Tuesday, 12 January 2010 18:09

The Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan T.D., welcomed the decision of Fingal County Council to reduce commercial rates and water charges as an important mearsure to assist local businesses in 2010. 
The Minister said:  “At a national level, the Government has adopted a budget that sustains and creates jobs.  This is the key objective of the Government and the budget included measures that support businesses by building consumer confidence.”
The Minister welcomed Fingal County Council following this lead:
“Fingal County Council’s decision to reduce commercial rates and water charges will feed through to lower costs for businesses and consumers.  This is an important example of our community working together to improve local competitiveness.
In addition, I am especially pleased to note that the Council is committed to maintaining services at current levels despite this reduction in rates.
I would urge other Councils throughout the State to follow the lead of Fingal County Council and take action to assist local businesses in becoming more competitive.  Improving the competitiveness of local businesses will be a win-win for all concerned:
◦    Local businesses can grow;
◦    Local jobs will increase; and
◦    County Councils will see an increase in their resources for supporting essential local services: including water and waste services, community development schemes, the provision of social housing, and the maintenance of roads.”

Friday, 20 November 2009 02:52

The Minister for Finance, Mr Brian Lenihan TD, announced today that the Castleknock Gate in the Phoenix Park will re-open to vehicular traffic from Monday 23rd November.

In addition, the Ashtown and Cabra Gates will revert to two-way traffic and the routes which were temporarily opened to accommodate traffic movement within the Phoenix Park will be closed.

The Minister would like to thank all of those affected for their patience and forebearance over the last eight weeks and acknowledge the inconvenience caused by the essential works which have been completed ahead of schedule. 

The Mountjoy Cross junction had one of the highest accident rates in the City for several years and in order to alleviate the dangers at the junction a temporary roundabout was installed in 2007. This has now been replaced by the permanent structure which will further improve the health and safety of all users.

The junction has been affected by severe flooding on a number of occasions resulting in its closure (for four days on the last occasion) and major remedial works on the drainage system have now been completed.

In addition to the aforementioned major construction projects,  An Bórd Gais has replaced damaged pipes along Chesterfield Avenue and through the centre of the Castleknock Gate.  This was necessary on safety grounds as the current pipe network was in need of modernisation.

The Office of Public Works, during this period, also carried out repairs to the Castleknock Gate as a result of damage caused by a large truck leaving the Park.

A gas structure will be installed in the centre of the Mountjoy Cross roundabout in January with no inconvenience to the general public.

Friday, 20 November 2009 02:39

Further payment of grants under the Scheme of Community Support for Older People

Minister for Finance welcomes announcement of further payment of grants under the Scheme of Community Support for Older People

The Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan TD has welcomed the announcement by John Curran TD, Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, of funding for a further 36 groups under the Scheme of Community Support for Older People. 

This Scheme encourages and assists the community’s support, for those aged 65 and over who have a genuine need for assistance, by means of a community-based grant to improve the safety and security of these older people. Funding is available towards the cost of, for example, installing monitored personal alarm systems, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and external security lighting. This Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary organisations with the support of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Over €1.5m has so far been approved this year under the Scheme with a total of 277 groups receiving funds.

Minister Lenihan is pleased to see that the Blanchardstown Inner City Home Care Association will receive over €3,000 of the additional €100,000 in funding that is being made available. 

The full list of beneficiaries is available on the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs website at www.pobail.ie.

Friday, 20 November 2009 02:33

Latest processing times for Jobseekers claims

The Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan TD notes the recent publication, by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, of the most up-to-date processing times for Jobseekers Claims. In October, 3 out of every 4 claims for Jobseekers Benefit were processed within 3 weeks and 2 out of every 3 claims for Jobseekers Allowance were processed within 6 weeks.   

The current national average processing times is just over 3 weeks for Jobseekers Benefit and 7 weeks for Jobseekers Allowance. The average processing times in the Blanchardstown Social Welfare Local Office are just less than 2½ weeks for Jobseekers Benefit and just over 9½ weeks for Jobseekers Allowance.

In an effort to reduce some backlogs which do still exist, it is planned to extend to more offices over the coming months, the new process of the fast tracking of claims, which is currently being operated in 20 offices. This is in addition to other improvements which have been implemented in recent months, including the setting up of a new streamlined process for people who had a claim in the previous two years and improved procedures for those moving from Jobseeker’s Benefit to Jobseeker’s Allowance. 

Minister Lenihan welcomes the fact that there are greater numbers signing off. This is due to a range of factors including the taking up of employment, entering training or education, beginning self employment and outward migration.

Wednesday, 04 November 2009 16:06

The Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan T.D., has welcomed the announcement by John Curran T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy that approximately €170,000 has been approved for 34 small scale capital projects across seven Local Drugs Task Forces in the Dublin area.

Minister Lenihan is particularly pleased that approval has been granted for the projects proposed by the Blanchardstown task forces, which are detailed in the table below.

Minister Lenihan said:

“This funding is most welcome. It will go towards the purchase of equipment and upgrading of premises and can have a significant and beneficial impact on the work being carried out by community-based drug projects which are central to tackling the problem of drugs misuse”.

Tuesday, 27 October 2009 13:19

The Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan T.D. has welcomed the publication, by the Office of Public Works (OPW) of a new book on the Phoenix Park. “An Illustrated History of the Phoenix Park, Landscape and Management to 1880” is written by Dr. John A. McCullen, one of the country’s foremost experts on the history of the Park and resident OPW Superintendent of the Park since 1984.

Minister Lenihan said that the book was a most welcome publication given that little has been written on the landscape history and management of the Park. The Minister also took the opportunity to remind those living in the Dublin 15 area, that in the Phoenix Park, they have a most wonderful natural resource right on their doorsteps and he urged families to make the best possible use of the Park and all its amenities.

The book is an all Irish production and is on sale in the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, in the Government Publications Office, Molesworth Street or by mail order from Government Publications, Postal Trade Section, 51 St. Stephen’s Green (Tel 01-6476834/35/36/37). The book will also shortly be available in major booksellers.

Monday, 17 August 2009 15:13

The Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan, T.D., has welcomed the announcement by his colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin T.D. regarding the introduction of a new fast-tracking of claims for Jobseekers payments which is being introduced in approximately one third of Social Welfare Local Offices around the country.

Commenting on the new system, the Minister for Finance said:

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Thursday, 30 July 2009 02:41

New Hospice for Dublin 15

Construction has started on the site of the D15 Hospice.  Minister Brian Lenihan turned the first sod on Friday 24th July 2009.

The Minister congratulated all involved in bringing this worthwhile project to this stage, particularly the people of Dublin 15 who raised a staggering €4 million through local fundraising.

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Tuesday, 28 July 2009 12:25

Minister for Finance Welcomes Granting of Planning Permission in respect of The National Sports Campus at Abbotstown

The Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan, T.D., today (27 July, 2009) welcomed the decision from Fingal County Council to grant planning permission for the development of a National Sports Campus at Abbotstown.

The Minister stated:

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Friday, 10 July 2009 13:45

Minister Brian Lenihan TD turns the first sod for the new St. Benedict’s school in Ongar.

Minister Brian Lenihan TD turned the first sod for the new St. Benedict’s school accompanied by school principal Noreen Behan on 25th June 2009.

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