WATER CONNECTION RATES I am pleased to say that a new standardised regime for water connections has come into effect today. Our local authorities had been charging up to 57 different rates for new connections, [...]
CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL DUMPING Welcome news that the Government has announced €3 million in funding for its Anti-Dumping Initiative to crack down on illegal fly-tipping. It is a serious problem throughout the West and [...]
FUNDING FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION SCHEME It's great news that the Department of Community and Rural Development, in which I am the Minister of State, has announced €10 million in funding for the 2019 Outdoor Recreation [...]
ENERGY EFFICIENCY PILOT PROGRAMME Good news for four Galway schools who have been chosen to take part in a €7 million energy efficiency programme. The schools - Laurencetown NS, Dunmore Community School, Holy Rosary College, [...]
LAUNCH OF IMPACT IN ACTION BY BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY IRELAND Great atmosphere today at the Business in the Community Ireland launch of its latest #ImpactInAction map detailing leading businesses' contribution to local communities in [...]
HEADFORD MEN'S SHED VISIT TO LEINSTER HOUSE I was delighted to host a group from Headford Men's Shed at Leinster House today. They had a great tour of the building, taking in the Dáil, the [...]
WEST APPRENTICES SHINE AT NATIONAL SKILLS COMPETITION I had a great experience visiting the Ireland Skills Live exhibition at the RDS over the weekend. The event, which promotes trade apprenticeships as a career path, included [...]
YOUNG SOCIAL INNOVATORS I was delighted and honoured to attend the Young Social Innovators' Speak Out event at the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe today. It is really inspiring to see teams of young people coming [...]
EARLY LEARNING PROVIDERS SHOULD SEEK NEW FUNDING I am urging all early learning and care providers to apply for funding under the Programme Support Payment that is being made available from June by the Department [...]
Functions in Sofia as part of St Patrick's Day visit I was honoured to meet prominent Irish business people at the Ambassador's residence in Sofia. Later I delivered a speech at a St Patrick's Day [...]
