Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Ireland Construction News Archive for April 2014
30/04/2014
Green Party Environment Spokesperson and local election candidate, Malcolm Noonan, has argued that the Government should hold back from implementing any water charges until the process of installing meters has been completed. The Government have said that water meters are intended to be part of a c
30/04/2014
EirGrid's East West Interconnector (EWIC) has been named 'Engineering Project of the Year' at the Irish Building and Design Awards 2014 which took place in Dublin. In commercial operation since May 2013, EWIC provides large capacity interconnection with Great Britain through 264 km of high voltage
30/04/2014
The Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform will conclude its hearings on mortgage arrears today, Wednesday, 30 April, when it meets with Lorcan O'Connor, Director of the Insolvency Service of Ireland, and Central Bank of Ireland Governor Patrick Honohan. Committee Chairman Ciaran Lynch
30/04/2014
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has said that if in government Sinn Féin would put in place a plan to deliver approximately 7448 additional homes on top of current government targets. He was speaking following the publication of a Sinn Féin amendment to a motion on housing before the
30/04/2014
A single lane closure will be reintroduced at the £400,000 Environmental Improvement Scheme which started on April 1 at Bridge Street, Strabane. The works are progressing well, with finished footway surface evident in places along the street. The scheme will strengthen and improve the quality of th
30/04/2014
Local company John McQuillan Contracts, part of the family owned McQuillan Companies has completed a technical challenge ahead of the Giro d’Italia visit by becoming the official technical partner for The Grande Partenza or 'Big Start' of the global event. The private sector company, which operat
30/04/2014
Portview Fit-Out has completed its first project for US-based homes and interiors retailer West Elm. The 12,000 sq ft store on London's Tottenham Court Road is West Elm's first foray into the European market and was designed to the company's international brand specifications by Zebra Design. Exec
29/04/2014
Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Declan McAleer has welcomed the announcement that the public consultation on the A5 dual carriageway will begin this week. According to the local MLA, who sits on the Assembly's DRD committee, Mr McAleer said: "The A5 dual carriageway is an essential lifeline for addressin
29/04/2014
Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has visited Ravenhill, the home of Ulster Rugby, ahead of the official opening of the re-developed stadium on Friday evening. Three new stands have been built at the stadium at a cost of £16.4m, so increasing the Capacity from 11,000 to 18,000. The stadium will be o
29/04/2014
The Green Party has welcomed the approval by An Bord Pleanala for a Special Development Zone (SDZ) for Cherrywood, Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown. The plan which has been five years in the making, has been with An Bord Pleanala for the last 15 months, and a final decision for the go-ahead was given yest
29/04/2014
In response to Táinaiste Eamon Gilmore's comments on the housing crisis in Dublin on RTÉ’s News at One, Dublin City Councillor Mary Fitzpatrick has accused Táinaiste Eamon Gilmore of being in complete denial about the magnitude of the housing crisis in Dublin. He referenced 'almost 1,000' boarded
29/04/2014
Rain Harvesting Ireland (RHI) in Coleraine has been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to win significant business at a leading technology operation in Cork. RHI's rainwater harvesting system will be used by the US firm in its environmental conservation strategy being implemented as part of the ex
29/04/2014
Time is almost up for the government as the increase in the Carbon Tax comes into force on Thursday, according to Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy. Councillor Carthy said that internal squabbles and panic over polls cannot hide the fact that the government is continuing to implement policies that are causin
29/04/2014
On a constituency visit to the North-West, DUP MEP Diane Dodds called for greater resources to tackle fuel fraud. Mrs Dodds also highlighted how the SF and SDLP decision to block the National Crime Agency (NCA) was aiding criminals such as those involved in fuel racketeering. Mrs Dodds said: "Whene
28/04/2014
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is inviting the public to view plans for a new development project at Dunluce Castle. Recognising the potential for the Dunluce site to provide a unique heritage destination within Northern Ireland, the NIEA is embarking upon a project to showcase Dunl
28/04/2014
Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson Fra McCann has said there is a major concern that changes to mortgage applications will force more people into the unregulated rented sector. Mr McCann said: "The tightening of procedures to secure a mortgage will undoubtedly cause more people to be turned down for a
28/04/2014
Tom Hayes, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for the greyhound industry, has opened a newly refurbished stand at Youghal Greyhound Stadium in Co Cork. The re-configured facility will accommodate greater numbers in more comfortable surrou
28/04/2014
Cork North West TD and Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Communications Michael Moynihan has hit out at Eircom for charging customers who were cut off in the aftermath of the winter storms earlier this year. Thousands of customers were left without a phone service more than a month after Storm Darwin h
28/04/2014
Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has announced the start of a scheme to provide a new footway on the Ballymena Road in Cullybackey The scheme will provide 150 metres of new footway, associated verge and new boundary fencing. Mr Kennedy said: "This scheme will link up two existing footways on the B
28/04/2014
Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central Billy Kelleher is calling on the City Council to step up work on flood prevention measures in Blackpool. The city is waiting for a €50m flood defence system to be constructed, but work is not due to start until the end of next year. "Residents in Blackpool h
28/04/2014
Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has confirmed that a road improvement scheme for Forthriver Road in Belfast is set to begin on Tuesday 6 May 2014. Resurfacing of a stretch of carriageway between Ballygomartin Road and the bus turning circle on Forthriver Road is expected to be completed
28/04/2014
Transport Minister, Danny Kennedy, has unveiled a feasibility report on his proposals to build an iconic pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Lagan. A series of public information day events were held in January 2014 to inform the feasibility report, during which 228 written responses were re
25/04/2014
Sinn Féin MLA Caitriona Ruane has welcomed news that the Taoiseach Enda Kenny is finally prepared to support the Narrow Water Bridge project. Ms Ruane said: "Sinn Féin has stated from the beginning that this was a doable project. "There is no reason therefore why we cannot get the project back on
25/04/2014
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, has said IDA Ireland has agreed contracts for delivery of two new building developments in Athlone and Waterford which will be suitable for future IDA client investments from a number of potential sectors. This is the first time since
25/04/2014
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan, TD, and Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte, TD, have launched a public consultation on low-carbon roadmapping in the built environment. A sectoral roadmap for the built environment, for inco
25/04/2014
Dublin City Councillor Mary Fitzpatrick has today called for further clarification on recent announcements in relation to Irish Water. Councillor Fitzpatrick said: "Firstly we hear that over a thousand people are to be made redundant at Irish Water at a cost of €39 million with no detail as to how
25/04/2014
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone said news of a skills shortage in the Northern Ireland's construction sector comes as little surprise given so many highly skills workers from the industry have emigrated in search of jobs. While The Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said the recover
25/04/2014
ESB Networks is warning against the placing of posters on electricity poles/structures during the forthcoming Local and European Elections campaign. Any unauthorised contact or near contact with the electricity network can result in serious injury or fatality to persons using electricity poles for
25/04/2014
Belfast City Council has welcomed planning approval being granted for Olympia Leisure Centre. The new centre will replace the existing facility and will take on a dynamic new design as it will be built within the West stand of the new Windsor Park stadium development. Director of Parks and Leisure
25/04/2014
Leading building products manufacturer Steadmans has invested £500,000 in a state-of-the-art slitting line at its headquarters in Warnell, Carlisle. The new line, for cutting narrow coils from main coils, is the only one of its kind in the UK. The machine has a wider range of capabilities than Stea
24/04/2014
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Arts, Heritage, Sport & Tourism Sandra McLellan TD will lead an Oireachtas delegation to meet Minster for Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan to discuss the development of Moore Street. Deputy McLellan said: "We are meeting the Minister to reiterate our oppo
24/04/2014
SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has said that she is shocked by the contents of an Environment Agency report which says that the UK's Cumbria Nuclear Waste dump is virtually certain to be eroded by rising sea levels. Ms Ritchie said: "This situation is totally unacceptable and should never have
24/04/2014
Dublin City Councillor Mary Fitzpatrick has stated that Dublin City Council needs to engage fully with NAMA to deliver the 324 completed/contracted houses to those awaiting social housing in the four Dublin Local Authority areas as a matter of urgency. Councillor Fitzpatrick said: "The lack of supp
24/04/2014
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has announced funding of €1.3m for environmental and feasibility studies at ESB's Westwave project which aims to deploy five wave energy devices off the coast of County Clare by 2018. The announcement brings Ireland another step closer to capturin
24/04/2014
Fianna Fáil Environment Spokesperson Barry Cowen TD has responded to news that Irish Water is to be given another €39 million by the Government in order to get rid of 1,100 staff currently working on the delivery of services across the country. Deputy Cowen commented: "This news is the latest chapt
24/04/2014
Sinn Féin spokesperson on the Environment, Brian Stanley TD, has criticised the lack of binding targets to be included in the Government's Climate Change legislation, as outlined in the heads of the Bill published today by Minister Phil Hogan. Deputy Stanley said: "While I welcome the decision at l
24/04/2014
The provisional Northern Ireland Local Authority Collected (LAC) Municipal Waste Management Statistics October – December 2013 have been published today. The statistics reveal that just over half, 50.4%, of local authority collected municipal waste was sent to landfill. This is an improvement of ju
24/04/2014
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has announced planning approval for a new leisure complex within the new Windsor Park stadium development. The new development, led by Belfast City Council, will replace the existing Olympia Leisure Centre and will be incorporated within the West Stand of the new
23/04/2014
The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore T.D., has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Housing & Planning, Jan O'Sullivan, that 952 vacant local authority homes around Ireland are to be renovated under a €15m funding package. "This funding will transform local authority units which have been out of use
23/04/2014
Michael McCarthy T.D., Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, has welcomed approval at Cabinet of the final heads of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill paving the way for the drafting of full legislation. The approved Heads are due for pu
23/04/2014
Speaking in advance of the Dublin Simon Community Speak Out Dublin City Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick highlighted Government lack of action to address the housing crisis. The theme for the Dublin Simon Community Speak Out event this evening is 'Rent – Opening doors or closing doors' said Cllr Mary Fitzpatr
23/04/2014
Ireland South European Election candidate Kieran Hartley has said he is disappointed but not surprised by Labour's latest attempt to deflect from the real issues facing the public and the country in terms of Ireland's energy needs into the future. "One of the main messages I have been focussing on
23/04/2014
The Government has signed off on a Bill to set up the new Shannon Group commercial State PLC company on a statutory basis, as part of a plan to deliver new routes and new jobs for the region. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, Richard Bruton, and Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Le
23/04/2014
Fine Gael Party Chairman, Charlie Flanagan, has said the public has yet again been reminded of Fianna Fáil's outrageously hypocritical stance on water charges. Deputy Flanagan pointed out that under Fianna Fáil's deal with the Troika, water charges would have been introduced as early as 2012. "Fi
23/04/2014
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has criticised the government's response to the housing crisis, as highlighted by a Social Justice Ireland report published today. He also described recent government measures in housing as "far too little and very late", stating that they "smacked of
23/04/2014
Public Transport Minister Alan Kelly has announced the provision of €2m for the development of a major new greenway between Galway City and Moycullen village. The greenway will see the construction of a 2.5 to 3 meter wide walking/cycling greenway along the dismantled Connemara railway line, runnin
17/04/2014
The ESRI's latest Quarterly Economic Commentary underlines the need for measures to reduce the barriers to house building, according to the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). The report highlights the need for 25,000 houses to be built in Ireland per year, but the CIF estimates only 10,000 u
17/04/2014
Gloucester Composites Limited, part of the Killarney Manufacturing Group (KMG), is undergoing a rebrand which will see companies within its existing structure renamed to Tricel. The group, which has companies spread across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe under a number of different names is mo
17/04/2014
Dublin Labour TD and Oireachtas Transport Committee member, Sean Kenny, has today called on Irish Rail to reconsider carrying out maintenance work on the DART line over the Easter Break weekend. Mr Kenny said: "It has been brought to my attention by constituents that Northside DART services are can
17/04/2014
The Government has this week signed off on a Bill to set up the new Shannon Group commercial State PLC company on a statutory basis, as part of a plan to deliver new routes and new jobs for the region. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Richard Bruton and Minister for Transport, Tourism & S
17/04/2014
Sinn Féin Finance spokesperson, Pearse Doherty TD, has said that an independent analysis should be undertaken concerning NAMA's future. Doherty added that Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, could not decide the future of a multi-billion euro body 'off his own bat' and that NAMA alone cannot mak
17/04/2014
Speaking at Leinster House, Sinn Féin's spokesperson on agriculture, Martin Ferris TD, has supported a call for an independent enquiry into the policing of the Corrib Gas Project. He was responding to a call from Afri, Action from Ireland, supported by other human rights activists, for an enquiry i
17/04/2014
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Environment Barry Cowen has accused the Government of playing political games over water charges at the expense of households across the country. "This has descended into a complete farce. Fine Gael and Labour have spent months dodging questions about just how much peopl
17/04/2014
The DOE's 'Living Places' has been shortlisted for a Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Award for Planning Excellence 2014. 'Living Places', An Urban Stewardship and Design Guide for Northern Ireland (draft), which the Environment Minister Mark H Durkan launched on 8 August 2013, has been shortl
16/04/2014
Alliance Environment spokesperson, Anna Lo MLA, has said a UN report on the effects of climate change has shown why we must take action. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that the output of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases had increased in recent years. The report says
16/04/2014
Fine Gael Carlow TD, Pat Deering, has called on Carlow people to get involved in the national debate on Ireland's energy policy, after meeting today with Carlow residents concerned about windfarms and pylons. Mr Deering said: "We need to undertake a holistic examination of our national energy polic
16/04/2014
Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has welcomed the report of the Environmental Protection Agency on the matter of the recent fire in the Ballymount Industrial Estate. "I welcome this report of the EPA on the matter of the Ballymount fire, which local residents will recal
16/04/2014
Councillor Lucy McRoberts, representing the Lord Mayor, Oisín Quinn, has unveiled a plaque to mark the opening of a new Multi Use Games Area at Aldborough Place, off Portland Row, Dublin 1. The Multi Use Games Area or MUGA as they have come to be known, comprises a floodlit all-weather tarmac surfa
16/04/2014
Grace O'Sullivan, Green Party MEP candidate for Ireland South, has today welcomed news that Waterford County Council have approved funding for the Deise Greenway cycle route. The new route is to be built on the former Dungarvan-Waterford railway line and will create 31km of new cycling track. She
16/04/2014
North Belfast tenants are to be offered a greater say in the future of their neighbourhoods through new tenant led housing scrutiny panel. Tenant Scrutiny Panels are being set up across Northern Ireland, as part of our Community Involvement Strategy, to give our tenants a voice to ensure that local
16/04/2014
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone has welcomed news consumers will not be paying 'exorbitant' prices that NI Electricity had been pushing for customers to pay. The Competition Commission's final determination set the cost to be paid for electricity by consumers over the next three years stating consumers will
16/04/2014
Sinn Féin Leader Gerry Adams TD has said a Standing Charge for households sought by Irish Water was unacceptable and asked the Taoiseach to tell the Dáil when people would have a clear idea about how much they will have to pay in water charges. Saying that ever-escalating costs at Irish Water compl
16/04/2014
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has refused four retail applications in Magherafelt. All four applications are located out of town and include proposals for large foodstores. Locations for the proposed developments are the Moneymore Road, Castledawson Road, Thornhill Avenue and Ballyronan Road.
16/04/2014
Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland, has announced funding of £204,960 for the Whistle Project based in the Waterside area of Londonderry. The funding will assist the building of a single storey extension, refurbishment of the existing premises and completion a state of the art computer
15/04/2014
The Obel development in Belfast, which contains Ireland's tallest building, has been sold. The loan sale was handled by property consultants, Savills, and law firm Tughans, on behalf of Bank of Scotland. Situated on Donegall Quay, the 85 metre tower and surrounding buildings comprise of 52,462 s
15/04/2014
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD has attended the contract signing for a Detailed Quantitative Risk Assessment of the former steelworks factory site on Haulbowline Island. Commenting at the signing the Minister said: "This contract for the assessment of the former ste
15/04/2014
The Fianna Fáil MEP candidate in Midlands-North West, Senator Thomas Byrne, has accused the Communications and Energy Minister, Pat Rabbitte, of making up energy policy piecemeal in reaction to events instead of having a strategic plan. Speaking in Carlanstown, County Meath, at a public meeting org
15/04/2014
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy is supporting the rally organised by grassroots activists against the construction of industrial wind turbines and electricity pylons. The Midlands Northwest candidate will attend the rally tomorrow in Dublin and has encouraged all those who are concerned about the future of
15/04/2014
Fianna Fáil has accused Irish Water of making a mockery of the concept of a free water allowance by seeking a €100 standing charge from every household before they even use any water. The party's Environment Spokesperson Barry Cowen has demanded clarity from the Environment Minister Phil Hogan. "O
15/04/2014
Fine Gael Carlow TD, Pat Deering, has called for the freezing of all planning applications for wind farms, until the review by Minister of State for Housing Jan O'Sullivan TD, of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines is complete. Deputy Deering was contributing to a Dáil debate on the matter t
15/04/2014
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar TD has officially opened the R402 Enfield Edenderry Road Improvement Scheme, which includes 11km of single carriageway. The €40m project replaces a substandard section of regional road that previously had a poor safety record. The upgraded single
15/04/2014
Commenting on the latest UN climate change report, Dublin Labour MEP, Emer Costello, has called on the Government to publish the long-awaited climate change legislation before the Easter recess. Ms Costello said that this legislation has been driven by Labour in government and would ensure that Ire
15/04/2014
SDLP Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly has welcomed news that 12 social and affordable homes are to be built in the Curran Street/Obin Street of Portadown. The SDLP social development spokesperson said Oaklee Homes have completed the purchase of the Curran St/Obin Street site and have appointed Cunningh
15/04/2014
Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has announced a major £800,000 junction upgrade, resurfacing and realignment of the Friary Road Newry Road junction in Armagh. The scheme will be part-financed by Armagh City and District Council who has agreed to make a substantial contribution towards the cost.
14/04/2014
The Minister for Energy, Pat Rabbitte T.D., has announced that further examination of the Renewable Energy Export Project arising from the London Summit has failed to conclude an Inter-Governmental Agreement to facilitate Green Energy Export from the Midlands within the EU's 2020 timeframe. The Min
14/04/2014
Tom Hayes, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for forestry, has officially launched restored historic bridges in Castlecomer Discovery Park, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. Castlecomer Discovery Park opened in 2007 and encompasses 80 acres of
14/04/2014
Northern Ireland Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced up to £35,000 of financial assistance in preparation of a Regeneration Development Framework for Greenisland, County Antrim. The Department for Social Development is committed under the Programme for Government to providin
14/04/2014
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has issued a new planning policy to safeguard historically significant places for future generations. In many instances, the cost of maintaining or renovating these places frequently exceeds their value to the owner or their market value following renovation. Fun
14/04/2014
Fianna Fáil’s Seanad Spokesperson on Public Expenditure, Senator Thomas Byrne, has accused the Government of showing total disregard for communities that are still experiencing problems with their water. The Environment Minister Phil Hogan has refused to consider a request from Fianna Fáil to intro
14/04/2014
Dublin Labour MEP Emer Costello rolled up her sleeves to help with the annual Dodder cleanup. Running from Donnybrook to Tallaght, the day of action will see droves of volunteers blitz the river free of debris and rubbish. "I am delighted to play my part in this volunteer-led initiative. Running
14/04/2014
Fine Gael Mayo TD Michelle Mulherin has strongly criticised Sinn Féin’s Private Members' Bill on wind turbines, saying the party's approach to wind energy is based on preying on people's concern. Deputy Mulherin also highlighted the conflict between Sinn Féin’s national policy, which supports wind
14/04/2014
NI Water has announced that work is progressing well on an essential £2.6m package of improvements to the sewerage infrastructure in Downpatrick town centre. A new pumping station with storm storage and increased pumping capacities, new pumping mains and sewer upgrades are currently underway in th
11/04/2014
Bord na Móna has launched a new landfill-gas power plant that will generate enough electricity to power 8,500 homes. Minister for the Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD, officially launched the innovative new Landfill Gas Power Plant at Drehid, Co Kildare. The resource re
11/04/2014
Dublin businesses have been finding out about the latest ways to cut their energy costs at a special energy efficiency briefing held by competitive energy provider Energia. The briefings held with the Dublin Chamber of Commerce are designed to educate businesses about energy efficiency, allowing th
11/04/2014
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Michelle O’Neill, has announced the award of a contract for a £1.35million flood alleviation scheme at Beragh, Co Tyrone. Construction work, which will start shortly, is expected to take a year to complete. The scheme will see the construction of flood de
11/04/2014
Fine Gael Roscommon/South Leitrim TD, Frank Feighan, has welcomed a total allocation of €400,000 in HSE funding for the upgrade of two nursing homes in Co. Roscommon. Mr Feighan said: "The Plunkett Nursing Home in Boyle is to receive €300,000 while Áras Mháthair Phóil in Castlerea is to be allocate
11/04/2014
Fianna Fáil has criticised the Government for prioritising political gain over the welfare of households by refusing to clarify the exact amount of water charges – just six weeks ahead of the local and European elections. Questioning the Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin in the Dáil, D
11/04/2014
Public Transport Minister, Alan Kelly, has announced the development of a major new and world-class greenway as part of a national €11m funding for cycling infrastructure. The centre-piece of the funding will go towards construction of one of the world's most dramatic scenic greenways – running alo
11/04/2014
Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD has said the revelation that the main four banks have issued 30,034 letters, relating to repossessions and voluntary surrenders, provides evidence that the mortgage crisis requires direct intervention from the Finance Minister Michael Noonan. The fig
11/04/2014
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan TD, has welcomed the publication of a report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that assessed the impact on air quality arising from the fire that occurred at the Oxigen Environmental Waste Facility in Ballymount,
10/04/2014
Between 2,000 and 4,000 could be repossessed by Permanent TSB due to the mortgage crisis. Speaking to the Oireachtas Finance Committee, the bank said the repossessions would mostly consist of buy-to-let homes and some family homes. Last year, the bank repossessed just 60 homes, but within the la
10/04/2014
Two road improvement schemes are to commence shortly on the Carnalbanagh Road. The projects have a combined total cost of around £310,000, Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has announced. Both schemes, earmarked for the C66 Carnalbanagh Road, will provide 4.9km of new road surfaces. Th
10/04/2014
Brian Hayes, Junior Finance Minister, has said that nearly €1.5bn is needed to protect Ireland from future flooding incidents. The Minister made the remarks at an Office of Public Works (OPW) flood conference at Dublin Castle on Thursday, according to RTE. Currently, €225m has been earmarked for
10/04/2014
Fine Gael Chairman Charlie Flanagan has called for stud farms to be given special status in consideration of wind farm planning applications. Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, during the Private Members' Debate on wind turbines, Flanagan called for stud farms and racehorse training facilities to
10/04/2014
Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said there is a housing supply shortage in Dublin. According to a report by BreakingNews.ie, the Minister dismissed the notion of a 'property bubble' in the city. He added that claims of Ireland being at the start of another property boom are exaggerated, with hou
10/04/2014
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said said that further privatisation should not form part of the All-Ireland energy strategy. The comments by Deputy Adams were made on Wednesday evening during a debate on the Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2014 in the Dáil. He continued: "This bill seeks to ensure
09/04/2014
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy has given a cautious welcome to the government's support for Sinn Féin's Wind Turbine Regulation Bill. The Midlands Northwest candidate said: "While I welcome the fact that the government have indicated that they will not oppose Sinn Féin's Bill when it comes to a vote tonig
09/04/2014
Minister for Research and Innovation Sean Sherlock TD visited the Eli Lilly and Company facility in Kinsale, County Cork, where a major recruitment campaign for its new biopharmaceutical facility will begin this week. More than 100 highly qualified personnel across a range of disciplines will be r
09/04/2014
Fianna Fáil Transport and Tourism spokesperson Timmy Dooley is calling on the Government to speed up legislation to establish the body that will oversee business development in the Shannon-Limerick region. The laws will see the establishment of the Shannon Group, which will act as an umbrella organ
09/04/2014
Alliance Councillor Andrew Muir has questioned NI Water after the company admitted it had fallen behind schedule in planned improvement works for the Kinnegar area. A contractor was due to be appointed in November last year in an attempt to end on-going sewage problems for good, with Lagoon Remedia
09/04/2014
SDLP Ballyarnett candidate Colm O'Connor has welcomed confirmation that St Columb's College is to be granted an estimated £2.2m in funding to develop new facilities. The Buncrana Road college is one of 51 projects included in the School Enhancement Programme and is due to receive the grant aid to f
09/04/2014
Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy and NI Water have announced the construction of a new Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW), this is a sustainable method of treating wastewater, to be used for the first time in Northern Ireland. Work will begin on the ICW at the Stoneyford Road site on t
09/04/2014
Leader of the Fianna Fail Group on Dublin City Council, Councillor Mary Fitzpatrick, has called on the European Parliament to take urgent action to protect Irish people who are left vulnerable when their mortgages are sold on to unregulated or non-bank entities. Councillor Fitzpatrick said she will
09/04/2014
Competitive energy provider Energia and Irish lighting firm eLight are aiming to halve the lighting bill of 1,000 schools across Ireland and reduce their carbon footprint through the replacement of their current lighting with energy efficient LED lighting. The major new €10m scheme called 'Project
08/04/2014
Operator of the M50 motorway, M50 Concession Ltd, has signed a major new electricity supply contract with leading energy provider Energia. The deal is worth €750,000 annually and will see Energia supply power to the M50 Motorways road lighting which has a load of over 1 Megawatt. M50 Concession Ltd
08/04/2014
The Fianna Fáil MEP candidate for Midlands-North West, Senator Thomas Byrne, has written to the EU Commissioner for Energy to clarify that any wind farms or overhead high voltage power lines proposed for Ireland must comply with EU criteria for support and funding. Senator Byrne said: "I have writt
08/04/2014
The Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform will resume its hearings on mortgage arrears today, Tuesday, when it meets with Ulster Bank Chief Executive Jim Brown. Committee Chairman, Ciarán Lynch TD, said: "We will continue our series of hearings on mortgage arrears and the resolution p
08/04/2014
Fianna Fáil Energy spokesman Michael Moynihan is calling on the Government to intervene to stall rising electricity costs. The latest figures from SEAI reveal that electricity prices in Ireland are now 4% higher than the EU average and in some areas costs jumped to 14% above the EU average. Mr Moy
08/04/2014
A Co Down farmer submitted a guilty plea and was fined £500 plus £22 court costs at Newry Magistrates' Court. Mr Seamus McAteer, Valley Road, Banbridge, Co Down was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway. On 1 November 2012, a Water Quality Inspector acting on behalf of the Northern
08/04/2014
Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has said that the recent report from the Housing Agency, which showed that almost 40,000 new homes will be needed in Dublin over the next four years, underlines the need for action to address the housing crisis. "This report from the Housing Agenc
08/04/2014
Sinn Féin will use its Private Members time this week to table the Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2014 for second stage debate. This bill deals with the construction of industrial wind turbines, set back distances from properties and the use of energy generated from these wind turbines. Sinn Féin's
08/04/2014
NI Water is to invest £600,000 in a scheme that will provide Ballymartin with a modern new wastewater pumping station. Due to get underway this week, the new station will be constructed underground on land adjacent to Main Road in the village. The only visible aspect of the new pumping station will
07/04/2014
The leader of the Fianna Fáil Group on Dublin City Council, Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick, has called for radical action by Government to tackle the spiralling housing crisis in Dublin. Cllr Fitzpatrick said the report from the Government's advisory body, the Housing Agency, starkly outlined the huge defic
07/04/2014
Sinn Féin Energy Spokesperson Phil Flanagan has criticised minister Arlene Foster after her department granted a six-month extension to a company interested in fracking in Fermanagh. The extension to Tamboran's licence will give the company further time to decide whether to proceed with its plans t
07/04/2014
SEAI is inviting proposals from business, academic and public sector organisations located in Ireland for carrying out sustainable energy research, development and demonstration (RD&D) projects in 2014. The programme supports technology RD&D, field research and feasibility studies that contribute
07/04/2014
European election candidate Lorraine Higgins has said that ordinary customers should not be expected to pay in full as a result of Eircom's technical debacle. This follows news that 30,000 customers could be facing bills of up to €500 following a failure by the company to process direct debit paym
07/04/2014
The barriers to house building will have to be addressed if 80,000 housing units are going to be built in urban areas over the next five years. That's according to the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) following the publication of a new report from the Housing Agency. The Housing Agency ha
07/04/2014
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, has announced the allocation of more than €700,000 to a fund providing for the conservation and preservation of heritage structures of national importance in public ownership. The fund is intended to assist with works to safeguard struc
07/04/2014
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Michael Moynihan, has reacted with disbelief to the news that the Government has had to commission research to understand why people are against the construction of pylons and wind farms beside their homes. Minister Rabbitte h
07/04/2014
Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has announced the start of a £340,000 maintenance scheme on A2 Central Promenade, Newcastle. The work, at the junction of King Street, has recently commenced. Mr Kennedy said: "This is a significant investment in the town which will strengthen and repair the sea de
04/04/2014
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has officially opened the N3 Belturbet Bypass which includes 6.7km of new road and a cable stay bridge across the River Erne. The €61 million project finally takes traffic out of the town and will considerably reduce journey times along this stre
04/04/2014
Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte TD has announced that he has approved a €1bn capital investment programme for ESB for 2014, which will mainly focus on transmission and distribution electricity network expenditure. Minister Rabbitte, who was delivering the UCD Engineering Graduates Association Spri
04/04/2014
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has called on the government to set ambitious targets for new homes built in the remaining two years of its term. He made his comments following an announcement by the Housing Agency that 80,000 houses are needed over the next five years, with a massiv
04/04/2014
Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív has contacted Mayo County Council to highlight the need for funding for strategic county road developments. According to the Galway West Deputy, the R300 Cong to Clonbur Road, the R346 Cong to Cross Road and the R334 between The Neale and Cross are three strategic county roads i
04/04/2014
Labour European election candidate, Lorraine Higgins, has said Irish banks need to negotiate better terms and conditions for Irish homeowners, following news that only four mortgage debt deals have been secured through the personal insolvency service. "Statistics published paint a less-than-perfect
04/04/2014
Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has visited the A8 scheme will be approaching a major milestone in the coming weeks when the new £930,000 Templepatrick Road bridge will open to traffic. To date, the scheme has scooped a number of awards including a gold award for occupational safety and health and
04/04/2014
Work to repair sea defences along the A2 Coast Road are well underway in advance of one stage of the prestigious Giro d'Italia taking place on the coastal highway. To date, almost £600,000 has been invested in reducing rock fall risk at Garron Point with the installation of protection netting at th
04/04/2014
Based on the recommendation of its adviser, Lazard, the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) has announced the sale, subject to contract, of the Project Eagle portfolio of loans to affiliates of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. (Cerberus). The portfolio consists of loans owned by Northern Ire
03/04/2014
The value of hotel sales in the first quarter of 2014 was 150% higher than the same period in 2013, according to the research team at Irish property firm Savills. A total of 13 hotels worth almost €85m were sold in the first three months of 2014, compared with a total of six, worth €34m, in the fir
03/04/2014
2014 is expected to be a strong year for the Dublin offices market, according to real estate financial services firm JLL. The company made the announcement as it released the Dublin Office Market Insight 2014. The report analyses the performance of the office market in 2013 and presents the company
03/04/2014
A multi-million pound contract for the pedestrian and cycle bridge in Strabane has been awarded. The appointment for Fox Contracts, which will see the delivery of the Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge linking the Ballycolman and Fountain Street/Springhill areas of the town, has been welcomed by Minister
03/04/2014
Over half the volume of investment activity in the Irish market in 2013 has been signed in the first quarter of 2014 alone, according to property consultants CBRE. A total of 37 investment transactions higher than €1m in value were signed in the Irish market during the first quarter of this year, t
03/04/2014
Hibernia REIT has announced the acquisition of the Gateway site at Newlands Cross in Dublin for €10m. The site was formerly owned by An Post, but was in May 2006 for €107m. The property consists of an industrial/logistics facility with 178,000 sq. ft. of warehouse accommodation and occupies a 14 a
03/04/2014
Sexist, racist and homophobic language is being used on a regular basis in the construction industry, according to a recent survey. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) released the results from an online survey revealing the use and extent of inappropriate language in the workplace. Th
02/04/2014
Fianna Fáil Senator Ned O'Sullivan is calling on the Energy Minister to take a more hands on approach to resolve the delay in the Shannon LNG project. The €600m gas terminal, due to be built near Ballylongford in north Kerry, has been on hold for almost six years because of a row over pipeline fees
02/04/2014
Alliance Social Development spokesperson, Stewart Dickson MLA, has welcomed the £180m deal secured by Clanmil Housing to build 1,600 new houses. It will help create 1,000 jobs. Danske Bank and Barclays have agreed to lend Clanmil £75m and £45m respectively for the development. Mr Dickson MLA sa
02/04/2014
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy has said that time is running out to scrap the proposed hike in the Carbon Tax which is due to come into effect on the 1 May 2014. The Midlands Northwest candidate said: "One month from today the government will introduce an increase in the Carbon Tax from €10 to €20 per ton
02/04/2014
Fianna Fáil Whip Seán Ó Fearghaíl is calling on the Health Minister James Reilly to clarify the time frame for the delivery of the new National Children's Hospital amid concern that the planning application may not now be lodged until Spring of next year. Deputy Ó Fearghaíl commented: "The new Nati
02/04/2014
Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD has said the decision to go ahead with the sale of 90% of IBRC's mortgage loan book is putting homes at risk. Deputy Doherty said: "There is no need to for this sale to proceed before the legislation being prepared can be implemented. The Minister ha
02/04/2014
A new research project which will examine how wind energy is stored and managed has been launched at Titanic Belfast. Through the SPIRE energy project, researchers from the University of Ulster and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) will examine the likely market scales of different capacities
02/04/2014
Dublin Bay North Labour TD and member of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications Sean Kenny has welcomed a significant milestone regarding Eircom's fibre rollout programme, which sees Eircom operating the largest fibre network in Ireland with a footprint reaching more than 750,000 homes and busin
02/04/2014
Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry recently visited apprentices who are honing their skills at the National Trust's Mount Stewart House in Newtownards. Two apprentices, Callum McCaffrey and James Harper, are studying for an NVQ in Carpentry and Joinery at South East Regional College
01/04/2014
Clanmil Housing Group has revealed details of a finance deal that will inject up to £180m into social housing and the wider economy. The deal, the largest-ever of its kind in Northern Ireland, secures loans of £75m from Danske Bank and £45m from Barclays. Some £100m of this finance will be investe
01/04/2014
Labour MEP for Dublin, Emer Costello, has welcomed the roll-out of 1,200 hi-tech sensors to monitor key "quality of life" breaches across Dublin including noise levels, temperature pollution, flood alerts. However, she said the initiative must be part of a wider plan to make Dublin a 'smarter' city
01/04/2014
The Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, headed by Labour TD Ciaran Lynch, is to meet with the Director of the Insolvency Service this week, as well as organisations representing perspectives of mortgage-holders. On the agenda will be sustainable solutions to the mortgag
01/04/2014
Carlow-Kilkenny TD John McGuinness is calling for improved monitoring of mines in the region. It follows the emergence of a sinkhole in a field near the Galmoy Mines in February. The area had to be sealed off after the hole, which was 9 metres deep and 15 metres wide, appeared. "Residents living
01/04/2014
Killarney Manufacturing Group (KMG), headed by its founding company Killarney Plastics, is undergoing a rebrand which will see companies within its existing structure renamed to Tricel. The group, which has companies spread across Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe under a number of different nam
01/04/2014
Fine Gael Dublin Central Deputy and Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe, said the provision of more than €210,000 for the repair, restoration and conservation of protected buildings in Dublin Central will help to secure our heritage for future generations while giving a boost to local tra
01/04/2014
Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD, has welcomed a UN report on the impacts of climate change. The report, from the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, highlights the threats it poses to wellbeing, and challenges countries, communities, and the private sector
01/04/2014
Houses in Dublin witnessed an annual price increase of 23% (to the end of March 2014) as demand continues to exceed supply in the capital, according to the DNG Q1 2104 House Price Gauge. According to the estate agency, the quarterly increase of 8.9% is over double the Q1 increase recorded in 2013 w
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