• Disadvantaged areas in particular to benefit
• Funding to be administered locally

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the allocation of €278,514 in funding for Clare County Council, to support community groups impacted by COVID-19.

The overall €9 million Community Activities Fund will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities.

Funding can also be sought for assistance with necessary repairs and to purchase equipment such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment; while disadvantaged areas in particular are being focused on.

“It goes without saying that the Covid-19 pandemic has hit most people and groups in the pocket in some way or other, but smaller community groups have been particularly badly hit,” said Deputy Crowe.

“Consecutive lockdowns have left it extremely difficult to have a rainy-day fund and many groups have seen their coffers dry up, as they continue to pay for their rent or bills and so on.

“It is for this reason that the Community Activities Fund is so important and I would strongly encourage all groups that may be eligible to benefit under this fund to express their interest as soon as they possibly can.

“Groups such as men’s and women’s sheds, parish halls, youth centres and community centres are all being targeted.

“I’ve met a number of these groups around the county since my election to Dáil Éireann and I also visit a number of community centres every single month to do my clinics.

“I know how hard it is for these groups, most of whom are ran by dedicated teams of volunteers, to keep their heads above water.

“Yet they have continued to do so and continue to serve their community throughout this difficult period.

“These grants may be small in nature but can help tide a group over and give them a much-needed boost at a time when they are unable to raise money in the more traditional ways.

“I would encourage anybody who is interested in getting some financial support to make contact with Clare County Council’s rural development team as soon as possible.”

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• Equinor pulls out of ESB partnership
• Hope still on the horizon for offshore windfarm

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe is calling on the ESB and the government to immediately put their heads together and find a replacement partner for the offshore wind development planned for near Moneypoint in West Clare.

Norwegian firm Equinor has pulled out of the Irish market, having previously reached an agreement with the ESB to develop a major 1.4GW wind farm using floating technology, at a cost of €2 billion.

“Whilst it’s very disappointing that Equinor have withdrawn from their partnership with the ESB to develop the offshore Green Atlantic windfarm, I think the project can still very much proceed,” said Deputy Crowe.

“It has been widely reported in the media today that the outdated planning and regulatory systems in Ireland pertaining to the development of offshore projects has been a major factor in Equinor’s withdrawal, but I don’t necessarily believe that this is the biggest reason.

“Currently, much of what happens along Irish coastlines is dictated by the Foreshore Act of 1933.

“This legislation is totally outdated and unfit for purpose and served this country at a time when it still had steam powered boats.

“For the last 18 months, a new piece of legislation to overhaul offshore projects Maritime Area Planning Bill has been working its way through the Houses of the Oireachtas and is now around six weeks away from being fully enacted.

“This piece of legislation will supersede the 1933 Act and ensure that Ireland has a planning and regulatory framework equal to, if not better, than most other EU states.

“Whilst we should all be very grateful to Equinor for progressing the Green Atlantic project to this stage, it must also be noted that they were happy to partner in this project at a time when a modern offshore planning regime was a mere pipeline dream.

“Now this legislation is only weeks away from being a reality.

“There are many other companies who I believe will find the project to be very attractive and I will be asking government and the ESB to immediately engage with some of these companies so that the project doesn’t encounter any delays.

“When developed, the Green Atlantic project will be a key component of Ireland providing more than 80% of its energy needs from renewables and getting out country closer to 2050 carbon reduction targets.

“From a Clare point of view, the project and Moneypoint breath new hope into a part of our county that was hugely concerned about the future of the Moneypoint Power Station.

“With coal burning operations being wound down, all hopes now rest on the transition to wind energy offshore.

“Beyond generating electricity from offshore wind turbines, Moneypoint will also be a centre of excellence for developing new wind turbine technologies which will be used not only in the locality but also nationally and globally.

“The withdrawal of Equinor certainly won’t bury this project but it’s imperative that every effort is now made to ensure that a new partner is found and the project proceeds as swiftly as possible.”

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• National 25% increase in rural bus services proposed
• Several key Clare routes namechecked

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe is urging people living across the Banner County to have their say in the public consultation period of the National Transport Authority’s Connecting Ireland plan.

The plan proposes a 25% increase in rural bus services in Ireland over the course of five years, highlighting a number of key routes and areas of Clare.

“It is very encouraging to see the National Transport Authority recognise and recommend changes that are needed in terms of the provision of rural transport in Ireland,” said Deputy Crowe.

“Clare is a largely rural county and for those who don’t have access to a car, or who used to but cannot now drive, it’s incredibly isolating to be cut off from our towns and cities.

“We’ve seen far too many cuts to our public transport routes so to have formal recognition for the need to increase the provision of rural transport is most, most welcome.

“In terms of specific changes looked at in our county, I’m extremely glad to see that the NTA is recommending enhanced local services between Lahinch and Kilkee; from Kilrush and Killimer and Ennis; between Sixmilebridge, Limerick and Shannon as well as between Scariff, Killaloe, Ballycannon and Limerick.

“Our position as a county slotted between two major cities has also been recognised, with the NTA targeting Ennis and Galway and Limerick, but moreover onwards to Cork too.

“In terms of other urban centres, there’s also the suggestion to link Ennis with Portumna, Ballinasloe and Nenagh, taking in a number of villages en route, while Shannon Airport’s importance has been namechecked by ensuring increased services between the airport and the region’s main cities.

“Clare’s rural status has seen decades of depopulation and the demise of local services but the past 18 months has shown us how beneficial rural living can be.

“With a significant move towards working from home, as well as increased transport links and other necessary services, I am confident that rural Clare has a buoyant future coming down the tracks.

“I would encourage all who have a vested interest in our county to have their say on the Connecting Ireland plan by logging onto the NTA’s website.”

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• Significant investment in Shannon’s aviation
• 300 jobs secured

 

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism and Aviation Cathal Crowe has welcomed the announcement today that the Atlantic Aviation Group has acquired Lufthansa Technik Shannon – securing 300 jobs at the facility.

Today’s announcement has also been confirmed by AAG to be of strategic importance in terms of future growth and expansion of their operations in Shannon.

“This is a massively welcome development for not only the Atlantic Aviation Group but also Shannon Airport and aviation in the Midwest as a whole,” said Deputy Crowe.

“It’s been four months since Lufthansa Technik began carrying out a review of its Shannon operations – a move that was a huge concern to all with a vested interest in aviation in the Midwest.

“Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, some 500 workers were employed by the firm in Shannon – this now stands at around 300, with all of these employees to come under the AAG umbrella once the acquisition is complete.

“Both companies will now spend the remainder of the year ensuring a clean and smooth transition into the new era for AAG.

“Today’s announcement is significant in terms of what it means for aviation in the Midwest.

“AAG is now by far the largest MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) operator in the country and to have that based here on our doorstep is hugely valuable.

“I am particularly interested in AAG’s future growth plans, as highlighted in today’s announcement, and I look forward to working directly with the management team in terms of assisting in any way possible to ensure that this growth takes place in Shannon and the Midwest.”

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• Part of Pathfinder 2020 programme
• Energy rating raised from D to B

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the completion of an energy retrofit project for St Anne’s Community College, Killaloe.

Under the Department of Education’s and SEAI Pathfinder 2020 project, the school building has undergone substantial upgrading works including improvements to the school building envelope and fabric including wall insulation, attic insulation, new roofs, windows and doors and more.

“As someone who served on the school’s board of management for over a decade, I very much welcome this initiative undertaken by St Anne’s to bring the building in line with the most modern of standards,” said Deputy Crowe.

“Bringing the school up to a B energy rating will not only result in lower heating costs for the building, it will also mean that St Anne’s will lead the way in terms of being energy efficient and more sustainable going forward.

“The building was built in the 1980s and while it has served as a fantastic school for generations of kids in Killaloe-Ballina and the surrounding villages, it was in need of an upgrade to bring it in line with modern standards.

“The pathfinder project is an important aspect of delivering the Department’s commitments under the Climate Action plan and marks a significant investment in achieving these goals and I’m thrilled that a Clare school is one of those that is leading the movement.

“I look forward to this pilot scheme being rolled out more widely and I hope that more Clare schools can benefit from it.”

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