News Entries
My week in the Dáil – 15th November
Added November 16th, 2015
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O’Donovan: “Official opening of Rathkeale Enterprise Centre to provide new opportunity for community”
Added November 11th, 2015
Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has said that the official opening of the Rathkeale Enterprise Centre in the old Andersen Ireland plant next week will mark a major positive step forward and a new opportunity for Rathkeale and the surrounding areas.
“I am delighted that the Minister for Finance, Limerick’s Michael Noonan TD will officially open the facility on Monday. I know from the time that Andersen announced its closure that there was huge concern in the local area about the future of the plant. There was a strong wish from within the community that the facility would be kept for the creation of employment in Rathkeale. I was part of a group which was formed after the closure was announced which included the Rathkeale Community Council, Cllr. Stephen Keary, local man Brian McEnery and Michael Cantwell from Innovate Limerick who worked with the bank in question to secure the plant for the town.
“Working as a small united group with Limerick City and County Council we were able to guarantee that the plant would have a future in the creation of jobs in Rathkeale and also be given a strong community use in the town, I am thrilled that our work paid off and that the Minister for Finance is doing the honours in opening the new Rathkeale Enterprise Centre. The presence of the Minister for Finance will be a strong signal of how this Government values local enterprise in town like Rathkeale.”
“Recently I was able to work together with Cllr. Stephen Keary and with the Butterfly Club to secure €80,000 for the work that they are due to start in their new home in the old Andersen plant, and their presence, together with the jobs which are already in the Rathkeale Enterprise Centre, will mean that the facility will be in the heart of the local community long into the future. I am delighted to have played my role in this project and I am looking forward to a bright future for this facility for many years to come.”
My week in the Dáil – 11th November
Added November 11th, 2015
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Funding boost for schools in Limerick to upgrade school buildings and improve facilities – O’Donovan
Added November 6th, 2015
Fine Gael TD for Limerick said that primary schools in County Limerick are to benefit from funding to upgrade school buildings and improve facilities for students and teachers.
“€28.5 million is being made available by the Government for the payment of a Minor Works grant to primary schools around the country. Schools in County Limerick will be able to use this funding to improve the physical infrastructure of schools. They can also use the grant for the purchase of furniture, as well as PE and IT equipment.
“I’m very aware of the great work being done in schools across Limerick and this funding will help Boards of Management and school principals in Limerick to improve facilities and equipment for both pupils and teachers.
“The rates payable are €5,500 per school, plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil. Primary schools in Limerick will be issued with the grants by 20th November 2015.
“I would also encourage schools in Limerick to apply for the separate Summer Works Scheme. Nationally a total of €80 million is being made available for the scheme which covers 2016 and 2017.
“In my view it is vital that students and teachers in schools across Limerick spend their days in an environment that is comfortable and conducive to study. Fine Gael is committed to funding improvement and upgrading works in schools across Limerick to help improve the learning environment for students.
“The funding being made available under this scheme will allow schools in Limerick to carry out small and medium scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. The projects that can be covered under the scheme include gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof and window upgrades and structural improvements.
“It is up to schools in County Limerick to identify the most urgently required projects to be funded from the Summer Works Scheme. Each school can apply for one small scale project.
“This Summer Works Scheme is also welcome news for the local economy in Limerick as it will support jobs in the construction sector and stimulate economic activity.”
For Further Information: Full details on the schemes are available on the Department’s website at www.education.ie An SWS Helpline Freephone service will also be put in place to assist schools with any queries on the Scheme including completion of the application form.
Rathkeale Butterfly Club to receive €80,000 – O’Donovan
Added October 28th, 2015
Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the news that the Butterfly Club in Rathkeale has be awarded €80,000 by the Department of Health under the National Lottery Grant Scheme.
“Over the last number of months I have worked closely with the committee of the Butterfly Club in their efforts to get funding for their new facility in the old Andersen Ireland Plant. Only last week I arranged for members for the Butterfly Club along with local Councillor Stephen Keary and myself to meet with officials from Minister Leo Varadkar’s office regarding the club’s application to the Department”
“I am delighted to have been able to help the Butterfly Club secure this funding as it will be of benefit to the entire West Limerick area. The Butterfly Club provides badly needed respite services for children and young adults with special needs from across West Limerick. Both Councillor Keary and myself have worked with the Rathkeale community in securing the old Andersen Ireland Plant for the town of Rathkeale, and now we are both delighted that Minister Leo Varadkar has allocated €80,000 to a very worthy cause which will be based in the facility.”
Patrick O’Donovan wished the Butterfly club well for the future and he committed himself to working with community groups like them across West Limerick into the future.
My week in the Dáil – 25th October
Added October 27th, 2015
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O’Donovan welcomes announcement of Hen Harrier Scheme
Added October 23rd, 2015
Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the announcement that Farmer’s whose lands have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation for the protection of the Hen Harrier, are to be accommodated under the Locally Led Agri-Environment Scheme (LLAES).
“Since I first entered the Dáil in 2011 I have been working with farmers in Limerick and elsewhere who had their farming practices restricted because of designation for Hen Harrier habitat protection. I believe that the announcement by Minister Simon Coveney TD to put a package in place to address the needs of these farmers is the right thing to do and is something that I have used every possible opportunity as a member of Dáil Éireann to fight for.”
“This scheme will be included in an amendment to Ireland’s Rural Development Programme which is to be lodged with the EU Commission in the Spring. Consultation is currently underway and I would encourage all those affected by this issue to participate. Farmers working in Hen Harrier areas are already eligible for GLAS and could earn up to €7,000 per annum through a combination of GLAS and GLAS plus. Speaking at the launch the Minister urged all farmers in Hen Harrier designated areas to participate in the scheme.”
It is expected that up to €40million will be provided for this locally led scheme over five years and the Minister added that Minister Tom Hayes was also looking for the inclusion of a forestry element in the overall package of measures, which may allow farmers in designated areas to plant in the future. This detail, he said, will be worked out between the Departments of Agriculture and Heritage and he was confident of progress being made in the area.”
“I would like to pay tribute to all those who campaigned vigorously on this issue and indeed my colleague the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney TD for being pro-active on this issue. I believe that this decision by the Government is a recognition after years of campaigning, of the plight of landowners in designated areas and I am committed as a TD for Limerick to working with the landowners and their representatives to working to ensure that the scheme is rolled out as soon as possible and makes a positive impact in rural Co. Limerick.
O’Donovan: “Newcastle West Garda Station to get major overhaul in Government Plan”
Added October 21st, 2015
Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has said he is delighted with the decision of the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald TD to include Newcastle West Garda Station on the Government’s list of Garda Capital Works.
“I have been working on this project since I became a TD and I am thrilled to have been able to secure this badly needed investment for Newcastle West. The current station was built for a smaller Garda district and since then very little has changed in the station, but with increased demands on the Gardaí we need a modern headquarters for the West Limerick area.”
“Since becoming a TD I have pushed the case for Newcastle West at every opportunity. I recently accompanied the Minister for Justice to the station and prior to that I organised a visit by the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works Simon Harris TD. In both cases they met with members of the Gardaí and saw for themselves the condition of the station. It was clear to both of them that there needed to be improvements in Newcastle West and I was delighted when the Minister for Justice told me that she had agreed with my request to allocate funding to Newcastle West in the plan.”
“The plan which was submitted by local Garda management and which is now approved includes a substantial extension and complete renovation of the existing facility, which will make it one of the most modern facilities in the region. This will allow members of the Force and the civilian staff to offer a complete modern police service from Newcastle West. The public will also see an obvious benefit with an improved public facility in Newcastle West which respects people’s privacy, confidentiality and dignity. This is fantastic news for Newcastle West and recognition of the place that the town has, as the headquarters of a Garda district which is bigger than Co. Monaghan.”
Patrick O’Donovan paid tribute to local Superintendent Tom O’Connor and the local Gardaí who have served Newcastle West from the current Garda Station. “This is great news for Newcastle West and is a clear commitment from this Government to; the town, the surrounding areas, the members of An Garda Siochána and the Department of Justice staff in the station. I am delighted as the Government TD for the area to have played my role in its delivery.
My week in the Dáil – 18th October
Added October 19th, 2015
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Newcastle West Garda Station: O’Donovan meets Minister for Justice
Added October 14th, 2015
Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has today met with the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald TD in relation to the Governments Capital Investment Plan to discuss the need for improvement works at Newcastle West Garda Station.
“I have been pressing the case to have work carried out on the Garda Station in Newcastle West. I have raised the matter with Minister Fitzgerald on several occasions now and I organised a visit by her to the Station where she met with members of An Garda Síochána. The Minister saw first-hand the conditions at the Station when she visited and I am hopeful of it’s inclusion in the Department of Justice Capital Plan.