secured approval to make these payments six weeks ahead of schedule. This will come as a source of relief to the 4,472 farmers in Limerick which are sharing in a total of €23,899,685 in payments.

“The Single Payments Scheme is a very important source of income for the Irish agricultural community, and this latest series of payments follow the €169 million which has been paid out to over 80,000 farmers under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, which began issuing three weeks ago.

“Minister Coveney was very conscious of the fact that farmers were suffering cash flow shortages due to the challenges posed by adverse weather conditions earlier this year, and with this in mind he approached the EU Agriculture Commissioner to seek approval for early payments. Thanks to the Minister’s representations, payments are being made six weeks earlier than scheduled.

“Payments will be issued twice weekly up until 30th November, with balancing payments to issue as and from the 1st December. It is important that any farmer who has received correspondence from the Department of Agriculture highlighting problems in relation to their application responds without delay. This will ensure these cases can be processed and payments issued as soon as possible.

“The Minister has assured farmers that payments will continue to issue under both schemes, on an ongoing basis, as individual cases are cleared. I urge all farmers in County Limerick to engage fully with the process to ensure they can receive their payments without delay.”

O’Donovan meets Varadkar on Adare bypass

Added October 16th, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the decision of the Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar, to bring the National Roads Authority and Limerick County Council together to discuss the future of the proposed Adare bypass.

Speaking after meeting Minister Varadkar this week, Patrick O’Donovan said that he had asked the Minister for Transport to personally intervene to try to break the deadlock in relation to the future of the Adare bypass. “I had requested the meeting with the Minister and his officials on behalf of local people who have been in regular contact with me since the decision of An Bord Pleannála was announced. The people of the Adare area have asked me to try to get certainty in relation to this project. Land and property owners have a right to know what is happening with the proposal and the traders of Adare, many of whom rely on the tourism product there, are also looking for certainty.

At the meeting with the Minister, Patrick O’Donovan asked that the entire road network of West Limerick and the needs of the various towns including Adare, Foynes, Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale would be the subject of the meeting between officials of the NRA and Limerick County Council. He said that any decision which was made in relation to one of the projects could have an impact on another, and it was for that reason that he asked that decisions not be made in isolation,.

It is expected that the meeting involving the State Agencies which Minister Varadkar has decided will happen will take place in the coming week.

Budget is good news for family farm income, disadvantaged farmers and beef sector in Limerick – O’Donovan

Added October 16th, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan, has said that Budget 2014 will protect the incomes of family farms, support small farm holdings in disadvantaged areas and invest in the future of the national suckler cow herd.

“I believe that the measures announced in Budget 2014 will safeguard family farm income and I am delighted by the €23 million extra funding for the suckler cow scheme. The income of farmers in disadvantaged areas has also been protected. That this has all been achieved despite the enormous budgetary pressure is highly commendable.

“The €23 million increase in the suckler cow scheme is a clear statement of the importance the Government places in the beef sector. This will be allocated towards the Beef Genomics Scheme and is a wise investment in the future of our national herd, which will benefit farmers in the short and long term.

“The Beef Genomics Scheme will provide suckler farmers with a payment of €40 per calf in return for which the farmer will be required to take samples from stock bulls and a selection of suckler cows for genotyping. This will help to accelerate the kind of genetic improvement that will drive efficiency and increase profitability at farm level. Together with the Beef Data Programme, this will provide for payments of up to €60 per calf in the suckler herd.

“The suckler herd is the cornerstone of our beef industry which more than 100,000 farm families contribute to. The beef sector is responsible for employing almost 8,000 people in processing, sales and marketing, and driving exports valued at approximately €1.8 billion per annum.

“I am delighted that the current level of payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has been maintained at €195 million despite the budgetary pressures that exist. The fact that the Grassland Sheep Scheme has been increased to €15 million makes it a good budget for farmers in disadvantaged areas.

“This Government is determined to further develop the agri-food sector which is one of the shining lights of the Irish economy. Budget 2014 will help to further contribute to the future growth and prosperity of the sector and will be welcomed by farmer families throughout Limerick and the Country.”

Legislation to deal with Independents receiving leaders’ allowance to be introduced in new Dáil session – O’Donovan

Added October 8th, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan, has welcomed confirmation by An Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore TD, that the legislation to address the un-vouched nature of Independent TDs and Senators receiving a leader’s allowance will be introduced during this new Dáíl term, and is he said a further example of the Government commitment to real Dáil Reform.

 “I welcome the fact that this issue is to be finally rectified during this Dáil term, after being allowed get completely out of control under the last two Fianna Fáil Taoisigh, where Independents needed to be kept onside in order to keep the then FF/PD/Green Government in office. It is a clear example of where no accountability exists and is a relic of a time where the public’s money was splashed around without any reason whatsoever.

 “Fifteen Independent TDs are paid a leaders’ allowance of €41,152 and Independent Senators are paid €23,383 in addition to their salary and expenses, with the total amount being paid out since 2001 adding up to €4.19 million.

 “The purpose of a leader’s allowance is to provide funds to political parties that they can use for administration, policymaking and advice. Why this allowance was ever made available to Independent TDs and Senators is beyond me, considering they are supposed to be “Independents” who exactly are they claiming to be leading?.”

Visitor numbers double in Desmond Castle

Added October 3rd, 2013

Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed figures he has received from Minister of State Brian Hayes that there has been a doubling of vistor numbers over twelve months to the Desmond Banqueting Hall in Newcastle West. Figures given by Brian Hayes to Patrick O’Donovan in response to a Dail question showed that 4,290 visited the Castle in 2012 and 8,538 had visited in 2013 up to the middle of September, showing that the final figure for 2013 could be over 9,000.

Patrick O’Donovan congratulated the staff of the Office of Public Works in the Castle together with the local voluntary castle committee, local community organisations and traders for the increase in visitor numbers in 2013, and said that with a small amount of help, there is no reason that the figure cannot go over 10,000 early in 2014.

“While visitor numbers have doubled in twelve months it is clear locally that there are still huge numbers of people here in West Limerick who haven’t visited the site and it is important for OPW to look at ways of getting local people to visit the historical sites that they have control of here in Limerick, including Askeaton, Adare, Kilmallock and Newcastle West.”

“I am very pleased with the approach of Minister Brian Hayes since he came to office. He has since coming to office visited the sites and towns in Limerick where OPW have places under their control. He has seen at first hand the work that OPW has completed and the work that is being carried out and the co-operation between his office and local communities across Limerick. We need to ensure that this co-operation continues and I am working with OPW to try to have a package in place that markets all of the sites in Limerick together, and encourages people who are visiting one of the sites to consider visiting the others as well.”

O’Donovan seeks way forward on Adare Bypass

Added October 2nd, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan has asked the Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar TD to convene a meeting to include the Minister, the Department of Transport, Limerick County Council and the National Roads Authority to discuss the current situation regarding the proposed bypass of Adare.

Patrick O’Donovan said that he has been contacted by several landowners, business people and residents of Adare who are anxious to know what the State Agencies are proposing to do now that An Bord Pleannála have made their decision on the proposed route. He said that the people of the area are anxious that some degree of certainty be given to those affected and that a plan which will ultimately be put forward for planning permission can be submitted.

“It is well known that huge sums of money have already been spent in the planning of this proposed road up to now, and I believe that it is only fair that the residents and public representatives of the area are told what is going to happen now. We have all been left in a virtual limbo since the decision of An Bord Pleannála was announced and I believe it is vital that a way forward be found. “

“I have personally asked the Minister to organise this meeting, so as to ensure that a plan can be put in place for Adare. I have made the Minister aware of the concerns of the people who contacted me, some of who have different views on the route etc., but all of whom agree that a clear decision one way or another is needed.”

Patrick O’Donovan expects the meeting with Minister Varadkar and the State Agencies to take place over the coming weeks.