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“Just Transition Plan” Confirms Significant Ireland/EU Funding For Tipperary.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin has welcomed the European Commission’s adoption of Ireland’s Territorial “Just Transition Plan” .

The adoption of the “Just Transition Plan” confirms significant Ireland/EU funding to support the Midlands region, as Ireland moves away from fossil fuels. The tourism element of the “Just Transition Plan” includes allocations of €38 million under Regenerative Tourism business supports and €30 million for a Tourism Trails Network.

Eight midland counties are expected to benefit from the allocation.

The eight counties expected to receive funding include Co. Tipperary, Co. Laois, Co. Westmeath, Co. Offaly, Co. Longford, Co. Roscommon, Co. Galway and Co. Kildare; all targeted areas that were previously heavily dependent on peat production. 

CEO of Fáilte Ireland Mr Paul Kelly said: “This investment reinforces the value of tourism to the economic well-being and development of a destination. I want to pay tribute to the team at Fáilte Ireland for their tireless work over a number of months on developing our successful submission to the EU. The allocation to Fáilte Ireland is recognition of our expertise as the National Tourism Development Authority to deliver projects of scale that will create jobs, empower businesses and build stronger communities leaving a lasting legacy of transformative change that will enhance the appeal of the Midlands as a tourist destination for generations to come. It is an unprecedented investment in tourism, and one that is going to have a tangible economic impact in the towns and communities of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East
Fáilte Ireland is looking forward to working collaboratively with local tourism businesses and communities, the East and Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA), Bord na Mona, Local Authorities, and our strategic partners including Waterways Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Coillte, to deliver this transformational project of scale.”

This EU “Just Transition Fund” in Ireland has 3 priority areas for investment:

  • Generating employment through diversification of the local economy.
  • Restoration of degraded peatlands and regeneration of industrial heritage assets.
  • Smart and sustainable mobility.
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€832,000 Announced For 42 Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) Nationwide.

Minister of State James Browne TD announces €832,000 in once off in funding for 42 Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) nationwide

  • Just under €832,000 in once-off funding being allocated to 42 Youth Diversion Projects throughout the State
  • Funding will go towards assisting with renovations to premises, transport and IT equipment to enhance the activities and services they offer to the young people they work with.
  • This follows on the advertisement of a Call for Expressions of interest from community-based organisations in relation to the establishment of 4 new projects in 2023, which issued on 30 November and an increase of €6.7m in the annual budget for youth justice services and projects in 2022. An additional €2.5m will be made available in 2023.

Amongst the YDP’s to benefit in Tipperary are:-

YDPProviderAmount
Clonmel & Carrick-on-Suir YDPsWaterford & South Tipperary Youth Service1,677.00
RoscreaNorth Tipperary Development Company1,900.00

Minister of State with responsibility for Youth Justice, Mr James Browne, is delighted to announce some €832,000 in once off in funding for 42 Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) nationwide.

YDPs engage with young people through a range of supports, including education, training and employment support, social enterprise initiatives, as well as personal development and supports such as mentoring, and personal development activities.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister Browne said: “I have seen first-hand the positive impact these projects have on both the young people who they welcome through their doors and the wider communities in which they are based.
This once-off funding is being made available from overall savings in the Justice Vote. I am delighted we are able to put this funding to good use in supporting YDPs with much-needed premises renovations and repairs, with IT equipment and with new and replacement transport vehicles. This money will be of direct benefit to the young people the project work with in ensuring greater access to training and education facilities and activities that promote pro-social behaviour.”

This announcement follows on from the publication of the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 last year, which provides a developmental framework to address key ongoing challenges, as well as new and emerging issues, in the youth justice area. A major change contained in this Strategy is a new and expanded mandate for the YDPs across the State.

Additional funding of €6.7 million was allocated to youth justice services in Budget 2022, which sees a substantial increase from €18 million to €24 million on the previous year’s budget. A further additional €2.5m will be available in 2023.

Minister Heather Humphreys said: “I am delighted that we have been able to allocate these extra resources to the Youth Diversion Projects. This funding will provide practical improvements to the premises projects work from, and the services and activities they are able to provide for the young people they work with.
I admire the fantastic work of everybody involved in the projects – Youth Justice Workers, JLOs and local Garda management – that I have been privileged to see at first hand”
.

The Funds Administration Unit in the Department of Justice will now contact each YDP that has been approved for a grant, to ensure early payment as per the agreed allocations.

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€10 Million Fund To Assist With Energy Poverty.

A €10 million fund to help struggling families and individuals on pay-as-you-go energy tariffs, is to be signed off by Government, as part of a new energy poverty action plan.

Thurles Street Lighting.

The Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan will seek Cabinet approval for this new action plan, which will include the establishment of a financial support fund.

The money will provide further safeguard for people at risk of energy debt, including, but not exclusively, pay-as-you-go and electricity customers.

However, for those of you who received your electricity bills this morning, expecting to get a promised €200 discount; these customers received only a government electricity discount of €183.49, with €16.51 having been already siphoned off, to be returned back to government coffers in the form of VAT, deducted at the rate of 9%.

Meanwhile, it would be interesting to know the costs associated with over 60 public lamp standards remaining lit, 24 hours each day, since last April, here in Thurles, also being funded by the silent, accepting tax payer.

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Shop Around For Best Energy Tariffs.

Electricity and gas prices are on everyone’s mind at present, as prices rise.

Using less energy helps to keep costs down, but it’s also important to shop around for the best tariff offerings on the market. Often times you can make savings simply by switching supplier.

Switching supplier is free and the CRU (Commission for Regulation of Utilities) provides all the information you need (see link HERE).

The CRU have also accredited three price comparison websites which means you can trust the information they provide. The three price comparison websites are:-

  1. www.bonkers.ie
  2. www.switcher.ie
  3. www.power to switch.ie

For those of you considering switching from Credit to PrePay, it’s worth checking out the CRU’s advice on the pros and cons of each. 

For more information you can trust on your energy options, visit HERE.

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Christmas Bonus Double Payment To Issue This week.

Christmas Bonus double payment to issue this week.

This year (2022), the annual Christmas Bonus will be 100% of a persons normal weekly payment. The Christmas Bonus will not include Fuel Allowance.

If you were getting 2 eligible social welfare payments (for example, a One-Parent Family Payment and the Domiciliary Care Allowance or a half-rate Carer’s Allowance as well as your primary payment) you get the Christmas Bonus for both payments.

For Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA), which is paid monthly, the bonus is 100% of the weekly DCA rate. The DCA portion of the bonus is calculated independently of other payments. So, for example, if you are getting full-rate DCA for one child, 100% of the weekly rate is €71.20.

A Christmas Bonus is paid to people getting long-term social welfare payments. You will be paid a Christmas Bonus, if you are getting:

  • Back to Education Allowance – people coming from jobseeker’s payments need to be getting the Allowance for at least 12 months (312 days), but you may be able to use your time on your jobseeker’s payment to help you qualify.
  • Back to Work Enterprise Allowance – people coming from jobseeker’s payments need to be getting the Allowance for at least 12 months (312 days), but you may be able to use time on jobseeker’s payment to help you qualify.
  • Back to Work Family Dividend.
  • Benefit payment for 65 year olds.
  • Blind Pension.
  • Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit (including half-rate Carer’s Allowance).
  • Community Employment.
  • Deserted Wife’s Allowance and Benefit.
  • Daily Expenses Allowance, formerly called Direct Provision Allowance for 12 months.
  • Disability Allowance.
  • Disablement Pension and Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension under the Occupational Injuries Scheme.
  • Domiciliary Care Allowance.
  • Farm Assist.
  • Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory).
  • Illness Benefit for 12 months or more.
  • Invalidity Pension.
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance for 12 months (312 days).
  • Jobseeker’s Transitional payment.
  • Magdalene Laundry Payment.
  • One-Parent Family Payment.
  • Partial Capacity Benefit.
  • Rural Social Scheme.
  • State Pension (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory).
  • Supplementary Welfare Allowance for 12 months.
  • Tús.
  • VTOS Allowance for people coming from jobseeker’s payments. You must be getting VTOS for at least 12 months (312 days), but you may be able to use time on your jobseeker’s payment to help you qualify.
  • Widow, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory).
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