ANN PHELAN TD - Labour Party

ANN PHELAN TD

Working for You,

Making Recovery Local

"Things don't just happen, they are made to happen."-JFK

21M INVESTMENT IN ST

LUKE'S HOSPITAL

Following on from the very successful opening of the new Palliative Care wing in St Luke's Hospital which included the provision of a bereavement room for the families of loved ones who had passed on, I am pleased to announce that I officially opened the new Day Services Unit, which will improve cancer diagnostics and the opening of the Dr Jim Mahon Library and Education Centre. A new MRI Scanner will be available in St Luke's meaning that patients will no longer have to travel to nearby hospitals for such assessments. All construction works are completed on St Luke's General Hospital and the equipping is well underway. The new Departments will be opened on a phased basis between the end of this September and Feb, 2016. The new Emergency Department and Medical Assessment Unit, is expected to open around Feb, 2016.

SUPPORTING OUR POST OFFICES

In my role as Minister for Rural Economic Development, I have worked relentlessly to help support a strong, modern and viable post office network. I am happy to confirm the extension of contracts to Bilboa Post Office. I was delighted to be able to work with both communities and with An Post to ensure the retention of these vital services for Bilboa and the wider communities it impacts on.

The rhetoric that is being spun by the media and other political parties that our Post Offices are closing in Rural Ireland, is simply not true. It is not Government policy to close post offices. 227 closed between 20062010 under Fianna Fa?l and 27 have closed since 2011. The reason for these closures are due to natural causes ie, the Postmaster/mistress in question may have decided to retire or sadly, deceased and there was no one to take over the service.

All efforts are being made by this Government to secure the viability of the Post Office service into the future. The Post Office Network Business Development Group was set up by my colleague Minister White, and is led by independent chair and businessman Bobby Kerr, the Business Development Group will draw up key proposals for maintaining and gaining business for a sustainable post office network.

290 JOBS CREATED IN CARLOW DUE TO RETENTION OF 9% VAT

I am delighted to confirm that the 9% VAT rate in the Tourism & Hospitality sector has been retained again in Budget 2016. It supports over 1,700 jobs in Carlow alone and contributes significantly to the local economy. This is an issue I have been very vocal on for the past number of years. I engaged with local businesses within this sector and undertook a survey to establish the value of its retention for local business. Since its retention, over 290 have been created . The Tourism and Hospitality Sector is a critical employer and driver of our local economies here in the Constituency.

30M FOR RURAL TOWNS AND VILLAGES + 4M FOR REDZ

I recently announced the funding allocations for the creation of a Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ) pilot scheme. I am delighted to confirm that Borris has been identified as a REDZ areas and I have allocated 50,000 to these projects. It also means that all the states agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, the Local Authority and Local Enterprise Office will channel their resources into these areas working with the Community groups, advancing their plans in order to incentivise sustainable local job creation and enterprise development. I have no doubt that this project will make a real difference in these areas. It is my aim to expand upon these REDZ to include other areas, towns and villages, that require investment and support. I am confident that these resources coupled with the 30million for the rural towns and villages renewal scheme that I also recently announced are just the beginning of a process of rural renewal and regeneration.

Ann Phelan TD with Anne Marie Tierney Le Roux, IDA Regional Manager and Joanna Murphy CEO of Connect Ireland

SUPPORTING RURAL FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS

Rachel Doyle (The Arboretum Carlow) Minister for Rural Affairs Ann Phelan TD and Paula Fitzsimons (Director ACORNS)

I launched a new programme called "Acorns" to provide support for women in rural areas who have recently started or are taking the first steps towards starting their own business. It will run for at least 3- 6 months and will provide participants with knowledge, support and networking opportunities so that their businesses can succeed and grow. This landmark new programme will help support up to 50 selected female rural entrepreneurs have been competitively selected from nearly 200 applications for Acorns, and represent rural areas in twenty-one out of twenty-six counties. The participants will be mentored by 6 highly successful "leads", all of whom bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the programme.

250 MILLION REGIONAL JOBS PLAN

The regional jobs initiative will help to make sure that the jobs recovery is spread to every region across the country. The plan will be led by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland and will take a bottom-up approach working with local agencies and organisations to drive local job creation in Carlow as part of the South East Jobs Action Plan. I am currently working closely with IDA Regional Manager Anne Marie Tierney Le Roux and CEO of Connect Ireland, Joanna Murphy on ways to attract FDI and domestic investment in rural parts of Carlow.

CARLOW TO BENEFIT FROM

250M LEADER FUNDING

Earlier this year, I launched the 250m Rural Development Programme with my colleague Minister Alan Kelly. This funding will support the delivery of LEADER funding, to rural areas out to 2020 and will focus on tackling rural isolation, generating employment and stimulating village renewal. I announced over 7.8 M for Carlow. It is all about community participation and a real "bottom up" approach. The LEADER strategy selection process allows Local Action Groups all over the country to express an interest in supporting the delivery of LEADER funding over the next 56 years. I am confident that these resources will support the sustainable development of rural communities the length and breadth of Carlow.

SECURING 21M FOR SOCIAL HOUSING IN

CARLOW

Over 21 million has been allocated to the Local Authorities in Carlow for the purposes of meeting the Social Housing needs. The move comes as part of the Government's 3.8 billion social housing strategy announced last November out to 2020. 6 new social housing projects in Carlow will solve nearly 80 percent of the immediate need for homes in the county. I can confirm that authorisation has been given for new homes to be built in Borris, Tullow, Rathvilly, Bagenalstown & Myshall with a multi-million euro investment by this Government in Social Housing. This funding will be invested in a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes by local authorities designed to accommodate 25% of those currently on the housing waiting lists in social housing across the Country. However, Carlow is above average with over 41% to be accommodated.

DELIVERING

NEW SCHOOL

FOR CARLOW

I am delighted to confirm that Tyndall college, which will consist of a post primary vocational school, as well as Carlow Institute of Further Education & training, has been secured and will be built by the end of 2017. The sod was officially turned on the site in Mortarstown by my Colleague Minister Jan O'Sullivan, TD. This is a great announcement for Carlow and clear indication that this Government is serious about investing in Education.

NO PYLONS IN CARLOW

I am delighted to confirm that Eirgrid have decided that they will not be deploying overhead lines in its Grid Link Project. I have worked very closely with community groups and activists throughout Carlow regarding this issue. An extensive consultation process took place, of which I put forward my own submission based on the concerns of residents here and in other parts of Kilkenny regarding the construction of Pylons in our scenic environment. I am delighted that our concerns were taken on board and that Eirgrid have decided to deploy a new regional option which will use a smart grid technology "series compensation" which will allow more power to be transmitted on the existing lines.

135M TO FOSTER RURAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Following the Budget Announcement I am delighted to confirm that 135M has been allocated to invest in rural economic development and community development in the coming year. This will include amongst other initiatives, funding under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and LEADER programmes. In 2016, some 40,000 people will receive direct one-to-one labour market training and supports through SICAP.

Working with your local Labour Team

Cllr Tom?s Breathnach Cllr William Paton

086 0704114

087 678 7115

breathnachtomas@ willfpaton@

Cllr William Quinn

086 1659115 QuinnWm49@yahoo.ie

Cllr Maurice Shortall

087 7543906 mauriceshortall@

Ann Phelan TD

@AnnPhelanTD Ann Phelan

18 Patrick Street, Kilkenny Phone: 056 7756000 Mobile: 086 3294420 Email: ann.phelan@oir.ie

0612

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