Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has requested Darragh O’Brien TD. Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consider the inclusion of Carrigaholt, Cooraclare and Doolin in a pilot scheme providing funding for infrastructure in rural villages that currently are outside Irish Water’s investment programmes.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara says the concession by senior Department of Agriculture officials that the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme, announced by Government last week, is to be reviewed will come as a relief to many suckler farmers.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has called on the Department of Transport and Road Safety Authority (RSA) to further increase the number of driving testers in Clare due to the significant number of people in the county awaiting a test.
Shannon Airport is open for business. Ryanair has announced new routes to Birmingham, Budapest, Edinburgh, Fuerteventura, London Luton & Turin, regions from which we could seek to attract tourists.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has called on Government to extend the Local Property Tax exemption and the Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme for affected properties in Donegal and Mayo to properties impacted by pyrite in County Clare.
Deputy McNamara’s comments follow this week’s confirmation by Clare County Council’s to Clare’s Oireachtas Members that the local authority has issued a detailed submission to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to justify the extension of the Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme to Clare.
Clare County Council says the submission contains test results from 5 private properties confirming the presence of pyrite, a map indicating the location of both confirmed and potential cases and a request to review elements of the current scheme, including the limit of remediation costs at 90% plus other unfunded costs such as alternative accommodation, demolition and planning. The local authority has requested the extension of the Local Property Tax exemption for affected properties, recently introduced in Mayo and Donegal, to be extended to Clare.
Speaking to Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe on the issue of extending the Local Property Tax to Clare homes impacted by pyrite, Deputy McNamara said, “It will provide a little help to the families in Clare that unexpectedly have homes that are not worth anything like what they spent on them. They face years of heartache trying to resolve this matter without having to spend money on engineers to show them what they already know in order to avail of the local property tax exemption. I urge the Minister to give serious consideration to the amendment.”
Deputy McNamara has expressed his hope that the Clare County Council submission to Government will result in a fully-funded Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme being extended to Clare.
“If the Government saw fit to fund a scheme like this in respect of Mayo and Donegal, I see no reason whatsoever why Clare constituents and any other householders in the country who suffer from the same problem should not be treated in exactly the same way by the Government. It is a matter of basic equality. It is critical however, that any future scheme be 100% fully funded,” he said.
I have requested Minister with responsibility for Sport, Deputy Jack Chambers to explain why capacity has been set at 500 for the Clare versus Cork game when the same venue hosted 3,000 spectators for the Munster Championship semi-final between Clare and Tipperary three weeks ago.
We’re aware of Delta but also that there will be further variants. Supporters are rightly annoyed especially given the match is only on Sky Sports.
40% of the target of 4,500 forestry licences to issue in 2021 has been reached up to 9th July, according to figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
The Taoiseach says the Government is considering the introduction of antigen testing to primary and secondary school settings in the autumn.
Leo Varadkar was responding today to a Dáil question by Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara who asked if ventilation would be improved in school buildings over the summer holidays to reduce the spread of Covid in classrooms and to negate the need for classroom windows to be kept open during the autumn and winter months.
Questioning the Tánaiste, Deputy McNamara asked, “Over the course of the summer are we going to introduce ventilation works to schools or are we going to have children returning to schools wearing coats and wearing masks in poorly ventilated buildings and freezing in the middle of an Irish winter with the windows open?”
Deputy McNamara also raised the potential for using stand-alone HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorbing) filter devices in classroom.
He added that an Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation in Reducing Transmission of COVID-19, set up by the Department of Health, said such devices “maybe useful in reducing airborne transmission in spaces with insufficient ventilation.”
In response, Leo Varadkar said the matter is under consideration by Government.
“We accept that schools will need better ventilation in September and October and the issue of CO2 monitors is part of that,” stated the Tánaiste.
He continued, “We have asked the Expert Group on Antigen Testing to advise us on applying antigen testing both to indoor hospitality and to schools when they reopen in September.”
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has received confirmation that the watermain between Mullagh to Miltown has been replaced and works will commence very shortly on repairing affected road surfaces in the area.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has received confirmation from Irish Water that funding has been approved for the design of a leakage reduction programme at Tullabrack/Gower, Cooraclare.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has received confirmation from the Department of Education that school transport refunds will be issued on a staged basis over the next six weeks.
Responding to a Parliamentary Question by Deputy McNamara on the matter, Minister Norma Foley confirmed that Bus Éireann will from today (30 June) commence issuing refunds to families who are due to receive a refund for the unused portion of their ticket for the period of school closures arising from public health measures/Covid-19 restrictions in the 2020/2021 school year.
Deputy McNamara, who first raised the issue of refunds with Minister Foley in Dáil Éireann on 3rd March has welcomed the news.
“This is the correct decision by the Department of Education as thousands of parents will have paid in advance for transport to schools which were shut through no fault of their own or the Minister,” he stated.
Deputy McNamara added, “The refund due for each primary school student is €31, with the figure rising to €108.50 per post primary school student. From today, families will receive an email from Bus Éireann if they are eligible for a refund. The refund will be automatically made to the bank card used to make the payment, or by cheque if a card wasn’t used. Bus Éireann says refunds will be issued to all entitled family account holders starting from 30th June until mid-August.”
In response to Deputy McNamara’s Parliamentary Question, Minister Foley confirmed, “School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.”
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has welcomed the news that the proposed transfer of Shannon Heritage’s portfolio of visitor attractions in County Clare from Shannon Group plc to Clare County Council is to be brought to Cabinet for approval this afternoon.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara says the announcement by Irish Water that construction of a new wastewater treatment plant in Liscannor is to begin shortly will bring significant social, economic and environmental benefits for the village and the wider Liscannor Bay area.
In Dáil Éireann today, Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara called on Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to change the income limits for eligibility for social housing to enable working families to apply in circumstances where obtaining a mortgage is beyond their reach.
During Priority Questions to the Minister, Deputy McNamara also highlighted the growing cost of construction materials and its subsequent impact on house building across County Clare.
Speaking on the issue of social housing, Deputy McNamara said the current assessment of housing applicants was overly restrictive.
“As the threshold is currently set in Clare, if two people in a household are working or even if just one person is working and is just a little over the minimum wage, those people are not entitled to go on the social housing list,” he explained. “Effectively, only people in receipt of social welfare can get social housing in Clare because of where the limits are set I have no problem with people in receipt of social welfare getting social housing but it should not be limited to that because it will cause ghettoisation of social housing, which nobody thinks is a good thing, and there is a disincentive to work, especially when it is low-paid work.”
“We need to look at those income thresholds for the sake of society and housing in Clare, to even get back to where we were in the 1980s,” Deputy McNamara informed the Dáil.
Meanwhile, Deputy McNamara also asked if the Department has consulted the construction sector regarding the growing impact on housing construction on the shortage and inflating cost of timber.
“House building is becoming increasingly expensive. There is huge material inflation, especially, but not just, in timber. This affects one-off builds, but it also affects the capacity of local authorities to deliver houses,” stated Deputy McNamara.
He added, “Small one-off builders and self-builders are important to the supply of housing in Ireland, particularly in rural areas. Accessing materials is increasingly difficult as the supply is drying up. A simple length of 4″ X 2″ was €8 last year and is now €13. One of the main builder’s suppliers in Clare is no longer stocking timber. Builders will not give quotes of more than a month’s duration because of inflation in the cost of supplies. I refer not just to timber, but to materials generally?”
“There is a lot of timber growing in Ireland and much of that is past the point of maturity. Many landowners across Clare are looking for felling licences. There is chaos in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, particularly in its forestry section. I would ask the Minister of State to speak with Senator Hackett, who is the Minister of State with responsibility for this, and tell her to get things moving,” stated Deputy McNamara.
Responding to Deputy McNamara about the rising cost of building materials, Minister O’Brien said, “There have been material increases in timber, plastics and metals, some of it Covid-related and some of it Suez-related and supply chain-related. This is being monitored by the Department’s market surveillance unit. The increases we are seeing could be temporary, but we are monitoring the situation. The Deputy asked if this has an effect on delivery. There is no question that it does.”
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara is pledging his full support for the proposed development a world class visitor attraction at Ardnacrusha, Co. Clare.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara says he is hopeful funding can be secured to upgrade a section of the popular riverbank walk in Shannon town, which has become impassable in recent months.
Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) in East Clare will fall off Ireland’s Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage Sites unless Clare County Council pulls out the stops now, according to Deputy Michael McNamara.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has told Government that the proposed reopening of the Common Travel Area between Britain and Ireland must be accompanied by the resumption of transatlantic flights to and from Ireland.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara says Doonbeg wastewater treatment plant has been selected for upgrade as part of Irish Water’s Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara says Clare County Council and Irish Water have committed to fully restoring the road surface between Mullagh and Miltown Malbay following the completion of pipe laying works.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara is accusing the Government of engaging in a “cynical PR exercise” by today announcing €6.3 million in funding for Shannon Airport, an announcement already made last November.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has said the proposed development of a 270km2 flagship floating offshore wind development project off the coast of counties Clare and Kerry could place Moneypoint at the centre of Ireland’s offshore energy strategy.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has criticised the Government’s Mandatory Hotel Quarantine strategy, which he described as “a half-baked exercise in optics” and a “flawed measure” in the context of an unchecked border with Northern Ireland and when the majority of persons arriving in the state whether by air, sea or over land are not tested for variants of Covid-19.
A recruitment process for new staff and the expansion of the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) in Ennis Hospital is underway, according to Michael McNamara, T.D.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara says the commencement of work on a new ward extension to Raheen Community Hospital is “badly needed” and will restore confidence locally in East Clare around the future of the East Clare facility.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has received confirmation from Clare County Council that it will consider the provision of a pedestrian crossing in Ruan village.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has received confirmation from the Bank of Ireland that it will continue to provide an ATM service in Kilkee after the local branch closes.
Ireland’s efforts to green global historic sites such as the Sydney Opera House, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Pyramids of Giza for St Patrick’s Day is in marked contrast to “lacklustre efforts to win recognition for historic sites in our own country”, according to Deputy Michael McNamara.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has expressed “alarm” at new figures showing a significant increase in domestic abuse incidents across Ireland during 2020.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara says Bank of Ireland’s decision to close its branches in Kilkee, Miltown Malbay and Tulla and at 85 other locations throughout the Republic of Ireland underpins the financial sector’s push towards online banking at the expense of many people in rural Ireland.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has requested the Government to ensure that accessibility is listed as one of the primary criteria in future contracts being tendered in relation to rural transport services.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has said the announcement by Clare County Council of plans to develop an Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) visitor centre in Mountshannon presents significant potential for the tourism sector and wider economy of East Clare.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has received confirmation of a review the Offences Against the State Acts, which he described as “black mark on the Irish justice system in their current operation.”
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara says a new Chair of Shannon Group will be appointed imminently while Government also plans to review Shannon Heritage’s position with the Group.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has received confirmation from Clare County Council that Church Street in Miltown Malbay will be included in this year’s Roadworks Programme, subject to the approval of Councillors.
The widespread network outages being experienced by eir customers across Ireland today are being branded as “unacceptable” by Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara says the Government has commenced a process of engagement with Clare County Council over the potential extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme to affected homes in Clare.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara is asking the Government to place ESB Moneypoint in County Clare at the centre of any future plans by Government to develop offshore energy in Ireland.
Clare Independent T.D., Michael McNamara, has received confirmation from the UL Hospitals Group that a business case for a major expansion in the level of services provided at Ennis Hospital has been approved.
Michael McNamara, Independent TD for Clare, has received confirmation from the Minister for Education that updated guidance has been issued to schools in relation to ventilation practices in the classroom.
Michael McNamara, Independent TD for Clare, is warning of “a precipitous drop” in the prices of cattle and milk in a few weeks’ time if a Brexit trade deal is not done.
Clare T.D. Michael McNamara has confirmed that the preliminary design of a Greenway linking Limerick City with Clonlara, O’Briensbridge, Killaloe and Scariff will go to tender next week.
Michael McNamara, Independent TD for Clare, has received confirmation from Clare County Council that it is proceeding to the design stage of the proposed Doolin Pier and Village Masterplan ahead of submitting a Planning Application.
Clare T.D. Michael McNamara has expressed his disappointment at the “frustratingly slow” roll out of a high speed and future proofed broadband network across County Clare as part of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention.
Reacting to the news that Ryanair is to close its bases in Cork and Shannon for the winter, Independent TD Michael McNamara has said the Government needs to introduce a system of rapid testing at airports in the short term and must also develop a new State aviation policy to ensure international transit carriers do not fly exclusively into Dublin.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara says the €10m allocated to Cork and Shannon in Budget 2021 is “utterly inadequate” to compensate the airports for the Government’s decision to shut down the Irish aviation sector.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara says works to replace the old watermain from Miltown Malbay to Mullagh are scheduled to commence in early November.
Michael McNamara, T.D., has today received confirmation from Irish Water that a series of infrastructure upgrades will be delivered in Clare to end the discharge of raw sewage in Kilrush, Clarecastle, Liscannor, Ballyvaughan and Kilkee.
Clare Independent TD, Michael McNamara has received confirmation from the HSE that a business case has been submitted for further expansion of the level of services provided at Ennis Hospital.
Independent TD Michael McNamara has welcomed the allocation of funding to separate Greenway projects in West and East Clare but has warned that both will require the buy-in of the local community, particularly landowners, to ensure their successful delivery.
Michael McNamara, Clare T.D., has received confirmation that the Governing Authority of the University of Limerick (UL) has approved the issuing of refunds for students in rented accommodation at UL.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara says he has received confirmation from Irish Water that the proposed replacement of the old watermain from Miltown Malbay to Mullagh will commence during the first quarter of 2021.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has requested the Government to extend the time period specified in the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) scheme for stock reduction to June 2021.