Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Ireland Construction News Archive for December 2013
20/12/2013
The Government has approved a change of name for Bord Gáis Eireann and Bord Gais Networks to reflect the new mandate for the company. Once the sale of its energy business is complete, Bord Gáis Eireann will be responsible for all gas networks and water and waste water infrastructure in the country.
20/12/2013
Sinn Féin TDs have walked out of the Dáil with other opposition members in protest at the wholly inadequate provision of time to debate the Water Services Bill. Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the manner in which the government is handling the Water Service Bill is an insult to the people of
20/12/2013
The provisional Northern Ireland Planning Development Management Statistics July – September 2013 has been published. The report reveals improvements in processing time performance across all of the main categories of planning application. Over the current quarter, the average processing times for
20/12/2013
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has granted planning permission for a new stadium at Casement Park. As a result, the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) can now build a new 38,000 capacity stadium on their existing site on the Andersonstown Road, Belfast. Sports Minister, Ca
20/12/2013
Employees from Airtricity Gas NI embraced the festive spirit this month, raising vital funds and awareness for the Children's Hospice. Eight staff members got busy bag packing at the Abbey Centre in Newtownabbey. Through our Community at Heart scheme, employees from all sections of the business hav
20/12/2013
Dublin Labour, MEP Emer Costello, has said that stronger EU clean air directives would cut the number of deaths caused by air pollution in Ireland and across Europe. Ms Costello was responding to the long-awaited proposals issued by the European Commission today to revise Europe’s air quality direc
19/12/2013
Irish energy supplier Vayu has signed a gas and renewable electricity deal with Britvic Ireland, the number one soft drinks company by volume on the island of Ireland. Valued at €1.8m in the first year, the agreement will see Vayu supply Britvic with natural gas and 100% green electricity to meet
19/12/2013
Clare Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy has received confirmation from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, that Clare County Council has been allocated €1,988,481 towards the maintenance and management of its National Road network during 2014. The funding scheme, which is administered by t
19/12/2013
The Bord Gáis Group of Unions has expressed disappointment with the Government's decision to sell Bord Gáis Energy to a consortium of private companies led by the UK based Centrica. SIPTU Organiser and Secretary of the Bord Gáis Group of Unions, Oliver McDonagh, said: "We are disappointed that this
19/12/2013
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis has stated that the new figure for housing need in the state is clear evidence the government has failed to properly tackled the long running housing crisis. He was responding to the release of the Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2013 which found ho
19/12/2013
Extensive ESB infrastructure will provide an opportunity to extend the reach of fibre in Ireland, with the potential to enhance the provision of high speed broadband and increase competition in the Irish telecommunications market. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr P
19/12/2013
Environment Minister Mark H. Durkan has announced planning approval for an Irish speaking school in Crumlin. The grant of planning permission for Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach clears the way planning wise to relocate to a new purpose-built facility on the edge of Crumlin. The Irish-medium school has e
18/12/2013
The news that biopharmaceutical giant Regeneron is to proceed with plans to establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Limerick by 2016 is very positive news for the City according to Minister Jan O'Sullivan. She said: "It was confirmed that Regeneron plans to invest more than €200m and
18/12/2013
Electricity consumers using prepay meters are spending significantly more than those paying the ESB and other suppliers through the traditional billing system. Retired public service worker, Anne Dunleavy, has estimated that she is paying 75 cent per day more for electricity since she installed a m
18/12/2013
More than £52m in Winter Fuel Payments has been paid to 301,000 people across Northern Ireland as of the end of November 2013. Payments started to issue from November and claims must be received no later than 31 March 2014. Winter Fuel Payments are issued annually to older people to help with he
18/12/2013
The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD has congratulated Dermot Nolan, the Chairman of the Commission of Energy Regulation (CER) on his appointment as Chief Executive of Ofgem, the UK energy regulator. Minister Rabbitte paid tribute to Mr Nolan's contribution
18/12/2013
Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has announced that a £170,000 major improvement and resurfacing scheme on the B46 Tiroony Road, Sixmilecross is scheduled to begin on Monday 6 January 2014. Resurfacing work on two sections of the B46, between Sixmilecross and Carrickmore is expected to b
18/12/2013
Michael Hogan from Newtownabbey was one of seven entrepreneurial students to reach the final of a Dragon's Den style competition for his sustainable joinery business idea. The 24-year-old Belfast Metropolitan College student pitched his business expansion venture to the Business Launchpad panel of
18/12/2013
Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan, has announced the outcome of the independent Mills report into the illegal dump in Campsie and waste management in Northern Ireland. In doing so he pledged fundamental change in how we manage waste in Northern Ireland. An estimated total of 516,000 tonnes of wa
18/12/2013
Minister for Housing and Planning Jan O'Sullivan, TD, has said that increased momentum behind social housing delivery was a priority as the Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2013 was published. The results show that 89,872 households were assessed as qualified for housing support as of May 2013
18/12/2013
Sinn Féin EU candidate, Matt Carthy, has hit out at EirGrid for again failing to listen to the demands and concerns of communities living along the route of the proposed North-South Interconnector. Mr Carthy made his comments following the publication of EirGrid's proposed final line route for the
18/12/2013
Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has announced that a £170,000 major improvement and resurfacing scheme on three sections of the Kilskeery Road in Trillick is scheduled to begin on Monday 6 January. Mr Kennedy said: "This scheme will greatly improve the strength and surface quality of th
17/12/2013
While the economy showed modest growth in 2012, Ireland's energy use fell 4.6% according to the annual Energy in Ireland (2013) report published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Almost one fifth of Irish electricity now comes from renewable sources, cutting around €300 millio
17/12/2013
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone claims investment by businesses in the Cookstown area, and west of the Bann is being hindered because of NIE's failure to develop the power supply in the area. The chairperson of the Assembly Enterprise committee was speaking after comments by the Group Chief Executive of Dal
17/12/2013
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Environment, Community & Local Government, Brian Stanley TD, has branded the establishment of Irish Water is a scam. Responding to reports that Dublin City Council will lose €2 billion in assets to Irish Water, Stanley said: "The establishment of Irish Water is one of the
17/12/2013
Signalling a massive escalation in the Grangegorman health and education campus project, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D, today turned the sod on the 'Site Infrastructure and Public Realm' contract. The €26 million contract, which has been awarded to Roadbridge Ltd by the Grangegorman Development Age
17/12/2013
Clare County Council has started interim remedial works at the Tradaree Point wastewater treatment plant in Shannon. The desludging of the plant is aimed at reducing sewage-related odours emanating from the facility. The works will continue this week and into the early weeks of 2014. A council spo
17/12/2013
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan is encouraging householders to reduce and recycle the waste they generate over the festive holidays. More waste is generated at Christmas than at any other time of the year. A massive 1 billion Christmas cards (17 for every man, woman and child) are sent at this t
17/12/2013
A Co Down scrap vehicle dealer was fined a total of £1,472 for unauthorised waste offences at Newry Magistrates' Court. Gerald Oliver Byrne (61) of Benagh Road, Mayobridge was charged on four counts under the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 in relation to waste offences at
17/12/2013
Louth County Council is to carry out improvement works to Bellurgan Embankment, Dundalk within the townland of Bellurgan, County Louth. The improvement works shall comprise of: • Provision of access road • Phased placement of fill to raise the embankment crest level • Erection of replacement fen
17/12/2013
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., has announced General Purpose Grants (GPGs) to local authorities of €275m for 2014. When taken with the water costs of some €730m that will be transferred from the local government sector to Irish Water next ye
17/12/2013
Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster today officially opened the new headquarters of Northern Ireland Cooperation Overseas (NI-CO). NI-CO promotes the services, skills and expertise of Northern Ireland overseas and has successfully delivered over 600 training and institutional ca
16/12/2013
The Sinn Féin spokesperson on Energy Deputy Michael Colreavy has described the government decision to sell Bord Gáis Energy as a betrayal of the massive amount of public money invested to date, and of the potential for the company in the future to become a leading player in the renewable energy mark
16/12/2013
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Pat Rabbitte TD announced the commissioning of the TG4 Content Distribution Project, following a capital investment from his Department of €690k. This major capital project will enable TG4 to deliver content to multiple platforms, openi
16/12/2013
Following the recent completion of works over the River Erne, the contractor Ferrovial Agroman PT McWilliams Ltd JV have indicated that they are now in a position to fully open the bridge section of the N3 Belturbet Bypass thus completing the entire 6.7km of the bypass. Minister for Transport, Tour
16/12/2013
Fianna Fáil Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill, has called on the Government to immediately call a halt to plans to hit households with high water charges while creating a new Super Quango that will soon take control of the entire water network. Senator Ó Domhnaill and his Fianna Fáil colleagues have strong
16/12/2013
Fine Gael Limerick TD, Patrick O'Donovan, has welcomed the announcement from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, that Limerick City and County Councils are to get a 15% boost in funding for 2014. General Purpose Grants (GPGs) of €14,625,159 are being all
16/12/2013
Sinn Féin Councillor for Crumlin, Anne Marie Logue, is urging people to ensure that they secure their home heating oil tanks. This follows a number of oil thefts in the area. Councillor Logue said: "There have been a number of home heating oil thefts in the local area over the past weeks. Given the
16/12/2013
Fine Gael TD for Cork South West, Noel Harrington, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, of remediation and harbour improvement works at North Harbour, Cape Clear, which will see an investment of €4m being made. Deputy Harrington said
16/12/2013
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has officially opened a social housing scheme of former Ministry of Defence (MoD) properties at Dog Kennel Close and Dog Kennel Crescent in Lisburn. The 20 former MoD houses were excess to requirements and have been purchased by Clanmil Housing Associa
13/12/2013
The construction sector is officially in recovery, according to the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), after the latest CSO report on construction activity recorded the 5th consecutive quarterly increase in the volume of construction activity. The latest CSO report showed the volume of const
13/12/2013
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, today attended the signing of a contract for the remediation and harbour improvement works at North Harbour, Cape Clear, Co Cork. Welcoming the commencement of the project, and referring to the benefits of this significant investm
13/12/2013
Fine Gael Clare TD, Joe Carey, has welcomed funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport which will allow for the redevelopment of Tim Smythe Park in Ennis. The funding application was made by Clare County Council and is being provided by the Department of Sport in equal partnership
13/12/2013
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Michael Moynihan TD has criticised the rushed announcement that, despite early indications that the sale of Bord Gáis had been taken off the table, the key asset will now be sold at less than the market value. Deputy Moynih
13/12/2013
Fine Gael Meath West TD, Ray Butler, has welcomed the approval of funding for Navan Town Council, which will allow for improvements to be made to footpaths and public lighting in the town. The funding is being made available under a joint partnership between the Department of Transport, Tourism and
13/12/2013
Labour MEP, Emer Costello, has welcomed the commencement of construction at Grangegorman campus, stating it will be key to the regeneration of the North Inner City. Costello, a former Dublin Lord Mayor and local resident, was speaking as the sod was turned on the €26m Site Infrastructure and Public
13/12/2013
Rural Development Minister Michelle O'Neill has officially opened a new 3G MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) at Clonoe outside Coalisland. Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, as part of their ‘Recreational and Healthy Living Hubs’ programme funded under Axis 3 of the RDP through South West Action
13/12/2013
Sinn Féin MLA Mickey Brady who is also vice chair of the Social Development Committee said that following the committee meeting involving Nelson McCausland there is now even more questions to be answered. These questions are regarding the meeting between of Turkington Holdings, Department of Social
12/12/2013
Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O'Sullivan TD, has announced the commencement of a public consultation process on proposed revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. Earlier this year, the Minister initiated a targeted review of the existing guidelines focusing on the issues o
12/12/2013
Fianna Fáil Mayor of Listowel, Councillor Jimmy Moloney, has called on local Minister Jimmy Deenihan to urgently address the stalled LNG Shannon project, which threatens the €600m investment by the company in the Shannon Estuary. A High Court judgement this week, which compels Shannon LNG to pay a
12/12/2013
Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan who is also vice chair of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment committee at the Assembly has stated that there is growing evidence of the need to place a focus on the transfer of fuel duty to the north or Ireland. Speaking following the publishing of a report which indic
12/12/2013
ESB Networks are issuing a safety warning following a number of recent thefts of overhead lines from between poles on the live electricity network. There are ongoing Garda investigations into the criminal activity and ESB Networks are co-operating with the investigations. ESB Networks are warning
12/12/2013
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan today announced the successful Challenge Fund schemes receiving £2.2million of Carrier Bag Levy money. The Challenge Fund has been made possible by the five pence levy collected on carrier bags. It provides vital funding for communities and organisations to develo
12/12/2013
Minister for Social Development Nelson McCausland has announced funding of £17,400 for new accommodation for the Dunluce Family Centre in Ballymagroarty. The funding will establish new premises for the Centre through the design of refurbishment and extension works, to the presently vacant building
12/12/2013
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced further funding of £430,000 to complete upgrade works to the public realm in the Clarendon Street Conservation Area in L'Derry. The work to upgrade the footpaths and lighting in Asylum Road, Bayview Terrace, Princes' Street and Princes' Te
12/12/2013
Education Minister, John O'Dowd and Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland have officially opened St Malachy's Youth Centre, Belfast, following a £1.6m upgrade. Minister O'Dowd said: "St Malachy's Youth Centre provides a setting where young people can meet, make friends and take part in str
11/12/2013
A new wood-fuelled energy system being installed at the Aurivo dairy ingredients plant at Ballaghadereen, Co Roscommon will cut carbon emissions in half through a dramatic reduction in usage of heavy fuel oil. The €5.5m biomass plant, construction of which gets underway this week, will use 30,000 t
11/12/2013
Sinn Féin European candidate Matt Carthy has called on the Minister for Education to overturn the decision to impose a fee of over €800 on apprentices who attend a 10-week course in Institutes of Technology during the course of their apprenticeship. Councillor Carthy said: "Budget 2014 saw the intr
11/12/2013
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, has marked the completion of a significant energy retrofit project in Kilkenny including upgrades to 224 homes, St. Canice's community centre, the Fr. McGrath centre, O'Loughlin Gaels GAA Club, City Hall and a number of bus
11/12/2013
SDLP MLA for West Tyrone Joe Byrne has met with the Department of Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan, regarding The Three Rivers Project for Strabane. Mr Byrne said: "I welcome the fact that Minister Durkan said he hoped to be in a position to make a decision regarding The Three River Project soon
11/12/2013
Speaking in the Seanad during amendments to the Water Services Bill 2013, Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said the Government is clearly intent on privatisation of Irish water. He said: "Sinn Fein is opposed to the privatisation of Irish water and to any changes that facilitate this process
11/12/2013
Fine Gael Clare Senator, Martin Conway, has welcomed the announcement of €100m in loans from the European Investment Bank to help fund the development of a new city centre campus for the college. Mr Conway said: "I am delighted that this funding has been made available for the capital development
11/12/2013
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, has announced the allocation for the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) in 2014 of €47.7m. Making the announcement Minister Hogan said: "This will enable 44,000 people to engage through one-to-one interve
11/12/2013
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, TD, has announced that the Government has approved the publication of the Pyrite Resolution Bill, 2013 and the early enactment of the legislation. The Minister said: "Further to Government Decision of 15 October 2013 whic
11/12/2013
The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is currently conducting a targeted review of its Wind Energy Development Guidelines in relation to noise, proximity and shadow flicker. There will also be a number of technical appendices developed over the coming months to assist pl
10/12/2013
Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan has called for the Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster to accept the reality that natural gas is not a sustainable energy source and to bring forward a statutory definition of sustainable energy that does not include any fossil fuels. Mr Flanagan, who is Sinn Féin's spokes
10/12/2013
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has recommended planning approval for proposals which will help transform Glenarm. The plans include the sensitive conversion and sympathetic redevelopment of existing buildings and will include new housing along the waterfront. Submitted by Larne Borough Council
10/12/2013
Limerick City Council have announced a historic 15.8% reduction in the city's commercial rates. In his Budget 2014 Report, Limerick City and County Council Manager Conn Murray said the reduction, subject to the approval of the Council's Elected Members, will for the first time bring about a single
10/12/2013
Fine Gael Cork North West Deputy, Áine Collins, has welcomed the sanctioning of funding to Ballyhoura Development Ltd. of €400,000 for the development of an equestrian centre for adults and children with autism. The funding is being made available under the Basic Services for the Economy and Rural
10/12/2013
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland is seeking the public's views on how social homes are allocated. The Minister, delivering on a commitment set out in his housing strategy, commissioned independent research on this issue. Three research reports, prepared by the Universities of Ulster a
10/12/2013
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Michael Moynihan, has welcomed the resolution of the dispute between ESB management and trade unions representing the workers. He said: "Like people all over the country I welcome the fact that the industrial action threatene
10/12/2013
A Co Fermanagh farmer was fined £1,000 plus court costs of £28 at Enniskillen Magistrates' Court. Mr Darren McCormick, of Greenhill Road, Brookeborough, Ardmore, Co Fermanagh was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway. On 3 January 2013, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of
10/12/2013
Senior executives from Northern Ireland's main utility companies have met with Stormont Ministers to update them on the annual joint campaign to prepare for any potential disruption caused by extreme weather. Over the last number of years BT, Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE), NI Water and Phoenix
09/12/2013
Clare County Council has completed two important tourism infrastructure projects in West Clare. The projects at the Bridges of Ross and the West End Car Park in Kilkee cost €110,000 and €150,000 to complete respectively, and were both funded by Clare County Council and the Department of Agriculture
09/12/2013
Ulster Unionist MLA and party Agriculture spokesperson Jo-Anne Dobson has urged the Ministers of Agriculture and Environment at Stormont to back the Woodland Trust's Observatree Project. Commenting Mrs Dobson said: "Following on from the damaging and costly effects of Ash Dieback reaching our shore
09/12/2013
Local households can work together to get the most competitive prices for their home heating oil through oil buying clubs. Around 68% of Northern Ireland's homes use oil as their main heat source. The cheapest way to buy oil is in bulk deliveries, such as 900 litres, because smaller quantities of o
09/12/2013
Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan, has welcomed the continued improvement in discharge compliance by water utilities in Northern Ireland. The Minister has released The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) 2012 assessment of compliance of Water Utility discharges made by Northern Ireland Wat
09/12/2013
The European Investment Bank has agreed to provide €100m for the University of Limerick's Capital Development Plan 2014 – 2018. The European Investment Bank loan was formally agreed by Professor Don Barry, President of the University of Limerick and Jonathan Taylor, European Investment Bank Vice P
09/12/2013
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald TD has welcomed the agreement reached between management and workers at ESB regarding the company's pension scheme. The Dublin Central TD said: "The resolution of the ESB pension dispute is good news for the workers, and indeed for the company's customers. "Of course
06/12/2013
Representatives from HSE West and Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation have met to sign the contract with the preferred bidder for the new refurbishment and extension works for the female ward at Ballina District Hospital. Construction on the new refurbishment and extension works will commence this
06/12/2013
Portview, based in Belfast, has won a £10m order to fit-out the interior of a luxury department store in London's plush West End. Work on the high-end fit-out, the details of which cannot be identified because of client confidentiality, got underway last week and will run for 8 months. Confirmatio
06/12/2013
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs and Enterprise Dara Calleary has welcomed the intervention of the Labour Relations Commission in the ESB dispute, as the threat of strike action looms ahead of Christmas. Speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, Deputy Calleary called on the Government push h
06/12/2013
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has welcomed the publication of the latest Home Energy Conservation Authority annual report. The report, published by the Housing Executive, highlights that fuel poverty remains a major issue for the people of Northern Ireland with the main causes being
06/12/2013
Mr Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has launched the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) Surveys of Counties Cavan and Monaghan in Castlesaunderson Church, Co. Cavan and at the Market House, Market Street, Monaghan Town respectively. The surveys
06/12/2013
Following a competitive tendering process which was launched in September, the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) has selected Pepper Asset Servicing as its preferred bidder to provide services on the portfolio of personal loans, principally residential mortgage loans, which it may acquire from
06/12/2013
Sinn Fein MLA for West Belfast, Fra McCann, has welcomed the announcement by the housing minister Nelson McCausland that a consultation is now underway to deal with the issue of anti-social tenants. Mr McCann said: "The issue of anti-social tenants has been on that I and many others have been calli
06/12/2013
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has launched a new text message service, Air Aware, which will inform subscribers of high air pollution episodes. The alert service is primarily aimed at people who have existing chronic health conditions, such as asthma or heart disease, so that they can choose w
05/12/2013
Galway West Fianna Fáil TD Michael Kitt has called for an independent assessment of the impact of EirGrid's plans to build overhead pylons in Galway and Roscommon. Deputy Kitt was speaking during a Fianna Fáil Dáil motion expressing concerns about the impact on the environment, the landscape and pu
05/12/2013
Education Minister, John O'Dowd, has officially opened the 'Pathway to Peace' in L'Derry. The pathway leads to the Peace Flame Monument and is made up of 70 inspiring messages called 'pledges of peace'. The pledges, which have been imprinted onto clay tiles, were designed by pupils from schools acr
05/12/2013
SDLP MLA and chair of the Assembly Enterprise committee, Patsy McGlone has welcomed news the Bank of Ireland has signed up to the 'Help to Buy' scheme, but says other measures to assist first time home owners must be developed. Under the 'Help to Buy', buyers need to provide a small deposit, with t
05/12/2013
Speaking in the Seanad Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh slammed the Water Services Bill 2013 and said it is an "inherently flawed and draconian document". He said: "The Bill takes control of water services away from local authorities and transfers it to Irish Water. "This new company will b
05/12/2013
Education Minister John O'Dowd has cut the first sod to commence the new-build project for Victoria Park Primary School in Belfast. The school was formed in 2008 following the amalgamation of Mersey Street Primary School, Strand Primary School and Sydenham Infants’ School and has a current enrolmen
05/12/2013
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport, Timmy Dooley TD, has called on the Government to reject the proposal to appoint John O’Connor as the Chairman of Eirgrid. Deputy Dooley has confirmed that Fianna Fáil has submitted a motion to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and
05/12/2013
The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) has announced that it has redeemed €500m in Senior Bonds which were issued as consideration for the original loans acquired from the participating institutions in 2010 and 2011. This redemption means that NAMA has now met its first major milestone – the
05/12/2013
Housing Minister Nelson McCausland has visited several housing projects in Stuttgart, Germany. The fact finding mission visited several housing sites which have been refurbished and new build projects. The Minister was accompanied on his visit by representatives of CITB, ConstructionSkills NI, Cons
04/12/2013
Sinn Féin TD Sandra McLellan, has said the central issue for EirGrid is whether they will impose high voltage pylons on communities or put in underground cabling. Speaking during the Dáil debate on Pylons, the Cork East TD said: "Sinn Féin fully agrees that Ireland's infrastructure must be of the h
04/12/2013
Microsoft has announced plans to further expand its EMEA mega datacentre in South County Business Park in Leopardstown, Dublin. Speaking at the site, Labour TD for Dublin South, Alex White, warmly welcomed the announcement: "I'm delighted by the announcement that Microsoft is expanding its data ce
04/12/2013
A new book that encourages young people to keep the Burren clean and sustainable is being used by students of Mary Immaculate Secondary School Lisdoonvarna to rollout an innovative environmental project. 'What to do and not to do in the Burren' will be launched in the Barn at Vaughan's Pub Kilfenor
04/12/2013
NI Water (NIW) pleaded guilty and was fined £1,200 plus Court Costs of £28 and Offenders Levy of £15 at Craigavon Magistrates' Court. The charge relates to a pollution offence at Milltown Road Waste Water Pumping Station (WWPS),Waringstown. On 2 January 2013, a Water Quality Inspector (WQI), actin
04/12/2013
Fianna Fáil Finance Spokesperson Michael McGrath has said the 11,000 former Irish Nationwide customers who have their family home mortgage with IBRC (in Special Liquidation) must have their interests protected when the mortgage book is sold or transferred over the next few weeks. Deputy McGrath sai
04/12/2013
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has announced planning approval to extend an underground exploration project for gold and common metals, near Gortin, County Tyrone. The proposal is a temporary exploration project and involves the extension of the existing 700 metre tunnel to 2,100 metres over a
04/12/2013
DUP Group Leader on the Northern Ireland Policing Board, Jonathan Craig MLA has welcomed the announcement that Finance Minister Simon Hamilton has approved the business case for the Northern Ireland Community Safety College. The next stage of the process will be to allow discussions to begin with
04/12/2013
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) public consultation on the proposed revised National Hazardous Waste Management Plan is currently underway. Closing date for comment is 23rd December 2013. The Proposed Revised Plan is a revision of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (2008-20
03/12/2013
Microsoft has announced plans to further expand its Europe Middle East and Africa mega datacentre in Dublin, Ireland. The expansion, due for completion in Spring 2014, represents a new investment of €170m. Construction of the facility, which has already commenced, will create 380 building-related
03/12/2013
Tony Mulcahy TD Fine Gael Seanad Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, says an amendment made to the Finance Bill makes it easier for home owners to qualify for the Home Renovation Incentive Scheme. The scheme, announced as part of Budget 2014, enables homeowners to claim ta
03/12/2013
Sinn Féin Senator Kathryn Reilly has said the banks are still relying on the threat of repossessions to meet the Central Bank's Mortgage Resolution Targets. Senator Reilly said: "Michael Noonan has said repeatedly under questioning from Sinn Féin in the Dáil that he does not believe letters threate
03/12/2013
The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Fergus O'Dowd T.D., has welcomed publication of the Water Services (No. 2) Bill, which provides for the transfer of water services functions from the local authorities to Irish Water. Welcoming its publicat
03/12/2013
Labour Senator Denis Landy has confirmed his belief that Minister Pat Rabbitte is prepared to listen to the concerns of people living in rural Ireland about the build-out of Grid 25, by Eirgrid across the country using pylons and overhead lines. Senator Landy, who was responsible for initiating a m
03/12/2013
NI Water has commenced work on a £3.1m programme of improvement work to upgrade the sewerage infrastructure and key pumping stations in the Bangor area. The scheme is expected to be completed before summer 2014. Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy said: "The first phase of this improvement
03/12/2013
SDLP Shantallow councillor Angela Dobbins has welcomed news that Leafair Community Association has received £1m for development of the pitches and play facilities, which she says is much needed in the area. Cllr Dobbins said: "It will be a tremendous boost for this area that for so long has been de
03/12/2013
Alliance Councillors Michael Long and Carole Howard have welcomed the opportunity for traders and Councillors to meet with Tesco this month, ahead of plans for a proposed Tesco at the site of the old Rosetta Bar getting the green light. Concerns have been raised at the plans by the well-known retai
02/12/2013
Speaking after the initiation of the construction stage of a €100m data centre in west Dublin, Fine Gael Dublin Mid West Deputy, Derek Keating said the project will be a huge addition to the area, which hopes to attract similar investment projects in the coming years. Mr Keating said: "In the last
02/12/2013
Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte TD, has announced Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL) as the Preferred Applicant for the creation of a €70m Irish Energy Efficiency Fund. Commenting on the investment, Minister Rabbitte said: "I am delighted to announce the next milestone on the path towards impr
02/12/2013
Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company (DLHC) is commencing a process of market research with potential developers in relation to the development of a 3.24 hectare site on the harbour at St Michael's Pier. In November, the Harbour Company placed a notice in EU-Tenders indicating an intention to seek a devel
02/12/2013
Ireland is making good progress towards meeting its target of 40% renewable electricity generation by 2020, according to a new report published by EirGrid Group. The EirGrid Group Annual Renewable Report 2013 shows that 17% of the island's electricity demand was met from renewables in 2012 – this c
02/12/2013
Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O'Sullivan, TD, has announced a new two year €100m social housing construction programme. The plan will see approximately 630 new social homes built over the next two years. Some 65% of the investment will support a mainstream local authority house building
02/12/2013
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone is to chair a major meeting discussing what can be done locally to ensure the appropriate mechanisms are in place to help significant infrastructure projects off the ground. The Mid Ulster assemblyman, who is chair of the Assembly's DETI committee, will tomorrow, Tuesday 3 De
02/12/2013
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has announced planning approval for a 14-classroom primary school and nursery unit in Banbridge. The investment, estimated at over £5m, will see demolition of the existing school and nursery unit at St Mary's Primary School in Reilly Park. The proposal involves a
02/12/2013
Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has announced that work will start on a £230,000 major resurfacing scheme on the Omagh Road, Drumquin. Asphalt resurfacing work will commence on Tuesday 3 December 2013 on four sections of the Omagh Road, Drumquin between Dooish Road and Gillygooley Prima
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