CAP 2020 Consultation
A public consultation process on the future of the CAP post 2020 is now underway. The consultation process will be open for an eight week period from Friday 26th January to Friday 23rd March. As [...]
Road allocation welcome
Over €23 million has been allocated for regional and local roads in County Galway in 2018, an increase of over €1.7 million on last year’s fund. Funding of €13.2 million for improvement works and €3.3 [...]
Council of Europe nomination
I have been nominated by the Government to serve on the Council of Europe and have been selected as a member of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights. I attended my first meeting [...]
Announcement of a transport subsidy for fodder welcomed
The announcement of a transport subsidy by Minister Michael Creed will certainly be a relief for those with rapidly dwindling fodder supplies. ‘This is a long winter and farmers in Galway are particularly affected. Following [...]
Rebuild Ireland Home loan scheme for first time buyers welcomed
I welcome the announcement by the Housing Finance Agency of a Home Loan Scheme for first time house buyers as a positive development. ‘The scheme is also available to people who are first time self-building [...]
Welcoming grant allocation to existing group water schemes in Galway
I have been informed by Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy TD, of the initial block grant allocation under Measure 2 Enhancement of existing group water schemes of the Rural Water Programme [...]
The European Court of Auditors have verified the rapid decline in the number working in Agriculture
Last week I met with the European Court of Auditors at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Auditors Report demonstrated that the alarming decrease in farming population between 2005 to 2013 [...]
Welcoming proposed changes to planning laws
I welcome changes to the planning laws which would see three types of planning applications designated as exempted developments. Proposed changes to the Planning Act would see development by Irish Water related to the provision [...]
Galway 2020 Small Towns Bid Ideas Programme
Galway 2020 has launched the Small Towns Bid Ideas programme to which community groups can apply for funding to develop projects this year. A series of public meetings across Galway city and county over the [...]
Increased funding for house and community energy upgrades
I welcome the extension of the Warmer Home Scheme to include families in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance from January 1st 2018. ‘In addition a grant of €3,500 for heat pumps and a 33% grant [...]