• 28 projects county-wide to benefit
• Funding targets walking and cycling infrastructure

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the allocation of €4.5 million in funding for Clare County Council, for the progression of Active Travel infrastructure around the county.

The funding has been announced today by the National Transport Authority and Minister Eamon Ryan, as part of a total national fund of €290m.

The grants will see new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure across the county progress.

“I’m delighted to see such a generous portion of funding allocated to Co. Clare,” said Deputy Crowe.

“I think one very important point to make today is that while walking and cycling infrastructure is very beneficial for the tourist trade – particularly in a county like Clare – it’s also essential that we maintain a good level of service to those living locally to allow them to walk and cycle where possible.

“I cycle from Heuston Station to Leinster House every day when I’m in Dublin so I see first-hand how vital it is to invest properly in this infrastructure.

“We, as a country and as a government, are working hard to reduce our emissions in transport by 50% by 2030 and I think investment in cycling is a key part of this.

“It’s very encouraging, also, to see such a wide spread of grants around the county.

“Ennis is benefitting enormously from this funding, with over €2.2m ringfenced for the county town.

“The main thoroughfares into the town will be targeted here; with Active Travel Schemes for the Lahinch, Gort and Limerick Roads all earmarked for funding, as well as a massive €1.8m for the Tulla Road Rapid Implementation Active Travel Scheme.

“Communities in Shannon, Sixmilebridge, Tulla, Ardnacrusha, Miltown Malbay, Spanish Point, Killaloe, and so many other areas will all receive grants too.

“As a former teacher in a rural school, I’m also pleased to see that six primary schools in the county will receive funding for Safe Routes to School projects – a programme designed to encourage as many pupils and students as possible to walk and cycle.”

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• Meeting held between HSE and Oireachtas members
• Number of measures must now be considered

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe is calling for outside-the-box thinking when it comes to tackling hospital overcrowding in the Midwest – up to and including the use of local hotels for short-term bed capacity.

It follows a meeting held this morning between Midwest Oireachtas members, the UL Hospitals Group and the HSE, attended by an Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and chaired by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.

“I think the current crisis demands a thinking outside-the-box approach and we saw how successful that worked during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Deputy Crowe.

“There was a time when using hotel bedrooms and larger communal rooms, such as function rooms, to provide public healthcare would have been unthinkable, indeed many would have scoffed at the idea but there is a trialled and tested precedent in recent years.

“Prior to Covid, management at the UHL Maternity Hospital procured rooms at Limerick’s Strand Hotel and during Covid countless sports halls, large public venues and hotels were swiftly converted into acute healthcare environments.

“It is widely anticipated that a further 96 bed block will be applied for UHL this year but the construction and fulfilment of that could take more than 2 years and I don’t think the mid-west region can wait that long.

“Management at Tallaght University Hospital acquired a vacant retail building, across the road from their main hospital building, to open the Reeves Day Surgery Centre in 2020; by the same token, I has suggested to the Taoiseach, Minister Stephen Donnelly and Professor Colette Cowan that the Limerick South Court Hotel, less than a kilometre from UHL, should be considered as an additional capacity building option on an interim basis.

“In terms of other pressure-alleviating measures are concerned, I am becoming increasingly confident that the HSE will enhance operations at Nenagh General Hospital’s Medical Assessment Unit so, like Ennis General Hospital, it will be able to receive ambulances and provide immediate care to patients who have been triaged and screened by paramedics.”

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• Rate subject to review by end of February
• Current 9% reduction should stay in place

 

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism Cathal Crowe is calling on government to bring certainty to the tourism sector by retaining the lower VAT rate that the industry is subject to.

Following Budget 2023, it was announced that the reduced rate of 9% would be extended until the end of February, at which stage it would be reviewed.

“I am calling on the government to bring certainty to the VAT rate applicable for the tourism and hospitality sector,” said Deputy Crowe.

“At the moment, it’s subject to a reduced rate of 9% introduced in 2021 as a way of stimulating activity in these sectors and giving businesspeople in tourism and hospitality some much-needed financial breathing space.

“On Budget Day, it was announced that this VAT rate would be reviewed at the end of February and many people who work in this sector saw this as an early warning that the rate would climb back up to the normal 13.5%.

“Now that we have finally reached 2023, many commentators are predicting a slump for tourism and hospitality this year and these sectors very much remain in recovery mode following the Covid pandemic.

“In order to allow them to rebuild, we need to ensure that the VAT rate is kept as low as possible and it is my sincere hope that it remains at 9%.

“The input costs for those in tourism and hospitality have also risen exponentially in recent months and colossal utility bills have already put some out of business.

“Many of the rising costs are being passed onto the consumer and I fear that if we tinker around with the VAT rate next month, it could have the unintended consequence of making commodities in these sectors more expensive and thereby discourage consumers from spending.

“January is typically a month where families begin to plan their summer holidays and for this reason, among others, I think it’s important to nail down VAT rates and pricing for the months ahead.

“January is also a slim trading month for many bars and restaurants after a busy Christmas season.

“They too want some certainty sooner rather than waiting until the end of February.

“Tourism and hospitality are vital to the Irish economy and as a representative for Co. Clare I know all too well the positive impact it’s had for us here locally – with more than 12,500 people employed in the sector.

“It’s vital that we act now to protect it.”

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• Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Ballycuggaran all to benefit
• Funding part of Ireland’s first National Outdoor Recreation Strategy

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the announcement of €768,204 in funding for Clare, under the Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors initiative.

Minister Heather Humphreys has today launched the initiative, which is a five-year ambitious and transformational National Outdoor Recreation Strategy.

“Clare is a county with iconic nature and outdoor options on our doorstep,” said Deputy Crowe.

“We all know the value of the Cliffs of Moher to our local economy and the pull that has for tourists from around this island but also further afield.

“It’s vital that we protect and maintain them, while acknowledging the tourist footfall that they bring in.

“Today’s announcement has seen €500,000 allocated to the Cliffs of Moher North Coastal Walk – one that many of us will have traversed over the years and one that virtually every visitor to our county has walked.

“The Cliffs and the Burren geopark will also share €87,304 for upgrade works, while a sum of €180,900 has been allocated to Ballycuggaran/Two Mile Gate in the east of the county for the upgrade of facilities there.

“Since the onset of the Covid pandemic, I think we’ve all gained a newfound love and respect for the great outdoors, whether that be the coast or a forest walk or any of the other amenities dotted across Clare.

“The benefits to spending time outdoors are well documented and this, combined with the tourism and economic impact of having such fantastic amenities locally, means maintenance on these sites is key.

“I’m glad to see the government acknowledge the importance of the outdoors and I look forward to seeing this funding put to good use at some of our best-known places.”

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• Part of €10m national fund
• Large number of community organisations can apply

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the announcement of more than €300,000 in funding to assist community organisations in Clare such as community centres and parish halls with the rising costs of energy bills.

Minister Heather Humphreys has issued the funding today, which can be applied for via the Clare Local Development Company, in light of the costs in the energy sector at present.

Funding will be available to support Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, ICA Groups, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s Sheds, Women’s Sheds and much more.

“The rising costs in energy bills has been extremely concerning for every household and business,” said Deputy Crowe.

“For community groups, such as community centres, parish halls, etc they rely on the work of volunteers but moreover, to keep the doors open, they rely on donations, fundraising and so on.

“With the rising cost of living, this stream of funding is already under strain but while income is precarious, bills are rising and the stress that this puts on voluntary groups is extreme.

“These community centres, parish halls, social clubs and so on are the lifeblood of rural Ireland and the importance of their existence in our small towns and villages cannot be understated.

“These grants will help support these groups with electricity bills, insurance costs or other overheads – but also groups can apply for funding to carry out small upgrade works and to purchase equipment to support their activities such as laptops, printers, lawnmowers, training equipment and so on.

“The grants in Clare will be administered via the Clare Local Development Company and those who want a share of this fund can contact them on 065-6866800 for further information.”

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