Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Ireland Construction News Archive for December 2012
20/12/2012
Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, has announced details of the designation of the North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock areas of the Dublin Docklands as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ). This will provide for continued fast-track planning in designated ar
20/12/2012
Fine Gael Meath West TD, Ray Butler, has welcomed the decision by the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, to grant a property tax waiver to householders living in homes affected by pyrite. Deputy Butler also welcomed the progress on establishing a Pyrite Resolution Board, as announced by the
20/12/2012
Sinn Féin Energy Spokesperson Phil Flanagan MLA has welcomed the publication of the Competition Commission's final determination in the price control dispute between Phoenix Gas and The Utility Regulator. Mr Flanagan, who is also the Deputy Chair of the Enterprise, Trade & Investment Committee, sai
20/12/2012
SDLP MP for South Down Margaret Ritchie has said that recent answers to her parliamentary questions from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change show the folly of the UK's future nuclear programme. Speaking after studying the answers to her questions Ms Ritchie said: "These figures reveal th
19/12/2012
Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has said the €154,400 granted to Ecotricity Ltd by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government under the LEADER programme is extremely positive for rural Waterford. This funding will go towards the construction of a new hydroelectric gen
19/12/2012
Cork County Council has signed a contract with EPS Ltd., Mallow for the upgrade of Derryginagh Water Treatment Plant in Bantry. The plant in Derryginagh was constructed in the 1960's and currently supplies 70% of Bantry's drinking water. The contract, in the sum of €515,260.82, involves a modernis
19/12/2012
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Agriculture and Community Éamon Ó Cuív has said the announcement of a grant scheme for septic tank owners need work is a 'small step in the right direction' but that it fails the test of fairness for rural dwellers. Speaking following this week's announcement by the Envi
19/12/2012
The Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, has announced the appointment of three new Board members to CITB-ConstructionSkills NI. CITB-ConstructionSkills NI is the only remaining statutory training board in Northern Ireland. Its purpose is to encourage the training of those employ
19/12/2012
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone has welcomed plans by NIE to invest £44 million to facilitate renewable wind generation. Mr McGlone who is Chair of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee was speaking after the Utility Regulator signalled its intention to approve the investment plans. "I want to wel
19/12/2012
Sinn Féin's spokesperson on environment, community & local government, Brian Stanley TD, has accused the government of running scared from debating the secret report on the threat posed by Sellafield. Deputy Stanley said: "I have written twice to the Ceann Comhairle requesting that the Dáil debates
18/12/2012
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., has announced a grant scheme to provide financial assistance to households whose septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems, require remediation or upgrading following inspection under the Wate
18/12/2012
Councillor Larry Thompson has welcomed news that the sale of Cultra Railway Station House has entered the final stages, with the historic listed building set to be refurbished and saved for future generations. The North Down Councillor has been a vocal campaigner in the fight to save the local land
18/12/2012
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced that Asphalt Burner Services in Castledawson has won its first business in China for innovative quarrying and road construction machinery. During the visit, the Minister was briefed by Jodie Lewis, Sales and Business Development Manager. The company,
18/12/2012
SDLP Ballycastle SDLP Councillor Dónal Cunningham has commended the work of the Council's Development Department who have arranged for the two consortia who were successful in their bids for the tidal energy projects off Fair Head and Torr Head to meet with the Council in January 2013. Mr Cunningha
18/12/2012
Portglenone-based Gibson Paving Limited has secured almost £800,000 worth of new business in Great Britain as a result of its export sales drive supported by Invest Northern Ireland. The Co. Antrim firm, established over 25 years ago, provides brick and granite paving solutions to private and comme
18/12/2012
Works are taking place on the A29 Armagh to Keady Road at its junction with Bachelors Walk and almost complete. The works are being carried out to improve upon the poor collision history at this location and will include some minor road realignment works; an upgrade of the existing signing and road
17/12/2012
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD and Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD, have announced a new €1.69 million energy efficiency research project aimed at significantly reducing energy costs for industry and creating jobs. The
17/12/2012
Students from Thurles in County Tipperary represented Ireland at the U4Energy Awards in Brussels and brought home the Best Practice Beyond U4Energy award for their Generation Green campaign. Students Emma Kerwick, Shauna O'Flynn, Lydia O'Toole, Caroline O'Connor, Jennifer Mullally and Mary Claire H
17/12/2012
SDLP Newry and Mourne Council Group Leader Connaire McGreevy has expressed his grave disappointment at the decision to uphold the rejection of plans for a 200-berth marina in Warrenpoint. The Special European Union Programmes Body had rejected an application for funding for the Marina and today the
17/12/2012
Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE), the network company, has received a top 'green' accolade from Business in the Community's ARENA Network by achieving Quintile One status at this year's 14th Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey Results Launch. The Survey, carried out by ARENA Networ
17/12/2012
Environment Minister Alex Attwood today refused planning permission for a food superstore on a site at Belfast Road, Ballynahinch. The application proposed the re-development of an out-of-centre site involving the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of a 3,175 sqm food superstore. Th
17/12/2012
Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin TD has written to Taoiseach Enda Kenny appealing for him to make Dáil time available to properly debate the introduction of the Family Home Tax. Deputy Martin commented: "The scenes in the Dáil exposed the Government's total failure on political reform. The Family
14/12/2012
Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland has visited the former Murray's Tobacco factory in Belfast. The Department for Social Development granted £1.3million towards the £4.6million refurbishment and restoration of the factory. This investment boost to the Sandy Row area will transform and
14/12/2012
The Northern Ireland Renewables Industry Group (NIRIG) is in a collaboration between the Irish Wind Energy Association and RenewableUK. NIRIG represents the views of the Renewable Energy Industry in Northern Ireland, providing a conduit for knowledge exchange, policy development support and consen
14/12/2012
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D. has hosted a colloquium on post-primary school design organised jointly by the Department and the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI). The event is part of the process of bringing the education sector and the architectural and bui
14/12/2012
Phil Hogan T.D., Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government has announced additional funding of €1.2m in 2012 towards the completion of the Cobh Landslide Prevention Programme. Cobh has a history of landslides with the associated threat to public safety and property. The Government, t
14/12/2012
Tourism Minister Arlene Foster has officially opened a new hotel in Enniskillen and announced that the £825,000 development will create 33 jobs over the next two years. The Enniskillen Hotel is a development by Damiraco Ltd and Invest Northern Ireland has offered Damiraco £99,000 of support towards
14/12/2012
The fact that almost one in four family home mortgages are now in trouble confirms that this is absolutely the wrong time to introduce a property tax on the family home, according to Fianna Fáil Finance Spokesperson Michael McGrath. Deputy McGrath stated: "The figures released by the Central Bank s
14/12/2012
Sinn Féin Energy Spokesperson Phil Flanagan said the announcement by the British government that it intends to allow the resumption of fracking should have no impact on any future decisions in Ireland. Mr Flanagan said: "This decision solely relates to what happens in Britain and should have no imp
14/12/2012
SDLP Chair of the Enterprise Trade Investment Committee Patsy McGlone has welcomed the launch of the farm safety campaign by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland. The Mid Ulster MLA was speaking following a recent briefing of the committee by representatives of the Health and Safety
13/12/2012
The EirGrid North Kerry project will see the grid in the south-west reinforced with a new electricity station and electricity lines, providing security of supply and assisting in exporting renewable energy generated in the area. An Bord Pleanála have granted planning permission for the prop
13/12/2012
The Regional Development Minister, Danny Kennedy, MLA, has issued an appeal to the public to follow the advice highlighted in NI Water's 'Winter Proof' Campaign. In particular, property owners are asked to do the two step pipe check; simply check your pipes are protected and if not, take steps to
13/12/2012
Rural Development Minister, Michelle O'Neill, together with Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland, have announced the start of redevelopment work at the former military base in Forkhill. New housing, workspace units, community centre, crèche and an all-weather multi sports pitch are to be
13/12/2012
Christmas is fast approaching and as we prepare to get festive and celebrate, South Dublin Count Council is asking everyone to think about the environment. Every year each household generates a lot of extra of packaging waste over the Christmas period, an estimated 54kgs per household. So this Chr
13/12/2012
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone has welcomed a proposed reduction in planning fee for applications that are submitted after the five year expiry date of a previous planning approval. The proposal was revealed by the Minister of the Environment in an Assembly written answer to a question from the
13/12/2012
Hill Engineering in Newry has won its first business in Australia for its leading-edge TEFRA quick coupler with assistance from Invest Northern Ireland. The company, a specialist in the design and manufacture of earth moving attachments for the quarrying, mining and construction industry, has secur
13/12/2012
Crowley Carbon, an Irish-based Energy Services Company, has announced a new agreement, estimated to be worth €64 million over the next three years, with 'Emrill', one of the largest Facilities Management companies in the Middle East. The deal will see the Irish company deploy its unique Smart Buil
13/12/2012
Transport Minister, Danny Kennedy today opened the new Translink NI Railways engineering depot which is located at Adelaide in South Belfast. Costing around £28 million, the facility has been constructed to maintain the Translink NI Railways fleet of 20 new Class 4000 trains which were recently int
12/12/2012
Environment Minister Alex Attwood has said that Pre Application Discussions (PADs) and early community engagement can help result in a timely determination of the Windsor Park planning application. The Minister was commenting following confirmation that DOE Planning has received a planning applicat
12/12/2012
Alan Kelly, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport, has announced that the prospect of Nenagh becoming connected to the Natural Gas Network is within touching distance. In a statement Mr Kelly, TD, said: "I have been working on bringing gas to Nenagh since I first bec
12/12/2012
Airtricity has presented more than £60,000 in community funding to local groups in Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone from its Community Funds for the Bessy Bell, Bin Mountain and Tappaghan Wind Farms. The funding presentation from Airtricity's 2012 Community Fund took placeat a ceremony held at the Mel
12/12/2012
NI Water has announced that an essential programme of Sewer Improvement Work will get underway in January 2013 in the Linen Gardens/Abetta Parade area of East Belfast. Approximately 500,000 has been invested in this programme of work, which will commence in mid-January 2013 and will last approximat
12/12/2012
The Green Party today welcomed the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union and called on the Irish Government to put climate change at the heart of our Presidency agenda. Green Party Environment Spokesperson, Cllr Malcolm Noonan, said: "Ireland is respected internationally on human
12/12/2012
North Down Alliance Councillor Andrew Muir is continuing his campaign to end the sewage pollution problem in Holywood, after recently meeting NI Water officials to discuss lack of progress to end the awful smell endured by many for several years. The Alliance representative is also calling upon res
12/12/2012
Sinn Féin MEP, Martina Anderson has said it was a "disappointing" outcome of the UN climate change summit in Doha. She said: "The EU was quite blatant in its efforts to limit European industry climate protection targets. Despite the urgency, the EU did not raise its greenhouse gas emission reductio
12/12/2012
Hamilton Architects has celebrated its 40th anniversary with over 130 clients, consultants and staff past and present getting together to commemorate the ruby milestone. With architectural experience spanning over four decades, Hamilton Architects is today a leading and progressive architectural
11/12/2012
KBC Bank Ireland has launched its first high street retail office in Dublin opening a flagship unit at 142 Lower Baggot Street today. John Reynolds, CEO, KBC Bank Ireland said that the opening of the Dublin office is the first phase of an expansion programme by KBC which will see the bank invest i
11/12/2012
A building project in Belfast has won a top award in a competition organised by Stone Federation Great Britain. The Natural Stone Awards are held every two years and are described as “a celebration of the use of this attractive, traditional, yet vitally modern building material.” This year the cat
11/12/2012
In early October the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed the drilling programme to progress characterisation of Kerdiffstown Landfill, and identified the type and quantity of waste that exists in every section of the site. Numerous samples have been taken and analysed and the results wil
11/12/2012
The rate of house price falls eased in November, according to the latest RICS and Ulster Bank Northern Ireland Housing Market Survey, however prices are still in decline. The price balance of the survey was -49, as more than half of chartered surveyors said that prices fell in the past three months
11/12/2012
Fianna Fáil Meath Senator Thomas Byrne has condemned the Government's decision to cast aside pre-election promises and introduce a punitive charge on the family home. Describing the property tax plans as the "wrong tax at the wrong time", Senator Byrne pointed out that Meath households face among
11/12/2012
The volume of output in building and construction was 4.2% lower in the third quarter of 2012 when compared with the preceding period, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). This reflects decreases of 5.3%, 2.4% and 1.9% respectively in the volume of residential building, civil engineeri
11/12/2012
The Tree Council of Ireland has partnered with Balfour Beatty CLG to provide funds to assist community groups to undertake well-planned tree planting projects during 2013. The main aim of the Community Tree Projects Grant Scheme is to encourage community groups to plant trees in locations where peo
11/12/2012
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, T.D., has announced the 50 school projects which are scheduled for construction in 2013. A €2 billion five-year capital investment programme, launched by Minister Quinn last March, gave details of 275 new major school building projects to begin o
11/12/2012
A €235,000 investment in cutting edge energy technology has repaid itself in less than three years, the manager of an East Cork Hotel said at the launch of a case study in the hotel. The Garryvoe Hotel has expanded in recent years from a two-star 17-bedroom hotel to a four-star 84 bedroom hotel wi
10/12/2012
Energy Minister, Pat Rabbitte, today announced the delivery of 150 construction jobs in a large wind energy project at Mount Lucas, east Offaly. He was speaking at the commencement of works on Bord na Móna’s €140 million investment that will see the construction of 30 high-spec turbines which will
10/12/2012
Electric Ireland was awarded 'Best Sports Sponsorship' and 'Best Use of TV' for its sponsorship of Team Ireland for the London Olympics 2012 at the inaugural Irish Sponsorship Awards at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin. The award-winning sponsorship was designed to support ESB in generating awareness a
10/12/2012
Ireland's welcome rise in the International climate performance index will be short lived if the Government continues to unpick progressive measures introduced in recent years, according to the Green Party. Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan said today. "It is great to see Ireland near the top of an in
10/12/2012
Element Power has welcomed the unveiling of provisions in the Energy Bill that lay the foundation for a route to market for Greenwire, a £6.5 billion energy infrastructure project to develop and build 3,000MW of onshore wind farms in the midlands of Ireland and connect them to the UK electricity gri
10/12/2012
St. Clare's Primary School, Harold's Cross, are the winners of The Dublin City Neighbourhoods School Awards 2012 for their effort in striving to promote a green environment and healthy lifestyle. The Lord Mayor Naoise Ó Muirí presented the award to St. Clare's at the Mansion House, Dublin. Primary
10/12/2012
Environment Minister Alex Attwood is advising householders that a further Scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance has been activated from 1 November – 31 March 2013. The scheme, approved by the Department of Finance and Personnel, provides assistance to householders, who have suffered severe incon
10/12/2012
Sinn Féin spokesperson on environment, community and local government, Brian Stanley TD, has accused Minister Phil Hogan of holding local authorities to ransom. Deputy Stanley said: "Minister Hogan is reported to have withheld a further €900k in funding from local authorities because of the non-pay
10/12/2012
Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has called on the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, to clarify whether homes affected by pyrite will be exempt from the property tax. "I cannot find anywhere in the Local Property Tax Bill any mention of the thousands of homes across the country that
10/12/2012
Mr Wilson Gamble and Mrs Elizabeth Claire Gamble of Drumlee Road, Ballymoney, were each fined £1,000 plus £106 legal and court costs at Coleraine Magistrates' Court after being found guilty to non compliance with a DOE Planning Enforcement Notice. Mr and Mrs Gamble were charged with the unauthorise
07/12/2012
Ballingarrane Research and Development Facility in Clonmel has been approved and a contractor has been appointed, it has been announced. Fianna Fáil Cllr for South Tipperary Cllr Siobhán Ambrose said: "It is hoped that the 1,500 square metres facility, which will cost approximately €3 million, will
07/12/2012
Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has secured European Regional Development funding of £2.44million towards the £3.6million cost of the redevelopment of Portadown Railway station. The Minister made the announcement today while visiting the station accompanied by Pat Colgan, Chief Executive of the Sp
07/12/2012
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has welcomed the National Roads Authority's opening of a €22 million stretch of road on the strategic N52 national secondary route in Westmeath. He said: "Although the roads building programme is largely frozen due to the ongoing economic crisis,
07/12/2012
St Clare's Primary School, Belfast, recently joined forces with NI Water to help spread its vital Lag and Tag message for winter. The tags are to highlight the need to begin preparations for winter. NI Water has produced the bright tag for customers to loop around the stop valve in their premises.
07/12/2012
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Naoise Ó Muirí, has officially unveiled a sculpture entitled 'Inverted Oil Rig' at Fr. Collins Park, The Hole in the Wall Road, Belmayne, Balgriffin, Dublin. Dublin City Council commissioned the sculpture from Artist, Alan Phelan and it was installed in the park in May 2011.
07/12/2012
All Irish local authorities are now having their public lighting powered by Energia following the leading independent energy provider’s most recent public procurement win. Energia continues to win public tenders to supply unmetered electricity to the local authorities and now powers 42,000 sites aro
07/12/2012
Transport Minister Danny Kennedy today announced the Preferred Option for the new road interchange at York Street in Belfast. Speaking at the announcement, following the assessment process and the completion of the Preferred Options Report, the Minister said: "The proposed improvements to this key
07/12/2012
Fianna Fáil Finance Spokesperson Michael McGrath has criticised the Government for not using this year's budget to help those in mortgage arrears. He commented: "This budget has failed to introduce a single measure to help those in mortgage arrears or caught in the negative equity trap. Instead, st
07/12/2012
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone has welcomed remarks made by the Chief Executive of Invest Northern Ireland, Alastair Hamilton during a committee meeting at Stormont. Mr McGlone who is Chair of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee said: "I asked Alastair Hamilton at a meeting of the DETI committee
07/12/2012
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Dessie Ellis TD slammed plans to apply the new family home tax to local authority and voluntary housing which could see higher rents for struggling tenants. Deputy Ellis continued: "The plan to apply this unfair tax on houses in the social housing system makes no s
06/12/2012
Labour minister Michael Conaghan has announced that this budget includes a series of stimulus measures which will create badly needed jobs in the construction sector. He also said there would be 10,000 new places introduced on employment programmes. He said: "This budget sees €17bn committed to pa
06/12/2012
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Shane McEntee, TD has addressed the National Agricultural Energy Efficiency Conference at the Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny. The conference was jointly organised by Teagasc, SEAI, the Farming Independent and Macra Na Feirme. In c
06/12/2012
SDLP Environment Minister Alex Attwood today responded to Sammy Wilson after the Finance Minister's comments in the Assembly yesterday about the Narrow Water bridge project in South Down. During a debate on an SDLP motion, carried by the Assembly directing the Executive and Finance Minister to get
06/12/2012
129 jobs are thought to have been saved following the sale of Moira construction firm McMullen Architectural Systems Limited. Administrators from PwC’s Business Recovery Services department were appointed to the firm on 5 December at the request of the directors. Joint Administrators Stephen Cave
06/12/2012
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced that 47 homes at the former St Patrick's Barracks in Ballymena are to be refurbished as part of a £3.8million social and affordable housing scheme. The 47 Ministry of Defence (MOD) married quarters will be refurbished by Fold Housing Assoc
06/12/2012
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland, has announced funding towards a major investment project worth £4m in Ballymena. The scheme will significantly enhance public space and accessibility within the town centre and is expected to add new vitality as well as stimulating support from within
06/12/2012
Deputy Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, has said that the plans announced by Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin, to provide a fund for the insulation retrofitting of buildings falls far short of what is needed. Deputy Colreavy sa
06/12/2012
Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Michelle Mulherin, has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, to introduce a rebate on diesel for the haulage industry. From July 1st 2013 hauliers will be able to recoup 7.5 cent on each litre of diesel purchased. She said: "This is a lifeline
06/12/2012
Speaking at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 18, in Doha, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD has highlighted the urgent need for concerted action to deliver a successful outcome. He said: "There is overwhelming scientific evidence that global warmin
06/12/2012
Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O'Sullivan, TD, has said that the priorities in the housing budget for 2013 focus on the core themes of reform and protecting the most vulnerable. She said: "In keeping with other Government Departments savings have had to found in the housing budget to contri
06/12/2012
Sinn Féin MLA Caitriona Ruane has congratulated the emergency services for their quick response to the gas leak at Warrenpoint Harbour. Ms Ruane said: "The first thing I would like to say is that my thoughts are with the people who have been injured and I hope that they make a full recovery. "I wo
05/12/2012
ESB Telecoms Limited (ESBT) in partnership with Geo Networks Limited, a leading UK fibre network provider, have announced the completion of a new optical fibre cable which directly links Irish businesses with major UK cities for the first time. The new cable connects ESBT's existing 1,300km fibre n
05/12/2012
Renewable energy generation from onshore wind farms across Ireland will be significantly increased using a EUR 155 million loan to Bord Gáis from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The EIB support will contribute to the construction and operation of six onshore wind farms, in Counties Tipperary,
05/12/2012
Environment Minister Alex Attwood today announced eight successful projects that will share up to £62,435 to improve water quality in their area. The new competitive grant scheme was open to voluntary and community groups, local councils and other not-for-profit organisations. The funding, provided
05/12/2012
At Cavan Circuit Court the Director of Public Prosecutions prosecuted Oxigen Environmental Limited and Cavan County Council for breaching a condition of an EPA waste licence between 14 February 2007 and 14 February 2009 contrary to section 39 of the Waste Management Act. The prosecution was based
05/12/2012
The SDLP has said the Narrow Water Bridge Project can become an icon for economic growth, in terms of tourism, infrastructure and strengthening relations north and south. South Down MLAs Karen McKevitt and Seán Rogers were speaking after the Assembly passed the SDLP motion calling for the Executive
05/12/2012
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced that local company Marlborough Engineering Ltd is investing over £3.6million in an expansion which will create 33 new jobs. Based in Belfast's Titanic Quarter, the company supplies high specification precision machined components and large scale fabri
05/12/2012
Dublin City Council is in the final days of public consultation on whether to extend the current operating hours of the HGV 5+ axle Cordon in Dublin City. The current operating hours run from 07.00hrs to 19.00hrs, while the proposed changes would see the Cordon extending from either 06.00hrs or 07.
05/12/2012
Fine Gael Kerry TD, Brendan Griffin, has called on the Government to consider the establishment of a State body that would co-ordinate and develop the oil industry in Ireland. Deputy Griffin was speaking during Topical Issues in the Dáil, where he said that it is crucial that the country gains the
05/12/2012
Regional Development Minister, Danny Kennedy has pledged a renewed effort to tackling the problems of unadopted roads in housing developments. The Minister was responding to an Assembly motion on unadopted roads in housing developments and said he recognised the difficulties faced by people living
05/12/2012
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced his Department's intention to take direct control of plans to develop Bangor's Queen's Parade Area. The move will see the Department for Social Development (DSD) purchase the land portfolio owned by Karl Greenfarm Properties Limited. Site
04/12/2012
North Antrim Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay has said that the Finance Minister Sammy Wilson must bring in measures to protect sub-contractors as soon as possible. His comments come after it was announced that nearly 150 jobs are to go at Joseph Hughes in Dunloy. Mr McKay said: "Our thoughts are with
04/12/2012
Drogheda Borough Council is currently preparing an Urban Design Framework Plan for Drogheda's Heritage Quarter. The area is defined by the line of the former town walls and includes the town centre. As part of the process, workshops will be held to give the local community and stakeholders an oppo
04/12/2012
Commenting on the announcement by the Israeli Government that it is planning to proceed with the construction of 3,000 new settlement units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Eamon Gilmore, T.D., said he is "extremely concerned" at the plans. He
04/12/2012
Fine Gael TD for Roscommon/South Leitrim, Frank Feighan, has warmly welcomed Environment Minister Phil Hogan's reallocation of €8m within the Rural Development Programme (RDP). Deputy Feighan says this move will now provide the financial impetus required for many important projects for rural communi
04/12/2012
SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat said an extension of the natural gas network from Limavady to serve Ballykelly, including the former army barracks at Shackleton and Greysteel would bring enormous economic benefits to the area. He said it will also make a significant contribution to tackling fuel po
04/12/2012
Environment Minister Alex Attwood has announced that DOE Planning is to recommend planning permission for a residential development in Newtownards. The development site lies between the Bangor and Donaghadee Roads to the north of the town and will provide a new residential neighbourhood with over 5
04/12/2012
Ulster Unionist Culture Arts & Leisure spokesperson Michael McGimpsey has welcomed assurances that the IFA is actively exploring how to incorporate a Football Museum into the redevelopment of Windsor Park. The South Belfast MLA said: "At a meeting of the Assembly's Culture, Arts & Leisure committee
04/12/2012
NI Water will be commencing essential improvements to the water and sewerage infrastructure in Ballynahinch town centre in January 2013 for approximately 5 months. The existing infrastructure is defective and aging, and it is essential that NI Water upgrades the necessary watermains and sewers in ad
04/12/2012
Sinn Fein housing spokesperson, Dessie Ellis TD has called on the Minister for Housing to begin working with Dublin City Council immediately on the reinstatement of the regeneration for the O’Devaney Gardens area. He made his call following the official scrapping of regeneration plans which had co
04/12/2012
General Shale, a concrete masonry products producer based in Tennessee, USA, recently decided to replace their ribbon mixer with a Rapid International RP2000 Planetary Mixer. Having been greatly impressed with the Planetary Mixer's fast mixing times and the quality of the concrete produced, General
03/12/2012
Energy Minister, Pat Rabbitte, today welcomed the findings of a leading report into the global energy market and in particular its emphasis on energy efficiency. He said this strongly endorses Ireland's push for increasing levels of efficiency in homes, businesses and the public sector. Minister Ra
03/12/2012
The chief executives of Northern Ireland's main utility companies have met with Stormont Ministers to update them on an ongoing joined-up campaign to prepare for any potential disruption caused by extreme weather. Over the last year BT, Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE), Northern Ireland Water (NI
03/12/2012
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Michael Moynihan TD, says questions need to be asked of the energy regulator after the ESB reported six month profits of €230 million. Deputy Moynihan commented: "Ireland has been particularly badly hit with gas price increas
03/12/2012
SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has said it is imperative that the Chancellor of the Exchequer does not announce a rise in fuel duty as part of his Autumn Statement this week. Ms Ritchie was speaking ahead of the Statement, which will be delivered on Wednesday and which will include economic pl
03/12/2012
Ulster Unionist Party Environment spokesperson, Tom Elliott MLA, has welcomed the indication given by the Environment Minister that the current review of planning policy will result in the consolidation of all 21 existing Planning Policy Statements into a single "Strategic Planning Policy Statement"
03/12/2012
Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O'Brien has accused Mícheál Martin of cynical opportunism in opposing the property tax which his party promised to introduce in its four year plan for government. Deputy O'Brien urged the government not to introduce a property tax in next week's budget and instead give conside
03/12/2012
Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has announced a reallocation within the Rural Development Programme (RDP) of €8 million to the Basic Services measure which, while almost fully allocated, still has significant potential. Quality of life issues including
