Category Archives: Press Releases

What has Fine Gael & Labour got against young people

Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has condemned the proposal to further cut Social Welfare Payments to those Under-25.

 ‘At present Ireland 30% of our workforce, under the age of twenty-five are unemployed. Those under twenty one presently gets €100 per week whilst those between twenty-two and twenty four get € 144. Now those who apply for Unemployment Benefit Under 25 will face a 30% cut in payment.’

 ‘This Government has made a joke of the ‘Knowledge Economy’ by slashing Grants available for Post-Graduate Courses. They are not creating job opportunities and only offer Job-Bridge opportunities to allow our young unemployed work for less than the minimum wage or emigration.’

 ‘Young people, willing and able to work are given no real opportunity and in these Budget Proposals are been given no real choice but to leave. It begs the question: What does Enda Kenny and this Government have against young people?

 Concluding, Councillor Feeley stated that in Irish History when landlords attempted to clear the country of young people at the very least they paid the fair as they enforced emigration. This Fine Gael Government appears to be determined to solve the Youth Unemployment Crisis by forcing our young people out.

LEADER funding approved for Dowra Resource Centre

Fianna Fáil Councillor warming welcomed confirmation from Cavan/Monaghan LEADER that funding under the Rural Development Programme of € 52,668 has been approved for Dowra Resource Centre to assist in the provision of a hard surface play area which can also be used as additional carparking for the centre and ground work around the Resource Centre. This is 75% funding, the maximum allowable for the project which will have a total cost of € 72,244.

‘I know at first hand the huge effort made by the Resource Centre Committee to put the application for funding together. I am delighted at the key role played by Cavan County Council in leasing the additional land adjacent to the Resource Centre to the Committee and I thank the County Manager, Jack Keyes and in particular Paddy Connaughton, Head of Community & Enterprise for his huge role in assisting the group.’

‘Over the years, Dowra Resource Centre Committee have done great work in developing the range of services available in the Centre and this work will facilitate the completion of the grounds around the Centre and put in place quality out-door facilities for the children using the Childcare facilities as well as basketball, football and tennis for teenagers locally.’

‘To progress this project, Dowra Resource Centre Committee have worked closely with the staff of Cavan County Council to complete the design and tendering for the project. I look forward to the Contractors moving in to commence work in the near future.’

Concluding Councillor Feeley acknowledged the great assistance of Marianne McEneaney Cavan Monaghan Leader. ‘In this project the close cooperation and assistance of Cavan/Monaghan LEADER can be clearly seen. It is a testament to the professional manner that they work to release funding and yet at national level we have seen Minster Hogan slash their Budget and that of a number of other LEADER companies.’

This investment follows very significant funding for Dowra Courthouse from INTEREG 4A under the Harassing National Resources Programme. This investment of almost € 400,000 has seen the former Courthouse and Garda Station transformed with work to be completed in the near future.

LEADER funding must not be lost to Ireland

Fianna Fáil Councillor has echoed calls by his Party Spokesperson on Community Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív TD, for Minister Phil Hogan to act immediately  to ensure there is a 100% drawdown of funding under the LEADER programme.

‘Already we have seen Minister Hogan politicise and delay the process of grant allocation. In addition he has earlier this year engaged in a ‘smash and grab’ of the allocation made to Cavan/Monaghan LEADER. Now, according to Deputy Ó Cuív up to €60 million of EU and Irish funds will be lost to crucial rural, economic and community projects because Minister Phil Hogan’s handling of the LEADER programme.’

The final date for approving projects under the programme is approaching and no projects, including replacement projects, can be sanctioned after that date. All expenditure under the programme has to be paid out by the LEADER groups by March 2015.  There is approximately €300 million available for projects under the programme and to date only about half of this amount has been spent.

‘The Minister should act to allow LEADER groups approve funding as there clearly are projects long approved that will never be completed and the Minister should allow a contingency for this by facilitating companies to approve substitute projects.

‘The country needs all the economic stimulation available, no place more so that regions like our own. The Minster must act urgently to reverse the swinging cuts made to budgets for Cavan Monaghan LEADER and other LEADER companies across the region. Our small businesses need every available avenue for funding, our farmers need supports to diversify and our community groups need funds to develop their areas. Minister Hogan has money at his disposal and it should be spent to create jobs and sustain rural Ireland.’
“LEADER is very important to rural communities and the delays introduced by the Minister into this very good scheme are a disgrace. He has four months now to redeem himself in relation to the scheme and I am calling on him to set about this immediately.”