Deputy Michael Lowry Condemns The Latest Initiative To Regenerate Rural Ireland.
RURAL IRELAND IN CRISIS.
Deputy Michael Lowry Condemns The Latest Initiative To Regenerate Rural Ireland.
Deputy Michael Lowry has this week criticised the late late Government Initiative on a stimulus package to regenerate Rural Ireland. Labour Minister Ann Phelan has been Minister with specific responsibility for Rural Development for almost 5 years. We hardly knew she existed but hey presto a couple of months before an election she comes out of a slumber with a whopper of an empty promise. Since this Government was elected all we have heard is aspirational statements and hot air. This most recent announcement is a paltry €30m pre-election gimmick. Minister Ann Phelan has the audacity to allocate €4m of this fund to her own constituency of Carlow/Kilkenny leaving €26m for the rest of the country. The kind of schemes covered under the new proposal such as renovation of old buildings and improving local amenities are already covered under the terms of Leader Group and Lottery Funding. The real issue faced is that the funding available to Leader in Tipperary has been cut by €15 m. It’s ironic that the person who presided over that €15m cut is one and same Minister Kelly.
The root cause of the crisis in rural Ireland is the lack of job opportunity for young people. Thousands of our young people have had to emigrate, forced to leave home, leave their families, friends and community. Parents are denied the privilege of being close to their loved ones, denied the gift of seeing them mature into adulthood. There are many issues as a consequence of this emigration. Fewer houses being built, no work for builders and tradesmen, fewer children being born, schools losing numbers, putting teachers jobs at risk with small rural schools facing closure. We then have small shops, post offices and Garda Stations shut down. We also face the prospect, due to a shortage of priests we are going to have parish clustering with implications for rural churches and social contact. Emigration has had a massive impact on local communities and in particular sports clubs. Many GAA soccer and Rugby teams have been decimated by the flight of its young members.
The government and the national agencies have done nothing to correct the imbalance between city and rural regeneration. Access to a proper broadband service and information technology is a huge disadvantage. It is impossible for country towns to attract industry as it has little prospect of competing against the city locations that have the entire necessary infrastructure already in place. The IDA should immediately construct advance factories in places like Tipperary. It is inevitable that when a Company decides to set up business it will make a decision on the location based on a ready to go turnkey facility.
Deputy Lowry stated – we now have a two speed economy – one for Dublin and one for the rest, operating in a fast and slow lane. The closure of Garda Stations has left older people in particular feeling vulnerable at a time when city crime gangs are roaming the country causing fear and anxiety. The feeling of isolation is made worse by a combination of no local transport which makes it impossible for people to socialise.
Deputy Michael Lowry invites local groups to apply for Annual Funding from the Arts Council of Ireland
Deputy Michael Lowry Invites Local Groups To Apply For Annual Arts Council Funding
Applications are now open for Annual Funding from the Arts Council of Ireland for 2016. Persons or local groups interested in applying should visit the Arts Council of Ireland website. Applications for funding for 2016 period will close at 17:30, on Thursday 08 October 2015. Applications must be submitted online where applicants may request a contribution towards both operating and artistic programming costs. Organisations applying for the first time are requested to first discuss their suitability for this funding programme with the relevant Head of Team at the Arts Council.
Making your application
Register with the Arts Council’s Online Services
All applications must be made through the Arts Council’s Online Services; applications made in any other way (by post, fax or email) will not be accepted.
You must have an Online Services account to make an application. If you do not already have an Online Services account, sign up by filling out the registration form : HERE
Within five working days you will be issued (via email) with a unique ARN (artist reference number) and password that you can use to sign in to Online Services.
Give yourself enough time to complete the application
You should become familiar with the Online Services website well in advance of the deadline and in advance of preparing an application. It is likely that there will be heavy traffic on the site on the final afternoon of the closing date. You should prepare and submit well in advance of the deadline.
Upload times can be much longer than download times. It may take you longer than you think to upload your supporting materials.
Making your application online
To make your application online, you go through five main stages. Click Save draft at the end of each stage. You can come back to your application and revise it at any time before you finally submit it.
Choose funding programme and download application form
To start a new application, click the Make an application button on your home page, and follow the prompts to choose the Annual Funding programme. Give your application a unique reference by which to identify it. At this stage you can also download the application form and the Financial Review Template.
More information is available from the Arts Council of Ireland Website
Deputy Michael Lowry encourages people to apply for the water conservation grant
Deputy Michael Lowry encourages people to apply for the Water Conservation Grant
Every household that registered with Irish Water, on or before 30 June 2015, will receive a letter from the Department of Social Protection inviting them to apply for the Water Conservation Grant.
Households can expect to receive their letter by 30 September 2015 at the latest. You cannot make your application without this letter as it contains your household’s Transaction Identification Number (TIN) and Water Point Reference Number (WPRN).
A website has been set up to make it easier for applicants to apply. The closing date for applications is Thursday 8th October 2015.
See : Water Grant Website
When applying you will need the following information:
- TIN (Transaction Identification Number)
- WPRN (Water Point Reference Number)
- Irish Water Account Number (On your Irish Water Bill or on your online account)
- Personal Public Service Number (PPSN)
- Bank Account Detail (BIC and IBAN Numbers)
You can also apply by phoning the Water Conservation Grant Support Team between 9am and 5pm
- 0761 087 890
- 1890 100 043
If you have registered with Irish Water on or before 30 June 2015 but haven’t received a letter by 30th September 2015 Please contact the Water Conservation Grant Support Team on the numbers above or see Water Grant Website.
Should anyone need assistance when applying for the Grant please contact my office on (0504) 22022
Deputy Michael Lowry encourages Tipperary Communities to enter the Eir FibrePower Competition
Deputy Michael Lowry encourages Tipperary Communities to enter the Eir FibrePower Competition.
Eir are looking for Tipperary Communities to enter the FibrePower Competition. The competition winners will be have Eir build a high speed Fibre to the Home (FTTH) broadband network within your community at no cost to you or your community. There can only be one winner, and with an investment of approximately €250,000 this is truly a prize the whole community can get behind. All entries must be in by the 29th September 2015.
How to Enter
Have your say and get your community connected at no cost by simply telling us why your community should be the next Eir Wholesale Fibre to the Home trial.
- 1. Check that your community is firstly in the intervention footprint area or within the NBP – simply visit Broadband National Plan – your community needs to be located in the amber area on the map – or if you prefer, each county is broken up into county listings here
- 2. View the competition checklist
- 3. Print off the application form FibrePower Your Community Application Form
As there is a bit of work to do in terms of rallying the troops and getting your application completed, it would be great to know that your entry will be with us soon, also we could keep you posted on entries we have received from your county. So let us know you have started by emailing us here your intent, it will take two seconds, then with your checklist and application printed you can …..
- 4. Discuss details required with your community
- 5. Find your spokesperson
- 6. Get creative
- 7. Submit your entry via post or online here
- 8. Any queries or issues email fibrepower@eir.ie
Michael Lowry T.D. welcomes the Music Capital Scheme 2015
Michael Lowry T.D. welcomes the announcement by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, confirming capital funds of €210,000 for the Music Capital Scheme 2015
This scheme provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups/ensembles and professional musicians. The Music Capital Scheme will open for applications on Monday, 14th September 2015, with a deadline of Thursday, 15th October 2015. Online application forms will be accessible through this page, and guidelines will also be available. The allocation of funding will come in two stream.
The scheme is entering it 8th year and was originally established by The Arts Council, The IRMA Trust and Music Network. Due to the success of the scheme funding has been provided since 2011 by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. This year the scheme is managed by Music Network Ireland.
STREAM 1
Stream 1 will be open for applications from non-professional performing groups or ensembles, and organisations seeking to buy instruments on behalf of non-professional music making in any genre.
As well as completing the online application form, Stream 1 applicants will be required to submit the following essential support material to Music Network by post:
Essential support material (Stream 1):
– History of organisation
– Biography of key artistic personnel
– Quotations from two instrument dealers for proposed purchases
– A copy of your child/vulnerable adults protection policy and procedures (if organisation involves people under the age of 18/vulnerable adults)
– Copy of constitution or memorandum and articles of association of organisation (primary/post primary schools are not required to supply this item)
Stream 1 applicants may also submit the following optional support material by post:
Optional support material (Stream 1):
– Recordings in audio CD or standard DVD formats only (please indicate which tracks/chapters should be listened to/viewed, and label -recordings thoroughly including listing all artists as well as date and place of recording) – highly recommended.
– Publicity material – posters, programmes, fliers etc.
– Press cuttings or adjudication sheets from competitions
– Confirmation of partnership funding (if already secured)
– Stamped self-addressed envelope of adequate dimensions, and with adequate postage attached, if you require your support material to be returned.
STREAM 2
Stream 2 will be open for applications from highly skilled performing artists seeking to buy a high-value musical instruments.
As well as completing the online application form, Stream 2 applicants will be required to submit the following essential support material to Music Network by post:
Essential support material (Stream 2):
– Full CV including details of training, performance history and names of groups/ensembles/musicians with whom you have collaborated
– Recordings in audio CD or standard DVD formats only. (Note: You must indicate which tracks/chapters should be listened to/viewed. Please label recordings thoroughly including listing all artists as well as date and place of recording. Recordings are not required to be produced by a professional production company, but should be clearly relevant to the application.)
– Two quotations from instrument dealers for proposed purchases or similar
Stream 2 applicants may also submit the following optional support material by post:
Optional support material (Stream 2):
– Reviews, press cuttings or other printed material etc.
– Stamped self-addressed envelope of adequate dimensions, and with adequate postage attached, if you require your support material to be returned.
MUSIC CAPITAL SCHEME ADVICE CLINICS
Music Capital Scheme advice clinics will be held in Limerick (Culture House), Dublin (National Concert Hall Building), Cork (CIT Cork School of Music), Galway (An Taibhdhearc) and Kilkenny (Kilkenny Castle) between 22nd and 30th September. More details here.
Read the FAQs from last year’s Music Capital Scheme Clinics here.
Information provided by The Music Network Ireland Website
Michael Lowry T.D. welcomes the RSA and ESB ‘Back to School’ road safety campaign
Michael Lowry T.D. Welcomes The RSA and ESB ‘Back to School’ Road Safety Campaign
Deputy Michael Lowry welcomes the RSA and ESB Networks Back to School road safety campaign. The two organisation have teamed up to distribute 85,500 High Visibility Vests FREE to every child starting school this year. Schools can now register online for the RSA’s ‘Back to School’ road safety packs which will be sent to primary schools nationwide over the coming months.
To register online for your packs, or for further road safety information for parents, teachers and students, visit Back To School 2015
More information is available on the RSA Website
Deputy Lowry pleased to support the Eddie Connolly Trust Fund
Deputy Lowry is pleased to support the community of Loughmore Castleiney in there fundraising efforts for the Eddie Connolly Trust Fund
The Eddie Connolly Trust Fund will hosting a Family Dog Night on the 18th of September in aid of the Eddie Connolly Trust Fund to raise money for ongoing treatment.
Eddie is 29 years of age and has been a long serving member of the Loughmore Castleiney GAA Club. Eddie represented Tipperary in both hurling and football during his distinguished career. In late 2013, he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Since then he has been receiving extensive medical treatment. Presently he is undergoing a new form of cancer treatment in Spain which is not covered by medical insurance.
On the night there will be 10 races and an Auction. Tickets will be €10 (Buster Ticket and Entry), Under 16’s go free. Tickets can be bought from any family member or any member of the Loughmore Castleiney GAA Club.
For those who wish to assist in the fundraising efforts you can also sponsor the following
- Race Sponsorship €500
- Nomination of a dog €100
- Donate item for the auction to follow the racing
- Alternatively the fundraising committee has established a bank account for Eddie’s fund to which you can make a direct donation. Details are as follows.
Name: Eddie Connolly Trust Fund
Account No: 23828075
Sort Code: 93 53 01
IBAN: IE19AIBK93530123828075
BIK: AIBKIE2D
All donations are greatly appreciated.
Irish Water to alert homeowners in Tipperary regarding lead pipes.
Irish Water to Issue Letters and Information Pack to Tipperary Homes where they suspect the usage of Lead Piping :
Lead was used in the plumbing of houses and buildings built up to and including the 1970s. Since then, the presence of lead in drinking water has been recognised as a health concern and the acceptable limit has been reduced a number of times. In December 2013 the limit dropped again. International research has shown that two out of three houses with lead pipes are now likely to exceed the new limit.
Irish Water has now begun a customer awareness campaign in Tipperary, in consultation with the HSE and the EPA, on lead pipes and how lead can be picked up by the drinking water as it passes through these pipes. As part of this, Irish Water is now matching the meter locations with its customer details and is writing to any property where the metering programme noted that there may be a lead pipe connection. This makes it more likely that the internal plumbing and pipes in this property are made of lead.
These communications are issuing to houses throughout Tipperary, and will consist of a covering letter, an Lead Pipes Customer Information, and a copy of the HSE Lead in Drinking Water FAQs 2015.
If you have any specific queries on the correspondence or on lead pipes, you can contact my office directly on (0504) 22022
Michael Lowry T.D. has expressed his concern and support for the Dairy Farmers of Tipperary.
Deputy Michael Lowry has urged the Government and Minister Simon Coveney to take action with the on-going crises within the Dairy Industry which has resulted in the continuing dramatic decline of Milk Prices.
Deputy Lowry was speaking in response to research compiled by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA)
“The recent Research conducted by economics professor Alan Mathews of Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has shown Tipperary will see a fall of probably €111m through direct reduction in milk price and the multiplier effect that sees that milk price spent in local communities. The research has shown that milk prices per litre has fallen from 38.4 cent per litre to a low of 28 cent per litre in some parts of the country.
From speaking to Dairy Farmers across Tipperary it is evident they are under severe financial pressure due to these falling prices. We must not forget Co-op’s such as Arrabawn, Drombane, Centenary/Thurles, Tipperary, Mullinahone, Glanbia and Dairygold. These Co-op’s are providing massive employment within the county and are currently making great efforts to support Milk prices from within their own resource. This is providing vital support for many Tipperary based farming families.
Increased production internationally particularly in New Zealand and the United States coupled with the European ban on Russia and China’s economic weakness have all had an negative impact on Irish Milk price. It is now time for Dublin and Brussels to introduce practical measures to ensure that thousands of farming families in Tipperary will come through this crisis”
Deputy Lowry Concluded:
“I have suggested in my representations to Deputy Coveney and the Government to introduce a 5-point Dairy Recovery Plan:
- Early approval and payment of all Farmer Schemes & Grants to Farming Families. This will provide much needed cash flow in the Farming community.
- I am calling on the Minister for Finance Deputy Michael Noonan to investigate the possibility to allow provisions for Dairy Farmers to defer their upcoming tax bill to the next tax year. The inclusion of this in Budget 2016 would allow time for milk prices to recover and in turn will help cash flow for the farming community.
- That the banking sector should be instructed to investigate the possibility of providing low interest rate bridging loans to Dairy Farmers Nationally.
- €70 million of European Superlevy fines have been imposed on the Irish Dairy Industry. I have called on Minister Coveney to work with other EU Agricultural Ministers and Farming Organisations to ensure that this €70 million is retained within the EU Agricultural Budget. An emergency meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers is scheduled for September 7th in Brussels.
- That the Department of Agriculture continue working with Co-op’s to develop tools to allow farmers hedge portions of their milk at fixed prices to protect them from the volatility of the market.
I truly believe these provisions will allow the Dairy Farming Community in Tipperary to recover and in turn secure the future of 1,000’s of Jobs in Dairy Farming Industry. I would also call on the EU Commission to raise the intervention floor price for dairy product. This in turn would give some confidence to the market as well as giving confidence to the producer”
Ends
Michael Lowry Welcomes the New FEAD program 2014-2020 for the most deprived persons in Europe
FEAD program 2014-2020 for the most deprived persons in Europe
- More Information Available: EXPLANATORY GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION FORM
- Application Form Available: FEAD Partner Application Form
What is FEAD?
The Department of Social Protection is the designated managing authority for the Operational Programme (OP) for the Fund for the Economic Aid (FEAD) to the most deprived who will have responsibility for the implementation of the programme in Ireland.
Who will FEAD be targeted at?
FEAD support will help people take their first steps out of poverty and social exclusion. The FEAD will help the most deprived people by addressing one of their most basic needs i.e. food and non-food for personal use e.g. sleeping bags, shampoo and other items for personal use, which is a precondition for them to be able to get a job or follow a training course.
What resources are available?
FEAD Ireland will be funded by some €22m of European funding and €4m of Irish exchequer funding totaling some 26.7m for the period 2014-2020.
Sixty-five per cent (65%) of available resources will be applied to the provision of food and thirty five per cent (35%) to the provision of basic material assistance e.g. sleeping bags, personal need items such as shampoo, shower gel etc.
Accompanying measures funding will also be available to a maximum of 5% of the value of food or non-food items purchased.
How will FEAD work?
The Department will establish an open selection mechanism in a fair, transparent and equitable manner for the provision of funding from the OP to partner organisations to provide food and /or basic material assistance for homeless persons. This will allow the organisations to purchase food and basic material essential non-food items and will then organise the distribution of food/non-food directly to people or transfer the food/non-food products to other not-for-profit organisations working with the target groups.
The criteria will consist of the following elements:
- organisations status, governance structures and legal/recognisable form
- expertise in the provision of food and/or basic material assistance
- capacity to target, deliver services to and support persons who are most severely deprived
- track record in the provision of services to persons who are most deprived
- organisational policies in respect of equality, non-discrimination, care of vulnerable people, accessibility, and inclusion
- ability to record and provide necessary data for monitoring/evaluation
- administrative, operational and management capacity
- financial standing and ability to manage public funds
- integration with other publicly funded programmes (to avoid duplication of support from other publicly funded programmes)
- geographical coverage.
Focus of OP
The focus of the fund will be on those on the margins of society and in need of essential supports. Effectively, the OP will target
- homeless persons including long-term rough sleepers
- children in low income/work intensity households
- victims of domestic violence in refuges and shelters
- person suffering or recovering from addictions
- certain members of the Roma and Traveller communities
- vulnerable persons transitioning to independent living from emergency accommodation, institutionalized care settings or places of detention
- any person without income, accommodation or means not otherwise defined above.