Breaking News
Find here a listing of all my Local, National and European press releases.
National News
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Issued : Tuesday 26 February, 2019
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Issued : Friday 22 February, 2019
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Issued : Wednesday 20 February, 2019
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Issued : Wednesday 20 February, 2019
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Issued : Tuesday 19 February, 2019
Local News
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Issued : Tuesday 8 December, 2015On Friday, 4 December 2015, Minister Alan Kelly launched the Roscrea Community Action Plan on behalf of Tipperary County Council and the Roscrea Community Action Partnership and welcomed the integrated approach, based on the RAPID (Revitalising Areas through Planning, Investment and Development) model of planning and interagency work. This model will be a key tool in implementing key community actions in the plan under the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) for Tipperary. For these reasons, Roscrea has been prioritised in the County Tipperary Local Economic and Community Plan as being in need of an interagency focus to develop a broad community based, realistic plan that can meet the needs of its residents and businesses. The plan for Roscrea was developed over the last six months and identifies key actions in the business, social, community and environmental areas. There was widespread consultation with all stakeholders and the community and there will be ongoing commitment to the implementation of the plan from all the key stakeholders. The Minister congratulated Tipperary County Council, who have taken the lead in supporting the development of the Plan and the work of North Tipperary LEADER Partnership (NTLP) which was commissioned by Tipperary County Council to develop the plan, in consultation with all the key agencies, community groups and businesses in Roscrea. The plan builds on a number of guiding principles for effective community planning and implementation including: community participation and local ownership; promotion of strategic planning; co-ordination of provision of State services; building on existing structures; complementing existing initiatives; flexibility; and targeting of “additional” services, investment and facilities.The plan builds on and recognises the fact that Roscrea has some great assets, a strong built heritage, a vibrant natural history, a great ethos of volunteering, a friendly and welcoming community spirit, and a vibrant and active community and voluntary sector. It is a community with a very strong work ethic, a can do approach and one that is, with the appropriate assistance and guidance, ready to help itself. Minister Kelly, in recognising the need for the early delivery of some of the key priorities, identified in the plan, announced that funding was being made available in the coming weeks for:Support for the RAY (Garda Youth Diversion Project) project through additional staffing support in NTLP to provide for family support work and counselling services. A Feasibility Study for an enterprise centre, in recognizing the key role of the Local Authority, the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), underpinned by the levels of deprivation in the Town, and the need to develop a strong, vibrant, and sustainable enterprise culture Fit out costs for the Community House at Gleann Glas, which is so vital to the community served as a focal point for families and their children and for youth activities, The Minister added that he will be working very closely with Tipperary LCDC to ensure that the LEADER programme will be rolled out across Tipperary in January 2016 and that additional volunteering supports are provided to the County.Ends.
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Issued : Monday 7 December, 2015. Minister Kelly said “Roscrea is a town that I’ve gotten to know very well during my tenure as Minister and indeed it is a town that I am proud to be associated with. The spirit of volunteerism and the ‘can do’ attitude of the people of Roscrea which has been referred to earlier is something which sets Roscrea apart from other towns. "The Tidy Towns Committee in Roscrea is one of the strongest in the County and their drive and enthusiasm is recognised throughout. It is this drive and determination which has seen Roscrea do so well, time and time again, in the National Tidy Towns awards, and the support and involvement of the community plays a big part in this.“This year, two new categories have been included in Tidy Towns Competition, the Diversity Award, and also the Youth Award. I have seen the work of the Junior Tidy Towns Committee in the Town including the Poetry Trail in the Castle field and I find it really inspiring to see work this group is doing. It is great to see the next generation in Roscrea with the same work ethos and values of the current Tidy Town Committee. “These awards, like the National Tidy Towns awards are an acknowledgement to all the volunteers for their hard work and commitment in making their town a better place. Everyone should have pride in where they come from and the Roscrea Committee surely demonstrates that this is the case. The Enhancement Awards recognise the work done by the volunteers not only in the town centres, but also in the residential areas of the town. Their work improves the quality of life for the most important people in Roscrea, who are not the visitors or the tourists but the residents. Their tireless work makes these estates better places for children to play, more attractive places for the elderly to take a stroll and for families to spend some quality time. “I would like to congratulate all of the estates and groups that were nominated, a special well done to all the winners on the day”.
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Issued : Monday 7 December, 2015Local TD and Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government has welcomed the news that planning permission has been granted to upgrade facilities at An Post's Sorting Office in Roscrea.Minister Kelly said "This is very welcome news. Tipperary County Council have approved plans for the project. The company has appointed a contractor, and work is expected to start in January. "This along with the news that FRS in Roscrea are looking to recruit 200 seasonal farm relief workers. Roles include relief farming, dairy and general farm work. Both these announcements are good news for the town of Roscrea.
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Issued : Friday 4 December, 2015Minister Alan Kelly TD has announced that St. Ailbhe's school in Tipperary Town has been allocated funding for a two classroom ASD unit and the CBS Thurles for external environment emergency works.Minister Kelly said "This is good news for both schools. The announcement comes after I announced major projects for Sn Mhuire na Trocaire, Cahir, Gaelscoil Chluain Meala, Baile Gaelach, Gaelscoil Charraig Na Siuire, the amalgamation of St Colmcille's NS & St Joseph's NS, Templemore and Colaiste Phobail Ros Cré. This investment in education in Tipperary shows the Labour Party's commitment to education in the county. Ends
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Issued : Monday 30 November, 2015Local TD Alan Kelly and Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government has welcomed the news that 600 new Gardaí will be recruited in 2015. Minister Kelly said "A recruitment campaign to recruit 600 Gardai in 2016 has been opened by the Minister for Justice. The recruits will enter the Garda College in Templemore from mid- 2016. This will bring to a total number of recruits since the embargo was removed to 1,150. "The existing recruitment campaign (commenced in 2013) is ongoing and successful candidates will continue to be called from that campaign in the New Year. It is expected that successful candidates from the 2016 campaign will enter the Garda College from mid-2016. The lifting of the recruitment ban, and continuous recruitment of Gardaí recruits, as well as the recent announcement of the allocation of €5.3 million for a further 260 additional Garda Vehicles is proof that the Government is determined to ensure that the Gardaí have all the necessary tools at their disposal to tackle the scourge of highly-mobile criminal gangs and to disrupt crime, particularly burglaries, across both rural and urban communities.
